[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 139 (Thursday, July 21, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43497-43498]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-15587]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

[Docket No. RUS-22-TELECOM-0046]


60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Broadband Grant 
Program; OMB Control No.: 0572-0127

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 the 
Rural Utilities Service (RUS) invites comments on this information 
collection for which approval from the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) will be requested.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by September 19, 2022 
to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted electronically by the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and, in the 
``Search Field'' box, labeled ``Search for Rules, Proposed Rules, 
Notices or Supporting Documents,'' enter the following docket number: 
(RUS-22-TELECOM-0046). To submit or view public comments, click the 
``Search'' button, select the ``Documents'' tab, then select the 
following document title: (60-Day Notice of Proposed Information 
Collection: Broadband Grant Program; OMB Control No.: 0572-0127) from 
the ``Search Results'' and select the ``Comment'' button. Before 
inputting your comments, you may also review the ``Commenter's 
Checklist'' (optional). Insert your comments under the ``Comment'' 
title, click ``Browse'' to attach files (if available). Input your 
email address and select ``Submit Comment.''
    Information on using Regulations.gov, including instructions for 
accessing documents, submitting comments, and viewing the docket after 
the close of the comment period, is available through the site's 
``FAQ'' link.
    Other Information: Additional information about Rural Development 
and its programs is available on the internet at https://www.rd.usda.gov.
    All comments will be available for public inspection online at the 
Federal eRulemaking Portal (https://www.regulations.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kimble Brown, Rural Development 
Innovation Center--Regulations Management Division, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250, 
Telephone: 202-720-6780, Email: Kimble.[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) 
regulation (5 CFR part 1320) implementing provisions of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13) requires that interested members 
of the public and affected agencies have an opportunity to comment on 
information collection and recordkeeping activities (see 5 CFR 
1320.8(d)). This notice identifies an information collection that the 
Agency is submitting to OMB for extension.
    Title: Broadband Grant Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0127.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The provision of broadband transmission service is vital 
to the economic development, education, health, and safety of rural 
Americans.

[[Page 43498]]

To further this objective, RUS provides financial assistance in the 
form of grants to eligible entities that propose, on a ``community-
oriented connectivity'' basis, to provide broadband transmission 
service that fosters economic growth and delivers enhanced educational, 
health care, and public safety services to extremely rural, lower 
income communities. The Agency gives priority to rural areas that it 
believes have the greatest need for broadband transmission services. 
Grant authority is utilized to deploy broadband infrastructure to 
extremely rural, lower income communities on a ``community-oriented 
connectivity'' basis. The ``community-oriented connectivity'' concept 
integrates the deployment of broadband infrastructure with the 
practical, everyday uses and applications of the facilities. This 
broadband access is intended to promote economic development and 
provide enhanced educational and health care opportunities. The Agency 
provides financial assistance to eligible entities that are proposing 
to deploy broadband transmission service in rural communities where 
such service does not currently exist and who will connect the critical 
community facilities including the local schools, libraries, hospitals, 
police, fire and rescue services and who will operate a community 
center that provides free and open access to residents. The reporting 
burden covered by this collection of information consists of forms, 
documents and written burden to support an application request for 
grant funding.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 126.5 hours per response.
    Respondents: Public bodies, commercial companies, cooperatives, 
nonprofits, Indian tribes, and limited dividend or mutual associations 
and must be incorporated or a limited liability company.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 73.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 12,286.
    Comments are invited on:
    (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, including 
whether the information will have practical utility;
    (b) the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
    (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Kimble 
Brown, Rural Development Innovation Center--Regulations Management 
Division, at (202) 720-6780. Email: Kimble [email protected].
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of 
public record.

Christopher A. McLean,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-15587 Filed 7-20-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P