[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 143 (Wednesday, July 27, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45082-45083]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-16028]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

[Docket No. RUS-22-TELECOM-0044]


60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Equipment 
Contract, RUS 395, for Telecommunications and Broadband Borrowers; OMB 
Control No.: 0572-0149

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 26, 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-0044). 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.: 0572-0149) 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: Robin M. Jones, Management Analyst, 
Rural Development Innovation Center--Regulations Management Division, 
United States Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, 
South Building, Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 772-1172. 
Email: [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 the following information collection 
that Rural Utilities Service is submitting to OMB as extension to an 
existing collection with Agency adjustment.
    Title: Equipment Contract, RUS 395, for Telecommunications and 
Broadband Borrowers.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0149.
    Expiration Date of Approval: December 31, 2022.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 0.71 hours per response.
    Respondents: Business or other for profit, not-for-profit 
institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 28.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: .71.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 161.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 114 hours.
    Abstract: The RUS manages the Telecommunications loan program and 
the Rural Broadband program, to provide loans and loan guarantees to 
fund the cost of construction, improvement, or acquisition of 
facilities and equipment for the provision of broadband service in 
eligible rural communities. RUS has established the use of certain 
standardized forms for materials, equipment, and construction of 
electric and telecommunications systems. The use of standard forms, 
construction contracts, and procurement procedures help to assure that 
appropriate standards and specifications are maintained by the borrower 
in order to not adversely affect RUS's loan security and ensure that 
loan and loan guarantee funds are effectively used for the intended 
purpose(s). The reporting burden covered by this collection of 
information consist of forms to support a request for funding for 
equipment contracts for telecommunications and broadband borrowers.
    Comments are invited on:
    (a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the 
proper

[[Page 45083]]

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 
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 
respondents, 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 Robin M. 
Jones, Rural Development Innovation Center--Regulations Management 
Division, at (202) 772-1172. Email: [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. 2022-16028 Filed 7-26-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P