[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 102 (Friday, May 26, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34126-34127]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-11310]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

[Docket No. RUS-23-Telecom-RUS-23-TELECOM-0010]


60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Rural 
eConnectivity (ReConnect) Program; OMB Control No.: 0572-0152

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, as 
amended, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Rural 
Utilities Service (RUS) announces its' intention to request an 
extension of a currently approved information collection and invites 
comments on this information collection.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by July 25, 2023 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 dockets and documents on 
agency actions,'' enter the following docket number: ``0572-0152'' then 
click search. To submit or view public comments, select the following 
document title: (60-Day Notice of Proposed Information

[[Page 34127]]

Collection: Rural eConnectivity (ReConnect) Program; OMB Control No.: 
0572-0152) 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 http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/index.html.
    All comments will be available for public inspection online at the 
Federal eRulemaking Portal (http://www.regulations.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Crystal Pemberton, Management 
Analyst, Branch 1, Rural Development Innovation Center--Regulations 
Management Division, United States Department of Agriculture, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, South Building, Washington, DC 20250-1522. 
Telephone: (202) 260-8621. 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 RUS is submitting to OMB as extension to an existing collection 
with Agency adjustment.
    Title: Rural eConnectivity (ReConnect) Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0152.
    Expiration Date of Approval: December 31, 2023.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 325 hours per response.
    Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions and other businesses.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 480.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 59.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 156,090 hours.
    Abstract: The ReConnect Program was authorized by the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2018 (Pub. L. 115-141), which directed the program 
to be conducted under the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 
901, et seq.). The program has received successive appropriations by 
Congress and has matured due to Agency experience, feedback, and 
comments provided by stakeholders.
    The ReConnect Program provides loans, grants, and loan/grant 
combinations to facilitate broadband deployment in rural areas. Loans 
and grants are furnished to provide funds for the costs of 
construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment 
needed to provide broadband service in eligible rural areas. In 
facilitating the expansion of broadband services and infrastructure, 
the program fuels long-term rural economic development and 
opportunities across rural America. The eligibility requirements, 
application process, and criteria that RUS uses to assess applicants' 
creditworthiness for the ReConnect Program are published at 7 CFR 1740 
subpart B. For a proposed funded service area to be eligible for 
funding, at least 90 percent of the households in the proposed funded 
service area must lack sufficient access to broadband.
    Comments are invited on:
    (a) Whether the 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 
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. All responses to this notice 
will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All 
comments will become a matter of public record.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Crystal 
Pemberton, Rural Development Innovation Center--Regulations Management 
Division, at (202) 260-8621. 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.

Andrew Berke,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-11310 Filed 5-25-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P