[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 162 (Wednesday, August 23, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57441-57442]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-18178]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Telecommunications and Information Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; Middle Mile Grant Program

AGENCY: National Telecommunications and Information Administration 
(NTIA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other 
Federal agencies to comment on proposed and continuing information 
collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information 
collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The 
purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment 
preceding the submission of the collection to OMB.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed 
information collection must be received on or before October 23, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments by 
mail to Arica Cox, Deputy Director, Grants Management, Administration, 
and Compliance, Office of internet Connectivity and Growth, National 
Telecommunication and Information Administration, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Room 4626, Washington, DC 20230, 
or by email to [email protected]. Please reference OMB Control 
0660-0052 in the subject line of your comments. Do not submit 
Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected 
information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
specific questions related to collection activities should be directed 
to Arica Cox, Deputy Director, Grants Management Administration, and 
Compliance, Office of internet Connectivity and Growth, National 
Telecommunication and Information Administration, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Room 4626, Washington, DC 20230, 
via telephone at (202) 209-3011, or email at [email protected]; 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    NTIA seeks approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) to add 
11 questions regarding equipment purchases to the Enabling Middle Mile 
Broadband Infrastructure Program (Middle Mile) Bi-Annual Performance 
Reports (OMB No. 0660-0052). This collection of questions will be added 
to the Middle Mile Bi-Annual Performance Reports as a supplement 
referred to as the Middle Mile Reports Addendum.
    The Middle Mile Grant Program, authorized by Section 60401 of the 
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, Public Law 117-58, 135 
Stat. 429 (November 15, 2021) (Infrastructure Act or Act), provides 
funding for the construction, improvement, or acquisition of middle 
mile infrastructure. The Middle Mile Grant Program will make up to 
$980,000,000 available for federal assistance to the following eligible 
entities: a State, political subdivision of a State, Tribal government, 
technology company, electric utility, utility cooperative, public 
utility district, telecommunications company, telecommunications 
cooperative, nonprofit foundation, nonprofit corporation, nonprofit 
institution, nonprofit association, regional planning council, Native 
entity, economic development authority, or any partnership of two (2) 
or more of these entities. The purpose of the grant program is to 
expand and extend middle mile infrastructure to reduce the cost of 
connecting areas that are unserved or underserved to the internet 
backbone.
    On May 13, 2022, NTIA published the program's Notice of Funding 
Opportunity (NOFO) on internetforAll.gov to describe the requirements 
under which it will award grants for the Middle Mile Grant Program. See 
Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program Notice of Funding 
Opportunity (NOFO) (May 13, 2022), https://www.internetforall.gov/program/enabling-middle-mile-broadband-infrastructure-program. The NOFO 
requires award recipients to submit bi-annual performance reports, 
financial reports, and a final report as a part of the grant close-out 
process. Award recipients must follow the reporting requirements 
described in Sections A.01, Reporting Requirement, of the Department of 
Commerce Financial Assistance Standard Terms and Conditions (dated 
November 12, 2020). Additionally, in accordance with 2 CFR part 170, 
all recipients of a federal award made on or after October 1, 2010, 
must comply with reporting requirements under the Federal Funding 
Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (Pub. L. 109-282).
    Modifying the Middle Mile Bi-Annual Performance Reports and Final 
Report to include NTIA's requested questions regarding equipment 
purchases on the Middle Mile Report Addendum will enable the Commerce 
Department and NTIA to ensure recipient compliance with the Build 
America, Buy America Act (``BABA'') and facilitate NTIA's ability to 
collect data to comply with BABA reporting requirements. NTIA will also 
use the information collected to effectively administer and monitor the 
grant program to ensure the achievement of the Middle Mile Grant 
Program purposes and account for the expenditure of federal funds to 
deter waste, fraud, and abuse.

II. Method of Collection

    Award recipients will submit the Middle Mile Reports Addendum as 
part of the Bi-Annual Performance Reports for the periods ending March 
31st and September 30th of each year. NTIA will

[[Page 57442]]

collect data through electronic submission.
    The report addendum shall discuss the six-month period immediately 
preceding the report date, in a manner that:
    (1) Lists the Buyer.
    (2) Describes the Category of the Purchase.
    (3) Describes where the Purchase will be located and how it will be 
used.
    (4) Quantifies the number being purchased.
    (5) Asks the country from which the Purchase is sourced.
    (6) If a foreign source, describes the efforts made to source 
domestically.
    (7) Lists the Manufacturer.
    (8) Lists the Purchase Price.
    (9) Lists the Purchase Date.
    (10) Lists the Estimated Delivery Date.
    (11) Lists the Actual Delivery Date.
    Recipients must maintain sufficient records to substantiate all 
information above upon request.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0660-0052.
    Form Number(s): TBD.
    Type of Review: Revision of a current information collection.
    Affected Public: Recipients of funding under the Middle Mile Grant 
Program. Recipients might include States, political subdivisions of a 
State, Tribal governments, technology companies, electric utilities, 
utility cooperatives, public utility districts, telecommunications 
companies, telecommunication cooperatives, nonprofit foundations, 
nonprofit corporations, nonprofit institutions, nonprofit associations, 
regional planning councils, Native entities, economic development 
authorities, or any partnership of two (2) or more of these entities.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 40.
    Estimated Time per Response: 43.72 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 7,621.17.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $363,758.29.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Section 60401of the Infrastructure Investment and 
Jobs Act of 2021, Public Law 117-58, 135 Stat. 429 (November 15, 2021).

IV. Request for Comments

    We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department to:
    (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether 
the information will have practical utility. (b) Evaluate the accuracy 
of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed 
collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used. (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected. d) Minimize the reporting burden on 
those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request 
to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone 
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in 
your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including 
your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available 
at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Under Secretary of 
Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2023-18178 Filed 8-22-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-60-P