[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 212 (Friday, November 3, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75562-75563]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-24374]


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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; Application for State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program 
and Tribal Digital Equity Planning and Capacity Programs

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 help 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 submission of the collection to OMB.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed 
information collection must be received on or before January 2, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments by 
mail to Arica Cox, Telecommunications Policy Analyst, Grants Management 
and Compliance, Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth, National 
Telecommunication and Information Administration, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Room 4826, Washington, DC 20230, 
or by email to [email protected]. Please reference ``Digital Equity 
Application Forms Comment'' 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, Telecommunications Policy Analyst, Grants Management and 
Compliance, via email at [email protected]; [email protected]; or via 
telephone at (202) 482-2048.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, 2021 (Infrastructure 
Act or Act), Public Law 117-58, 135 Stat. 429 (November 15, 2021) 
(Infrastructure Act or Act), also known as the Bipartisan 
Infrastructure Law, provided $65 billion of funding for programs to 
close the digital divide and ensure that all Americans have access to 
affordable, reliable, high-speed internet. NTIA administers six 
broadband connectivity grant programs funded by the Act, including the 
State Digital Equity Planning Grant (SDEPG) and the State Digital 
Equity Capacity Grant Program (SDECG). The SDEPG provides federal 
funding for grants to eligible applicants for the purpose of developing 
Digital Equity Plans. Through these Plans, entities will, among other 
things, identify barriers to digital equity in the State and strategies 
for overcoming those barriers. The purpose of SDECG is to promote the 
achievement of digital equity, support digital inclusion activities, 
and build capacity for efforts by States, U.S. territories and 
possessions, Indian Tribes, Alaska Native entities, and Native Hawaiian 
organizations relating to the adoption of broadband. The SDECG provides 
new federal funding for grants to eligible applicants for the purpose 
of implementing the State Digital Equity Plan and pursuing digital 
inclusion activities consistent with the State Digital Equity Plan. 
Further, the Tribal Digital Equity Planning and Capacity Program will 
provide funding for grants to Indian Tribes, Alaska Native entities, 
and Native Hawaiian organizations to develop their own digital equity 
plans and pursue digital inclusion activities, consistent with the 
SDEPG and the SDECG.
    NTIA will use the information collected from each applicant to 
effectively review the proposed applications and budgets from States 
and U.S. Territories and Possessions for the State Digital Equity 
Capacity Program, and from Indian Tribes, Alaska Native entities, and 
Native Hawaiian organizations for the Tribal Digital Equity Planning 
and Capacity Program.

II. Method of Collection

    NTIA will collect data through both electronic and mail submission.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0660-XXXX.
    Form Number(s): TBD.
    Type of Review: Regular submission for a new information 
collection.
    Affected Public: States, territories or possessions of the United 
States, Indian Tribes, Alaska Native entities, and Native Hawaiian 
organizations applying for Infrastructure Act Broadband Grant Program 
funding.

[[Page 75563]]

    Estimated Number of Respondents: 56 for State Digital Equity 
Capacity Grant application, 494 for Tribal Digital Equity Planning & 
Capacity Grant application.
    Estimated Time per Response: 8 hours for State Digital Equity 
Capacity Grant application, 18 hours for Tribal Digital Equity Planning 
& Capacity Grant application.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 7,424.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $354,347.52.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Sections 60304(c) and 60304(d) of 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/Bureau 
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 for 
Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2023-24374 Filed 11-2-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-60-P