[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 156 (Tuesday, August 13, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65842-65843]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-18012]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

[Docket No.: RUS-24-TELECOM-0025]


Notice of a Revision to a Currently Approved Information 
Collection

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the Rural Utilities Service's (RUS or the Agency), an 
agency with the United States Department of Agriculture, Rural 
Development, intention to request a revision to a currently approved 
information collection package for the Telecommunications System 
Construction Policies and Procedures. The Agency invites comments on 
this information collection for which the Agency intends to request 
approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by October 15, 2024 to 
be assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pamela Bennett, Rural Development 
Innovation Center--Regulations Management Division, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, STOP 1522, South Building, Washington, DC 
20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 720-9639. Email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 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 
revision.

[[Page 65843]]

    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.
    Comments may be sent by the Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 
https://www.regulations.gov and, in the ``Search'' box, type in the 
Docket No. located at the beginning of this notice. A link to the 
Notice will appear. You may submit a comment here by selecting the 
``Comment'' button or you can access the ``Docket'' tab, select the 
``Notice,'' and go to the ``Browse & Comment on Documents'' Tab. Here 
you may view comments that have been submitted as well as submit a 
comment. To submit a comment, select the ``Comment'' button, complete 
the required information, and select the ``Submit Comment'' button at 
the bottom. 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 at the bottom.
    A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not 
required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for 
failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the 
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of 
information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. Data 
furnished by the applicants will be used to determine eligibility for 
program benefits. Furnishing the data is voluntary; however, failure to 
provide data could result in program benefits being withheld or denied.
    Title: Telecommunications System Construction Policies and 
Procedures.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0059.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: In order to facilitate the programmatic interest of the 
RE Act, and, in order to assure that loans made or guaranteed by the 
Agency are adequately secured, the Agency, as a secured lender, has 
established certain forms for materials, equipment and construction of 
electric and telecommunications systems. The use of standard forms, 
construction contracts, and procurement procedures helps assure the 
Agency that appropriate standards and specifications are maintained, 
the Agency's loan security is not adversely affected; and the loan 
response. In an effort to improve customer service provided to RUS 
rural borrowers, the Agency continues to revise, consolidate, and/or 
streamline its current contracts and contracting procedures.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 2.32 hours per response.
    Respondents: Public bodies, not for profits or Indian Tribes.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,435.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 3,337.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 2.33.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 7,705 Hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Pamela 
Bennett, Rural Development Innovation Center--Regulations Management 
Division, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, South Building, 
Washington, DC 20250-1522. 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. 2024-18012 Filed 8-12-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P