### 30905 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 103 / Friday, May 27, 2011 / Notices

RUS–ASD, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., STOP 1550, Room 2844, Washington, DC 20250; Tel: 202–690– 4493; Fax: 202–720–1051.

Background: Technology has changed dramatically since the start of the agency’s telecommunications program in 1949. The telecommunications equipment supply sector is very different, and far more complex and diverse, today than it was over 60 years ago. Product life cycles have accelerated, innovations abound and new suppliers have entered the market.

In this new technology environment, Rural Development must operate efficiently and effectively under current budgetary constraints. Maintaining the List of Materials, which includes a product by product review, simply cannot be sustained under our current budget and with our limited staff.

To protect our loan security and compliance with continuing Buy America statutory mandates, we will transition from a listing process to an approach which ensures that construction financed by RUS meets applicable industry standards. This new approach will be incorporated into our review of individual projects and the approval of loan advances.

Although the agency is ending the publication of the list, it is not ending its insistence that infrastructure financed by taxpayers through our program conform to the highest technical standards. It is also not altering its statutory Buy America obligations. In addition to facilitating government efficiency, this new approach will give our customers increased flexibility to find and deploy technology that meets the specific needs of their customers. Our staff stands prepared to work with applicants and borrowers to help them deploy effective technology that meets the needs of the rural communities they serve.

In addition, RUS understands that many borrowers that have put contracts out to bid requiring utilization of the List of Materials. In these cases, borrowers have two choices. First, they can cancel the bid solicitation or modify the solicitation to extend the bid date or clarify the bidding terms based upon the List of Materials no longer being available. Or two, they can require that bidders still follow the List of Materials that was in effect on the date the contract was put out to bid. In the event a potential bidder does not have a copy of the List of Materials that was in effect on the date the contract was put out to bid, the bidder may contact RUS staff for assistance in determining whether certain equipment was on the approved list at the time. RUS staff stand ready to assist all customers during this transition period.

Dated: May 23, 2011.
Jonathan Adelstein,

Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.

[FR Doc. 2011–13126 Filed 5–26–11;8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE P**

**COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS**

**Agenda and Notice of Public Meeting of the Massachusetts State Advisory** 
**Committee**

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to the provisions of the rules and regulations of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (Commission), and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), that a meeting of the Massachusetts State Advisory
Committee to the Commission will convene at 12 p.m. (E.D.T.) on Tuesday, June 14, 2011, at the Suffolk Law School, 120 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02108. The purpose of the meeting is for project planning.

Members of the public are entitled to submit written comments; the
comments must be received in the regional office within 30 days of the meeting. Written comments may be mailed to the Eastern Regional Office, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, 624 9th Street, NW., Suite 740, Washington, DC 20425. They may be faxed to (202) 376–7548, or e-mailed to ero@usccr.gov

. Persons who desire additional information may contact the Eastern Regional Office at (202) 376–7533.

Records generated from this this meeting may be inspected and reproduced at the Eastern Regional Office, as they become available, both before and after the meeting. Persons interested in the work of this advisory committee are advised to go to the Commission’s website, http://

www.usccr.gov, or to contact the Eastern Regional Office at the above e-mail or
street address.

Deaf or hearing-impaired persons who will attend the meeting(s) and require the services of a sign language interpreter should contact the Eastern Regional Office at least ten (10) working days before the scheduled date of the meeting.

The meeting will be conducted pursuant to the provisions of the rules and regulations of the Commission and

FACA. Dated in Washington, DC, on May 23,

2011. Peter Minarik, Acting Chief, Regional Programs
Coordination Unit.

[FR Doc. 2011–13197 Filed 5–26–11; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 6335–01–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE**

**Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request** 

The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).

Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Title: Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Scientific Research Permits, Exempted Fishing Permits, Letters of Acknowledgment, Display Permits, and Shark Research Fishery Permits.

OMB Control Number: 0648–0471. Form Number(s): NA. Type of Request: Regular submission (extension with revisions of a current information collection).

Number of Respondents: 75. Average Hours per Response: Research plans, 2 hours; permit applications and annual reports, 40 minutes; amendments to permits, 15 minutes; interim reports, 1 hour; departure calls for collection of display animals, 5 minutes; notifications for observer coverage, 10 minutes; tag applications, 2 minutes.

Burden Hours: 236. Needs and Uses: Exempted Fishing Permits (EFPs), Scientific Research Permits (SRPs), Display Permits, Letters of Acknowledgment (LOAs), and Shark Research Permits are issued under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. ) and/or the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA) (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. ). Issuance of EFPs and related permits are necessary for the collection of Highly Migratory Species (HMS) for public display and scientific research that is exempt from regulations ( e.g., seasons, prohibited species, authorized gear, and minimum sizes) that may prohibit the collection of live animals or biological samples. A Display Permit is issued for the collection of HMS for the purpose of public display whereas a Shark Research Permit allows the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and commercial shark fishermen to conduct