[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 59 (Tuesday, March 27, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 18203]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-7264]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

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 (44 
U.S.C. chapter 35, as amended), the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) 
invites comments on the following information collections 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 May 29, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michele Brooks, Director, Program 
Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, 1400 
Independence Ave. SW., STOP 1522, Room 5162, South Building, 
Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 690-1078. Fax: (202) 720- 
8435.

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 information collections that USDA 
Rural Development is submitting to OMB for extension.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether this 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. 
Comments may be sent to Michele Brooks, Director, Program Development 
and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, STOP 1522, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 
20250-1522. Fax: (202) 720-8435.
    Title: Borrower Investments--Telecommunications Loan Program, 7 CFR 
1744, Subpart E.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0098.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: The Rural Economic Development Act of 1990, Title XXIII 
of the Farm Bill, Public Law 101-624, authorized qualified Rural 
Utilities Service borrowers to make investments in rural development 
projects without the prior approval of the Agency's Administrator 
provided, however, that such investments do not cause the borrower to 
exceed its allowable qualified investment level as determined in 
accordance with the procedures set forth in 7 CFR part 1744, subpart E. 
When a borrower exceeds these limits, the security for the Government's 
loans could be in jeopardy. However, in the interest of encouraging 
rural development, RUS will consider approving such investments that 
exceed a borrower's qualified investment level. This information 
collection covers those items that a borrower would need to submit to 
RUS for consideration of the borrower's request to make such an 
investment.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 1 hour per response.
    Respondents: Not for profit institutions; business or other for-
profit entities.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1 hour.

    Dated: March 20, 2012.
Jonathan Adelstein,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-7264 Filed 3-26-12; 8:45 am]
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