[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 197 (Thursday, October 10, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 82207]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-23490]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

[Docket No.: RUS-24-AGENCY-0028]


60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Special 
Authority To Enable Funding of Broadband and Smart Utility Facilities 
Across Select Rural Development Programs (Smart Utility); OMB Control 
No.: 0572-0156

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces Rural Development's (RD) intention to request a 
revision of a currently approved information collection and invites 
comments on this information collection.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by December 9, 2024, to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted through the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and, in the ``Search Field'' 
box, labeled ``Search for dockets and documents on agency actions,'' 
enter the following docket number: (RUS-24-AGENCY-0028), and click 
``Search.'' To submit public comments, select the ``Comment'' button. 
Before inputting your comments, you may also review the ``Commenter's 
Checklist'' (optional). Insert your comments under the ``Comment'' 
title, click ``Browse'' to attach files (if applicable). Input your 
email address and select an identity category then click ``Submit 
Comment.'' 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: MaryPat Daskal, Chief, Branch 1, Rural 
Development Innovation Center--Regulations Management Division, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP 1522, 
South Building, Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 720-7853. 
Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#034e62717a5362772d47627068626f43767067622d646c75"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7b361a09022b1a0f553f1a08101a173b0e081f1a551c140d">[email protected]</span></a>.

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 an existing information collection 
that the Agency is submitting to OMB for revision.
    Title: 7 CFR 1980, Special Authority to Enable Funding of Broadband 
and Smart Utility Facilities Across Select Rural Development Programs 
(Smart Utility).
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0156.
    Expiration Date of Approval: January 31, 2025.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 1.5 hours per response.
    Respondents: Businesses, not-for-profit institutions, and others.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 20.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 7.95.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 159.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 239 hours.
    Abstract: The collection of information is necessary for RD to 
determine an applicant's ability to borrow under the terms of the 2018 
Farm Bill and included programs and that the applicant complies with 
statutory, regulatory, and administrative eligibility requirements for 
loan assistance. As part of that submission, applicants are required to 
provide a service area map, where applicable, of their entire service 
territory.
    Applicants seeking funding to finance the provision of retail 
broadband under the special broadband authority of this part are 
generally expected to comply with the rules related to broadband 
funding under Title VI of the Rural Electrification Act. To be 
considered for funding under special broadband authority, applicants 
must provide:
    (1) A description of the proposed retail broadband project;
    (2) a map, where applicable, of the proposed service area to be 
funded under smart utility authority of the applicant;
    (3) the amount and type of support requested by the applicant;
    (4) any other information required of similar applicants under 
Title VI of the Rural Electrification Act.
    Fully Searchable Data Base--The applicant information provided will 
be made part of a fully searchable database which could disclose to the 
public the information above.
    Public Notice Survey--The agency will post a public notice filing 
on the agency's website. Incumbent service providers in the area may 
respond to the public notice filing by providing a public notice 
response.
    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 those who respond, including through the 
use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical or other 
technological collection techniques, or other forms of information 
technology.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Kimble 
Brown, Rural Development Innovation Center, Regulations Management 
Division, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#773c1e1a151b12593505180019370204131659101801"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="662d0f0b040a03482414091108261315020748010910">[email protected]</span></a>. 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. 2024-23490 Filed 10-9-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P


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