This collection is approved with the following terms of clearance: This collection is approved as an emergency clearance to meet ARRA requirements. This collection will be valid for six months. If the agency decides to continue to use this collection past the approved emergency request clearance time period, it must resubmit to OMB under the normal PRA review process for a three year approval.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
04/30/2010
6 Months From Approved
4,112
0
0
704,000
0
0
0
0
0
Despite the importance of broadband to the U.S. economy, and the importance of providing clear and accurate information about broadband services to the American consumer, the American public has very few avenues by which to obtain information about broadband availability.
Section 6001(l) of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), Pub. L. No. 111-5 (2009), requires the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Information and Communications (Assistant Secretary) to develop and maintain a comprehensive, interactive, and searchable nationwide inventory map of existing broadband service capability and availability in the United States that depicts the geographic extent to which broadband service capability is deployed and available from a commercial or public provider throughout each state. The statute further provides that the Assistant Secretary will make the national broadband map accessible by the public on a National Telecommunications and Information Administration web site no later than February 17, 2011.
NTIA is requesting emergency review and approval of this information collection so that: 1) grant recipients can expeditiously collect important data on broadband availability as part of the SBDD Grant Program and meet the programÂs requirement that initial data be provided by March 1, 2010; 2) NTIA may use such data in the development and maintenance of a national broadband inventory map that must be publicly available by February 17, 2011; and 3) national, state, and local regulators and policymakers may use the collected data in making time-sensitive policy and regulatory determinations, especially as relates to broadband and information technology grant programs such as NTIAÂs Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) and the U.S. Department of AgricultureÂs Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP).
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.