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
10/31/2010
6 Months From Approved
07/31/2010
3,767
0
6,017
616,007
0
598,007
0
0
0
In the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Congress appropriates funds for the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (ÂBTOPÂ), which includes competitive grants to (1) expand public computer centers capacity projects to unserved/underserved populations to include the benefits of boadband access; and (2) increase home adoption of broadband service.
NTIA has designed the Announcement of Proposed Funded Service Areas as a comment form for broadband service providers to provide the agency with information regarding their service offerings in the proposed funded service areas of the proposed CCI projects. The service provider comment form includes clear instructions, to allow service providers to provide only the information relevant to the specific Census tracts or block groups in which they currently provide service. The revision of the service provider comment form is based on the comments received in response to the first Notice of Funds Availability
A prompt OMB review and clearance of this proposed revision will enable NTIA to post the form and open the comment window as soon as possible to collect information from broadband service providers regarding their service offerings in the proposed funded service areas. The comments will be a critical part of the assessment of Comprehensive Community Infrastructure applications under the second round of funding, and comply with the Recovery ActÂs deadline of September 30, 2010, for the award of BTOP funds.
PL:
Pub.L. 111 - 5 123
Name of Law: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
PL: Pub.L. 111 - 5 123 Name of Law: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
The program changes involve revisions to the service provider comment form used for the first round of funding based on comments received in response to the First NOFA, the RFI, and the
experience gained from administering the first round of funding. These changes necessitated new estimates for number of responses and burden hours for the applications for Round Two.
Also, feedback from service providers indicated that the original hour burden estimates may have been too low. NTIA evaluated and revised the estimates, which it believes are more reasonable and will make it easier for service providers to set aside enough time to fill out and submit the service provider comment form during the comment window.
Decrease in responses  from 3,000 to 750
Increase in burden hours  from 4,500 to 22,500
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.