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.
Following a closer
re-evaluation of map components and other documentation from state
broadband providers, the program office determined that the
previous estimated burden hours were excessive. As a result, an
adjustment decrease was created (from 704,000 to 549,440).
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.