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.