Rural Broadband Loans, Loan/Grant Combination, and Loan Guarantees

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Farm Bill Application Guide.pdf Supplementary Document	2020-02-20
signed Emergency Memo.pdf Supplementary Document	2019-08-19
Copy of ROCIS - Spreadsheet- 0572-New Broadband rev2.20.20.xlsx Supplementary Document	2020-02-20
ROCIS - 2019 - Broadband Supporting Statement ver8.8.19.OMB comments - clean version.docx Supporting Statement A	2020-02-20

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
237380	Rural Broadband Loans, Loan/Grant Combination, and Loan Guarantees SLT Other-IC non-form	New
237337	Rural Broadband Loans, Loan/Grant Combination, and Loan Guarantees Private Sector Other-IC non-statement	New

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 0572-0154	ICR Reference No: 202006-0572-004
Status: Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201908-0572-001
Agency/Subagency: USDA/RUS	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Rural Broadband Loans, Loan/Grant Combination, and Loan Guarantees
Type of Information Collection: New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 06/25/2020
	Date Received in OIRA: 06/25/2020
Terms of Clearance: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320.13, this information collection is approved for 6 months as an emergency clearance to meet the requirements of the 2018 Farm Bill. If the Agency decides to continue use of the collection past the approved emergency clearance time period, it must resubmit an ICR to OMB under the normal PRA clearance process. RUS must also discontinue the previously approved collection 0572-0130, which this collection replaces.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	12/31/2020	6 Months From Approved
Responses	528	0	0
Time Burden (Hours)	20,942	0	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), is authorized by Title VI, Rural Broadband Access, of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended (RE Act), to provide loans, loan/grant combinations and loan guarantees to fund the cost of construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment for the provision of broadband service in eligible rural areas in the States and Territories of the United States. 7 CFR part 1738 prescribes the types of loans available, facilities financed, and eligible applicants, as well as minimum equity requirements to be considered for a loan. In addition, 7 CFR part 1738 outlines the process through which RUS will consider applicants under the priority consideration required in Title VI.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 7 USC 901 Name of Law: Rural Electricification and Telephone Service
   PL: Pub.L. 115 - 334 6201 Name of Law: Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: PL: Pub.L. 115 - 334 6201 Name of Law: Agricultue Improvement Act of 2018

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
0572-AC34	Final or interim final rulemaking	85 FR 14393	03/12/2020

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Federal Register Notices & Comments

Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 2

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Rural Broadband Loans, Loan/Grant Combination, and Loan Guarantees Private Sector
Rural Broadband Loans, Loan/Grant Combination, and Loan Guarantees SLT

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	528	0	528	0	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	20,942	0	20,942	0	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: This is a new ICR because it includes a new information collection, but relative to the previous ICR, this one is an increase The number of estimated respondents increased from 18 respondents in the previous collection to 50 respondents for this collection. The increase in respondents also increased the annual burden hours from 7,305 in the previous collection to 20,942 for this collection. The Agriculture Act of 2018 (Farm Bill) was enacted to provide for the reform and continuation of agricultural and other programs of the Department of Agriculture through fiscal year 2019, and for other purposes. Included in the Farm Bill were significant changes to the Rural Broadband Access Program. These changes included the addition of a loan/grant combination and requirements for Public Notice. The Public Notice requirement also impacted the Telecommunication Infrastructure and the Community Connect Program as well, so it was incorporated into this package.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $785,829

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

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Common Form ICR:  No

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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:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(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;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

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.

Certification Date: 09/16/2019

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