In accordance with 5 CFR 1320.13, this information collection is pre-approved for 3 months as an emergency clearance to meet deadlines associated with new funding appropriated in the 2018 Farm Bill. If the Agency decides to continue use of this collection past the approved emergency clearance time period, it must resubmit an ICR to OMB under the normal PRA clearance process and include responses to any public comments it has received.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
02/28/2021
6 Months From Approved
159
0
0
239
0
0
0
0
0
The Rural Utilities Service, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, and Rural Housing Service, agencies that comprise the Rural Development Mission Area within the United States Department of Agriculture, are issuing a final rule to establish the authority authorized by Section 6210 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, which will assist rural families and small businesses in gaining access to broadband service by permitting recipients of a loan, grant, or loan guarantee from RD to use up to 10 percent of the amount provided to construct broadband infrastructure in areas not served by minimum acceptable level of broadband service. The collection of information described in this package is necessary for the identified RD programs that have established their respective programs requirements, to determine an applicantâs ability to borrow under the terms of Sec. 6210 of the 2018 Farm Bill and comply with statutory, regulatory, and administrative eligibility requirements for loan assistance. Applicants for RD programs that wish to will apply under the appropriate program regulation and follow the application requirements of that specific regulation. As part of that submission, applicants are required to provide a service area map, where applicable, of their entire service territory.
Approval of an emergency approval for this new collection is important because the âSmart Utilityâ authority will not be able to be implemented, as the use of normal clearance procedures is likely to prevent the collection of information from applicants which, in turn, will have negative consequences on the intended recipients. The 60-day notice for comments is included in the final rule and comments on the âSmart Utilityâ information collection request is requested in order to submit the regular request to obtain a 3-year approval from OMB after receiving the 6-month OMB emergency approval. Due to the need to consider comments received and then issue another notice for the Federal Register for an additional thirty days of comment, the Agencies would not be able to complete the information collection process. Please note that after the 60-day comment period closes, the Agencies will submit the collection package for a 3-year approval addressing any comments received.
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.
Special Authority to Enable Funding of Broadband and Smart Utility Facilities Across Select Rural Development Programs