Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act - Application for Broadband Grant Programs
New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)
No
Emergency
05/10/2022
04/29/2022
Requested
Previously Approved
6 Months From Approved
950
0
9,000
0
387,516
0
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, 2021 (Infrastructure Act or Act), which was adopted on November 15, 2021 and is also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, provided $65 billion of funding for programs to close the digital divide and ensure that all Americans have access to reliable, high speed, and affordable broadband service. NTIA administers six broadband connectivity grant programs funded by the Act.
Given the challenges that the grant application process can pose for disadvantaged communities, NTIA seeks to make this process more equitable for all potential applicants of the broadband grant programs enacted by the Infrastructure Act, including those with limited resources and/or technical expertise. In order to do so, NTIA created new forms for use in the application process which will provide structured questions and guidance concerning the kind of discrete and structured data required for successful applications. The new forms will create greater efficiencies in the NTIA grant program, which will likely result in enhanced timing and information accuracy beneficial to program applicants. NTIA believes that a significant number of prospective applicants will be Tribal governments or other entities associated with disadvantaged communities. NTIA further believes that the above-discussed new forms would offer these applicants greater opportunities for meaningful participation in the Broadband programs than they would otherwise enjoy. These new forms would affect the grant application requirements contained in the upcoming Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) NTIA will publish.
This is an emergency review request in order to assist NTIA in meeting the statutory deadlines Congress set for the Infrastructure Act Broadband Grant Programs, reducing overall application review burdens, and providing greater opportunities for meaningful participation to applicants from disadvantaged communities. NTIA requests that OMB conclude its review by May 10, 2022.
Statute at Large:
135 Stat. 429
Name of Statute: Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, 2021
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.