Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program, 63385-63386 [E9-28886]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Telecommunications and Information Administration

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 231 (Thursday, December 3, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63385-63386]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-28886]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Telecommunications and Information Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; State Broadband 
Data and Development Grant Program

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (DOC), as part of its continuing 
effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general 
public and other Federal agencies to comment on continuing and proposed 
information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before February 1, 
2010.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 7845, 1401 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via e-mail to 
dHynek@doc.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Anne Neville, National Broadband Mapping Program 
Director, National Telecommunications and Information Administration 
(NTIA), Room 4898, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution 
Avenue, NW., Washington DC 20230 (or via e-mail to 
aneville@ntia.doc.gov).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The purpose of the State Broadband Data and Development (SBDD) 
Grant Program is to implement the joint goals of the American Recovery 
and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and the Broadband Data Improvement Act by 
assisting, through grants, states or their designees in gathering and 
verifying state-specific data on the availability, speed, location, 
technology and infrastructure of broadband services. The data will be 
used to develop publicly available state-wide broadband maps and to 
help populate the comprehensive and searchable national broadband map 
that NTIA is required under the Recovery Act to create and make 
publicly available by February 17, 2011.
    Despite the importance of broadband to the U.S. economy, 
information about broadband availability is currently lacking. The data 
collected will provide critical information for grant-making, 
regulatory and policy-making efforts, improve the quality of State-
level broadband information, and help ensure map accuracy. The national 
broadband map will improve market efficiency by providing important 
information to consumers about broadband consumption options and will 
enable investors to make better strategic choices about network 
expansion. The national broadband map will also directly aid in the 
development of a faster, more extensive broadband infrastructure to 
reach a greater number of Americans, particularly in unserved and 
underserved areas.
    On July 8, 2009, NTIA issued the Notice of Funds Availability 
(NOFA) and Solicitation of Applications setting forth the requirements 
for the SBDD Grant Program (See 74 FR 32545, July 8,

[[Page 63386]]

2009). On August 12, 2009, NTIA issued a clarification of the 
information collection requirements in the NOFA (See 74 FR 40569, Aug. 
12, 2009). On September 10, 2009, NTIA issued an additional 
clarification announcing that NTIA will initially fund mapping and data 
collection efforts for two years to enable the agency to assess lessons 
learned, determine best practices, and investigate opportunities for 
improved data collection prior to obligating funding for subsequent 
years (See 74 FR 46573, Sept. 10, 2009). Applications for the grant 
program were received until August 14, 2009 and NTIA received 
applications representing all 50 States, 5 territories, and the 
District of Columbia.
    Each applicant for program funding submitted an application, on 
standard OMB-approved forms, proposing data collection through five 
years and providing five-year budgets. Applicants provided 
comprehensive descriptions of their plans to obtain and verify required 
data from all commercial or public providers in their respective 
states. Data collection and verification methods may vary between 
applicants and may include online and on-the-ground surveys of 
providers and the public, Web-enabled data searches, statistical 
modeling, drive testing of spectrum use and crowd-sourced data 
reporting. Data must be collected at least semiannually and initial 
data collection is due on February 1, 2010. On October 5, 2009, NTIA 
announced that it awarded the first four grants under the SBDD program 
to fund data collection in California, Indiana, North Carolina, and 
Vermont.

II. Method of Collection

    All reports from awardees will be submitted via the Internet (to 
allow for efficient posting on the NTIA Web site and public 
accessibility).

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0660-0032.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Respondents include state, territory and the 
District of Columbia or their designees. Subrespondents include 
facilities-based providers of broadband connections, incumbent and 
competitive local exchange carriers (LECs), facilities-based mobile 
telephony service providers, and wireless Internet service providers 
(WISPs).
    Estimated Number of Total Respondents: 56 respondents and 2,000 
subrespondents.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 3,120 hours for respondents and 50 
hours for subrespondents.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 549,440.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to the Public: $0.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, e.g., the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of the information 
collection. Comments will also become a matter of public record.

    Dated: November 30, 2009.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E9-28886 Filed 12-2-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-06-P