Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; BroadbandMatch Web Site Tool, 54241 [2013-21293]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Telecommunications and Information Administration

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 170 (Tuesday, September 3, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 54241]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-21293]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Telecommunications and Information Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; BroadbandMatch 
Web Site Tool

AGENCY: National Telecommunications and Information Administration, 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before November 4, 
2013.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at JJessup@doc.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Maureen Lewis, Office of Telecommunications and 
Information Applications, NTIA, MLewis@ntia.doc.gov, or (202) 482-1892.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    NTIA proposes to continue BroadbandMatch as an online resource for 
communities pursuing broadband projects and programs to advance the 
Obama Administration's goal of increased broadband deployment and use 
in the United States. The BroadbandMatch Web site began during the 
final funding round of NTIA's Broadband Technology Opportunities 
Program (BTOP) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Broadband 
Initiatives Program (BIP) as a tool for potential applicants to 
identify possible partners whose resources and expertise could 
strengthen the project proposals. NTIA obtained Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) approval to extend BroadbandMatch beyond the September 
30, 2010 funding award deadline Congress established in the American 
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Public Law 111-5, 123 Stat. 115 
(2009) (Recovery Act), that authorized BTOP and BIP. NTIA believes 
BroadbandMatch has ongoing utility and ability to cost effectively 
advance the Administration's goals by facilitating sharing among BTOP 
grantees and others of best practices for completing successful 
broadband projects and facilitating partnerships to undertake new 
broadband projects. BroadbandMatch helps inexpensively to leverage 
Recovery Act investments to achieve the Administration's ongoing goal 
of ensuring that all Americans can access affordable, ubiquitous 
broadband service and develop the skills to use this empowering 
technology effectively.

II. Method of Collection

    BroadbandMatch users access the Web site through an Internet 
browser and voluntarily complete a brief profile requesting: (1) The 
point of contact's name, organization, phone number, email address, and 
associated Web site URL; (2) the state(s) where the user seeks 
potential partners; the type(s) of partner(s) sought; and (3) a 
description of the project and the desired benefits of partnering. NTIA 
verifies the registrant's email address, which becomes the registrant's 
user name, and emails an assigned password. Registered users may then 
search the database for potential project partners by organization 
type, state(s) or keyword(s).

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0660-0033.
    Form Number(s): None
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently 
approved information collection).
    Affected Public: Individuals; business or other for-profit 
organizations; not-for-profit institutions; and Federal, state, local, 
or tribal governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 4,500.
    Estimated Time per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,125.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to 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 shall 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, including through 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 this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: August 27, 2013.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-21293 Filed 8-30-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-06-P