Information Collection Activity; Comment Request, 13305 [2017-04767]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Rural Utilities Service

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 46 (Friday, March 10, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 13305]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-04767]


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Notices
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 46 / Friday, March 10, 2017 / 
Notices

[[Page 13305]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service (RUS) 
invites comments on this information collection for which RUS intends 
to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by May 9, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas P. Dickson, Acting Director, 
Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, USDA Rural Utilities 
Service, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., STOP 1522, Room 5164-S, 
Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 690-4492. FAX: (202) 720-
8435. Email: Thomas.Dickson@wdc.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) 
regulation (5 CFR 1320) implementing provisions of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13) requires that interested members 
of the public and affected agencies have an opportunity to comment on 
information collection and recordkeeping activities (see 5 CFR 
1320.8(d)). This notice identifies an information collection that RUS 
is submitting to OMB for extension.
    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 of the 
proposed collection of information including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (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 those who are 
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to: Thomas 
P. Dickson, Acting Director, Program Development and Regulatory 
Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., STOP 1522, Room 5164-S, Washington, DC 20250-
1522. Telephone: (202) 690-4492, FAX: (202) 720-8435. Email: 
Thomas.Dickson@wdc.usda.gov.
    Title: 7 CFR part 1744, subpart B, Lien Accommodations and 
Subordination Policy.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0126.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: RUS borrowers and other organizations providing 
telecommunications in rural areas, due to changes in the 
telecommunications industry, including deregulation and technological 
developments, may consider undertaking projects that provide new 
telecommunications services and other telecommunications services not 
ordinarily financed by RUS. Although some of these services may not be 
eligible for financing under the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (RE 
Act), the services may nevertheless advance RE Act objectives where the 
borrower obtains financing from private lenders. To facilitate the 
financing of those projects and services, this program assists in 
facilitating funding from non-RUS sources in order to meet the growing 
capital needs of rural Local Exchange Carriers (LECs).
    The information collected for lien accommodation requests is used 
by RUS to ascertain a borrower's level of financial strength and, upon 
agency approval of the lien accommodation, ensures that the 
government's loan security interest is protected.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average .50 hour per response.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit and non-profit 
institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Rebecca 
Hunt, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, at (202) 205-3660, 
FAX: (202) 720-8435. Email: Rebecca.Hunt@wdc.usda.gov.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of 
public record.

    Dated: February 22, 2017.
Christopher A. McLean,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-04767 Filed 3-9-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-15-P