Rural Broadband Loans, Loan/Grant Combination, and Loan Guarantees

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Farm Bill Application Guide.pdf Supplementary Document	2020-02-20
ROCIS - Spreadsheet- 0572-0154 Broadband.xlsx Supplementary Document	2020-06-25
ROCIS - 2020 - Broadband Supporting Statement clean version.docx Supporting Statement A	2020-06-25

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
237380	Rural Broadband Loans, Loan/Grant Combination, and Loan Guarantees SLT Other-IC non-form	Unchanged
237337	Rural Broadband Loans, Loan/Grant Combination, and Loan Guarantees Private Sector Other-IC non-statement	Unchanged

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 0572-0154	ICR Reference No: 202006-0572-005
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202006-0572-004
Agency/Subagency: USDA/RUS	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Rural Broadband Loans, Loan/Grant Combination, and Loan Guarantees
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 12/08/2020

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	01/31/2021
Responses	528	528
Time Burden (Hours)	20,942	20,942
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

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Abstract: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), is authorized by Title VI, Rural Broadband Access, of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended (RE Act), to provide loans, loan/grant combinations and loan guarantees to fund the cost of construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment for the provision of broadband service in eligible rural areas in the States and Territories of the United States. 7 CFR part 1738 prescribes the types of loans available, facilities financed, and eligible applicants, as well as minimum equity requirements to be considered for a loan. In addition, 7 CFR part 1738 outlines the process through which RUS will consider applicants under the priority consideration required in Title VI.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 7 USC 901 Name of Law: Rural Electricification and Telephone Service
   PL: Pub.L. 115 - 334 6201 Name of Law: Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: PL: Pub.L. 115 - 334 6201 Name of Law: Agricultue Improvement Act of 2018

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	85 FR 14393	03/12/2020
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	85 FR 78989	12/08/2020
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 2

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Rural Broadband Loans, Loan/Grant Combination, and Loan Guarantees Private Sector
Rural Broadband Loans, Loan/Grant Combination, and Loan Guarantees SLT

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	528	528	0	0	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	20,942	20,942	0	0	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement:

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $785,829

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

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Common Form ICR:  No

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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:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(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;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

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.

Certification Date: 12/08/2020

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