81_FR_31687 81 FR 31590 - Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

81 FR 31590 - Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 97 (May 19, 2016)

Page Range31590-31591
FR Document2016-11832

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Rural Utilities Service, an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), hereinafter referred to as Agency, invites comments on this information collection for which the Agency intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 97 (Thursday, May 19, 2016) 
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 97 (Thursday, May 19, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31590-31591]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-11832]


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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 
Rural Utilities Service, an agency of the United States Department of 
Agriculture (USDA), hereinafter referred to as Agency, invites comments 
on this information collection for which the

[[Page 31591]]

Agency intends to request approval from the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by July 18, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas P. Dickson, Acting Director, 
Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, 
1400 Independence Ave. SW., STOP 1522, Room 5164 South Building, 
Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 690-4492, FAX: (202) 720-
4120.

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 the 
Agency 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, STOP 
1522, Room 5164, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20250-1522. 
FAX: (202) 720-4120.
    Title: Public Television Station Digital Transition Grant Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0134.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: As part of the nation's evolution to digital television, 
the Federal Communications Commission had ordered all television 
broadcasters to initiate the broadcast of a digital television signal. 
Public television stations rely largely on community financial support 
to operate. In many rural areas the cost of the transition to digital 
broadcasting may exceed community resources. Since rural communities 
depend on public television stations for services ranging from 
educational course content in their schools to local news, weather, and 
agricultural reports, any disruption of public television broadcasting 
would be detrimental.
    Initiating a digital broadcast requires the installation of a new 
antenna, transmitter or translator, and new digital program management 
facilities consisting of processing and storage systems. Public 
television stations use a combination of transmitters and translators 
to serve the rural public. If the public television station is to 
perform program origination functions, as most do, digital cameras, 
editing and mastering systems are required. A new studio-to-tower site 
communications link may be required to transport the digital broadcast 
signal to each transmitter and translator. The capability to broadcast 
some programming in a high definition television format is inherent in 
the digital television standard, and this can require additional 
facilities at the studio. These are the new components of the digital 
transition.
    In designing the national competition for the distribution of these 
grant funds, priority is given to public television stations serving 
the areas that would be most unable to fund the digital transition 
without a grant. The largest sources of funding for public television 
stations are public membership and business contributions. In rural 
areas, lower population density reduces the field of membership, and 
rural areas have fewer businesses per capita than urban and suburban 
areas. Therefore, rurality is a primary predictor of the need for grant 
funding for a public television station's digital transition. In 
addition, some rural areas have per capita income levels that are lower 
than the national average, and public television stations covering 
these areas in particular are likely to have difficulty funding the 
digital transition. As a result, the consideration of the per capita 
income of a public television station's coverage area is a secondary 
predictor of the need for grant funding. Finally, some public 
television stations may face special difficulty accomplishing the 
transition, and a third scoring factor for station hardship will 
account for conditions that make these public television stations less 
likely to accomplish the digital transition without a grant.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 30.
    Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; State, Local or Tribal 
Government.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimate of annual responses: Public reporting burden for this 
collection of information is estimated to be 30 hours annual responses.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 744 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from MaryPat 
Daskal, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, at (202) 720-7853. 
FAX: (202) 720-4120.
    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: May 10, 2016.
Brandon McBride,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-11832 Filed 5-18-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P

31590 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 97 / Thursday, May 19, 2016 / Notices Division, U.S. Department of DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE assistance so that very low- and low- Agriculture, Support Services Division, income rural residents can obtain STOP 0742, 1400 Independence Avenue Rural Housing Service adequate housing. Such assistance is SW., Washington, DC 20250. All made by grantees to very low- and low- responses to this Notice will be Submission for OMB Review; income persons, and to co-ops. Grant summarized and included in the request Comment Request funds are used by grantees to make for OMB approval. All comments will May 16, 2016. loans, grants, or other comparable become a matter of public record. The Department of Agriculture has assistance to eligible homeowners, submitted the following information rental unit owners, and co-ops for repair Non-Discrimination Statement collection requirement(s) to OMB for and rehabilitation of dwellings to bring In accordance with Federal civil them up to code or minimum property review and clearance under the rights law and U.S. Department of standards. These grants were Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Agriculture (USDA) civil rights established by Public Law 98–181, the Public Law 104–13. Comments are regulations and policies, the USDA, its Housing Urban Rural Recovery Act of requested regarding (1) whether the Agencies, offices, and employees, and 1983, which amended the Housing Act collection of information is necessary institutions participating in or of 1949 (Pub. L. 93–383) by adding for the proper performance of the administering USDA programs are section 533, 42 U.S.C. S 2490(m), functions of the agency, including prohibited from discriminating based on Housing Preservation Grants. whether the information will have race, color, national origin, religion, sex, Need and Use of the Information: An practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the gender identity (including gender applicant will submit a ‘‘Statement of agency’s estimate of burden including expression), sexual orientation, Activity’’ that describes its proposed the validity of the methodology and disability, age, marital status, family/ program. RHS will collect information assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance parental status, income derived from a to determine eligibility for a grant to the quality, utility and clarity of the public assistance program, political justify its selection of the applicant for information to be collected; and (4) beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior funding; to report program ways to minimize the burden of the civil rights activity, in any program or accomplishments and to justify and collection of information on those who activity conducted or funded by USDA support expenditure of grant funds. RHS are to respond, including through the (not all bases apply to all programs). uses this information to determine if the use of appropriate automated, Remedies and complaint filing grantee is complying with its grant electronic, mechanical, or other deadlines vary by program or incident. agreement and to make decisions Persons with disabilities who require technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. regarding continuing with modifying, or alternative means of communication for terminating grant assistance. If the program information (e.g., Braille, large Comments regarding this information collection received by June 20, 2016 information were not collected and print, audiotape, American Sign presented to RHS, the Agency could not Language, etc.) should contact the will be considered. Written comments should be addressed to: Desk Officer for monitor the program or justify responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET disbursement of grant funds. Center at (202) 720–2600 (voice and Agriculture, Office of Information and Description of Respondents: Not-for- TTY) or contact USDA through the Regulatory Affairs, Office of profit institutions; State, Local or Tribal Federal Relay Service at (800) 877–8339. Management and Budget (OMB), New Government. Additionally, program information may Executive Office Building, 725 17th Number of Respondents: 1,246. be made available in languages other Street NW., Washington, DC 20502. Frequency of Responses: than English. Commenters are encouraged to submit Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion; To file a program discrimination their comments to OMB via email to: Quarterly. complaint, complete the USDA Program OIRA_Submission@OMB.EOP.GOV or Total Burden Hours: 7,562. Discrimination Complaint Form, AD– fax (202) 395–5806 and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Charlene Parker, 3027, found online at http:// www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_ Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250– Departmental Information Collection 7602. Copies of the submission(s) may Clearance Officer. cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and be obtained by calling (202) 720–8958. [FR Doc. 2016–11831 Filed 5–18–16; 8:45 am] provide in the letter all of the An agency may not conduct or BILLING CODE 3410–XV–P information requested in the form. To sponsor a collection of information request a copy of the complaint form, unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE call (866) 632–9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to Rural Utilities Service (1) By mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant the collection of information that such Information Collection Activity; Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 persons are not required to respond to Comment Request Independence Avenue SW., Washington the collection of information unless it DC 20250–9410; displays a currently valid OMB control Rural Utilities Service, USDA. AGENCY: (2) Fax: (202) 690–7442; or number. Notice and request for ACTION: (3) Email: program.intake@usda.gov. Rural Housing Service comments. mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Title: 7 CFR 1944–N—Housing SUMMARY: In accordance with the Preservation Grants. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Dated: May 13, 2016. Rural Utilities Service, an agency of the OMB Control Number: 0575–0115. Tony Hernandez, Summary of Collection: The Rural United States Department of Agriculture Administrator, Rural Housing Service. Housing Service (RHS) is authorized to (USDA), hereinafter referred to as [FR Doc. 2016–11909 Filed 5–18–16; 8:45 am] make grants to eligible applicants to Agency, invites comments on this BILLING CODE 3410–XV–P provide repair and rehabilitation information collection for which the VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:47 May 18, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\19MYN1.SGM 19MYN1

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 97 / Thursday, May 19, 2016 / Notices 31591 Agency intends to request approval rural areas the cost of the transition to Respondents: Not-for-profit from the Office of Management and digital broadcasting may exceed institutions; State, Local or Tribal Budget (OMB). community resources. Since rural Government. DATES: Comments on this notice must be communities depend on public Estimated Number of Responses per received by July 18, 2016. television stations for services ranging Respondent: 1. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: from educational course content in their Estimate of annual responses: Public Thomas P. Dickson, Acting Director, schools to local news, weather, and reporting burden for this collection of Program Development and Regulatory agricultural reports, any disruption of information is estimated to be 30 hours Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, 1400 public television broadcasting would be annual responses. Independence Ave. SW., STOP 1522, detrimental. Estimated Total Annual Burden on Initiating a digital broadcast requires Respondents: 744 hours. Room 5164 South Building, the installation of a new antenna, Copies of this information collection Washington, DC 20250–1522. transmitter or translator, and new digital can be obtained from MaryPat Daskal, Telephone: (202) 690–4492, FAX: (202) program management facilities Program Development and Regulatory 720–4120. consisting of processing and storage Analysis, at (202) 720–7853. FAX: (202) SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office systems. Public television stations use a 720–4120. of Management and Budget’s (OMB) combination of transmitters and All responses to this notice will be regulation (5 CFR 1320) implementing translators to serve the rural public. If summarized and included in the request provisions of the Paperwork Reduction the public television station is to for OMB approval. All comments will Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–13) requires perform program origination functions, also become a matter of public record. that interested members of the public as most do, digital cameras, editing and and affected agencies have an Dated: May 10, 2016. mastering systems are required. A new opportunity to comment on information studio-to-tower site communications Brandon McBride, collection and recordkeeping activities link may be required to transport the Administrator, Rural Utilities Service. (see 5 CFR 1320.8(d)). This notice digital broadcast signal to each [FR Doc. 2016–11832 Filed 5–18–16; 8:45 am] identifies an information collection that transmitter and translator. The BILLING CODE 3410–15–P the Agency is submitting to OMB for capability to broadcast some extension. programming in a high definition Comments are invited on: (a) Whether television format is inherent in the DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE the proposed collection of information digital television standard, and this can is necessary for the proper performance require additional facilities at the Rural Utilities Service of the functions of the Agency, studio. These are the new components including whether the information will Information Collection Activity; of the digital transition. have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of In designing the national competition Comment Request the Agency’s estimate of the burden of for the distribution of these grant funds, Rural Utilities Service, USDA. AGENCY: the proposed collection of information priority is given to public television Notice and request for ACTION: including the validity of the stations serving the areas that would be comments. methodology and assumptions used; (c) most unable to fund the digital ways to enhance the quality, utility and transition without a grant. The largest SUMMARY: In accordance with the clarity of the information to be sources of funding for public television Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 collected; and (d) ways to minimize the stations are public membership and U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the burden of the collection of information business contributions. In rural areas, Rural Utilities Service (RUS) invites on those who are to respond, including lower population density reduces the comments on this information through the use of appropriate field of membership, and rural areas collection for which it intends to automated, electronic, mechanical, or have fewer businesses per capita than request approval from the Office of other technological collection urban and suburban areas. Therefore, Management and Budget (OMB). techniques or other forms of information rurality is a primary predictor of the DATES: Comments on this notice must be technology. Comments may be sent to: need for grant funding for a public received by July 18, 2016. Thomas P. Dickson, Acting Director, television station’s digital transition. In addition, some rural areas have per FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, U.S. capita income levels that are lower than Thomas P. Dickson, Acting Director, Department of Agriculture, STOP 1522, the national average, and public Program Development and Regulatory Room 5164, 1400 Independence Ave. television stations covering these areas Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, 1400 SW., Washington, DC 20250–1522. FAX: in particular are likely to have difficulty Independence Ave. SW., STOP 1522, (202) 720–4120. funding the digital transition. As a Room 5164, South Building, Title: Public Television Station Digital result, the consideration of the per Washington, DC 20250–1522. Transition Grant Program. capita income of a public television Telephone: (202) 690–4492. Fax: (202) OMB Control Number: 0572–0134. station’s coverage area is a secondary 720–8435. Type of Request: Extension of a predictor of the need for grant funding. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office currently approved information Finally, some public television stations of Management and Budget’s (OMB) collection. may face special difficulty regulation (5 CFR 1320) implementing Abstract: As part of the nation’s accomplishing the transition, and a provisions of the Paperwork Reduction mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES evolution to digital television, the third scoring factor for station hardship Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–13) requires Federal Communications Commission will account for conditions that make that interested members of the public had ordered all television broadcasters these public television stations less and affected agencies have an to initiate the broadcast of a digital likely to accomplish the digital opportunity to comment on information television signal. Public television transition without a grant. collection and recordkeeping activities stations rely largely on community Estimated Number of Respondents: (see 5 CFR 1320.8(d)). This notice financial support to operate. In many 30. identifies an information collection that VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:47 May 18, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\19MYN1.SGM 19MYN1


Document Created: 2018-02-07 15:01:39
Document Modified: 2018-02-07 15:01:39
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice and request for comments.
DatesComments on this notice must be received by July 18, 2016.
ContactThomas P. Dickson, Acting Director, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., STOP 1522, Room 5164 South Building, Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 690-4492, FAX: (202) 720- 4120.
FR Citation81 FR 31590 
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