[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 29 (Friday, February 12, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 7499]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-02949]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utility Service


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

February 9, 2016.
    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments are requested regarding (1) 
whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper 
performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the 
information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the 
agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility and 
clarity of the information to be collected; (4) 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 regarding this information collection received by March 
14, 2016 will be considered. Written comments should be addressed to: 
Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), New Executive Office 
Building, 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20502. Commenters are 
encouraged to submit their comments to OMB via email to: 
[email protected] or fax (202) 395-5806 and to Departmental 
Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-
7602. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720-
8958.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: 7 CFR 1744-C, Advance and Disbursement of Funds--
Telecommunications.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0023.
    Summary of Collection: Section 201 of the Rural Electrification Act 
(RE Act) of 1936 authorizes the Administrator of the Rural Utilities 
Service (RUS) to make loans for the purpose of providing telephone 
service to the widest practicable number of rural subscribers. A 
borrower requesting loan advances must submit RUS Form 481, ``Financial 
Requirement Statement''. Along with the Form 481 the borrower must also 
submit a description of the advances and upon request copies of backup 
documentation relating to the transactions. Within a reasonable amount 
of time, funds are advanced to the borrower for the purposes specified 
in the statement of purposes. The borrower must immediately deposit all 
advanced money into a Special Construction account until disbursed.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information collected is used 
by RUS to record and control transactions and verify that the funds 
advanced in the construction fund are related directly to loan 
purposes. If the information were not collected, RUS would not have any 
control over how loan funds are spent or a record of the balance to be 
advanced.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 177.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,223.

Charlene Parker,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-02949 Filed 2-11-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P