Public Telecommunications Facilities Grant Monitoring Program; Proposed Collection

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Telecommunications and Information Administration

Public Telecommunications Facilities Grant Monitoring Program;

Proposed Collection

ACTION: Proposed Collection; comments requested.

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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, Public law 104-13.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before August 20, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, Management

Analyst, Department of Commerce--Room 5327, 14th and Constitution Ave.

NW., Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or

copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should

be directed to Gay Shrum, NTIA--Room 4892, 14th and Constitution Ave.

NW, Washington, DC 20230, (202-482-1056).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

The purpose of the Public Telecommunications Facilities Program is

to assist, through matching funds, in the planning and construction of

public telecommunications facilities in order to achieve the following

objectives:

Extend delivery of public telecommunications services to

as many citizens in the United States as possible by the most efficient

and economical means, including the use of broadcast and nonbroadcast

technologies;

Increase public telecommunications services and facilities

available to, operated by, and owned by minorities and women; and

Strengthen the capability of existing public television

and radio stations to provide public telecommunications services to the

public.

II. Method of Collection

The reporting requirements associated with this request are

unchanged from the previous request approved by OMB in 1993. The

collection continues to be by mail. Reports submitted by grantees

include:

Construction schedule/planning timetable (one time)

Lien filing (one time)

Certification of adequate insurance coverage on equipment

purchased for the project (one time)

Performance reports (quarterly)

Closeout materials after completion of the project (one

time)

Annual reports for the duration of the government's

interest in the equipment (annually for ten year period)

III. Data

OMB Number: 0660-0001.

Form Number: N/A.

Type of Review: Regular submission.

Affected Public: State and Local Government and Non-Profit

Institutions.

Burden Hours Calculations/Reporting

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No. of Burden

Requirement Hours/grantee Grantees hours

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Construction Schedule/ Planning. 10 150 1,500

Timetable:......................

Lien Filing................. 5 150 750

Insurance................... 2 150 300

Performance Reports......... 1 x 4/year 350 1,400

Close-outs.................. 24 130 3,120

Draft Planning Report....... 40 10 400

Final Planning Report....... 10 10 100

Annual Reports.............. 1 1,300 1,300

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Total..................... ................ ......... 8,870

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Estimated Total Annual Cost: Cost to respondents is consistent with

their normal administrative overhead. Respondents will not have to

purchase equipment or material to provide information.

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 of the

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 the information

collection; they also become a matter of public record.

Dated: June 17, 1996.

Linda Engelmeier,

Management Analyst, Office of Management and Organization.

[FR Doc. 96-15840 Filed 6-20-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-60-P