RUS Broadband Technical Assistance Program Information Collection Extension

Content

ACTION:

Notice and request for comment.

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 extension to a currently approved information collection package for the Broadband Technical
Assistance Program (BTA Program). The BTA Program provides financial assistance to technical assistance providers and rural
communities to promote the expansion of broadband service into unserved rural areas.

DATES:

Comments on this notice must be received by April 20, 2026 to be assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Adyam Negasi, Regulations Management Division, Innovation Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Email: adyam.negasi@usda.gov. Telephone: (202) 221-9298.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) regulation (5 CFR part 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 will submit to OMB for regular approval.

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 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 by the Federal eRulemaking Portal, www.regulations.gov. In the “Search” box, type in the Docket No. RUS-26-TELECOM-0001. and click the “Search” button. From the search results: click
on or locate the document title and select the “Comment” button. To submit a comment: Insert comments under the “Comment”
title. Information on using regulations.gov, including instructions for accessing documents, submitting comments, and viewing
the docket after the close of the comment period, is available through the site's “FAQ” link.

Title: Broadband Technical Assistance Program.

OMB Control Number: 0572-0160.

Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Abstract: The Rural Utilities Service administers the Broadband Technical Assistance Program (BTA Program) as authorized pursuant to
the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Pub. L. 117-58). The purpose of the program is to provide financial assistance
to technical assistance providers and rural communities to promote the expansion of broadband service into unserved rural
areas. Program funds must be used to support broadband technical assistance activities which include, but are not limited
to, project planning and community engagement, operations support, financial sustainability, environmental compliance, construction
and engineering, accessing federal resources, and data collection and reporting.

The reporting burden covered by this collection of information consists of forms, documents and written burden to support
a request for funding for BTA Program assistance. This information collection will be used to obtain information necessary
to evaluate applications to determine the eligibility of the applicant and the project for the program and to qualitatively
assess the project's technical and financial merit to determine which projects should be funded.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 2.638 hours per response.

Respondents: Respondents for this data my include Tribes and Tribal Entities, state or local governments, a

  territory or possession of the United States, an institution of higher learning, non-profit entities with 501(c)(3) IRS status,
  cooperatives or mutual organizations, corporations and limited liability companies or limited liability partnerships.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 95.

Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 9.31.

Estimated Number of Responses: 885.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2,335 hours.

Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Adyam Negasi, Rural Development Innovation Center, Regulations
Management Division, at (202) 221-9298. 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.

Karl Elmshaeuser, Administrator, Rural Utilities Service. [FR Doc. 2026-03140 Filed 2-17-26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-15-P

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