Preloan Procedures and Requirements for Telecommunications Program

OMB Control No: 0572-0079	ICR Reference No: 201901-0572-004
Status: Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201608-0572-002
Agency/Subagency: USDA/RUS	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Preloan Procedures and Requirements for Telecommunications Program
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 11/05/2019
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)	Date Received in OIRA: 05/28/2019
Terms of Clearance: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for three years.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	11/30/2022	36 Months From Approved	11/30/2019
Responses	37	0	18
Time Burden (Hours)	9,618	0	4,687
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

---

Abstract: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) makes mortgage loans and loan guarantees to qualified telephone companies for the purpose of providing telephone service to rural subscribers. The items covered by this information collection package are used to determine an applicant's eligibility to borrower under the terms of Section 201 of the RE Act and for RUS to determine the Government's security for loans is adequately protected.

---

Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 7 USC 901 et seq. Name of Law: Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

---

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

---

Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	84 FR 8072	03/06/2019
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	84 FR 24075	05/24/2019
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

---

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

IC Title Form No. Form Name Acquisitions and Mergers Preloan Procedures and Requirements for Telecommunications Program

---

ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	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	37	18	0	19	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	9,618	4,687	0	0	4,931	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: This renewal package is an extension of a currently approved collection, with revisions. There is an adjustment of an overall increase of 4,931 estimated public burden hours for this collection – which is now 9,661 from 4,687 burden hours in the previous collection. This is attributed to an adjustment in the estimate of respondents and responses. The agency has seen an increase in the number of applications for this loan program over the last several years. For this estimate the projected number of respondents expected to submit loan requirements and preloan information has been increased from 17 from the previous collection to 36 for this collection, while respondents submitting proposals for acquisitions and mergers remained at 1. This is based on the FY16-FY18 average. The change in the estimated number of applications also results in an increase to the annual cost to RUS for application processing to $175,849. There have been no indications of the need to make adjustments to the quantity of estimated burden hours per response. Response time estimates were reviewed and based on information provided in interviews with respondents and others familiar with the collection, no changes were required.

---

Annual Cost to Federal Government: $175,849

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? Uncollected

Agency Contact: MaryPat Daskal 202-720-7853 [email protected]

---

Common Form ICR:  No

---

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: 05/28/2019

---