[Federal Register: July 6, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 130)]
[Notices]
[Page 35597-35598]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06jy01-35]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
Performance Reporting System (PRS) for the Technology
Opportunities Program (TOP)
ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.
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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 (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)).
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before September 4,
2001.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Madeleine Clayton,
Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room
6086, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230 (or via the
Internet mclayton@doc.gov).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should
be directed to Clifton Beck, NTIA, Room H-4888, U.S. Department of
Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230 (or via the
Internet cbeck@ntia.doc.gov).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The purpose of the Technology Opportunities Program (TOP), formerly
the Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance
Program (TIIAP), is to promote the widespread and efficient use of
advanced telecommunications services in the public and non-profit
sectors to serve America's communities.
The program has the following objectives:
To promote the widespread availability and use of digital
network technologies;
To increase the awareness in public and non-profit sectors
of digital networking technologies and their benefits;
To stimulate public and non-profit sector organizations to
examine potential benefits of, and plan for, investments in digital
network technologies;
To provide a wide variety of model digital network
technology projects for public and non-profit sector organizations to
follow;
To educate the public and non-profit sectors about best
practices in implementing a wide variety of digital network projects;
and,
To help reduce disparities in access to, and use of,
digital network technologies.
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration
(NTIA), in administering TOP, has awarded 456 grants, in all 50 states,
the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In order to
ensure that grant recipients are effectively promoting the efficient
and widespread use of advanced telecommunications services to serve
American communities and to comply with the Government Performance and
Results Act, NTIA will collect and analyze quantitative and qualitative
data relating to start-up documentation, quarterly and annual progress
reports, and close-out documentation on TOP-funded projects.
NTIA seeks a mechanism whereby it can evaluate the impacts of its
projects on an ongoing basis, monitor grants more efficiently and
effectively, and provide timely technical assistance to grant
recipients. To enable the Program to monitor and to analyze the impacts
of the funded projects, TOP seeks to incorporate standardized
quantitative and qualitative data elements into an online structured
reporting system. The reporting system will include a set of core data
elements that apply to all projects.
II. Method of Collection
Data will be collected through the use of automated collection
techniques. The information collection instrument to be used for this
study will include a web-based structured reporting system for both
quantitative and qualitative project information.
III. Data
OMB Number: 0660-0015.
Form Number: None.
Type of Review: Regular Submission.
Affected Public: State, Local, and Tribal Government and Non-Profit
Institutions.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 50.
Estimated Time Per Response: Start-Up Documentation, 20 hours;
Progress Reports, 4 hours; Annual Report, 0.5 hours; Final Closeout
Report, 20 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,807.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to the Public: 0.
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
(including hours and cost) of the proposed 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.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and/or included in the request of OMB approval of the information
collection; they also become a matter of public record.
[[Page 35598]]
Dated: July 2, 2001.
Madeleine Clayton,
Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief
Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 01-16978 Filed 7-5-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-60-P