[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 102 (Thursday, May 26, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30713-30714]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-13020]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal
Communications Commission
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), as part of its
continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, invites the general
public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment
on the following information collection, as required by the Paperwork
Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995. Comments are requested concerning (a)
whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the
proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including
whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy
of the Commission's burden estimate; (c) ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information collected; (d) ways to minimize
the burden of the collection of information on the respondents,
including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of
information technology; and (e) ways to further reduce the information
collection burden on small business concerns with fewer than 25
employees.
The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information
unless it displays a currently valid control number. No person shall be
subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of
information subject to the PRA that does not display a valid Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) control number.
[[Page 30714]]
DATES: Written PRA comments should be submitted on or before July 25,
2011. If you anticipate that you will be submitting comments, but find
it difficult to do so within the period of time allowed by this notice,
you should advise the contact listed below as soon as possible.
ADDRESSES: Direct all PRA comments to Paul Laurenzano, FCC, via e-mail
[email protected] and to [email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information about the
information collection, contact Paul Laurenzano at (202) 418-1359.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
OMB Control Number: 3060-1081.
Title: Telecommunications Carriers Eligible To Receive Universal
Service Support.
Form Number: N/A.
Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents and Responses: 1529 respondents; 1529
responses.
Estimated Time per Response: 0.25-40 hours.
Obligation To Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits, 47
CFR 54.202, 54.209.
Frequency of Response: One-time and annual reporting requirements;
recordkeeping requirements.
Total Annual Burden: 1,356 hours.
Total Annual Cost: No cost.
Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).
Nature of Extent of Confidentiality: If respondents submit
information which respondents believe is confidential, respondents may
request confidential treatment of such information pursuant to section
0.459 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 0.459.
Needs and Uses: Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications
Carrier (ETC) makes a telecommunications carrier eligible to
participate in the Universal Service Fund's high-cost and low-income
programs, which support the extension of telecommunications services to
underserved rural and low-income communities. In the absence of this
information collection, the Commission's ability to oversee the use of
Federal universal service funds and to combat waste, fraud, and abuse
in the use of Federal funds would be compromised. The Commission's
rules for ETCs require the collection of the following information as
stated in paragraphs a-c:
a. ETC Designation Application. Rule 54.202 requires carriers
seeking designation from the Commission to submit an application that
certifies that the carrier will reasonably provide service to customers
in their designated service area, 47 CFR 54.202(a)(1)(i), includes a
five-year plan that describes network improvements or why such
improvements are unnecessary, Sec. 54.202(a)(1)(ii), demonstrates the
carrier's ability to remain functional in emergency situations, Sec.
54.202(a)(2), demonstrates the carrier's commitment to consumer
protection and service quality standards, Sec. 54.202(a)(3),
demonstrates that carrier offers a local usage plan comparable to the
one offered by the incumbent telephone company, Sec. 54.202(a)(4), and
certifies that the Commission may require the carrier to provide equal
access to other long distance carriers, Sec. 54.202(a)(5). If the
carrier is seeking designation on Tribal lands, the carrier must also
submit a copy of its application to the Tribal government and Tribal
regulatory authority. Sec. 54.202(d).
b. ETC Annual Reporting. Rule 54.209 requires Federally designated
ETCs to submit each year an annual report on October 1 that parallels
many of the requirements of an application. The annual report must
include a progress report on the ETC's five-year plan, Sec.
54.209(a)(1), detailed outage information, Sec. 54.209(a)(2), the
number of unfulfilled requests for service from potential customers
within its service areas, Sec. 54.209(a)(3), the number of complaints
per 1,000 handsets or lines, Sec. 54.209(a)(4), certification that the
ETC is complying with applicable service quality standards and consumer
protection rules, Sec. 54.209(a)(5), certification that the ETC is
able to function in emergency situations, Sec. 54.209(a)(6),
certification that the ETC is offering a local usage plan comparable to
that offered by the incumbent LEC in the relevant service areas, Sec.
54.209(a)(7), and certification that the Commission may require the
carrier to provide equal access to other long distance carriers, Sec.
54.209(a)(8).
c. ETC Recordkeeping. Rule 54.202(e) requires all ETCs to keep for
a period of at least five years all records required to demonstrate to
auditors that the support received was consistent with the universal
service high-cost program rules.
Federal Communications Commission.
Bulah P. Wheeler,
Deputy Manager, Office of the Secretary, Office of the Managing
Director.
[FR Doc. 2011-13020 Filed 5-25-11; 8:45 am]
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