[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 6, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 13319]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-5359]
[[Page 13319]]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Information Collection Being Submitted to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for Emergency Review and Approval
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden
and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
3502-3520), the Federal Communications Commission invites the general
public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment
on the following information collection(s). 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 estimates; (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 OMB control number. No person
shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection
of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) that does
not display a valid OMB control number.
DATES: Written Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) comments should be
submitted on or before April 5, 2012. If you anticipate that you will
be submitting PRA comments, but find it difficult to do so within the
period of time allowed by this notice, you should advise the FCC
contact listed below as soon as possible.
ADDRESSES: Submit your PRA comments to Nicholas A. Fraser, Office of
Management and Budget (OMB), via fax at 202-395-5167 or via Internet at
[email protected] and to Judith B. Herman, Federal
Communications Commission, via the Internet at [email protected].
To submit your PRA comments by email send them to: [email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Judith B. Herman, Office of Managing
Director, FCC, at 202-418-0214.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission is requesting emergency OMB
processing of the new information collection requirements contained in
this notice. The Commission is requesting OMB approval by March 30,
2012.
OMB Control Number: 3060-0819.
Title: Sections 54.400 through 54.707, Lifeline Assistance
(Lifeline) Connection Assistance (Link-Up) Reporting Worksheet and
Instructions.
Form No.: FCC Form 497.
Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Respondents: Individuals or households and business or other for-
profit.
Number of Respondents: 13,500,940 respondents; 40,035,705
responses.
Estimated Time per Response: .25 hours to 50 hours.
Frequency of Response: On Occasion, Biennially, Monthly, and Annual
reporting requirements, third party disclosure requirements and
recordkeeping requirements.
Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits.
Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47
U.S.C. Sections 1, 4(i), 201-205, 214, 254, and 403 of the
Communications Act of 1934, as amended.
Total Annual Burden: 30,729,935 hours.
Total Annual Cost: N/A.
Privacy Act Impact Assessment: N/A.
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: The Commission is not
requesting that respondents submit confidential information to the
Commission. We note that USAC must preserve the confidentiality of all
data obtained from respondents and contributors to the universal
service support program mechanism; must not use the data except for the
purposes of administering the universal service program; and must not
disclose data in company-specific form unless directed to do so by the
Commission.
Needs and Uses: The Commission will submit this revised information
collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) during this 30
day comment period in order to obtain emergency approval from them. The
Commission is requesting emergency OMB approval for this revised
information collection by March 30, 2012.
This collection of information is critical to the prevention of
waste, fraud and abuse of the Universal Service Fund (USF or Fund).
Among other things, the Lifeline Reform Report and Order, (Order), FCC
12-11, adopts rules to eliminate waste and inefficiency, increase
accountability, and transition the Fund from supporting stand-alone
telephone service to broadband. The reforms adopted in the Order
substantially strengthen protections against waste, fraud, and abuse;
improve program administration and accountability; improve enrollment
and consumer disclosures, and constrain the growth of the program in
order to reduce the burden on all who contribute to the Fund. The
Commission has set a budget target to eliminate $200 million in waste
in 2012, which is dependent on certain rules going into effect as soon
as possible. Among other things, the Commission has revised the FCC
Form 497; incorporate the information collection requirements contained
in OMB Control Number 3060-0774 into this information collection;
removed or consolidated all low-income requirements requiring approval
or revision into this submission; revised the certification of
eligibility upon enrollment; revised annual reporting requirements;
revised verification of continued eligibility (now referred to as
Annual Recertification of Consumer Eligibility; revised resolution of
duplicative claims; and adopt maintenance of National Lifeline
Accountability database. Therefore, it is essential that the OMB grant
this request for emergency processing of this revised information
collection.
Federal Communications Commission.
Bulah P. Wheeler,
Deputy Manager, Office of the Secretary, Office of Managing Director.
[FR Doc. 2012-5359 Filed 3-5-12; 8:45 am]
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