[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 143 (Thursday, July 25, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 44893-44894]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-17850]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 54

[WC Docket No. 10-90; DA 13-1113, FCC 13-73]


Connect America Fund

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule; announcement of effective date.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Federal Communications Commission 
(Commission) announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
has approved, for a period of six months, an information collection 
associated with the Commission's Universal Service--Connect America 
Fund, Report and Order, 78 FR 32991, June 3, 2013 and Report and Order, 
78 FR 38227, June 26, 2013 (Orders). The Commission submitted new 
information collection requirements for review and approval by OMB, as 
required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-
3520), 78 FR 34097, June 6, 2013, which were approved by the OMB on 
July 9, 2013. This notice is consistent with the Orders, which stated 
that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register 
announcing the effective date of new information collection 
requirements.

DATES: The rules associated with the Connect America Phase II challenge 
process published at 78 FR 32991, June 3, 2013 and 47 CFR 54.312(c)(4) 
through (6), 54.312(c)(8), and 54.313(b) published at 78 FR 38227, June 
26, 2013, is effective July 25, 2013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ryan Yates, Wireline Competition 
Bureau at (202) 418-7400 or TTY (202) 418-0484.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document announces that, on July 9, 
2013, OMB approved, for a period of six months, the information 
collection requirements contained in the Commission's Orders, DA 13-
1113, published at 78 FR 32991, June 3, 2013 and FCC 13-73, published 
at 78 FR 38227, June 26, 2013. The OMB Control Number is 3060-1188. The 
Commission publishes this notice as an announcement of the effective 
date of the rules associated with the Connect America Phase II 
challenge process and 47 CFR 54.312(c)(4) through (c)(6), 54.312(c)(8) 
and 54.313(b). If you have any comments on the burden estimates listed 
below, or how the Commission can improve the collections and reduce any 
burdens caused thereby, please contact Judith B. Herman, Federal 
Communications Commission, Room 1-C823, 445 12th Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20554. Please include the OMB Control Number, 3060-1188, 
in your correspondence. The Commission will also accept your comments 
via email please send them to [email protected].
    To request materials in accessible formats for people with 
disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), 
send an email to [email protected] or call the Consumer and Governmental 
Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-0432 (TTY).

Synopsis

    As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3507), the FCC is notifying the public that it received OMB approval on 
July 9, 2013, for the rules associated with the Connect America Phase 
II challenge process and the information collection requirements 
contained in the Commission's rules at 47 CFR 54.312(c)(4) through 
(c)(6), 54.312(c)(8) and 54.313(b). Under 5 CFR 1320, an agency may not 
conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a 
current, 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 
that does not display a current, valid OMB Control Number. The OMB 
Control Number is 3060-1188.
    The foregoing notice is required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995, Pub. L. 104-13, October 1, 1995, and 44 U.S.C. 3507.
    The total annual reporting burdens and costs for the respondents 
are as follows:
    OMB Control Number: 3060-1188.
    OMB Approval Date: July 9, 2013.
    OMB Expiration Date: January 31, 2014.
    Title: Connect America Challenge Process and Certifications, WC 
Docket No. 10-90.
    Form No.: FCC Form 505.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit, not-for-profit 
institutions, and state, local or tribal government.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 113 respondents; 113 
responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 10 hours to 20 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement and third 
party disclosure requirements.
    Obligation To Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. 
Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47 
U.S.C. sections.
    Total Annual Burden: 1,260 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: N/A.
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: The Commission is not 
requesting that respondents submit confidential information to the 
Commission. However, respondents may request materials or information 
submitted to the Commission or to the Administrator be withheld from 
public inspection under 47 CFR 0.459 of the Commission's rules. We note 
that USAC must preserve the confidentiality of all data obtained from 
respondents; must not use the data except for purposes of administering 
the universal service programs; and must not disclose data in

[[Page 44894]]

company-specific form unless directed to do so by the Commission.
    Needs and Uses: In documents DA 13-1113 and FCC 13-73, the 
Commission proposed to collect information to determine what areas 
should be eligible for Phase II of Connect America Fund and to ensure 
that Connect America Fund Phase I deployment occur in areas that are 
eligible for support. This information will be used to determine the 
amount of, and eligibility for, high-cost universal service support 
received by incumbent and competitive eligible telecommunications 
carriers under the Connect America Fund. To aid in collecting this 
information regarding the Phase II challenge process in a uniform 
fashion, the Commission has created the new FCC Form 505, which parties 
should use in filing their Phase II challenges and responses with the 
FCC.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013-17850 Filed 7-24-13; 8:45 am]
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