[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 206 (Thursday, October 24, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63467-63470]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-24951]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Information Collection(s) Being Submitted for Review and Approval
to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Notice; 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: 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; the
accuracy of the Commission's burden estimates; ways to enhance the
quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; 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 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 November 25, 2013. 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:
OMB Control Number: 3060-0806.
Title: Universal Service--Schools and Libraries Universal Service
Program, FCC Forms 470 and 471.
Form Numbers: FCC Forms 470 and 471.
Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities, not-for-profit
institutions and state, local or tribal government.
Number of Respondents: 82,000 respondents; 82,000 responses.
Estimated Time per Response: Three hours to complete FCC Form 470
and four hours to complete FCC Form 471. Additionally, one-half hour
(.5 hours) for each form for the five year recordkeeping requirement.
Frequency of Response: On occasion and annual reporting
requirements, recordkeeping requirement and third party disclosure
requirement.
Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits.
Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47
U.S.C. sections 151-154, 201-205, 218,-220, 254, 303(r), 403 and 405 of
the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.
Total Annual Burden: 334,000 hours.
Total Annual Cost: N/A.
Privacy Impact Assessment: N/A.
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: The Commission is not
requesting that respondents submit confidential information to the
Commission. If the applicant requests confidential treatment of their
information, they may request confidential treatment under 47 CFR 0.459
of the Commission's rules.
Needs and Uses: The Commission will submit this information
collection after this comment period to obtain the full, three year
clearance from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The
Commission is requesting OMB approval for a revision to this
information collection.
[[Page 63468]]
This submission proposes revisions to the FCC Form 470 and
instructions and FCC Form 471 and instructions. The Commission is
revising this collection in an effort to simplify the application
process and to better collect information related to the broadband
services being ordered by schools and libraries under the E-rate
program. We propose collapsing the telecommunications services and
Internet access categories into one category of service on the FCC Form
470 to simplify the application process. We also propose eliminating
outdated questions that were originally designed to determine the
impact of services and create new questions that will better gauge the
technology and speed related to E-rate applicants' Internet and
broadband connectivity. Specifically, Block 2 of the FCC Form 471,
Impact of Service Ordered for Schools and Libraries from this Form 471,
will be eliminated and questions asking about broadband and other
connectivity services will be added to Block 5 for each funding
request. The FCC Form 471 is also revised to allow applicants to
indicate whether they are a federal entity. Further, in the
Commission's attempt to reduce the number of active information
collections, the Commission will incorporate the information collection
requirements in OMB Control No. 3060-0774 into to this collection so it
can be removed from the OMB inventory.
The Commission requests a total hourly burden change for FCC Forms
470 and 471 from 325,000 burden hours to 334,000 burden hours, which is
an increase of 9,000 burden hours. The adjustment reflects updated
information received from the Universal Service Administrative Company,
the administrator of the schools and libraries universal service
support program, and is based on actual participation in the program.
Specifically, for the FCC Form 470, the Commission estimates that the
number of respondents has remained the same at 35,000 based on the
number of forms submitted for funding years 2012 and 2013 reported by
USAC. For the FCC Form 471, the Commission estimates that the number of
respondents has increased from 45,000 to 47,000 based on the increased
number of submitted FCC Forms 471 in funding years 2012 and 2013 as
reported by USAC.
The two FCC forms serve the functions of the Universal Service
Schools and Libraries Support Mechanism, 47 U.S.C. 254 of the
Communications Act of 1934, as amended. They are used at the point
where services provided to the program are implemented, or are about to
be implemented, and are a necessary prerequisite to the distribution of
payments under the program.
Applicants in the E-rate program must submit an FCC Form 470 with a
description of the services needed to USAC, which administers the fund.
The information from the FCC Form 470 is then posted on USAC's Web site
for all potential competing service providers to review. After waiting
28 days, the applicant can enter into an agreement for services. See 47
CFR 54.504(b). Applicants and consultants completing the FCC Form 470
must provide basic information on the form, including contact
information and demographic information to assist in the processing of
the application.
The FCC Form 471 must be filed each year by all E-rate applicants.
Once a school or library has complied with the Commission's competitive
bidding requirements and entered into an agreement for eligible
services, it must file an FCC Form 471 application to notify USAC of
the services that have been ordered, the service providers with whom
the applicant has entered into an agreement, and an estimate of the
funds needed to cover the discounts to be given for eligible services.
See 47 CFR 54.504(c). Applicants must now provide their FCC
Registration Number. See 47 CFR 1.8002 and 1.8003.
Besides basic information about the applicant or consultant filling
out the form, the form gathers information about the broadband services
that the school or library is currently using to help USAC determine
the technological needs of the E-rate program. Since economically
disadvantaged schools and rural schools receive a greater share of E-
rate program funding, the form also contains a discount calculation
worksheet for certifying the percentage of students eligible in that
school for the national school lunch program (or other acceptable
indicators of economic disadvantage determined by the Commission). See
47 CFR 54.505(b)(1). Similarly, libraries must make certifications
about students eligible for national school lunch programs in nearby
areas. See 47 CFR 54.505(b)(2). Since rural schools and libraries
receive slightly more funding than urban participants, the FCC Form 471
requires applicant's demographic location. See 47 CFR 54.505(b)(3).
All of the requirements contained in this information collection
are necessary to implement the congressional mandates regarding No
Child Left Behind as well as the schools and libraries universal
service support program process.
OMB Control Number: 3060-0819.
Title: Lifeline and Link Up Reform and Modernization, Advancing
Broadband Availability Through Digital Literacy Training.
Form Numbers: FCC Forms 497, 481, 550, 555, and 560.
Type of Respondents: Individuals or households and business or
other for profit.
Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Number of Respondents and Responses: 41,806,827 respondents;
41,838,290 responses.
Estimated Time per Response: .25 hours--250 hours.
Frequency of Response: On occasion, quarterly, biennially, one
time, 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 collection of information 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: 24,184,565 hours.
Total Annual Cost: N/A.
Privacy Act Impact Assessment: Yes.
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: The changes proposed in the
2012 Lifeline Reform Order affects individuals or households, and thus,
there are impacts under the Privacy Act. As required by the Privacy Act
of 1974, as amended, 5 U.S.C. 552a, the Commission will create a system
of records notice (SORN) to cover the collection, storage, maintenance
and disposal (when appropriate) of any personally identifiable
information that the Commission may collect as part of the information
collection. 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
purposes of administering the universal service support program
mechanism, must not disclose data in company-specific form unless
directed to do so by the Commission. If the Commission requests
information that respondents believe is confidential, respondents may
request confidential treatment of such information under 47 U.S.C.
section 0.459 of the Commission's rules.
Needs and Uses: This collection is being submitted as a revision.
In this submission to the OMB, the Commission proposes to make
administrative revisions to the FCC Form 555 to improve the clarity of
the form and instructions. The Commission also proposes to revised FCC
Form 555
[[Page 63469]]
Section 2 to require ETCs to report the number of subscribers claimed
on their February FCC Form 497 for the current FCC Form 555 calendar
year that were initially enrolled during that calendar year. Further,
we propose to revise Section 3 to require the ETCs to report the
percentage of de-enrolled subscribers. Finally, we propose to revise
Section 4 to require the ETCs to identify whether they are ``Pre-Paid
ETC'' that are in compliance with Section 54.407. See 47 CFR 54.407.
The Commission also proposes revision to the Broadband Pilot
Program. The broadband pilot program is aimed at generating
statistically significant data that will allow the Commission, ETCs,
and the public to analyze the effectiveness of different approaches to
using Lifeline funds to making broadband more affordable for low-income
Americans while providing support that is sufficient but not excessive.
By Order, on December 19, 2012, the Commission selected 14 projects to
participate in the broadband pilot program. Therefore, there is no
further need to solicit proposals from respondents for the Broadband
Pilot Program. In this submission to the OMB, the Commission proposes
to eliminate the call for Broadband Pilot Program proposals, which was
included in the previous revision. The Commission also proposes
revisions to FCC Form 550--Low Income Broadband Reimbursement From and
FCC Form 560--Low Income Broadband Pilot Program Reporting Form). In
the previous revision, the Commission estimated the number of
respondents for the FCC Forms 550 and 560 because the pilot program
participants had not been selected at that time. The Commission
proposes revised calculations for the burden hours associated with the
FCC Forms 550 and 560 based on the actual number of pilot program
participants. See the Commission's 60 day notice published on August
23, 2013 (78 FR 52528) for further details.
OMB Control Number: 3060-0853.
Title: Certification by Administrative Authority to Billed Entity
Compliance with the Children's Internet Protection Act Form, FCC Form
479; Certification of Compliance with the Children's Internet
Protection Act and Technology Plan Requirements Form, FCC Form 486; and
Funding Commitment Adjustment Request Form, FCC Form 500.
Form Numbers: FCC Forms 479, 486 and 500.
Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection
Respondents: Business or other for-profit, not-for-profit
institutions, and state, local or tribal government.
Number of Respondents and Responses: 90,700 respondents, 90,700
responses.
Estimated Time per Response: 1-1.5 hours.
Frequency of Response: On occasion and annual reporting
requirements, recordkeeping requirement and third party disclosure
requirement.
Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits.
Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47
U.S.C. 151-154, 201-205, 218-220, 254, 303(r), 403, and 405.
Total Annual Burden: 104,650 hours.
Total Annual Cost: NA.
Privacy Act Impact Assessment: N/A.
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: The Commission is not
requesting that respondents submit confidential information to the
Commission. If the Commission requests applicants to submit information
that the respondents believe is confidential, respondents may request
confidential treatment of their information under 47 CFR 0.459 of the
Commission's rules.
Needs and Uses: The Commission will submit this information
collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as a revision
to a currently approved collection.
This submission revises the FCC Form 479 and instructions, FCC Form
486 and instructions, and FCC Form 500 and instructions. FCC Forms 479
and 486 include revisions to existing certifications to improve clarity
and ensure consistency with the Commission's rules. FCC Form 500
includes revisions that allow applicants the option to use the FCC Form
500 to: (1) Seek extensions of the implementation deadline for non-
recurring services from the Universal Service Administrative Company
(USAC) under 47 CFR 54.507(d) of the Commission's rules; and/or (2)
notify USAC when they are transferring equipment within the three year
prohibition on equipment transfers due to a permanent or temporary
closure of school or library facilities under 47 CFR 54.413 of the
Commission's rules.
The Commission requests a total hourly burden change for FCC Forms
479, 486 and 500 from 70,000 burden hours to 104,650 burden hours,
which is an increase of 34,650 burden hours. We made adjustments in the
burden hours for each of these forms to account for updated information
received from the Universal Service Administrative Company, the
administrator of the schools and libraries universal service support
program. This estimate is based on actual participation in the program.
Specifically, for the FCC Form 479, the Commission estimates that the
number of respondents has increased from 10,000 to 10,300 based on the
number of consortia participants for funding year 2011 and 2012
reported by USAC. For the FCC Form 486, the Commission estimates that
the number of respondents has increased from 30,000 to 38,500 based on
the increased number of submitted FCC Forms 486 as reported by USAC.
For the FCC Form 500, the Commission increased the number of
respondents from 5,000 to 6,900 based on the actual FCC Forms 500
submitted in funding year 2011 as reported by USAC and to account for
the potential transfer of the requirements covered by information
collections for OMB Control Numbers 3060-0992 and 3060-1062 to this
information collection. The requirements covered by these collections
are being moved to the FCC Form 500, and OMB Control Numbers 3060-0992
and 3060-1062 will be discontinued once this revision is approved. The
burden hours were also adjusted to reflect the Commission's revised
estimates of the hours required to update and maintain Internet safety
policies. The Commission adjusts the number of respondents from 30,000
to 35,000 and adjusts the burden hours per response from .25 to .75.
The Commission estimates that the number of respondents should be
adjusted based on inclusion of the number of respondents for both the
FCC Form 479 and FCC Form 486. The Commission estimates the initial
year of compliance with the schools-only requirement to update Internet
safety policies to provide for education of minors about appropriate
online behavior, including interacting with other individuals on social
networking Web sites and in chat rooms and cyber bullying awareness and
response (as required by the Protecting Children in the 21st Century
Act) will require .75 burden hours per response. This is an adjustment
from the previously reported estimate of .25 burden hours per response.
The three FCC forms serve the functions of the Universal Service
Schools and Libraries Support Mechanism, 47 U.S.C. 254 of the
Communications Act of 1934, as amended. They are used at the point
where services provided to the program are implemented, or are about to
be implemented, and are a necessary prerequisite to the distribution of
payments under the program.
FCC Forms 479 and 486 enable participants in the program to certify
that they are compliant with the
[[Page 63470]]
Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA), 47 U.S.C. 254(h) and (l)
when they seek discounts for Internet access, internal connections and
basic maintenance of internal connections. With the exception of
program participants who receive only telecommunications services, CIPA
compliance is a necessary prerequisite to invoicing and payment. CIPA
provides that schools and libraries that have computers with Internet
access must certify that they have in place certain Internet safety
policies and technology protection measures in order to be eligible to
receive program services under section 254(h) of the Communications Act
of 1934 (the Act), as amended. 47 CFR 54.520. FCC Form 486 also is the
form that school and library applicants use to notify USAC of their
service start date and certify compliance with E-rate program
technology plan requirements.
School and library applicants use the FCC Form 500 to make
adjustments to previously filed forms, such as changing the contract
expiration date filed with the FCC Form 471, changing the funding year
service start date filed with the FCC Form 486, or cancelling or
reducing the amount of funding commitments.
All of the requirements contained in this information collection
are necessary to implement the congressional mandates regarding access
to the Internet by minors and adults as well as the schools and
libraries universal service support program and reimbursement process.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Office of Managing Director.
[FR Doc. 2013-24951 Filed 10-23-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P