[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 21 (Friday, January 31, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5408-5409]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-01981]
[[Page 5408]]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Information Collection Being Submitted for Review and Approval to
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
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 FCC invites the general public and other Federal
agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following
information collection. 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 PRA that does not display a valid OMB
Control Number.
DATES: Written PRA comments should be submitted on or before March 3,
2014. 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 the
Internet at [email protected] and to Leslie Smith,
Office of Managing Director (OMD), Federal Communications Commission
(FCC), via the Internet at [email protected] . To submit your PRA
comments by email, send them to: [email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leslie Smith, OMD, FCC, at 202-418-
0217, or via the Internet at: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
OMB Control Number: 3060-1188.
Title: Connect America Challenge Process and Certifications, FCC
Form 505.
Form Number: FCC Form 505.
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: 178 respondents; 178
responses.
Estimated Time per Response: 3 hours to 20 hours.
Frequency of Response: On occasion and annual reporting
requirements 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. 151, 154(i)-(j), 155, 201(b), 214, 218-220, 254, and 1302 of the
Communications Act of 1934, as amended.
Total Annual Burden: 1,793 hours.
Total Annual Cost: None.
Privacy Impact Assessment: No impact(s).
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: The Commission is not
requesting respondents to 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 company-
specific form unless directed by the Commission to do so.
Needs and Uses: In November 2011, the Commission adopted an order
reforming its high-cost universal service support mechanisms. Connect
America Fund; A National Broadband Plan for Our Future; Establish Just
and Reasonable Rates for Local Exchange Carriers; High-Cost Universal
Service Support; Developing a Unified Intercarrier Compensation Regime;
Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service; Lifeline and Link-Up;
Universal Service Reform--Mobility Fund, WC Docket Nos. 10-90, 07-135,
05-337, 03-109; GN Docket No. 09-51; CC Docket Nos. 01-92, 96-45; WT
Docket No. 10-208, Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking, 26 FCC Rcd 17663 (2011) (USF/ICC Transformation Order).
As part of the USF/ICC Transformation Order, the Commission adopted
several subsequent Orders for implementing the Connect American Phase I
and Phase II funding:
On May 16, 2013, the Commission adopted a second Connect America
Fund, Report and Order, WC Docket No. 10-90, DA 13-1113. The Report and
Order set forth the format and substance of the submissions carriers
must make to elect Phase II funding through the state-level commitment
process. Additionally, this Report and Order established the parameters
for the Connect America Phase II challenge process. These parameters
included requirements for what parties must submit to the Commission
when making a challenge, as well as the form that parties must use in
making any challenges New requirements being proposed in this
information collection are the Geocoded Information for Phase I Two-
and Three-Year Milestone Reports; Broadband Initiatives Program/
Broadband Technology Opportunities Program Annual Milestone Reports;
Phase I Investment Annual Milestone Reports; Changes in Phase I
Deployments; and Connect America Phase II State-Level Commitment
Elections. There will also be a 533 hour increase in the estimated
hourly burden.
On May 21, 2013, the Commission adopted a third Connect America
Fund, Report and Order, WC Docket No. 10-90, FCC 13-73. This Report and
Order provided for a second round of Connect America Phase I support
and specified what certifications and reporting requirements carriers
must comply with if electing to accept second round support.
These Orders contained information collection requirements for
which the Commission received OMB approval following an emergency
request in a Notice of Action on July 9, 2013.
Then on July 15, 2013, the Commission adopted the Connect America
Fund, Order on Reconsideration, WC Docket No. 10-90, FCC 13-97, which
modified a reporting requirement contained in the May 21, 2013 Report
and Order. The Order on Reconsideration made mandatory the reporting of
changes in deployment locations involving census blocks that were not
previously identified. This reporting had previously been optional
under the original Report and Order.
This revised information collection addresses these additional
requirements to carry out the programs set forth in the USF/ICC
Transformation Order. This submission also includes an extension of the
certifications related to second round Phase I funding and the
requirements contained in FCC Form 505, ``Connect America Phase II
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Challenge Process Form.'' Finally, the Commission has made some minor
edits to the FCC Form 505 and its instructions.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Office of Managing Director.
[FR Doc. 2014-01981 Filed 1-30-14; 8:45 am]
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