[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 17 (Monday, January 27, 1997)] [Notices] [Pages 3894-3896] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-1860] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Public Information Collection Requirements Submitted to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review January 17, 1997. The Federal Communications Commission has submitted the following information collections to OMB for review. For further information contact Dorothy Conway, Federal Communications Commission, (202) 418- 0217. In Revision of ARMIS Quarterly Report (FCC Report 43-01), ARMIS USOA Report (FCC Report 43-02), ARMIS Joint Cost Report (FCC Report 43- 03), ARMIS Access Report (FCC Report 43-04), ARMIS Quarterly Service Quality Report (FCC Report 43-05), ARMIS Semi-Annual Service Quality Report (FCC Report 43-06), ARMIS Infrastructure Report (FCC Report 43- 07), and ARMIS Operating Data Report (FCC Report 43-08) for Tier 1 Telephone Companies (released December 17, 1996), CC Docket No. 96-193, the Common Carrier Bureau implements the Commission's Order in Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Reform of Filing Requirements and Carrier Classification (Reporting Requirements (Order) released September 12, 1996. Rules requiring the filing of automated Reporting Management Information System (ARMIS) reports more frequently than annually were superseded by Section 402(b)(2)(B) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The Commission, therefore, amended its rules with the issuance of the Reporting [[Page 3895]] Requirements Order. Carriers are now required to file all ARMIS reports on an annual basis. This Order revises the form and content of these reports to facilitate annual filings. In this Order, we adopt revisions to all ARMIS reports which require carriers with annual operating revenues for the preceding year equal to or above the indexed revenue threshold to file ARMIS reports for 1996, due on or before April 1, 1997. We also clarify definitions and row descriptions on several ARMIS reports. These clarifications are implemented to provide consistency between reports and improved understanding of existing requirements. In addition, this Order compiles previously adopted ARMIS report requirements for the convenience of report filers. While many of these requirements were adopted pursuant to previous Commission orders, others were developed through correspondence with the industry in an effort to clarify existing procedures. The full text of the Commission Order and detailed instructions for the completion of the reports, which incorporate the changes made in the Order, are available for public inspection in the Commission's Public Reference Room at 2000 L Street, N.W., Suite 812, Washington, D.C. 20554 and from the International Transcription Service, Inc. (ITS) at 2100 M Street, N.W., Suite 140, Washington, D.C. 20037. The Order contains new and/or modified information collections. The Order has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). The Commission has updated its November 1996 paperwork submissions made for the collections identified below (which are currently under OMB review) to OMB to reflect the new and/or modified collections in the Order. OMB is asked to approve the changes adopted in the Order in addition to any requirements in the original submissions. The Commission, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, invites the general public and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to comment on the following information collections contained in the Order as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law No. 104-13. Written comments by the public on the proposed and/or modified information collections are due 30 days after date of publication in the Federal Register. OMB notification of action is due on February 24, 1997. Comments should address: (a) Whether the proposed or modified information collection 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; and (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. Federal Communications Commission OMB Control Number: 3060-0395. Title: Automated Reporting and Management Information Systems (ARMIS)--Sections 43.21 and 43.22. Form No.: FCC Reports 43-02, 43-05, 43-07. Type of Review: Revised collection. Number of Respondents: Businesses or other for profit. Estimated Time Per Response: 943.27. Total Annual Burden: 151,868. Estimated Costs Per Respondent: $0. Needs and Uses: ARMIS is needed to administer our accounting, jurisdictional separations, access charges and joint cost rules and rules to analyze revenue requirements and rates of return, service quality and infrastructure development. It collects financial and operating data from all Tier 1, Class A local exchange carriers with annual revenues over $100 million and carriers who elect incentive regulation. The information contained in the reports provides the necessary detail to enable this Commission to fulfill its regulatory responsibilities. Summary of Changes a. FCC Report 43-02 The USOA Report provides the annual operating results of the carriers' activities for every account in the USOA. In the Order the Commission amended row descriptions and definitions to add clarity and provide consistency among reports. In Table I-1, Income Statement Accounts, Row 5280, Nonregulated, is no longer included in Row 5200, Miscellaneous, to be consistent with Part 32. Row descriptions and definitions of Row 510, Basic Local Service Revenue, and Row 520, Local Network Service Revenue were also revised. Description of Row 730 was also clarified as well as the definition of Row 860, Total Compensation for the Year. Various row descriptions in Table I-6, Special Charges, and Table I-7, Donations or Payments for Services Rendered by Persons other Than Employees were clarified to specify dollar amounts above which items must be reported. b. FCC Report 43-05 The Service Quality Report provides service quality information in the areas of interexchange access service installation and repair intervals, local service installation and repair intervals, trunk blockage and total switch downtime for price cap companies. All tables have been revised to facilitate reporting on an annual basis. The report has also been revised to clarify the filing instructions. c. FCC Report 43-07 The Infrastructure Report provides switch deployment and capabilities data. Various rows of Table 1, Switching Equipment were revised to correct minor typographical errors. For clarification purposes, Table IV, Additions and Book Costs, Row 0540 has been renamed, ``Total TPIS Gross Additions (000).'' OMB Control Number: 3060-0511. Title: ARMIS Access Report. Form No.: FCC Report 43-04. Type of Review: Revised collection. Respondents: Businesses or other for-profit. Number of Respondents: 150 respondents. Estimated Time Per Response: 1,150 hours. Total Annual Burden: 172,500 hours. Estimated Costs Per Respondent: $0. Needs and Uses: The Access Report is needed to administer our accounting, jurisdictional separations and access charge rules, and to analyze revenue requirements and rates of return and to collect financial and operating data from all Tier 1 local exchange carriers. Summary of Changes Row titles have been expanded to provide more meaningful descriptions in FCC Report 43-04. Various row definitions have been clarified to provide consistency among reports. The General Instructions are expanded to include symbols to be used to differentiate whole dollars, dollars reported in thousands, percentages and other units (e.g., minutes, miles, conversational minutes, working loops, etc.). Other revisions were made pursuant to previous Orders and letters from the Chief of the Accounting and Audits Division. Rounding conventions are included to reflect prior clarifications made in a letter from the Common Carrier Bureau to a representative of USTA on July 10, 1992. The N/As were removed from Column (r) for Rows 3070 and 3071. The descriptions of Row 2250, FCC Investment Adjustment, and Row 7350, FCC Expense Adjustment, are clarified [[Page 3896]] to state that these rows will not include any TPUC or AFUDC, respectively, as a Part 65 adjustment. OMB Control Number: 3060-0513. Title: ARMIS Joint Cost Report. Form No.: FCC Report 43-03. Type of Review: Revised collection. Respondents: Businesses or other for Profit. Number of Respondents: 150 respondents. Estimated Time Per Response: 200 hours per response. Total Annual Burden: 30,000 Hours. Estimated Costs Per Respondent: $0. Needs and Uses: The Joint Cost Report is needed to administer our joint cost rules (Part 64) and to analyze data in order to prevent cross-subsidization of nonregulated operations by the regulated operations of Tier 1 carriers. Summary of Changes Various rows descriptions and definitions were clarified to provide consistency among reports. Row 5280, Nonregulated, is no longer included in Row 5200, Miscellaneous, to be consistent with Part 32. Row descriptions and definitions of Row 510, Basic Local Service Revenue, and Row 520, Local Network Service Revenue were clarified to be consistent with the same change made in Report 43-02. A new row entitled ``Total Operating Expenses'' has been added. The definitions of Rows 7200, 7300, 7600 and 750 were revised to clarify the instructions for their calculation. Rows 8042, Rate of Return, and Row 8045, Rate of Return Including FCC Refund are revised pursuant to the LEC Price Cap Order. Row 8021, Approximate Net Taxable Income has been revised to clarify its calculation. Row 9010, Total Billable Access Lines, has been revised to be consistent with FCC Report 43-01, Table II, Row 2140. Federal Communications Commission. William F. Caton, Acting Secretary. [FR Doc. 97-1860 Filed 1-24-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6712-01-P