[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 99 (Thursday, May 22, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28024-28025]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-13685]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


Public Information Collection Requirement Submitted to Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for Emergency Review and Approval

May 19, 1997.
    The Federal Communications Commission has submitted the following 
information collection requirement to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. Section 3507. 
Please note that the Commission has requested emergency review and 
approval of this collection by June 6, 1997, under the provisions of 5 
CFR Section 1320.13.
    The Commission, as part of its continuing effort to reduce 
paperwork burden, invites the general public and other federal agencies 
to take this opportunity to comment on the following information 
collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public 
Law 104-13. Comments should address: (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; 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.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted on or before June 4, 1997. 
If you anticipate that you will be submitting comments, but find it 
difficult to do so within the period of time allowed by this notice, 
you should advise the contact listed below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to comment on this information collection 
should contact Timothy Fain, Office of Management and Budget, Room 
10236, NEOB, Washington, D.C. 20503, (202) 395-0651 or via internet at 
[email protected], and to Judy Boley, Federal Communications 
Commission, (202) 418-0214 or via internet to [email protected].

Federal Communications Commission

    Title: Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service, CC Docket 
No. 96-45 (47 CFR 36.611-36.612 and 47 CFR Part 54).
    Form No.: N/A
    OMB Control No.: None.
Action: New Collections.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities; individuals or 
households; not-for-profit institutions; state, local or tribal 
government.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 5,565,451 respondents; 3.1 hours per 
response (avg.); 1,784,220 hours total annual burden.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion, annually, one-time 
requirements.
    Needs and Uses: Congress directed the Commission to implement a new 
set of universal service support mechanisms that are explicit and 
sufficient to advance the universal service principles enumerated in 
Section 254 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and such other 
principles as the Commission believes are necessary and appropriate for 
the protection of the public interest, convenience and necessity, and 
are consistent with the Act. In the Report and Order issued in CC 
Docket No. 96-45, the Commission adopts rules that are designed to 
implement the universal service provisions of section 254. 
Specifically, the Order addresses: (1) universal service principles; 
(2) services eligible for support; (3) affordability; (4) carriers 
eligible for universal service support; (5) support mechanisms for 
rural, insular, and high cost areas; (6) support for low-income 
consumers; (7) support for schools, libraries, and health care 
providers; (8) interstate subscriber line charge and common line cost 
recovery; and (9) administration of support mechanisms. The reporting 
and recordkeeping requirements contained in CC Docket No. 96-45 are 
designed to implement Section 254 follow. The reporting and 
recordkeeping are necessary to ensure the integrity of the program.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   Total annual 
         Rule section/title (47 CFR)                           Hours per response                     burden    
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
a. 36.611(a) & 36.612--Submission and          20...............................................          26,800
 Updating information to NECA.                                                                                  
b. 54.101(c)--Demonstration of exceptional     50...............................................             100
 circumstances for toll-limitation grace                                                                        
 period.                                                                                                        
c. 54.201(b)(c)--Submission of eligibility     1................................................           3,400
 criteria.                                                                                                      
d. 54.201(d)(2)--Advertisement of services &   50...............................................          65,000
 charges.                                                                                                       
e. 54.205(a)--Advance notice of                .5...............................................              50
 relinquishment of universal service.                                                                           
f. 54.207(c)(1)--Submission of proposal for    125..............................................           6,250
 redefining a rural service area.                                                                               
g. 54.307(b)--Reporting of expenses & number   2.5 (avg.).......................................           4,100
 of lines served..                                                                                              
h. 54.401(b) (1)-(2)--Submission of            2................................................             100
 disconnection waiver request.                                                                                  
i. 54.401(d)--Lifeline certification to the    1................................................           1,300
 Administrator.                                                                                                 
j. 54.407(c)--Lifeline recordkeeping.........  80...............................................         104,000
k. 54.409 (a)-(b)--Consumer qualification for  5 min............................................         440,000
 Lifeline.                                                                                                      
l. 54.409(b)--Consumer notification of         5 min............................................          44,000
 Lifeline discontinuance.                                                                                       
m. 54.418(b)--Link Up recordkeeping..........  80...............................................         104,000
n. 54.501(d)(4) & 54.516--Schools & Libraries  41 (avg.)........................................         372,000
 recordkeeping.                                                                                                 
o. 54.504 (b)-(c), 54.507(d) & 54.509(a)--     2................................................         100,000
 Description of services requested &                                                                            
 certification.                                                                                                 
p. 54.601(b)(4) & 54.609(b)--Calculating       100..............................................         340,000
 support for health care providers.                                                                             

[[Page 28025]]

                                                                                                                
q. 54.601(b)(3) & 54.619--Shared facility      21 (avg.)........................................         160,000
 record-keeping.                                                                                                
r. 54.607(b) (1)-(2)--Submission of proposed   3................................................             150
 rural rate.                                                                                                    
s. 54.603(b)(1), 54.615 (c)-(d) & 54.623(d)--  1................................................          12,000
 Description of services requested and                                                                          
 certification.                                                                                                 
t. 54.619(d)--Submission of rural health care  40...............................................              40
 report.                                                                                                        
u. 54.701 (f)(1) & (f)(2)--Submission of       40...............................................              40
 annual report & CAM.                                                                                           
v. 54.701(g)--Submission of quarterly report.  10...............................................              40
w. 54.707--Submission of state commission      .25..............................................             850
 designation.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                 ---------------
    Total annual burden hours................                                                          1,784,220
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    All the collections are necessary to implement the congressional 
mandate for universal service. The reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements are necessary to verify that the carriers and other 
respondents are eligible to receive universal service support.
    The foregoing estimates include the time for reviewing 
instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and 
maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the burden 
estimates or any other aspect of the collection of information 
including suggestions for reducing the burden to the Federal 
Communications Commission, Performance Evaluation and Records 
Management, Paperwork Reduction Project, Washington, D.C. 20554.

Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-13685 Filed 5-21-97; 8:45 am]
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