[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 193 (Monday, October 6, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52102-52105]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-26418]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


Public Information Collections Approved by Office of Management 
and Budget

September 30, 1997.
    The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has received Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the following public 
information collections pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995, Public Law 104-13. An agency may not conduct or sponsor and a 
person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless 
it displays a currently valid control number. For further information 
contact Shoko B. Hair, Federal Communications Commission, (202) 418-
1379.

Federal Communications Commission

    OMB Control No.: 3060-0512.
    Expiration Date: 09/30/2000.
    Title: ARMIS Annual SummaryReport (Formerly titled, ``ARMIS 
Quarterly Report'').
    Form No.: FCC Report 43-01.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 150 respondents; 220 hours per response 
(avg.); 33,000 total annual burden hours for all collections.
    Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: $0.
    Frequency of Response: Annually.
    Description: ARMIS was implemented to facilitate the timely and 
efficient analysis of revenue requirements and rate of return to 
provide an improved basis for audits and other oversight functions, and 
to enhance the Commission's ability to quantify the effects of 
alternative policy. The ARMIS Annual Summary Report (FCC Report 43-01), 
formerly the ARMIS quarterly Report, contains financial and operating 
data and is used to monitor the local exchange carrier industry and to 
perform routine analyses of costs and revenues. FCC Report 43-01 
facilitates the annual collection of the results of accounting, rate 
base and cost allocation requirements prescribed in parts 32, 36, 64, 
65, and 69. The information contained in the ARMIS Annual Summary 
Report provides the necessary detail to enable the Commission to 
fulfill its regulatory responsibilities. Automated reporting of these 
data greatly enhances the Commission's ability to process and analyze 
the extensive amounts of data that are needed to administer its rules. 
It facilitates the timely and efficient analyses of revenue 
requirements, rates of return and price caps, and provides an improved 
basis for auditing and other oversight functions. It also enhances the 
Commission's ability to quantify the effects of policy proposals. 
Section 220 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 
220, allows the Commission, at its discretion, to prescribe the forms 
of any and all accounts, records, and memoranda to be kept by carriers 
subject to this Act, including the accounts, records, and memoranda of 
the movement of traffic, as well as of the receipts and expenditures of 
moneys. Section 219(b) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 
47 U.S.C. 219(b), authorizes the Commission by general or special 
orders to require any carriers subject to this Act to file annual 
reports concerning any matters with respect to which the Commission is 
authorized or required by law to act. Section 43.21 of the Commission's 
rules details that requirement. Obligation to respond: mandatory.
    OMB Control No.: 3060-0793.
    Expiration Date: 03/31/98.
    Title: Procedures for States Regarding Lifeline Consents, Adoption 
of Intrastate Discount Matrix for Schools and Libraries, and 
Designation of Eligible Telecommunications Carriers.
    Form No.: N/A.
    Respondents: Business or other for profit; State, Local or Tribal 
Government.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 890 respondents; 1.25 hours per response 
(avg.); 1120 total annual burden hours for all collections.
    Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: $0.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion; annually.
    Description: On May 8, 1997 the Commission released Federal-State 
Joint Board on Universal Service, Report and Order, CC Docket No. 96-
45, FCC 97-157 (Order). In that Order, the Commission adopted rules 
providing funding for discounts to eligible schools and libraries. The 
Commission also adopted rules mandating that state commissions 
designate common carriers as eligible telecommunications carriers for 
service areas selected by state commissions in accordance with section 
214(e). States and carriers are subject to the following requirements 
in order to receive universal service support. Section 54.403(a) of the 
Federal

[[Page 52103]]

Communications Commission's rules requires states to approve an 
additional reduction in the amount paid by any low-income consumer in 
order to receive additional federal Lifeline support. 47 CFR 54.403(a). 
We request states to send a one-page letter authorizing the reduction 
of intrastate rates. (No. of respondents: 50; annual burden per 
respondent: .5 hours; total annual burden: 25 hours). Section 
54.505(e)(1) of the rules requires states to adopt discounts at least 
equal to the discounts established for interstate services. 47 CFR 
54.505(e)(1). Each state must adopt an intrastate discount matrix with 
entries at least equal to those of the interstate discount matrix and 
send a notification letter indicating that it has done so. (No. of 
respondents: 50; annual burden per respondent: 2 hours; total annual 
burden: 100 hours). Section 54.201(b) requires states to designate 
common carriers as eligible telecommunications carriers for service 
areas designated by the state commission. 47 CFR 54.201(b). We request 
that states submit a list of carriers designated as eligible 
telecommunications carriers and the service areas such non-rural 
carriers are required to serve. (No. of respondents: 50; annual burden 
per respondent: 1 hour; total annual hour burden: 50 hours). Section 
153(37) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, requires any 
local exchange carrier that seeks to be classified as a rural telephone 
company to certify to its status as a rural telephone company. 47 
U.S.C. 153(37). Any local exchange carrier that seeks to be classified 
as a rural telephone company must file a letter with the Commission by 
April 30 of each year notifying the Commission that the LEC certifies 
itself to be a rural telephone company and explaining how the carrier 
meets at least one of the four criteria. (No. of respondents: 840; 
annual burden per respondent: 1 hour; total annual hour burden: 840 
hours). If a LEC's status changes so that it becomes ineligible for 
certification as a rural carrier, that carrier must inform the 
Commission and the Universal Service Administrator within one month of 
the change in status. (No. of respondents: 210; annual burden per 
respondent: .5 hours; total annual hour burden: 105 hours). All of the 
requirements are necessary to implement the congressional mandate for 
universal service. These reporting requirements are necessary to verify 
that particular carriers and other respondents are eligible to receive 
universal service support. Obligation to respond: mandatory.

    OMB Control No.: 3060-0756.
    Expiration Date: 03/31/98.
    Title: Procedural Requirements and Policies for Commission 
Processing of InterLATA Services Under Section 271 of the 
Communications Act.
    Form No.: N/A.
    Respondents: Business or other for profit.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 75 respondents; 250 hours per response 
(avg.); 18,820 total annual burden hours for all collections.
    Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: $0.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Description: In a Public Notice released 9/19/97, the Commission 
revises various procedural requirements and policies relating to the 
Commission's processing of Bell Operating Company (BOC) applications to 
provide in-region, interLATA services pursuant to section 271 of the 
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 271 (Act). These 
procedures were originally established in a Public Notice released 
December 6, 1996 (FCC 96-469). Section 271 provides for applications on 
a state-by-state basis. a. Submission of Applications by the BOCs: BOCs 
must file applications which provide information on which the applicant 
intends to rely in order to satisfy the requirements of section 271. 
The applications will contain two parts, which include: (1) A stand-
alone document entitled Brief in Support of Application by (Bell 
company name) for Provision of In-region, InterLATA Services in (State 
name) and (2) any supporting documentation. The Brief in Support will 
contain a concise summary of substantive arguments presented in the 
Brief, a statement identifying all of the agreements that the applicant 
has entered into pursuant to negotiations and/or arbitration under 
section 252, a statement identifying how the applicant meets the 
requirements of section 271(c)(1), a statement summarizing the status 
and findings of the relevant State proceedings (if any) examining the 
applicant's compliance with section 271, a statement describing the 
efforts the applicant has made to meet with likely objectors to narrow 
the issues in dispute, and all factual and legal arguments that the 
three requirements of section 271(d)(3) have been met. The application 
must also contain the name, address and phone number of the person who 
will address inquiries relating to access to any confidential 
information submitted by the applicant, and must contain an affidavit 
by an officer or duly authorized employee that ``all information 
supplied in the application is true and accurate to the best of its 
information and belief.'' The supporting documentation will contain, at 
a minimum, the complete public record of the relevant State proceedings 
(if any) examining the applicant's compliance with section 271, records 
of interconnection agreements, affidavits, etc. The supporting 
documentation shall be provided in appendices, separated by tabs and 
divided into volumes as appropriate. Each volume shall contain a table 
of contents that lists the subject of each tabbed section of that 
volume. The application shall include a list of all affidavits and the 
location of and subjects covered by each of those affidavits. The 
requirements of section 271(c)(2) will be met with this supporting 
documentation. All factual assertions, as well as expert testimony, 
must be supported by an affidavit or verified statement. All 
substantive arguments must be made in a legal brief (i.e., Brief in 
Support, comments, reply, ex parte comments) and not in affidavits or 
other supporting documentation. (No. of respondents: 7; annual hour 
burden per respondent: 125 hours; total annual burden: 6125 hours). b. 
Submission of Written Consultations by the State Regulatory 
Commissions: State regulatory commissions will file written 
consultations relating to the applications not later than approximately 
20 days after the issuance of an Initial Public Notice establishing 
specific due dates for various filings. (No. of respondents: 49; annual 
hour burden per respondent: 120 hours; total annual burden: 5880 
hours). c. Submission of Written Consultations by the U. S. Department 
of Justice: The Department of Justice will file written consultations 
relating to the applications not later than approximately 35 days after 
the issuance of the Initial Public Notice. (No. of respondents: 1; 
annual hour burden per respondent: 100 hours; total annual burden: 4900 
hours). d. Submission of Written Comments by Interested Third Parties: 
Interested third parties may file comments on the applications not 
later than approximately 20 days after the issuance of the Initial 
Public Notice. All substantive arguments must be made in a legal brief 
(i.e., Brief in Support, comments, reply, ex parte comments) and not in 
affidavits or other supporting documentation. All parties submitting 
confidential information must identify a contact person who will 
address inquiries relating to access to that confidential information. 
Each volume of supporting documentation submitted by a party shall 
contain a table of

[[Page 52104]]

contents that lists the subject of each tabbed section of that volume. 
The party shall include a list of all affidavits and the location of 
and subjects covered by each of those affidavits. Parties shall not 
incorporate by reference, in their comment or replies, entire documents 
or significant portion of documents that were filed in other 
proceedings, such as comments filed in a previous section 271 
proceeding. (No. of respondents: 75; annual hour burden per respondent: 
25 hours; total annual burden: 1875 hours). e. Replies: All 
participants in the proceeding may file a reply to any comment made by 
any other participant. Such replies will be due approximately 45 days 
after the Initial Public Notice is issued. (No. of respondents: 10; 
annual hour burden per respondent: 2 hours; total annual burden: 20 
hours). f. Motions: A dispositive motion filed with the Commission in a 
section 271 proceeding will be treated as an early-filed pleading and 
will not be subject to a separate pleading cycle, unless the Commission 
or Bureau determines otherwise. Non-dispositive motions will be subject 
to the default pleading cycle in section 1.45 or our rules, unless the 
Commission determines otherwise in a public notice. (No. of 
respondents: 10; annual hour burden per respondent: 2 hours; total 
annual burden: 20 hours). All of the requirements would be used to 
ensure that BOCs have complied with their obligations under the 
Communications Act of 1934, as amended before being authorized to 
provide in-region, interLATA services pursuant to section 271. 
Obligation to comply: mandatory.

    OMB Control No.: 3060-0579.
    Expiration Date: 09/30/2000.
    Title: Expanded Interconnection with Local Telephone Company 
Facilities For Interstate Switched Transport Services
    Form No.: N/A.
    Respondents: Business or other for profit.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 16 respondents; 124.7 hours per response 
(avg.); 1996 total annual burden hours for all collections.
    Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: $10,000.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Description: In the Second Report and Order and Third Further 
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Expanded Interconnection 
proceeding, CC Docket No. 91-141 (Order), the Commission took another 
step toward enhancing competition in the access marketplace by 
requiring Tier 1 local exchange carriers (LECs), except NECA pool 
members, to provide expanded interconnection for interstate switched 
transport services. In the Order, the Commission required Tier 1 LECs, 
except for NECA pool members, to provide expanded opportunities for 
third-party interconnection with their interstate switched transport 
facilities. The Commission concluded that expanded interconnection will 
likely increase competition, producing significant benefits for 
consumers that will outweigh any potential drawbacks. In the Order, the 
Commission concluded that the LECs should be required to provide 
certain cost support to justify the rate levels for the tariff charges 
to be paid by interconnectors for expanded interconnection. The 
Commission required the price cap LECs to provide cost support for the 
connection charges using the same methodology employed to support new 
services under the price cap rules. The Commission required the LECs to 
develop and justify consistent methodologies for deriving the direct 
cost of providing similar types of offerings, including expanded 
interconnection services covered by the connection charge elements. The 
Commission also required the LECs to justify any deviations from 
uniform overhead loadings that they propose for pricing connection 
charges, although it did not specify a particular methodology in 
advance. Under this approach, if a LEC proposes to price connection 
charges to reflect fully distributed overhead loadings, the Commission 
will compare such loadings to the overhead loadings used for other 
services and require justification for any differences. Rate of return 
LECs must support their rates under traditional cost support 
requirements. The Commission believes that this cost information is 
necessary to ensure the proper pricing of expanded interconnection 
offerings since they will be used by the LECs' competitors. The LECs 
may use approved, commonly used public utility ratemaking methodologies 
to develop the required cost support, including sampling and averaging 
of certain costs, and thereby minimize the burden of this requirement. 
Absent these requirements, the Commission is concerned that the LECs 
would have a strong incentive to price these services in a manner that 
would undermine the growth of competition in interstate access. Unless 
the interconnectors can purchase expanded interconnection offerings at 
rates that are just, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory, mandating 
expanded interconnection will not lead to effective competition and the 
anticipated benefits. Tariff filings to implement the density pricing 
plans and volume and term discounts generally will be accompanied by 
the support required under existing price cap rules. This information 
is necessary to ensure that rates for special access services subject 
to density zone pricing are just, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory, 
and comply with the Commission's rules. The tariffs and cost support 
information accompanying them will be used by the FCC staff to ensure 
that the tariff rates to be paid for expanded interconnection and 
switched transport services are just, reasonable, and 
nondiscriminatory, as sections 201 and 202 of the Communications Act 
require. Without this information, the FCC would be unable to determine 
whether the rates for these services are just, reasonable, 
nondiscriminatory, and otherwise in accordance with the law. Tariffs 
will also be used by parties using expanded interconnection and 
switched transport offerings to ascertain the charges and other terms 
and conditions applicable to those offerings. Your obligation to 
respond: mandatory.

    OMB Control No.: 3060-0774.
    Expiration Date: 09/30/2000.
    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.
    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 total annual burden hours for all 
collections.
    Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: $0.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion; annually, one-time 
requirements.
    Description: 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,

[[Page 52105]]

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. 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. Obligation to comply: mandatory.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Total annual 
   Rule section/title (47 CFR)      Hours per  response       burden    
------------------------------------------------------------------------
a. 36.611(a) and 36.612--          20...................          26,800
 Submission and Updating                                                
 information to NECA.                                                   
b. 54.101(c)--Demonstration of     50...................             100
 exceptional circumstances for                                          
 toll-limitation grace period.                                          
c. 54.201(b)-(c)--Submission of    1....................           3,400
 eligibility criteria.                                                  
d. 54.201(d)(2)--Advertisement of  50...................          65,000
 services and charges.                                                  
e. 54.205(a)--Advance notice of    .5...................              50
 relinquishment of universal                                            
 service.                                                               
f. 54.207(c)(1)--Submission of     125..................           6,250
 proposal for redefining a rural                                        
 service area.                                                          
g. 54.307(b)--Reporting of         2.5 (avg.)...........           4,100
 expenses and number of lines                                           
 served.                                                                
h. 54.401(b)(1)-(2)--Submission    2....................             100
 of disconnection waiver request.                                       
i. 54.401(d)--Lifeline             1....................           1,300
 certification to the                                                   
 Administrator.                                                         
j. 54.407(c)--Lifeline             80...................         104,000
 recordkeeping.                                                         
k. 54.409(a)-(b)--Consumer         5 min................         440,000
 qualification for Lifeline.                                            
l. 54.409(b)--Consumer             5 min................          44,000
 notification of Lifeline                                               
 discontinuance.                                                        
m. 54.418(b)--Link Up              80...................         104,000
 recordkeeping.                                                         
n. 54.501(d)(4) and 54.516--       41 (avg.)............         372,000
 Schools and Libraries                                                  
 recordkeeping.                                                         
o. 54.504(b)-(c), 54.507(d) and    2....................         100,000
 54.509(a)--Description of                                              
 services requested and                                                 
 certification.                                                         
p. 54.601(b)(4) and 54.609(b)--    100..................         340,000
 Calculating support for health                                         
 care providers.                                                        
q. 54.601(b)(3) and 54.619--       21 (avg.)............         160,000
 Shared facility recordkeeping.                                         
r. 54.607(b)(1)-(2)--Submission    3....................             150
 of proposed rural rate.                                                
s. 54.603(b)(1), 54.615(c)-(d)     1....................          12,000
 and 54.623(d)--Description of                                          
 services requested and                                                 
 certification.                                                         
t. 54.619(d)--Submission of rural  40...................              40
 health care report.                                                    
u. 54.701(f)(1) and (f)(2)--       40...................              40
 Submission of annual report and                                        
 CAM.                                                                   
v. 54.701(g)--Submission of        10...................              40
 quarterly report.                                                      
w. 54.707--Submission of state     .25..................             850
 commission designation.                                                
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Public reporting burden for the collections of information is as 
noted above. Send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other 
aspect of the collections of information, including suggestions for 
reducing the burden to Performance Evaluation and Records Management, 
Washington, DC 20554.

Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-26418 Filed 10-3-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-U