[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 164 (Tuesday, August 25, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 45245]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22688]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Submitted to OMB for 
Review and Approval

August 18, 1998.
SUMMARY: The Federal Communications 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 collection(s), as required by the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. An agency may not conduct or 
sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently 
valid 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 control 
number. Comments are requested concerning: (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 estimate; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, 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 information techniques or other forms of information 
technology.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted on or before September 24, 
1998. 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: Direct all comments to Les Smith, Federal Communications, 
Room 234, 1919 M St., NW., Washington, DC 20554 or via internet to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or copies 
of the information collections contact Les Smith at 202-418-0217 or via 
internet at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    OMB Approval Number: 3060-0819.
    Title: 47 CFR 54.400--54.417, Lifeline Assistance (Lifeline) 
Connection Assistance (Link Up) Reporting Worksheet and Instructions.
    Form Number: FCC 497.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business and other for-profit entities.
    Number of Respondents: 1,500.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 3 hours.
    Frequency of Response: Monthly; Quarterly; Semi-annually; and On 
Occasion reporting requirements.
    Total Annual Burden: 42,000 hours.
    Cost to Respondents: $0.
    Needs and Uses: The Telecommunications Act of 1996 directed the FCC 
to initiate a rulemaking to reform our system of universal service so 
that universal service is preserved and advanced as markets move toward 
competition. On May 8, 1997, the Commission released a Report and Order 
on Universal Service (Universal Service Order) in CC Docket 96-45 that 
established new federal universal service support mechanisms consistent 
with Section 254. In the Universal Service Order, the Commission 
expanded and made competitively neutral its programs for low-income 
consumers, Lifeline and Link Up. On December 30, 1997, the Commission 
released a Fourth Order on Reconsideration that amended some of the 
Lifeline and Link Up rules. The following describes the universal 
service support reimbursement available to eligible telecommunications 
carriers for providing Lifeline and Link Up programs to qualifying low-
income customers: Eligible telecommunications carriers are permitted to 
receive universal service support reimbursement for offering Lifeline 
service to qualifying low-income customers; eligible telecommunications 
carriers may receive universal service support reimbursement for the 
revenue they forego in reducing their customary charge for commencing 
telecommunications service and for providing a deferred schedule for 
payment of the charges assessed for commencing service for which the 
consumer does no pay interest, in conformity with 47 CFR 54.411; 
eligible telecommunications carriers providing toll-limitation services 
(TLS) for qualifying low-income subscribers will be compensated from 
universal service mechanisms for the incremental cost of providing 
either toll blocking or toll control; and eligible telecommunications 
carriers that service qualifying low-income consumers who have toll 
blocking shall receive universal service support reimbursement for 
waiving the Presubscribed Interexchange Carriers Charge (PICC) for 
Lifeline customers. FCC Form 497 implements the Lifeline and Link Up 
reimbursement programs. This information is necessary in order for 
eligible telecommunications carriers to receive universal service 
support reimbursement for providing Lifeline and Link Up.

Federal Communications Commission
Magalie Roman Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-22688 Filed 8-24-98; 8:45 am]
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