[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 103 (Friday, May 28, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29026-29029]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-13613]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


Public Information Collections Approved by Office of Management 
and Budget

May 21, 1999.
    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.: 3060-0848.
    Expiration Date: 11/30/99.
    Title: Deployment of Wireline Services Offering Advanced 
Telecommunications Capability, CC Docket No. 98-147, FCC 99-48, First 
Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM).
    Form No.: N/A.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 1400 respondents; 4.5 hours per response 
(avg.); 6300 total annual burden hours for all collections.
    Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: $0.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion; third party disclosures.
    Description: In the First Report and Order and Further Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking, issued in CC Docket No. 98-147, Deployment of 
Wireline Services Offering Advanced Telecommunications Capability, 
released March 31, 1999, the Commission seeks to implement Congress's 
goal of promoting innovation and investment by all participating in the 
telecommunications marketplace, in order to stimulate competition for 
all services, including advanced services. In fulfillment of this goal, 
the Commission imposes certain collections of information on all 
incumbent local exchange carriers (incumbent LECs): (a) List of 
Equipment, Affidavit--Whenever an incumbent LEC objects to collocation 
of equipment by a requesting telecommunications carrier for the 
purposes within the scope of section 251(c)(6) of the Act, the 
incumbent LEC shall prove to the state commission that the equipment 
will not be actually used by the telecommunications carrier for the 
purpose of obtaining interconnection or access to unbundled network 
elements. An incumbent LEC that denies collocation of a competitor's 
equipment, citing safety standards, must provide to the competitive LEC 
within five business days a list of all equipment that the incumbent 
LEC locates within the premises in question, together with an affidavit 
attesting that all of that equipment meets or exceeds the safety 
standard that the incumbent LEC contends the competitor's equipment 
fails to meet. See 47 CFR 51.323(b). (No. of respondents: 1400; hours 
per response: 1 hour; total annual burden: 1400 hours). (b) Space 
Limitation Documentation--An incumbent LEC shall submit to the state 
commission, subject to any protective order as the state commission may 
deem necessary, detailed floor plans or diagrams of any premises where 
the incumbent LEC claims that physical collocation is not practical 
because of space limitations. An incumbent LEC that contends space for 
physical collocation is not available in an incumbent LEC premises must 
also allow the requesting carrier to tour the entire premises in 
question, not just the room in which space was denied, without charge, 
within ten days of the receipt of the incumbent LEC's denial of space. 
Section 51.321(f) is currently approved by OMB under OMB control number 
3060-0710. The Commission has amended the rule section to require that 
ILECs allow CLECs to tour their facility. However, no new or modified 
paperwork requirements are made. See 47 CFR 51.321(f). (c) Report of 
Available Collocation Space--Upon request, an incumbent LEC must submit 
to the requesting carrier within ten days of the submission of the 
request a report indicating the incumbent LEC's available collocation 
space in a particular LEC premises. This report must specify the amount 
of collocation space available at each requested premises, the number 
of collocators, and any modifications in the use of the space since the 
last report. The incumbent LEC must maintain a publicly available 
document, posted for

[[Page 29027]]

viewing on the Internet, indicating all premises that are full, and 
must update such a document within ten days of the date at which a 
premises runs out of physical collocation space. See 47 CFR 51.321(h). 
(No. of respondents: 1400; hours per response: 1 hour; total annual 
burden: 1400 hours). (d) Information on Security Training--An incumbent 
LEC must provide information to competitive LECs on the specific type 
of security training a competitive LEC's employees must complete in 
order for the incumbent LEC to maintain reasonable security measures 
for its equipment and networks. See 47 CFR Section 51.323(i)(3). (No. 
of respondents: 1400; hours per response: 30 minutes; total annual 
burden: 700 hours). (e) Access to Spectrum Management Procedures and 
Policies--An incumbent LEC must provide competitive LECs with 
nondiscriminatory access to the incumbent LEC's spectrum management 
procedures and policies. See 1st Report and Order, para. 72. (No. of 
respondents: 1400; hours per response: 30 minutes; total annual burden: 
700 hours). (f) Rejection and Loop Information--An incumbent LEC must 
disclose to requesting carriers information with respect to the 
rejection of the requesting carrier's provision of advanced services, 
together with the specific reason for the rejection. An incumbent LEC 
must also disclose to requesting carriers information with respect to 
the number of loops using advanced services technology within the 
binder and type of technology deployed on those loops. See 1st Report 
and Order, para. 73. (No. of respondents: 1400 hours; hours per 
response: 1 hour; total annual burden: 1400 hours). (g) Notification of 
Performance Degradation--If a carrier claims a service is significantly 
degrading the performance of other advanced services or traditional 
voice band services, then that carrier must notify the causing carrier 
and allow that carrier a reasonable opportunity to correct the problem. 
Any claims of network harm must be supported with specific and 
verifiable supporting information. See 1st Report and Order, para. 75. 
(No. of respondents: 1400; hours per response: 1 hour; total annual 
burden: 1400 hours). All of the collections will be used by the 
Commission and by competitive carriers to facilitate the deployment of 
advanced data services and to implement section 706 of the 
Communications Act of 1934, as amended. Obligation to respond: 
Mandatory.

    OMB Control No.: 3060-0804.
    Expiration Date: 05/31/2002.
    Title: Universal Service: Health Care providers Universal Service 
Program.
    Form No.: FCC Forms 465, 466, 467 and 468.
    Respondents: Not for profit institutions; business or other for-
profit.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 18,400 respondents; 6.6 hours per response 
(avg.); 121,500 total annual burden hours for all collections.
    Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: $0.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Description: The Commission has adopted rules providing support for 
all telecommunications services, Internet access, and internal 
connections for all eligible health care providers pursuant to 
authority stemming from the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The 
Universal Service Administrative Company administers the 
telecommunications universal service programs. Health care providers 
who want to participate in the universal service program must file the 
following forms with USAC's Rural Health Care Division (RHCD). (a) FCC 
Form 465--Description of Services Requested and Certification. All 
health care providers requesting services eligible for universal 
service support must file a Description of Services and Certification 
form with the RHCD. By filing this form, health care providers certify 
that they meet the eligibility criteria and indicate the 
telecommunications services they would like to purchase at supported 
rates. The RHCD posts a description of the services sought on a website 
for all potential competing telecommunications carriers to see and 
respond to as if they were requests for proposals (RFPs). 47 C.F.R. 
54.603(b)(2), 47 C.F.R. 54.615(c). (No. of respondents: 12,000; hours 
per response: 2.5 hours; total annual burden: 30,000). (b) FCC Form 
466--Services Ordered and Certification. All health care providers 
ordering services that are eligible for universal service support must 
file a Services Ordered and Certification form with the RHCD. 47 C.F.R. 
54.603(b)(4). FCC Form 466--Services Ordered and Certification is the 
means by which a health care provider informs the RHCD that it has 
entered an agreement with a telecommunications service provider to 
purchase supported services. FCC Form 466 will also be used to ensure 
health care providers have selected the most cost-effective method of 
providing the requested services as set forth in 47 C.F.R. 
54.603(b)(4). The RHCD must receive this form before it can commit 
universal service monies to support the telecommunications services the 
health care provider has agreed to purchase. (No. of respondents: 
12,000; hours per response: 1.5 hours; total annual burden: 18,000 
hours). (c) FCC Form 467--Confirmation of Service Commencement or 
Notification of Disconnection of Service. First, a health care provider 
that is receiving supported telecommunications service must file this 
form to inform the RHCD that it is receiving the services identified in 
FCC Form 466. The RHCD will not permit support to be disbursed to the 
telecommunications carrier pursuant to 47 C.F.R. 54.611 prior to 
receiving FCC Form 467. Second, a health care provider receiving 
supported telecommunications service must file FCC Form 467 when it 
stops receiving these services. This action is necessary to ensure that 
no universal service support is distributed after a telecommunications 
carrier stops providing the supported service. (No. of respondents: 
15,000; hours per response: 1.5 hours; total annual burden: 22,500 
hours). (d) FCC Form 468--Telecommunications Carriers Support. All 
telecommunications carriers seeking universal service support for 
providing telecommunications services to health care providers must 
file this form. The data in the report will be used to ensure that the 
appropriate amount of universal service support is allocated for each 
service purchased, as set forth in 47 C.F.R. 54.609(b). 
Telecommunications carriers must provide specific information on Form 
468, such as the circuit distance for the services they are providing 
and the estimated amount of support that should be allocated to these 
services. Telecommunications carriers return the completed FCC Form 468 
to the health care provider, which is responsible for filing both FCC 
Form 468 and FCC Form 466 with the RHCD at the same time. (No. of 
respondents: 3400; hours per response: 1.5 hours; total annual burden: 
51,000. It is estimated a telecommunications carrier will submit FCC 
Form 468 about ten times a year).
    Submission of FCC Form 465, Description of Services Requested and 
Certification, is the means by which a health care provider: (1) 
requests specific services from telecommunications carriers; and (2) 
certifies that it is eligible to receive telecommunications services 
that are supported by universal service mechanisms. Posting a health 
care provider's FCC Form 465 allows telecommunications carriers to 
identify which health care providers in their service area are asking 
for specific services. Health care providers use FCC

[[Page 29028]]

Form 466 to inform the RHCD that they have agreed to purchase 
supportable services from a telecommunications carrier. FCC Form 466 is 
also used to ensure health care providers have selected the most cost-
effective method of providing the requested services as set forth in 47 
C.F.R. 54.603(b)(4). The RHCD must receive this form before it can 
commit universal service funds to support the services the health care 
provider has agreed to purchase. FCC Form 467 also requires health care 
provider to inform the RHCD that it has stopped receiving supported 
service. FCC Form 468 is the means by which a telecommunications 
carrier that has agreed to provide supported services to a health care 
providers submits specific information to the RHCD about the amount of 
support that should be allocated for the telecommunications service. 
Obligation to respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. Call RHCD 
at 800-229-5476 for questions concerning or copies of FCC Forms 465, 
466, 467 and 468.

    OMB Control No.: 3060-0856.
    Expiration Date: 05/31/2002.
    Title: Universal Service, Schools and Libraries Universal Service 
Program--Reimbursement Forms.
    Form No.: FCC Forms 472, 473, and 474.
    Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; business or other for-
profit.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 61,800 respondents; 1.4 hours per response 
(avg.); 88,050 total annual burden hours for all collections.
    Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: $0.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Description: The Commission has adopted rules discounts on all 
telecommunications services, Internet access, and internal connections 
for all eligible schools and libraries pursuant to the 
Telecommunications Act of 1996. The Universal Service Administrative 
Company (USAC) administers the telecommunications universal service 
programs. The following forms are necessary to enable USAC's Schools 
and Libraries Division (SLD), to pay universal service support to 
service providers who provide discounted service to eligible schools, 
libraries, and consortia of those entities. FCC Form 472--Billed Entity 
Applicant Reimbursement Form--The information collected in the Billed 
Entity Applicant Reimbursement Form is necessary to enable the fund 
administrator, the SLD, to pay universal service support to service 
providers who provide discounted services to eligible schools, 
libraries, and consortia of those entities. The information is to be 
collected from each Form 471 Billed Entity Applicant (Applicant) that 
received a funding Commitment Decisions Letter from the administrator 
and filed a Form 486 to indicate the applicant intended to prepare and 
submit to the SLD an invoice for reimbursement. The information 
collected on the Billed Entity Applicant Reimbursement Form should be 
completed by an applicant to seek reimbursement for payments on 
approved services and/or products delivered to the applicant from the 
actual service start date, as reported in the applicant's Form 486 
Column (E). This information is necessary to identify the amount of the 
discounts due and owing from the service provider to the applicant, so 
that the service provider may reimburse this amount to the applicant. 
The fund administrator will notify the service provider of the amount 
of the approved reimbursement, and the service provider shall then 
reimburse the amount to the applicant. The fund administrator will then 
reimburse the service provider for the amount of approved discounts 
paid on a Billed Entity Reimbursement Form. The Telecommunications Act 
of 1996 contemplates that discounts on eligible services shall be 
provided by service providers, and the service providers shall seek 
reimbursement for the amount of the discounts. The fund administrator 
will disburse universal service support payments to service providers 
than directly to applicants. In preparing and submitting its Billed 
Entity Applicant Reimbursement Form, the applicant must provide a copy 
of the completed form to the service provider and obtain the written 
acknowledgement of the service provider to confirm that the service 
provider understands its obligation to provide the approved discount to 
the applicant, once the fund administrator processes the Billed Entity 
Reimbursement Form. The service provider must also acknowledge that 
under no circumstances may it make use of a reimbursement paid from the 
fund administrator to the service provider before the service provider 
issues the approved discount to the applicant. (No. of respondents: 
50,000; hours per response: 1.5 hours; total annual burden: 75,000 
hours). (b) FCC Form 473--Service Provider Annual Certification Form--
The Service Provider Annual Certification Form is to be submitted by 
each service provider or vendor, hereinafter collectively referred to 
as service providers, that was assigned a service provider 
identification number (SPIN) by the Universal Service Administrative 
Company (USAC) and that participates in the universal service support 
mechanism for schools and libraries. The service provider or vendor 
will participate in the universal service support mechanism by 
providing discounted eligible services to eligible entities pursuant to 
a Fund Commitment Decisions Letter issued by the SLD. The purpose of 
the Annual Certification Form is to confirm that, for each Invoice Form 
submitted by the service provider, the Invoice form is in compliance 
with the FCC's rules governing the schools and libraries universal 
service support mechanism, and the Invoice Form is true, accurate and 
complete. (No. of respondents: 9300; hours per response: 1 hour; total 
annual burden: 9300 hours). (c) FCC Form 474--Service Provider Invoice 
Form--The Service Provider Invoice Form is to be used by all service 
providers or vendors, hereinafter collectively referred to as service 
providers, who were assigned a SPIN by the USAC and participate in the 
universal service support mechanism for schools and libraries. The 
service provider or vendor will participate in the universal service 
support mechanism by providing discounted eligible services to eligible 
entities pursuant to a Fund Commitment Decisions Letter issued by the 
fund administrator, the Schools and Libraries Division (SLD). The 
purpose of the Invoice Form is for the service provider/vendor to seek 
reimbursement for the cost of discounts. The information to be 
collected on the Service Provider Invoice Form must be received by the 
SLD before a service provider participating the universal service 
program for schools and libraries can receive payment for the 
discounted portion of its bill for eligible services to eligible 
entities. Subsequent to receipt and review of the Service Provider 
Invoice, the SLD will authorize USAC to disburse payment on the 
invoice. (No. of respondents: 2500; hours per response: 1.5 hours; 
total annual burden: 3,750 hours).
    The purpose of FCC Form 472, Billed Entity Applicant Reimbursement 
Form is to establish the process and procedure for an eligible entity 
to seek reimbursement from the service provider for the discounts on 
services paid in full since the actual service start date of the 
discounts as reported in the applicant's Form 486 Receipt of Services 
Confirmation Form, Column (E) of Block 2. Once the fund administrator 
processes the Billed Entity Applicant Reimbursement Form,

[[Page 29029]]

a notification will be sent to the service provider and applicant 
advising them of the approved amount of discounts. The service provider 
must then provide the discount amount to the applicant and the fund 
administrator will reimburse the service provider. The purpose of FCC 
Form 473, Service Provider Annual Certification Form is to establish 
the process and procedure for a service provider to confirm the 
accuracy of their Invoice Forms. This form is part of the procedure 
established to enable service providers to seek reimbursement for the 
costs of discounts they provided to eligible entities on eligible 
services as defined under the FCC's rules governing the schools and 
libraries universal service support mechanism pursuant to the 
Telecommunications Act of 1996. The purpose of FCC Form 474, is to 
establish the processing and procedure for a service provider to seek 
reimbursement for the costs of discounts it provided to eligible 
entities on eligible services as defined under the FCC's rules 
governing the schools and libraries universal service support mechanism 
pursuant to the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The Service Provider 
Invoice Form is also used by the fund administrator, the SLD, to assure 
that the dollars paid out by the fund administrator on a funding 
request number (FRN) do not exceed that FRN.
    All of the requirements contained herein are necessary to implement 
the congressional mandate for universal service. Obligation to respond: 
Required to obtain or retain benefits. Call SLD at 888-203-8100 for 
questions concerning or copies of FCC Forms 472, 473, and 474.
    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, D.C. 20554.

Federal Communications Commission.
Magalie Roman Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-13613 Filed 5-27-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-U