[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 233 (Monday, December 6, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 68099]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-31450]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


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

November 26, 1999.
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, 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 January 5, 
2000. 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 Judy Boley, Federal Communications 
Commission, Room 1-C804, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554 or 
via the Internet to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or copies 
of the information collection(s), contact Judy Boley at 202-418-0214 or 
via the Internet at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    OMB Control No.: 3060-0106.
    Title: Section 43.61--Reports of Overseas Telecommunications 
Traffic.
    Form No.: N/A.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 400 respondents; 440 total annual responses.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 48 hours.
    Frequency of Response: Quarterly and annual reporting requirements.
    Total Annual Burden: 21,070 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: $377,000.
    Needs and Uses: The telecommunications traffic data report is an 
annual reporting requirement imposed on common carriers engaged in the 
provision of overseas telecommunications services. The reported data is 
useful for international planning, facility authorization, monitoring 
emerging developments in communications services, analyzing market 
structures, tracking the balance of payments in international 
communications services, and market analysis purposes. Subject carriers 
are required to submit their annual reports no later than July 31 of 
each year for the preceding period of January through December. A 
revised report must be submitted for inaccuracies exceeding five 
percent of the reported figure by October 31 pursuant to Section 
43.61(a)(2).
    The Commission and industry members use the data in the facilities 
planning and facilities authorization process to estimate traffic and 
market trends in various regions of the world. Also, the data is used 
to monitor the development and competitiveness of U.S. international 
product and geographic markets and to gauge the competitive impact of 
Commission decisions on these markets. Additionally, the data assists 
the Commission in tracking the growth in net settlement payments to 
foreign carriers. It also provides the Commission with information 
necessary to identify those routes for which settlement rates are at a 
level low enough to permit relief from certain regulatory requirements, 
including the prohibition of the use of private lines for the provision 
of switched, basic services (also referred to as ``ISR''). The 
Commission additionally relies on the annual and quarterly reports to 
monitor for traffic and revenue distortions on particular routes. These 
distortions may result from one-way bypass of the Commission's 
international settlement policy on these routes, which can increase 
U.S. carrier net settlement payments to their foreign correspondents.
Federal Communications Commission.
Magalie Roman Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-31450 Filed 12-3-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-U