[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 80 (Wednesday, April 25, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20815-20817]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-10224]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


Public Information Collections Approved by Office of Management 
and Budget

April 17, 2001.
    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.: 3060-0741.
    Expiration Date: 4/30/2004.
    Title: Implementation of the Local Competition Provisions of the 
Telecommunications Act of 1996, CC Docket No. 96-98, Second Report and 
Order and Memorandum Opinion and Order, Second Order on 
Reconsideration, CC docket No. 99-273, First Report and Order.
    Form No.: N/A.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 2000 respondents; 114 hours per response 
(avg.); 228,030 total annual burden hours (for all collections approved 
under this control number).
    Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: $60,000.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion; Third Party Disclosure.
    Description: In the First Report and Order issued in CC Docket No. 
99-273 (FCC 01-27), released January 23, 2001, the Commission adopted 
several of its tentative conclusions. The Commission concluded that the 
phrase ``in any format'' found in section 222(e) of the Communications 
Act of 1934, as amended, brings within the protections of section 
222(e) those entities that seek subscriber list information to publish 
directories on the Internet. That phrase ``in any format'' makes clear 
Congress' intent not to restrict the kinds of directories that could be 
published using subscriber list information obtained pursuant to 
section 222(e). Internet databases that contain subscriber list 
information clearly fall within the very broad category of 
``directories in any format.'' In order for directory publishers to 
provide accurate directory listings, it is essential that publishers 
have access to the subscriber list information local exchange carriers 
(LECs) acquire from their customers. (No. of respondents: 2000; hours 
per response: 8 hours; total annual burden: 16,000 hours). The 
Commission determined that competing directory assistance (DA) 
providers that offer call completion services for local or toll calls, 
provide telephone exchange, or telephone toll services, respectively, 
and thus qualify for nondiscriminatory access to LEC local directory 
assistance databases. The Commission also determined that because LECs 
do not have monopoly control over national directory assistance 
databases that LECs obtain from third parties, that LECs are not 
required to grant competing directory assistance providers 
nondiscriminatory access to such non-local directory assistance 
databases. The Commission concluded that LECs should not be required to 
provide nondicriminatory access to nonlocal directory listings since 
third parties have the same opportunities to secure the information 
directly. However, to the extent that a carrier provides access to 
national DA information to any other DA provider, including another 
LEC, it must make that same information available to competing DA 
providers under nondiscriminatory rates, terms, and conditions. The 
Commission concluded that when a competitive local exchange carrier 
(CLEC) or an interexchange carrier (IXC) (having entered an 
interconnection agreement with the relevant LEC) designates a DA 
provider to act as their agent, that competing DA provider is entitled 
to nondiscriminatory access to the providing LEC's local DA database. 
The DA providers database access will be consistent with the terms of 
the relevant interconnection agreement and with the terms of the DA 
providers' separate agreements with its carrier principal. The 
Commission expects that a DA provider's request for access will be 
accompanied by a letter or other documentation from the CLEC or IXC 
evidencing its intent that the DA provider receives database access so 
that it fulfills its obligations to the CLEC or IXC. (No. of 
respondents: 250; hours per response: 36 hours; total annual burden: 
9000 hours). All of the collections implement the requirements of 
Sections 251 and/or 222 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended. 
Obligation to respond: Mandatory.

    OMB Control No.: 3060-0756.
    Expiration Date: 10/31/2001.
    Title: Procedural Requirements and Policies for Commission 
Processing of Bell Operating Companies Applications for the Provision 
of In-Region, InterLATA Services Under Section 271 of the 
Telecommunications Act of 1996.
    Form No.: N/A.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit; State, Local or Tribal 
Government.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 75 respondents; 250 hours per response 
(avg.); 18,820 total annual burden hours.
    Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: $0.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion; Third Party Disclosure.
    Description: In a Public Notice released March 23, 2001 (DA 01-
734), the Commission updated the general procedural requirements and 
policies relating to the Commission 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. Section 271 (Act). A BOC may decide whether and when to file 
an application. See Public Notice, DA 01-734. 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. (Number of respondents: 4 BOCs) hours per response: 125 
hours per state; total annual burden: 6125 hours). b. Submission on 
Written Consultations by the State Regulatory Commissions. State 
regulatory commissions will file any written consultation they wish the 
Commission to consider early in the application process. (Number of

[[Page 20816]]

respondents: 49; hours per response: 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 its written 
consultation relating to an application on or before a due date set 
forth by the Commission in the Initial Public Notice. (Number of 
respondents: 1; hours per response: 100 hours per state; total annual 
burden: 4900 hours). d. Submission of Written Comments by Interested 
Third Parties. Interested third parties may file comments on the 
applications on or before a due date set forth by the Commission in 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 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. (Number of respondents: 75; hours 
per response: 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, on or before a due date set forth by the 
Commission in the Initial Public Notice. (Number of respondents: 10; 
hours per response: 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 47 CFR section 1.45, unless the 
Commission determines otherwise in a public notice. (No. of 
respondents: 10; hours per response: 2 hours; total annual burden: 20 
hours). All of the requirements are 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 respond: Mandatory.

    OMB Control No.: 3060-0854.
    Expiration Date: 3/31/2004.
    Title: Truth-in-Billing Format, CC Docket No. 98-170.
    Form No.: N/A.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 3099 respondents; 505.2 hours per response 
(avg.); 1,565,775 total annual burden hours.
    Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: 
$9,000,000.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion; Third Party Disclosure.
    Description: Under Section 201(b) of the Communications Act of 
1934, as amended, the charges, practices, and classifications of common 
carriers must be just and reasonable. The Commission believes that the 
telephone bill is an integral part of the relationship between a 
carrier and its customer. The manner in which charges are identified 
and articulated on the bill is essential to the consumer's 
understanding of the services that have been rendered, such that a 
carrier's provision of misleading or deceptive billing information may 
be unjust and unreasonable practice in violation of Section 201(b). 
Pursuant to 47 CFR Section 64.201, telephone bills must clearly 
identify the name of the service provider associated with each charge. 
(No. of respondents: 3099; hours per response: 10 hours; total annual 
burden: 30,990 hours). All telephone bills containing wireline common 
carrier service must (1) separate charges by service provider and (2) 
clearly and conspicuously identify any change in service providers, 
including identification of charges from any new service provider. (No. 
of respondents: 2295; hours per response: 465 hours; total annual 
burden: 1,067,175 hours). Section 64.201(b) requires that bills for 
wireline service include for each charge a brief, clear, plain-language 
description of the services rendered. Section 64.2401(c) requires that, 
when a bill for local wireline service contains additional carrier 
charges, the bill must differentiate between those charges for which 
non-payment could result in termination of local telephone service and 
those for which it could not. (No. of respondents: 2295; hours per 
response: 197 hours; total annual burden: 452,115 hours). Section 
64.2401(d) requires that all telephone bills contain clear and 
conspicuous disclosure of any information that the subscriber may need 
to make inquiries about, or contest, charges on the bill. (No. of 
respondents: 3099; hours per response: 5 hours; total annual burden: 
15,495 hours). The information will be used by consumers to help them 
understand their telephone bills. Consumers need this information to 
protect themselves against fraud and to help them resolve billing 
disputes. Obligation to respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits.
    OMB Control No.: 3060-0855.
    Expiration Date: 8/31/2001.
    Title: Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet and Associated 
Requirements, CC Docket No. 96-45.
    Form No.: FCC Form 499-Q.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 5000 respondents; 16.25 hours per response 
(avg.); 81,250 total annual burden hours.
    Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: $0.
    Frequency of Response: Annually; Quarterly;
    Description: In the Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration 
issued in CC Docket No. 96-45 (FCC 01-85), released March 14, 2001, the 
Commission modified the existing methodology used to assess 
contributions that carriers make to the federal universal service 
support mechanisms. Specifically, the Commission modified the existing 
contribution methodology to reduce the interval between the accrual of 
revenues and the assessment of universal service contributions based on 
those revenues. Currently, contributions to the federal universal 
service support mechanisms are based on carriers' interstate and 
international end-user telecommunications revenues from the prior year. 
With the modification, the Commission shortened the interval between 
the accrual of revenues and assessment based on those revenues by six 
months. Under the revised methodology carriers are required to file on 
a quarterly basis the new FCC Form 499-Q to report their revenues from 
the prior quarter. Carriers will file the initial FCC Form 499-Q on May 
11, 2001, reporting revenue data from the first quarter of 2001. 
Thereafter, carriers will file FCC Form 499-Q, reporting their revenues 
for the prior quarter, by the beginning of the second month in each 
quarter (i.e., February 1, May 1, April 1, and November 1). Carriers 
will continue to file FCC Form 499-A annually as they are required to 
do under the existing methodology. (No. of respondents: 3500 filing 
annually and 2000 filing quarterly; hours per response: 9.5 hours for 
the annual filing and 6 hours per respondent for each quarterly filing; 
total annual burden: 81,250). Data filed on the worksheets

[[Page 20817]]

will be used to calculate contributions to the universal service 
support mechanisms. Copies of the worksheets and instructions may be 
downloaded from the Commission's forms web page (www.fcc.gov/formpage.html). Copies may also be obtained from NECA at 973-560-4400. 
Obligation to respond: Mandatory.

    OMB Control No.: 3060-0804.
    Expiration Date: 9/30/2001.
    Title: Universal Service--Health Care Providers Universal Service 
Program.
    Form No.: FCC Forms 465, 466, 466-A, 467, 468.
    Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business or other for-
profit.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 5255 respondents; 1.85 hours per response 
(avg.); 9755 total annual burden hours.
    Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: $0.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion; Third Party Disclosure.
    Description: The Telecommunications Act of 1996 (1996 Act) directed 
the Commission to initiate a rulemaking reform to our system of 
universal service so that universal service is preserved and advanced 
as markets move toward competition. On May 8, 1997, the Commission 
adopted rules providing, among other things, that rural health care 
providers receive access to advanced telecommunications services at 
rates that are reasonably comparable to those available in urban areas. 
All rural health care providers planning to order eligible 
telecommunications services at discounted rates under the universal 
service program must file the following forms: FCC Form 465, 
Description of Service Requested and Certification. Rural health care 
providers ordering discounted telecommunications services under the 
universal service program must submit FCC Form 465, Description of 
Service Requested and Certification to the Administrator. Rural health 
care providers must certify their eligibility to receive discounted 
telecommunications services. 47 CFR Section 54.615(c). The 
Administrator will then post a description of the services sought on a 
website for all potential competing service providers to see and 
respond to as if they were requests for proposals (RFPs). (No. of 
respondents: 1200; hours per response: 2.5 hours; total annual burden: 
300 hours). b. FCC Form 466, Funding Request and Certification. Rural 
health care providers that have ordered telecommunications under the 
universal service discount program must file FCC Form 466, Funding 
Request and Certification Form, with the Administrator. The data 
reported will be used to ensure that health care providers have 
selected the most cost-effective method of providing the requested 
services. 47 CFR Section 54.603(b)(4). (No. of respondents: 1350; hours 
per response: 2 hours; total annual burden: 2700 hours). c. FCC Form 
466-A, Internet Toll Charge Discount Request. If a rural health care 
provider is only seeking support for toll charges to access the 
Internet, it must submit FCC Form 466-A. (No. of respondents: 5; hours 
per response: 1 hour; total annual burden: 5 hours). d. FCC Form 467, 
Connection Certification. Rural health care providers participating in 
the universal service support mechanism must submit FCC Form 467 to 
inform the Administrator that they have begun to receive, or have 
stopped receiving, the telecommunications services for which universal 
service support has been allocated. The data reported will be used to 
ensure that universal service support is distributed to 
telecommunications carriers serving eligible health care providers 
pursuant to 47 CFR Section 54.611. (No. of respondents: 1350; hours per 
response: 1.5 hours; total annual burden: 2025 hours). e. FCC Form 468, 
Telecommunications Carrier Form. Rural health care providers ordering 
telecommunications services under the universal service support 
mechanism must submit FCC Form 468, Telecommunications Carrier Form to 
the Administrator. The data reported will be used to ensure that the 
telecommunications carrier receives the appropriate amount of credit 
for providing telecommunications services to eligible health care 
providers. 47 CFR Sections 54.605-611. (No. of respondents; 1350; hours 
per response: 1.5 hours; total annual burden: 2025 hours). FCC Forms 
466, 467 and 468 were recently revised. Copies of all the above-
mentioned forms may be downloaded from the Administrator's website at 
(www.universalservice.org). Copies of the forms may also be obtained by 
calling the Universal Service Administrative Corporation, Rural Health 
Care Division at 1-800-229-5476. Obligation to respond: Required to 
obtain or retain benefits.
    Public reporting burden for the collection 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.
Magalie Roman Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-10224 Filed 4-24-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P