[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 42 (Friday, March 4, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 10636]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-4248]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Being Reviewed by the 
Federal Communications Commission

February 23, 2005.
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 Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) comments should be 
submitted on or before April 4, 2005. 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 regarding this Paperwork Reduction Act 
submission to Judith B. Herman, 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 Judith B. Herman at (202) 
418-0214 or via the Internet at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OMB Control No.: 3060-0819.
    Title: Lifeline Assistance (Lifeline) Connection Assistance (Link-
Up) Reporting Worksheet and Instructions (47 CFR 54.400-54.417).
    Form No: FCC Form 497.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Individuals or households; business or other for-
profit.
    Number of Respondents: 1,318,055.
    Estimated Time Per Response: .08-42 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion, monthly, annually, and other 
one time reporting requirements, recordkeeping requirement and third 
party disclosure requirement.
    Total Annual Burden: 101,493 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: N/A.
    Privacy Act Impact Assessment: N/A.
    Needs and Uses: In a Report and Order and Further Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking in FCC 04-87 (WC Docket No. 03-109, adopted and 
released in April 2004), the Commission adopts the Joint-Board's 
recommendation to require all states, including federal default states, 
to adopt certification procedures to document income-based eligibility 
for Lifeline/Link-Up enrollment. Because self-certification of income 
is more difficult to confirm than is a self-certification of program 
participation, the Commission agreed with the Joint Board that 
requiring presentation of documentation supporting income eligibility 
would protect against fraud and abuse. The Commission held similar 
concerns for continued enrollment in the Lifeline/Link-Up program and 
required documentation of eligibility for continued enrollment in the 
program. In conjunction with presentation of income eligibility 
documentation, the eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) is 
required to certify that the ETC has procedures in place to review 
presented documentation or to certify that it is in compliance with the 
state requirements established to review income eligibility 
documentation. ETCs must retain records of their certifications. In 
addition, the applicant is required to certify the accuracy of the 
state household income and the number of persons in the household. ETCs 
are required to collect and retain these certifications. The FCC Form 
497 has also been revised to clarify instructions, add new data 
elements to the form to clarify specific requirements and reformatted 
for ease of completing. In addition to the certification and 
verification requirements noted above, the Commission will issue a 
voluntary survey to gather data and information about state Lifeline/
Link-Up programs. This will enable the Commission to make more informed 
decisions in any future Commission orders.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 05-4248 Filed 3-3-05; 8:45 am]
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