[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 63 (Monday, April 4, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17082-17083]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-6560]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


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

March 25, 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, Pub. L. 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 May 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., 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.: 3060-0734.
    Title: Accounting Safeguards, CC Docket No. 96-150, 47 U.S.C. 
sections 260 and sections 271-276, Sections 54.209, 53.211, and 53.213.
    Form No: N/A.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 50.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 24-19,200 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion and biennial reporting 
requirements, third party disclosure requirement and recordkeeping 
requirement.
    Total Annual Burden: 131,523 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: $2,000,000.
    Privacy Act Impact Assessment: N/A.
    Needs and Uses: With this submission to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB), the Commission is extending this collection (no 
change in requirements) for this information collection in order to 
obtain the full three-year clearance from OMB. The Commission has 
adjusted the burden hours and burden costs to more accurately reflect 
the Commission's actual experience in conducting section 272 audits.
    Under section 272 and the Commission's implementing rules, a Bell 
Operating Company (BOC) and its

[[Page 17083]]

section 272 affiliate may not jointly own transmission and switching 
equipment, although this restriction is subject to sunset. The separate 
section 272 affiliate must maintain separate books of account and have 
separate officers and directors. The separate section 272 affiliate may 
not obtain credit under arrangements that would permit the creditor to 
look to the assets of the BOC. The section 272 affiliate must conduct 
all transactions with the BOC on an arm's length basis, pursuant to the 
Commission's affiliate transaction rules, with the terms and conditions 
of such transactions reduced to writing and available for public 
inspection on the Internet. This collection has recordkeeping and 
reporting requirements. Section 272(d) states that companies required 
to maintain a separate affiliate ``shall obtain and pay for a Federal/
State audit every two years conducted by an independent auditor to 
determine whether such company has complied with this section and the 
regulations promulgated under this section, and particularly whether 
such company has complied with the separate accounting requirements 
under [section 272(b)].'' The information collected in this submission 
to OMB is intended to prevent discrimination, cost misallocation and 
other anti-competitive conduct by the BOCs.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 05-6560 Filed 4-1-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P