[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 158 (Thursday, August 16, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46058-46059]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-15577]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


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

August 2, 2007.
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 (PRA), Public Law 104-13. An agency may 
not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a 
current valid control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty 
for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the 
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 PRA comments should be submitted on or before October 
15, 2007. 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 PRA comments to Les Smith, Federal Communications 
Commission, Room 1-C216, 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 Les Smith at (202) 418-0217 or 
via the Internet at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    OMB Control Number: 3060-0589.
    Title: FCC Remittance Advice and Continuation Sheet, Bill for 
Collection, FCC Remittance Advice for Regulatory Fees (E-Form).
    Form Number(s): FCC Forms 159, 159-C, 159-B, and 159-E.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Individuals or households; Business or other for-
profit entities; Not-for-profit institutions; Federal government; and 
State, local, or tribal government.
    Number of Respondents: 150,000.
    Estimated Time per Response: 10 minutes to 4 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion and annual reporting 
requirements; Third party disclosure.
    Obligation To Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits.
    Total Annual Burden: 37,500 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: None.
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: There is no need for 
confidentiality, except for personally identifiable information (PII) 
individuals may submit, which is covered by a system of records notice 
(SORN), FCC/OMD-9, ``Commission Registration System (CORES).''
    Privacy Impact Assessment: No, the FCC will conduct a Privacy 
Impact Assessment when it revises the information system(s) covered by 
FCC/OMD-9, ``Commission Registration System (CORES),'' SORN.
    Needs and Uses: On August 2, 2007, the FCC released a Report and 
Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (R&O and FNPRM), In the 
Matter of Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 
2007, MD Docket No. 07-81, FCC 07-140, in which it added licensees of 
earth stations and cable television relay service (CARS) stations to 
those entities for which the FCC will bill for regulatory fees. The 
Commission has also applied regulatory fee obligations to 
interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers. As a 
result of these two actions, which were taken in this R&O and FNPRM, 
the FCC is modifying FCC Form 159, 159-C, and 159-E to accommodate 
these two new billing requirements.
    The Commission created a streamlined electronic form, FCC Form 159-
E, to associate a mailed or faxed payment with regulatory fees, which 
are filed on-line. Pertinent information is taken directly from the 
regulatory fee electronic filing system (Fee Filer) and populated on 
the FCC Form 159-E, which can be printed by the filer. The FCC Form 
159-E, essentially a simple payment voucher, contains summary 
information, which distinguishes the

[[Page 46059]]

payment but not detailed information about the fee(s). Specific 
associated fee information is available on a separate report, which the 
filer does not need to remit. Beginning with the FY 2005 regulatory 
fees, the Commission has required FCC Form 159-E to accompany all 
payments derived from the regulatory fee electronic filing system, 
except on-line payments, which do not require any paper submission. 
Payment may be made by check or money order, credit card or wire 
transfer.
    The Commission uses this information to apply credit for the 
remittance against all regulatory fees within the associated electronic 
submission. The payment instrument must be in the dollar amount 
specified on the FCC Form 159-E for full credit to be applied.
    Expanded use of the FCC Form 159-E is possible in the future as 
additional streamlining for this process is implemented. This form may 
be used in lieu of pre-populated FCC Form 159s, which are currently 
produced to facilitate remittance for various electronic filings. The 
FCC Form 159-E may, therefore, impact users of all electronic filing 
systems, as well as users of an FCC bill paying system (currently Fee 
Filer and the Red Light Display system).
    This information collection may affect some individuals or 
households; however, the Commission has in place a registration process 
http://www.fcc.gov, which issues a Federal Registration Number (FRN) to 
each applicant/licensee, etc., for use in filing any of these FCC Forms 
159/159-C, 159-B, and 159-E. As part of the registration process, the 
applicant/licensee's SSN or TIN is stored in a secure environment, 
which minimizes any potential privacy risks.

    OMB Control Number: 3060-0949.
    Title: Interstate Telecommunications Service Provider Worksheet, 
FCC Form 159-W.
    Form Number: FCC Form 159-W.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business and other for-profit entities.
    Number of Respondents: 3,700.
    Estimated Time per Response: 0.5 hours (30 minutes).
    Frequency of Response: On occasion and annual reporting 
requirements.
    Obligation To Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits.
    Total Annual Burden: 1,850 hours.
    Total Annual Costs: None.
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: There is no need for 
confidentiality, except for personally identifiable information 
individuals may submit, which is covered by a system of records notice 
(SORN), FCC/OMD-9, ``Commission Registration System (CORES).''
    Privacy Impact Assessment: No, the FCC will conduct a Privacy 
Impact Assessment when it revises the information system(s) covered by 
FCC/OMD-9, ``Commission Registration System (CORES)'' SORN.
    Needs and Uses: On August 2, 2007, the FCC released a Report and 
Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (R&O and FNPRM), In the 
Matter of Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 
2007, MD Docket No. 07-81, FCC 07-140, in which it added licensees of 
earth stations and cable television relay service (CARS) stations to 
those entities for which the FCC will bill for regulatory fees. The 
Commission has also applied regulatory fee obligations to 
interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers. As a 
result of these two actions, which were taken in this R&O and FNPRM, 
the FCC is modifying FCC Form 159-W, among other things, as cited above 
in 3060-0589, to accommodate these two new billing requirements.
    Section 9 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, authorizes 
the FCC to assess and to collect regulatory fees to recover costs 
incurred in carrying out the Commission's enforcement actions, 
policies, rulemaking activities, and user information services. 
Telecommunications licensees and permittees that provide interstate, 
international, mobile, and satellite services, including telephone 
operator services, must pay those fees, which are based upon a 
percentage of the licensee/permittee's interstate revenues. The FCC 
bills telecommunications licensees and permittees using the FCC Form 
159-W as the invoice. The FCC developed FCC Form 159-W to provide a 
convenient format for these telecommunications licensees and permittees 
to verify the information that is extracted from the interstate revenue 
information (which are already ``populated'' on this form) and to 
verify the simple calculation of the fee amount that is due, correcting 
any inaccuracies as necessary. The FCC uses this form to bill the 
telecommunications licensee or permittee the amount of its regulatory 
fee. The FCC is making minor revisions to FCC Form 159-W to provide a 
clearer format. Respondents may access FCC Form 159-W on line through 
the FCC's Web page: http://www.fcc.gov/frnreg if they wish to submit 
payment prior to being billed.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E7-15577 Filed 8-15-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P