[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 53 (Tuesday, March 18, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14467-14468]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-5407]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


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

March 12, 2008.
SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden 
and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3501-3520), the Federal Communications Commission invites the general 
public and other Federal agencies to comment on the following 
information collection(s). 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. An agency may not conduct or 
sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently 
valid OMB 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 that does not display a valid OMB control 
number.

DATES: Written PRA comments should be submitted on or before May 19, 
2008. 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: Submit your comments by e-mail to [email protected]. Include in 
the e-mail the OMB control number of the collection or, if there is no 
OMB control number, the Title shown in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION 
section below. If you are unable to submit your comments by e-mail 
contact the person listed below to make alternate arrangements.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information about the 
information collection(s) or to obtain a copy of the collection send an 
e-mail to [email protected] and include the collection's OMB control number 
as shown in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below (or the title 
of the collection if there is no OMB control number), or call Leslie F. 
Smith at (202) 418-0217.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    OMB Control Number: 3060-0734.
    Title: Sections 53,209, 53.211 and 53.213--Accounting Safeguards; 
Sections 271-276 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Businesses or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 45 respondents; 240 responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 72-19,200 hours.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain a benefit. See 
Section 272(f)(1) Sunset of the BOC Separate

[[Page 14468]]

Affiliate and Related Requirements, et al., WC Docket No. 02-112, 22 
FCC Rcd 16440 (2007).
    Frequency of Response: On occasion and biennial reporting 
requirements; third party disclosure requirement; and recordkeeping 
requirement.
    Total Annual Burden: 265,581 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: $1,500,000.
    Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impacts.
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: The Commission is not 
requesting that the respondents submit confidential information to the 
FCC. Respondents may, however, request confidential treatment for 
information they believe to be confidential under 47 CFR Section 0.459 
of the Commission's rules.
    Needs and Uses: A Bell Operating Company (BOC) may choose from 
among three regulatory regimes in its provision of in-region, 
interstate, interLATA (Local Access and Transport Area) 
telecommunications services. One of these regimes is the regime set 
forth in section 272 of the Communications Act and the Commission's 
implementing rules, 47 CFR section 272. Under this regime, a BOC and 
its section 272 affiliate may not jointly own transmission and 
switching equipment. 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. 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)].'' These 
information collection requirements are intended to prevent 
discrimination, cost misallocation and other anti-competitive conduct 
by the BOCs.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E8-5407 Filed 3-17-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P