[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 124 (Thursday, June 26, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36322-36323]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-14424]


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

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Being Submitted for 
Review to the Office of Management and Budget, Comments Requested

June 20, 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 July 28, 
2008. If you anticipate that you will be submitting PRA comments, but 
find it difficult to do so within the period of time allowed by this 
notice, you should advise the FCC contact listed below as soon as 
possible.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments to Nicholas A. Fraser, Office of 
Management and Budget (e-mail address: [email protected]), and to the 
Federal Communications Commission's PRA mailbox (e-mail address: 
[email protected]). Include in the e-mails the OMB control number of the 
collection as shown in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below or, 
if there is no OMB control number, the Title as shown in the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section. 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 contact 
Leslie F. Smith via e-mail at [email protected] or at (202) 418-0217. To view 
or obtain a copy of an information collection request (ICR) submitted 
to OMB: (1) Go to this OMB/GSA Web page: http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain, (2) look for the section of the Web page called ``Currently 
Under Review,'' (3) click on the downward-pointing arrow in the 
``Select Agency'' box below the ``Currently Under Review'' heading, (4) 
select ``Federal Communications Commission'' from the list of agencies 
presented in the ``Select Agency'' box, (5) click the ``Submit'' button 
to the right of the ``Select Agency'' box, and (6) when the list of FCC 
ICRs currently under review appears, look for the OMB control number of 
the ICR you want to view (or its title if there is no OMB control 
number) and then click on the ICR Reference Number. A copy of the FCC 
submission to OMB will be displayed.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    OMB Control Number: 3060-0819.
    Title: Sections 54.400-54.417, Lifeline Assistance (Lifeline) 
Connection Assistance (Link-Up) Reporting Worksheet and Instructions, 
FCC Form 497.
    Form Number(s): FCC Form 497.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Individuals or households; and business or other for-
profit.

[[Page 36323]]

    Number of Respondents and Responses: 201,855 respondents; 227,055 
responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 0.08-3.5 hours.
    Obligation To Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion, annually, one time reporting 
requirement; and recordkeeping requirement.
    Total Annual Burden: 61,788 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: $0.00.
    Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: The respondents may request 
confidentiality protection for the special access performance 
information. The respondents are not required to file their customers' 
monthly usage information with the Federal Communications Commission 
(FCC).
    Needs and Uses: Since the release of the Lifeline Order, WC Docket 
No. 03-109, FCC 04-87, in April 2004, the Commission has taken several 
steps to streamline program requirements and further safeguard the 
Universal Service Fund from waste, fraud, and abuse. Specifically, 
sample certification and verification letters are provided on the 
Universal Service Administrative Company's (USAC) Web site to assist 
eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) in complying with 
certification and verification requirements adopted in the Lifeline 
Order. Although the use of such letters is optional, ETCs are 
encouraged to make use of them because they standardize the collection 
of information and reduce the likelihood of errors in providing the 
information that is needed. In addition, on August 29, 2007, the 
Commission released the 2007 Order, 2007 Comprehensive Review of the 
Universal Service Fund Management, Administration and Oversight, WC 
Docket Nos. 05-195, 02-60, 03-109 and CC Docket Nos. 96-45, 02-6, 97-
21, FCC 07-150. In this 2007 Order, the Commission requires ETCs to 
retain records verifying the eligibility of a Lifeline recipient for as 
long as the ETC provides Lifeline service to that customer, even after 
being audited. Finally, the Lifeline and Link Up Worksheet (Form 497) 
and the accompanying instructions have been updated to reflect changes 
in the federal tariffed End User Common Line charge (EUCL).
    OMB Control Number: 3060-0986.
    Title: Competitive Carrier Line Count Report.
    Form Number: FCC Form 525.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 1,873 respondents; 6,201 
responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 0.25-10 hours.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion, quarterly and annual reporting 
requirements; third party disclosure requirement.
    Total Annual Burden: 8,692 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: $0.00.
    Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impacts.
    Nature of 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 0.459 of the 
Commission's rules.
    Needs and Uses: The Commission will use the information 
requirements to determine whether and to what extent rural 
telecommunications carriers and competitive eligible telecommunications 
carriers (ETCs) providing the data are eligible to receive universal 
service support. This information includes loop counts, by 
disaggregation zone, for rural incumbent carriers, which is used to 
calculate the per-line high-cost universal service support amount 
available to competitive ETCs serving their territories. It also 
includes loop counts, by disaggregation zone or unbundled network 
element zone, for competitive ETCs, which is used to calculate the 
total high-cost universal service support amount available to 
competitive ETCs. This competitive ETC loop count requirement includes 
areas served by incumbent non-rural carriers, in addition to incumbent 
rural carriers, due to the consolidation of information collections 
included in a previous revision. Additionally, this information 
collection requires states to certify that incumbent rural carriers and 
competitive ETCs are using the high-cost universal service support only 
for the provision, maintenance, and upgrading of facilities and 
services for which the supports is intended. Finally, this information 
collection includes cost data filed by incumbent rural carriers on an 
as-needed basis to establish eligibility for the safety net and safety 
valve high-cost universal service support mechanisms.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E8-14424 Filed 6-25-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P