[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 164 (Wednesday, August 26, 2009)] [Notices] [Pages 43126-43127] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: E9-20556] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Public Information Collections 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 (PRA) of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520. 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: Persons wishing to comments on this information collection should submit comments on [enter date 30 days after date of publication in the FR]. 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 Nicholas A. Fraser, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), via fax at (202) 395-5167, or via the Internet at [email protected] and to Judith-B.Herman, Federal Communications Commission (FCC). To submit your comments by e- mail send them to: [email protected]. To view a copy of this information collection request (ICR) submitted to OMB: (1) Go to 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 FCC list appears, look for the title of this ICR (or its OMB Control Number, if there is one) and then click on the ICR. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Judith Boley Herman, OMD, PERM. For additional information about the information collection(s) send an e- mail to [email protected] or contact Judith Boley Herman, 202-418-0214. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OMB Control Number: 3060-0810. Title: Procedures for Designation of Eligible Telecommunications Carriers (ETCs). Pursuant to Section 214(e)(6) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended. Form No.: N/A. Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection. Respondents: Business or other for-profit. Number of Respondents: 100 respondents; 100 responses. Estimated Time per Response: 2 - 60 hours. Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement and third party disclosure requirement. Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47 U.S.C. sections 151 - 154, 201 - 205, 214, 218 - 220, 254, 303(r), and 403. Total Annual Burden: 6,200 hours. Total Annual Cost: N/A. Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No. Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: Pursuant to 47 CFR 0.459 of the Commission's rules, a respondent may request confidential treatment of their information. The respondent must state the reasons they do not want their information in the public record and the facts on which those reasons are based. The appropriate Bureau or Office Chief of the Commission may grant a confidentiality request that presents, by a preponderance of the evidence, a case for non-disclosure consistent with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. section 552. If a confidentiality request is denied, the respondent has five days to appeal the decision before the Commission. If the appeal before the Commission is denied, the respondent has five days to seek a judicial stay. Needs and Uses: The Commission will submit this information collection (IC) to the OMB as an extension during this comment period to obtain the full three-year clearance from them. The Commission reported an increase in the total annual burden in the 60 day notice (74 FR 27544). However, the Commission has determined that the total annual burden was not 9,200 hours but should remain unchanged at 6,200 hours. Section 214(e)(6) states that a telecommunications carrier that is not subject to the jurisdiction of a state may request that the Commission determine whether it is eligible to receive universal service support. The Commission must evaluate whether such telecommunications carriers meet the eligibility criteria set forth in the Act. The Commission concluded that petitions for designation filed under Section 214(e)(6) relating to ``near reservation'' areas will not be considered as petitions relating to tribal lands and as a result, petitioners seeking eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) designation in such areas must follow the procedures outlined in CC Docket No. 96-45, Twelfth Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 00-258 (rel. June 8, 2000), (Tribal Lands Order), for non-tribal lands prior to submitting a request for designation to this Commission under Section 214(e)(6). OMB Control Number: 3060-0824. [[Page 43127]] Title: Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN) and Contact Information Form. Form No.: FCC Form 498. Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection. Respondents: Business or other for-profit and not-for-profit institutions. Number of Respondents: 5,000 respondents; 5,000 responses. Estimated Time Per Response: 1.5 hours. Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement and third party disclosure requirement. Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47 U.S.C. sections 151 - 154 and 254. Total Annual Burden: 7,500 hours. Total Annual Cost: N/A. Privacy Act Impact Assessment: N/A. Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: The Commission is not requesting that respondents submit confidential information to the FCC. However, respondents may request confidential treatment of their information under 47 CFR 0.459 of the Commission's rules. Needs and Uses: The Commission will submit this information collection (IC) to the OMB as a revision during this comment period to obtain the full three-year clearance from them. There is no change in the estimated burden hours. As detailed in the Supporting Statement that will be submitted to the OMB for review and approval, the Commission proposes changes to certain parts of the FCC Form 498 to improve the efficiency of administering the universal service support mechanism. Specifically, the Commission proposes: 1) adding two options for service providers to indicate the reason for submitting the FCC Form 498; 2) clarifying the information for the general contact person, the program specific contact persons, and the officer certifying the form; 3) requiring the submission of the service provider's Dunn and Bradstreet number; 4) eliminating the option to receive paper checks and requiring financial institution remittance information in order to make electronic disbursements in accordance with the requirements of the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996; 5) requiring the submission of study area codes for service providers that receive High-Cost and Low-Income support; and 6) giving service providers the option of choosing more than one business description for their companies. The information collected on FCC Form 498 is used by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) to disburse federal universal service support consistent with the specifications of carriers and service providers who participate and receive support from any of the four universal service support mechanisms (High-Cost, Low-Income, Rural Health Care and Schools and Libraries). FCC Form 498 submissions also provide USAC with updated contact information, enabling USAC to contact universal service fund participants when necessary. OMB Control Number: 3060-0876. Title: Section 54.703, USAC Board of Directors Nomination Process and Sections 54.719 through 54.725, Review of Administrator's Decision. Form No.: N/A. Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection. Respondents: Business or other for-profit and not-for-profit institutions. Number of Respondents: 1,312 respondents; 1,312 responses. Estimated Time Per Response: 20 - 32 hours. Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement and third party disclosure requirement. Obligation to Respond: Voluntary. Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47 U.S.C. sections 151 - 154, 201 - 205, 218 - 220, 254, 303(r), 403 and 405 and section 553 of the Administrative Procedures Act, 5 U.S.C. 553. Total Annual Burden: 41,840 hours. Total Annual Cost: N/A. Privacy Act Impact Assessment: N/A. Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: The Commission is not requesting that respondents submit confidential information to the FCC. However, respondents may request confidential treatment of their information under 47 CFR 0.459 of the Commission's rules. Needs and Uses: The Commission will submit this information collection (IC) to the OMB as an extension during this comment period to obtain the full three-year clearance from them. There is no change in the Commission's estimated burden. Section 54.703 states that industry and non-industry groups may submit to the Commission for approval nominations for individuals to be appointed to the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) Board of Directors. Sections 54.719 through 54.725 describes the procedures for Commission review of USAC decisions including the general filing requirements pursuant to which parties must file requests for review. The information is used by the Commission to select USAC's Board of Directors and to ensure that requests for review are filed properly with the Commission. Federal Communications Commission. Alethea Lewis, Information Specialist. BILLING CODE 6712-01-S [FR Doc. E9-20556 Filed 8-25-09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6712-01-P