[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 125 (Wednesday, June 30, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37801-37802]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-15789]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Being Reviewed by the 
Federal Communications Commission for Extension Under Delegated 
Authority, Comments Requested

June 24, 2010.
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. 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; (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, and (e) 
ways to further reduce the information collection burden for small 
business concerns with fewer than 25 employees.
    The FCC 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 currently valid OMB control number.

DATES: Written Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) comments should be 
submitted on or before August 30, 2010. 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: Direct all PRA comments to Nicholas A. Fraser, Office of 
Management and Budget, via fax at 202-395-5167 or via the Internet at 
[email protected] and to the Federal Communications 
Commission via email to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Judith B. Herman, Office of Managing 
Director, (202) 418-0214. For additional information, contact Judith B. 
Herman, OMD, 202-418-0214 or email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    OMB Control Number: 3060-0950.
    Title: Bidding Credits for Tribal Lands.
    Form No.: N/A.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit, not-for-profit 
institutions, and state, local or tribal government.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 5 respondents; 5 responses.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 10 - 180 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement and 
recordkeeping requirement.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. 
Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47 
U.S.C. section 309(j).
    Total Annual Burden: 1,000 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: $180,000.
    Privacy Act Impact Assessment: N/A.
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: There is no need for 
confidentiality.
    Needs and Uses: The Commission will submit this expiring 
information collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
after this comment period to obtain the full three year clearance from 
them. There is no change in the reporting requirements. The Commission 
is reporting a 400 hour increase in burden which is due to an increase 
in the number of respondents.
    On June 8, 2000, the Commission adopted a Report and Order which 
established rules and policies to encourage deployment of wireless 
services to tribal lands pursuant to the objectives and requirements of 
Section 309(j)(3) and (4) of the Communications Act of 1934, as 
amended, and in conjunction with data from the U.S. Census which 
indicted that communities on tribal lands have historically had less 
access to telecommunications services than any other segment of the 
population.
    On March 7, 2003, the Commission adopted a Second Report and Order 
which extended the time period during which winning bidders can 
negotiate with relevant tribes to obtain the certification needed to 
obtain the bidding credit in a particular market from 90 days to 180 
days. Further, the Second Report and Order clarified various 
administrative matters involved in implementing the bidding credit.
    On August 18, 2004, the Commission adopted a Third Report and Order 
which raised the wireline telephone penetration rate at which tribal 
lands are eligible for a bidding credit from 70 percent or less, to 85 
percent or less, and increased the amount of the bidding credit 
available to carriers that pledge to deploy on and serve qualifying 
tribal lands.
    Since the last submission to the OMB, the Commission has adjusted 
the number of respondents/responses, burden hours and annual costs. 
This is due to the changing number licenses estimated to be auctioned 
during a given year. Although few applicants are actually affected, the 
number of potential participants is in the hundreds, perhaps thousands. 
In other words, while few applicants have sought to participate in the 
Tribal Land Bidding Credit (TLBC) program, almost all applicants for 
licenses for which TLBCs are available could take part in the program. 
Because so many could possibly take part in the TLBC program, the 
Commission needs to continue OMB approval for this expiring collection.



[[Page 37802]]


Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary,
Office of the Secretary,
Office of Managing Director.

[FR Doc. 2010-15789 Filed 6-29-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-S