[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 52 (Thursday, March 17, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14663-14664]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-6205]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


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

March 11, 2011.
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 on 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 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 (PRA) that

[[Page 14664]]

does not display a currently valid OMB control number.

DATES: Written Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) comments should be 
submitted on or before May 16, 2011. 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 the Federal Communications 
Commission via e-mail 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 e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    OMB Control Number: 3060-0734.
    Title: Sections 53.209, 53.211, and 53.213, Accounting Safeguards 
and Sections 260 and 271-276 of the Communications Act of 1934, as 
amended.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 3 respondents; 1,551 
responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 0.5 hours-4,593 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion and biennial reporting 
requirements, third party disclosure 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. sections 154(i), 154(j), 201-205, 218, 220, 260, 271-276, 
303(r), and 403.
    Total Annual Burden: 72,495 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: $1,500,000.
    Privacy Act Impact Assessment: N/A.
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: The Commission is not 
requesting that the respondent submit confidential information to the 
FCC. Respondents may, however, request confidential treatment of such 
information they believe to be confidential under 47 CFR 0.459 of the 
Commission's rules.
    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. The Commission is requesting OMB approval for an extension (there 
is no change in the reporting, recordkeeping and/or third party 
disclosure requirements). There is no change in the Commission's burden 
estimates.
    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 of 1934, as amended and the Commission's 
implementing rules, 47 CFR 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 pubic 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, Office of the Secretary, Office of Managing Director.
[FR Doc. 2011-6205 Filed 3-16-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P