[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 102 (Thursday, May 26, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30713-30714]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-13020]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal 
Communications Commission

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), as part of its 
continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, invites the general 
public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment 
on the following information collection, as required by the Paperwork 
Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995. 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 control number. No person shall be 
subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of 
information subject to the PRA that does not display a valid Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) control number.

[[Page 30714]]


DATES: Written PRA comments should be submitted on or before July 25, 
2011. 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 Paul Laurenzano, FCC, via e-mail 
[email protected] and to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information about the 
information collection, contact Paul Laurenzano at (202) 418-1359.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    OMB Control Number: 3060-1081.
    Title: Telecommunications Carriers Eligible To Receive Universal 
Service Support.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 1529 respondents; 1529 
responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 0.25-40 hours.
    Obligation To Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits, 47 
CFR 54.202, 54.209.
    Frequency of Response: One-time and annual reporting requirements; 
recordkeeping requirements.
    Total Annual Burden: 1,356 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: No cost.
    Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).
    Nature of Extent of Confidentiality: If respondents submit 
information which respondents believe is confidential, respondents may 
request confidential treatment of such information pursuant to section 
0.459 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 0.459.
    Needs and Uses: Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications 
Carrier (ETC) makes a telecommunications carrier eligible to 
participate in the Universal Service Fund's high-cost and low-income 
programs, which support the extension of telecommunications services to 
underserved rural and low-income communities. In the absence of this 
information collection, the Commission's ability to oversee the use of 
Federal universal service funds and to combat waste, fraud, and abuse 
in the use of Federal funds would be compromised. The Commission's 
rules for ETCs require the collection of the following information as 
stated in paragraphs a-c:
    a. ETC Designation Application. Rule 54.202 requires carriers 
seeking designation from the Commission to submit an application that 
certifies that the carrier will reasonably provide service to customers 
in their designated service area, 47 CFR 54.202(a)(1)(i), includes a 
five-year plan that describes network improvements or why such 
improvements are unnecessary, Sec.  54.202(a)(1)(ii), demonstrates the 
carrier's ability to remain functional in emergency situations, Sec.  
54.202(a)(2), demonstrates the carrier's commitment to consumer 
protection and service quality standards, Sec.  54.202(a)(3), 
demonstrates that carrier offers a local usage plan comparable to the 
one offered by the incumbent telephone company, Sec.  54.202(a)(4), and 
certifies that the Commission may require the carrier to provide equal 
access to other long distance carriers, Sec.  54.202(a)(5). If the 
carrier is seeking designation on Tribal lands, the carrier must also 
submit a copy of its application to the Tribal government and Tribal 
regulatory authority. Sec.  54.202(d).
    b. ETC Annual Reporting. Rule 54.209 requires Federally designated 
ETCs to submit each year an annual report on October 1 that parallels 
many of the requirements of an application. The annual report must 
include a progress report on the ETC's five-year plan, Sec.  
54.209(a)(1), detailed outage information, Sec.  54.209(a)(2), the 
number of unfulfilled requests for service from potential customers 
within its service areas, Sec.  54.209(a)(3), the number of complaints 
per 1,000 handsets or lines, Sec.  54.209(a)(4), certification that the 
ETC is complying with applicable service quality standards and consumer 
protection rules, Sec.  54.209(a)(5), certification that the ETC is 
able to function in emergency situations, Sec.  54.209(a)(6), 
certification that the ETC is offering a local usage plan comparable to 
that offered by the incumbent LEC in the relevant service areas, Sec.  
54.209(a)(7), and certification that the Commission may require the 
carrier to provide equal access to other long distance carriers, Sec.  
54.209(a)(8).
    c. ETC Recordkeeping. Rule 54.202(e) requires all ETCs to keep for 
a period of at least five years all records required to demonstrate to 
auditors that the support received was consistent with the universal 
service high-cost program rules.

    Federal Communications Commission.
Bulah P. Wheeler,
Deputy Manager, Office of the Secretary, Office of the Managing 
Director.
[FR Doc. 2011-13020 Filed 5-25-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P