[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 140 (Friday, July 20, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42728-42729]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-17521]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


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

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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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 take this opportunity to comment 
on the following information collection(s). Comments are requested 
concerning: 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; the 
accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; ways to enhance the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; 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 ways to further reduce the 
information 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 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 does 
not display a valid OMB control number.

DATES: Written Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) comments should be 
submitted on or before September 18, 2012. 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 PRA comments to Judith B. Herman, Federal 
Communications Commission, via the Internet at [email protected]. 
To submit your PRA comments by email send them to: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Judith B. Herman, Office of Managing 
Director, (202) 418-0214.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    OMB Control Number: 3060-0233.
    Title: Part 36, Separations.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.
    Number of Respondents: 1,162 respondents; 1,582 responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 22 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion, annual and quarterly reporting 
requirements and third party disclosure requirements.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. 
Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47 
U.S.C. 151, 152, 154, 161, 201-205 and 218-220 of the Communications 
Act of 1934, as amended.
    Total Annual Burden: 34,804 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: N/A.
    Privacy Impact Assessment: N/A.
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: No assurance of 
confidentiality has been given regarding the information provided. 
However, respondents may request materials or information submitted to 
the Commission be withheld from public inspection under 47 CFR 0.459 of 
the Commission's rules.

[[Page 42729]]

    Needs and Uses: After the 60 day comment period is complete; the 
Commission is seeking OMB approval for a revision in order to obtain 
the full three year clearance from them.
    The Commission is revising this information collection due to 
Commission rule changes that no longer require price-cap regulated 
carriers and competitive carriers to file cost or loop count data. 
These rule changes resulted in a decrease of 36,479 hours due to a 
decrease in the estimated number of respondents (835) and responses 
(5,980).
    In order to determine which carriers are entitled to universal 
service support, all rate-of-return incumbent local exchange carriers 
(LECs) must provide the National Exchange Carrier Association (NECA) 
with the loop cost and loop count data required by 47 CFR 63.611 of the 
Commission's rules for each of its study areas and, if applicable, for 
each wire center (that term is defined in 47 CFR Part 54). Loops are 
the telephone lines running from the carrier's switching facilities to 
the customer. The loop cost and loop count information are to be filed 
annually with NECA by July 31st of each year, and may be updated 
quarterly pursuant to 47 CFR 63.612. Pursuant to section 36.613, the 
information filed on July 31st of each year will be used to calculate 
universal service support for each study area and is filed by NECA with 
the Commission by October 1 of each year. An incumbent LEC is defined 
as a carrier that meets the definition of ``incumbent local exchange 
carrier'' in 47 CFR 51.5 <http://web2.westlaw.com/find/default.wl?mt=FederalGovernment&db=1000547&docname=47CFRS51.5&rp=%2ffind%2fdefault.wl&findtype=L&ordoc=0346830476&tc=-1&vr=2.0&fn=_top&sv=Split&tf=-1&pbc=C4FF690D&rs=WLW12.04 of the 
Commission's rules. Quarterly loop cost and loop count data filings are 
voluntary for rate-of-return carriers.
    The reporting requirements are necessary to implement the 
congressional mandate for universal service. The requirements are 
necessary to verify that rate-of-return LECs are eligible to receive 
universal service support. Information filed with NECA pursuant to 
section 36.611 is used to calculate universal service support payments 
to eligible carriers. Without this information, NECA and USAC 
(Universal Service Administration Company) would not be able to 
calculate such payments to eligible carriers.
    OMB Control Number: 3060-0824.
    Title: Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN) and Contact 
Form.
    Form Number: FCC Form 498.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities 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 requirements and third 
party disclosure requirements.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. 
Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47 
U.S.C. 151, 152, 153, 154 and 254 of the Communications Act of 1934, as 
amended.
    Total Annual Burden: 7,500 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: N/A.
    Privacy Impact Assessment: N/A.
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: No assurance of 
confidentiality has been given regarding the information provided. 
However, respondents may request materials or information submitted to 
the Commission be withheld from public inspection under 47 CFR 0.459 of 
the Commission's rules.
    Needs and Uses: The Commission is seeking OMB approval for a 
revision in order to obtain the full three year clearance from them. 
There is no change to the previous burden estimates.
    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 FCC Form 498 to improve the efficiency of 
administering the universal service support mechanism. Specifically, 
the Commission is proposing:
    (1) Adding an additional field for a company's Federal Registration 
Number (FRN);
    (2) Adding a column for the Study Area Code Company Name;
    (3) Adding the ability for a carrier to designate an alternate bank 
account for the payment of BEAR funds;
    (4) Adding a box and supplemental sheet that allows respondents to 
include information about affliates;
    (5) Updating the Principal Communications Types to include 
additional business types as listed on the FCC Form 499-A; and
    (6) Adding a box on the form that will allow service providers to 
cease participation in the associated program without having to 
deactivate their entire SPIN. 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 programs 
(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.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Office of Managing Director.
[FR Doc. 2012-17521 Filed 7-19-12; 8:45 am]
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