[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 185 (Monday, September 24, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58832-58834]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-23415]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


Information Collection(s) Being Submitted for Review and Approval 
to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

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. 
3502-3520), 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 estimates; 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 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 does 
not display a valid OMB control number.

DATES: Written Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) comments should be 
submitted on or before October 24, 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 Nicholas A. Fraser, Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB), via fax

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at 202-395-5167 or via Internet at [email protected] and 
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, FCC, at 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.
    Number of Respondents: 1,162 respondents; 1,582 responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 22 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion quarterly and annual 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. sections 151, 154(i), and (j), 221(c) and 410(c) 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 assurances of 
confidentiality have been given regarding the information. 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 will submit this collection to the 
OMB for approval of a revision of this information collection.
    In order to determine which carriers are entitled to universal 
service support, all rate-of-return regulated (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 36.611 for each of its study areas and, if 
applicable, for each wire center as that term is defined in 47 CFR part 
54 of the Commission's rules.
    Loops are the telephone lines running from the carrier's switching 
facilities to the customer. The loop cost and loop count information is 
to be filed annually with NECA by July 31st of each year, and may be 
updated quarterly pursuant to section 36.612. 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 on October 1 of each year. An incumbent LEC is 
defined as a carrier that meets the definition of ``incumbent local 
exchange carrier'' in section 51.5 of the Commission's rules.
    The Commission requires that non-rural carriers submit quarterly 
loop counts in order to ensure that universal service fund (USF) 
support for non-rural carriers is accurately calculated when 
competitive eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) are present in 
the incumbent LECs' operating areas. Quarterly loop cost and loop count 
data filings are voluntary for rate-of-return carriers.
    The Commission is submitting this collection to the OMB for 
approval of a revision of this information collection. The revision is 
due to the elimination of the requirement for price-cap regulated 
carriers and competitive carriers to file cost or loop count data.
    OMB Control Number: 3060-0824.
    Title: Service Provider Identification Number and Contact Form.
    Form Number: 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 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. 151-154 and 254 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: The Commission notes that the 
Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) who administers the 
universal service program must preserve the confidentiality of all data 
obtained from respondents and contributors to the universal service 
programs, must not use the data except for purposes of administering 
the universal service programs, and must not disclose data in company-
specific form unless directed to do so by the Commission. With respect 
to the FCC Form 498, USAC shall publish each participant's name, SPIN, 
and contact information via USAC's Web site. All other information, 
including financial institution account numbers or routing information, 
shall remain confidential.
    Needs and Uses: The Commission will submit this collection to the 
OMB for approval of a revision of this information collection.
    One of the functions of the Universal Service Administrative 
Company (USAC) is to provide a means for the billing, collection and 
disbursement of funds for the universal service support mechanisms.
    On October 1998, the OMB approved FCC Form 498, the ``Service 
Provider Information Form'' to enable USAC to collect service provider 
name and address, telephone number, Federal Employer Identification 
Number (EIN), contact names, contact telephone numbers, and remittance 
information. FCC Form 498 enables participants to request a Service 
Provider Identification Number (SPIN) and provides the official record 
for participation in the universal service support mechanisms. The 
remittance information provided by participants on FCC Form 498 enables 
USAC to make payments to participants in the universal service support 
mechanisms.
    The following proposed revisions have been made to the FCC Form 498 
for which we seek OMB approval:
     Added an additional field in block 3 for a company's 
Federal Registration Number (FRN);
     Added a column for the Study Area Code Company Name in 
block 8;
     Added the ability for a carrier to designate an alternate 
bank account for the payment of BEAR funds in block 11;
     Added a box in block 1 and a supplemental information 
sheet to allow respondents to include information about affiliates;
     Updated the Principal Communications Types in block 14 to 
include additional business types as listed on the FCC Form 499-A; and
     Added a box after every program on the form that will 
allow service providers to cease participation in the associated 
program without having to deactivate their entire SPIN.
    Corresponding adjustments were made to the instructions to reflect 
the proposed changes to the FCC Form 498.
    The information collected on the FCC Form 498 is used by USAC to 
disburse federal universal service support consistent with the 
specifications of eligible participants in the universal service 
programs. FCC Form 498 submissions also provide USAC with updated 
contact information so that USAC can contact universal service fund 
participants when necessary. Without such information, USAC would not 
be able to distribute support to the

[[Page 58834]]

proper entities and this would prevent the Commission from fulfilling 
its statutory responsibilities under the Act to preserve and advance 
universal service.

Federal Communications Commission.
Gloria J. Miles,
Federal Register Liaison, Office of the Secretary, Office of Managing 
Director.
[FR Doc. 2012-23415 Filed 9-21-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P