[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 124 (Thursday, June 27, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 38606-38607]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-15312]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 54

[WC Docket No. 02-60; FCC 12-150]


Rural Health Care Support Mechanism

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule; announcement of effective date.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Commission announces that the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the non-substantive revisions 
to the information collection associated with the Commission's Service 
Provider Identification Number and Contact Form. This announcement is 
consistent with the Universal Service--Rural Health Care Program, 
Report and Order (Order), which stated that the Commission would 
publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective 
date of those rules.

DATES: The amendments affecting 47 CFR 54.640(b) and 54.679 published 
at 78 FR 13936, March 1, 2013, are effective June 27, 2013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Walker, Wireline Competition 
Bureau at (202) 418-2668 or TTY (202) 418-0484.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document announces that, on May 29, 
2013, OMB approved the non-substantive revisions to the information 
collection requirements contained in the Commission's Service Provider 
Identification Number and Contact Form, 77 FR 42728, July 20, 2012. The 
OMB Control Number is 3060-0824. The Commission publishes this notice 
as an announcement of the effective date of the rules. If you have any 
comments on the burden estimates

[[Page 38607]]

listed below, or how the Commission can improve the collections and 
reduce any burdens caused thereby, please contact Judy Herman, Federal 
Communications Commission, Room 1-C823, 445 12th Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20554. Please include the OMB Control Number, 3060-0824, 
in your correspondence. The Commission will also accept your comments 
via email please send them to [email protected].
    To request materials in accessible formats for people with 
disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), 
send an email to [email protected] or call the Consumer and Governmental 
Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-0432 (TTY).

Synopsis

    As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3507), the FCC is notifying the public that it received OMB approval on 
May 29, 2013, for the information collection requirements contained in 
the Commission's rules at 47 CFR 54.640(b) and 54.679.
    Under 5 CFR part 1320, an agency may not conduct or sponsor a 
collection of information unless it displays a current, 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, that does not display a current, valid OMB Control Number. The OMB 
Control Number is 3060-0824.
    The foregoing notice is required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995, Public Law 104-13, October 1, 1995, and 44 U.S.C. 3507.
    The total annual reporting burdens and costs for the respondents 
are as follows:
    OMB Control Number: 3060-0824.
    OMB Approval Date: May 29, 2013.
    OMB Expiration Date: November 30, 2015.
    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 collection of information 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, 
Service Provider Identification Number (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 has received OMB approval to the 
non-substantive revisions of this information collection.
    One of the functions of 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 first 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 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 non-substantive revisions were made to the FCC Form 
498: Page 1, replaced ``FRN Number'' with ``FCC Registration Number 
(CORES ID)'', the same revisions were made to page 5 of the 
Instructions; Page 8, line 122, the Rural Health Care Program offset 
indicator was separated from the Schools and Libraries offset 
indicator, page 10 of the Instructions was revised to remove the 
mandatory offset requirement and page 14 of the Instructions was 
revised to add the separate offset indicator for the Rural Health Care 
Program; Page 8, line 23, added a certification for service providers 
(vendors) participating in the Healthcare Connect Fund, the same 
certification was added to page 14 of the Instructions; and Page 18 of 
the Instructions was revised to include a definition for ``officer.''
    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 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.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013-15312 Filed 6-26-13; 8:45 am]
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