[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 164 (Friday, August 23, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52528-52529]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-20565]


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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 October 22, 2013. 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 questions to Judith B. Herman, Federal 
Communications Commission. 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: 3060-0819.
    Title: Lifeline and Link Up Reform and Modernization, Advancing 
Broadband Availability Through Digital Literacy Training.
    Form Numbers: FCC Forms 497, 481, 550, 555, 560
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Individuals or households and business or other for-
profit.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 41,806,827 respondents; 
41,838,290 responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 0.25-250 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion, quarterly, biennially, on time, 
monthly and annual reporting requirements, third party disclosure 
requirements and recordkeeping requirements.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. 
Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47 
U.S.C. sections 1, 4(i), 201-205, 214, 254 and 403 of the 
Communications Act of 1934, as amended.
    Total Annual Burden: 24,184,565 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: No cost.
    Privacy Act Impact Assessment: Yes.
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: The changes proposed in the 
2012 Lifeline Reform Order affects individuals or households, and thus, 
there are impacts under the Privacy Act. As required by the Privacy Act 
of 1974, as amended, 5 U.S.C. 552a, the Commission will create a system 
of records notice (SORN) to cover the collection, storage, maintenance, 
and disposal (when appropriate) of any personally identifiable 
information that the Commission may collect as part of the information 
collection. We note that USAC must preserve the confidentiality of all 
data obtained from respondents and contributors to the universal 
service support program mechanism, must not use the data except for 
purposes of administering the universal service support program, and 
must not disclose data in company-specific form unless

[[Page 52529]]

directed to do so by the Commission. If the Commission requests 
information that the respondents believe is confidential, respondents 
may request confidential treatment of such information under section 
0.459 of the Commission's rules.
    Needs and Uses: This collection is being submitted as a revision to 
a currently approved collection.
    In January 2012, the Commission adopted an order reforming and 
modernizing its Lifeline universal service program. Lifeline and Link-
Up Reform and Modernization; Lifeline and Link-Up; Federal-State Joint 
Board on Universal Service; Advancing Broadband Availability Through 
Digital Literacy Training, WC Docket Nos. 11-42, 03-109, 12-23; CC 
Docket No. 96-45, Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking, 27 FCC Rcd 6656 (2012) (``Lifeline Order''). In the 
Lifeline Order, the Commission made several modifications to the 
existing rules regarding designation of Lifeline-only Eligible 
Telecommunications Carriers (ETCs) to eliminate waste and inefficiency, 
and to increase accountability in the program.
    Specifically, the Lifeline Order amended Section 54.416 of the 
Commission's rules to require ETCs make certain certifications 
annually, including but not limited to, certifications that the ETC has 
policies and procedures in place to ensure that its Lifeline 
subscribers are eligible to receive Lifeline services and that the ETC 
is in compliance with all federal Lifeline certification procedures. 
See 47 CFR 54.416(a)(1)-(2) (2013). ETCs are required to annually 
provide the results of their re-certification efforts performed 
pursuant to Section 54.410 to the Commission and the Administrator as 
well as the number of subscribers de-enrolled for non-usage. See 47 CFR 
54.405, 54.410, 54.416(b) (2013). These rules help protect the 
Universal Service Fund from waste, fraud, and abuse by ensuring that 
ETCs are accountable for their compliance with program rules. ETCs 
provide these certifications and results on the FCC Form 555, the 
Annual Lifeline Eligible Telecommunications Carrier Certification Form.
    In this submission, the Commission proposes to make administrative 
revisions to the FCC Form 555 to improve the clarity of the form and 
instructions. The Commission also proposes to revise FCC Form 555 
Section 2 to require ETCs to report the number of subscribers claimed 
on their February FCC Form 497 for the current FCC Form 555 calendar 
year that were initially enrolled during that calendar year. Further, 
we propose to revise Section 3 to require the ETCs to report the 
percentage of de-enrolled subscribers. Finally, we propose to revise 
Section 4 to require the ETCs to identify whether they are a ``Pre-Paid 
ETC'' that is in compliance with Section 54.407. See 47 CFR 54.407.
    The Commission also proposes revisions to the Broadband Pilot 
Program. The broadband pilot program is aimed at generating 
statistically significant data that will allow the Commission, ETCs, 
and the public to analyze the effectiveness of different approaches to 
using Lifeline funds to making broadband more affordable for low-income 
Americans while providing support that is sufficient but not excessive. 
By Order, on December 19, 2012, the Commission selected 14 projects to 
participate in the broadband pilot program. Therefore, there is no 
further need to solicit proposals from respondents for the Broadband 
Pilot Program. In this submission, the Commission proposes to eliminate 
the call for Broadband Pilot Program proposals, which was included in 
the previous revision. The Commission also proposes revisions to FCC 
Form 550--Low Income Broadband Reimbursement Form and FCC Form 560--Low 
Income Broadband Pilot Program Reporting Form). In the previous 
revision, the Commission estimated the number of respondents for the 
FCC Forms 550 and 560 because the pilot program participants had not 
been selected at that time. The Commission proposes revised 
calculations for the burden hours associated with the FCC Forms 550 and 
560 based on the actual number of pilot program participants.

Federal Communications Commission.
Gloria J. Miles,
Federal Register Liaison, Office of the Secretary, Office of Managing 
Director.
[FR Doc. 2013-20565 Filed 8-22-13; 8:45 am]
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