[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 174 (Monday, September 9, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 54967-54968]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-21812]


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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, for a period of three years, 
the information collection associated with the Commission's Universal 
Service--Rural Health Care Program, Report and Order (Order). This 
notice is consistent with the Order, which stated that the Commission 
would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the 
effective date of those rules.

DATES: The amendments to 47 CFR 54.601(b), 54.603(a) and (b), 
54.609(d)(2), 54.615(c), 54.619(a)(1) and (d), 54.623(a), 54.631(a) and 
(c), 54.632, 54.633(c), 54.634(b), 54.636, 54.639(d), 54.642, 54.643, 
54.645, 54.646, 54.647, 54.648(b), and 54.675(d), published at 78 FR 
13936, March 1, 2013, are effective September 9, 2013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Linda Oliver, Wireline Competition 
Bureau at (202) 418-1732 or TTY (202) 418-0484. For additional 
information concerning the Paperwork Reduction Act information 
collection requirements contained in this document, send an email to 
[email protected] or contact Judith B. Herman at 202-418-0214.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document announces that, on August 22, 
2013 (as amended August 23, 2013), OMB approved, for a period of three 
years, the information collection

[[Page 54968]]

requirements contained in the Commission's Order, FCC 12-150, published 
at 78 FR 13936, March 1, 2013. The OMB Control Number is 3060-0804. The 
Commission publishes this notice as an announcement of the effective 
date of the rules.
    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 
August 22, 2013 (as amended on August 23, 2013), for the information 
collection requirements contained in the Commission's rules at 47 CFR 
54.601(b), 54.603(a) and (b), 54.609(d)(2), 54.615(c), 54.619(a)(1) and 
(d), 54.623(a), 54.631(a) and (c), 54.632, 54.633(c), 54.634(b), 
54.636, 54.639(d), 54.642, 54.643, 54.645, 54.646, 54.647, 54.648(b), 
and 54.675(d).
    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 3060-0804.
    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: 3060-0804.
    OMB Approval Date: August 22, 2013 (as amended August 23, 2013).
    OMB Expiration Date: August 31, 2016.
    Title: Universal Service--Rural Health Care Program, WC Docket No. 
02-60.
    Form Number: FCC Forms 460, 461, 462, 463 (new FCC forms); 465, 
466, 466-A and 467.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit, not for profit 
institutions, federal government and state, local and tribal 
government.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 11,000 respondents; 54,041 
responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 1.21 hours (average).
    Frequency of Response: On occasion, one time, annual, quarterly and 
monthly reporting 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. 151, 154(i), 154(j), 201-205, 214, 254 and 403 of the 
Communications Act of 1934, as amended.
    Total Annual Burden: 65,539 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: N/A.
    Privacy Impact Assessment: N/A.
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: The Commission is not 
requesting that the respondents submit confidential information to the 
FCC. Respondents may, however, request confidential treatment for 
information they believe to be confidential under 47 CFR 0.459 of the 
Commission's rules. We note that the universal service administrator 
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 directed to do so by the Commission.
    Needs and Uses: In the December 2012 Order, FCC 12-150, published 
at 78 FR 13936, March 1, 2013, the Commission established the 
Healthcare Connect Fund, which reforms, expands, and modernizes the 
Rural Health Care program based on lessons learned from the Pilot 
Program. The Commission also established the Skilled Nursing Facilities 
Pilot (SNF Pilot) to test how to support broadband connections for 
skilled nursing facilities.
    All the requirements herein are necessary to administer the Rural 
Health Care support mechanism (Health Care Connect Fund, 
Telecommunications Program, Internet Access Program, Pilot Program, and 
SNF Pilot), to determine the amount of support entities seeking funding 
are eligible to receive, to determine if entities are complying with 
the Commission's rules, and to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse. The 
information collected will also allow the Commission to evaluate the 
extent to which the Rural Health Care programs are meeting the 
statutory objectives specified in section 254(h) of the 1996 Act and 
the Commission's own performance goals for the Healthcare Connect Fund, 
and to evaluate the need and feasibility for any future revisions to 
program rules.

Federal Communications Commission.
Sheryl Todd,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013-21812 Filed 9-6-13; 8:45 am]
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