[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 21 (Friday, January 31, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5408-5409]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-01981]



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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


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

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

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 FCC invites the general public and other Federal 
agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following 
information collection. 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 PRA that does not display a valid OMB 
Control Number.

DATES: Written PRA comments should be submitted on or before March 3, 
2014. 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 at 202-395-5167, or via the 
Internet at [email protected] and to Leslie Smith, 
Office of Managing Director (OMD), Federal Communications Commission 
(FCC), via the Internet at [email protected] . To submit your PRA 
comments by email, send them to: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leslie Smith, OMD, FCC, at 202-418-
0217, or via the Internet at: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    OMB Control Number: 3060-1188.
    Title: Connect America Challenge Process and Certifications, FCC 
Form 505.
    Form Number: FCC Form 505.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit, not-for-profit 
institutions and state, local or tribal government.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 178 respondents; 178 
responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 3 hours to 20 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion 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. 151, 154(i)-(j), 155, 201(b), 214, 218-220, 254, and 1302 of the 
Communications Act of 1934, as amended.
    Total Annual Burden: 1,793 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: None.
    Privacy Impact Assessment: No impact(s).
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: The Commission is not 
requesting respondents to submit confidential information to the 
Commission. However, respondents may request materials or information 
submitted to the Commission or to the Administrator be withheld from 
public inspection under 47 CFR 0.459 of the Commission's rules. We note 
that USAC must preserve the confidentiality of all data obtained from 
respondents; 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 by the Commission to do so.
    Needs and Uses: In November 2011, the Commission adopted an order 
reforming its high-cost universal service support mechanisms. Connect 
America Fund; A National Broadband Plan for Our Future; Establish Just 
and Reasonable Rates for Local Exchange Carriers; High-Cost Universal 
Service Support; Developing a Unified Intercarrier Compensation Regime; 
Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service; Lifeline and Link-Up; 
Universal Service Reform--Mobility Fund, WC Docket Nos. 10-90, 07-135, 
05-337, 03-109; GN Docket No. 09-51; CC Docket Nos. 01-92, 96-45; WT 
Docket No. 10-208, Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking, 26 FCC Rcd 17663 (2011) (USF/ICC Transformation Order).
    As part of the USF/ICC Transformation Order, the Commission adopted 
several subsequent Orders for implementing the Connect American Phase I 
and Phase II funding:
    On May 16, 2013, the Commission adopted a second Connect America 
Fund, Report and Order, WC Docket No. 10-90, DA 13-1113. The Report and 
Order set forth the format and substance of the submissions carriers 
must make to elect Phase II funding through the state-level commitment 
process. Additionally, this Report and Order established the parameters 
for the Connect America Phase II challenge process. These parameters 
included requirements for what parties must submit to the Commission 
when making a challenge, as well as the form that parties must use in 
making any challenges New requirements being proposed in this 
information collection are the Geocoded Information for Phase I Two- 
and Three-Year Milestone Reports; Broadband Initiatives Program/
Broadband Technology Opportunities Program Annual Milestone Reports; 
Phase I Investment Annual Milestone Reports; Changes in Phase I 
Deployments; and Connect America Phase II State-Level Commitment 
Elections. There will also be a 533 hour increase in the estimated 
hourly burden.
    On May 21, 2013, the Commission adopted a third Connect America 
Fund, Report and Order, WC Docket No. 10-90, FCC 13-73. This Report and 
Order provided for a second round of Connect America Phase I support 
and specified what certifications and reporting requirements carriers 
must comply with if electing to accept second round support.
    These Orders contained information collection requirements for 
which the Commission received OMB approval following an emergency 
request in a Notice of Action on July 9, 2013.
    Then on July 15, 2013, the Commission adopted the Connect America 
Fund, Order on Reconsideration, WC Docket No. 10-90, FCC 13-97, which 
modified a reporting requirement contained in the May 21, 2013 Report 
and Order. The Order on Reconsideration made mandatory the reporting of 
changes in deployment locations involving census blocks that were not 
previously identified. This reporting had previously been optional 
under the original Report and Order.
    This revised information collection addresses these additional 
requirements to carry out the programs set forth in the USF/ICC 
Transformation Order. This submission also includes an extension of the 
certifications related to second round Phase I funding and the 
requirements contained in FCC Form 505, ``Connect America Phase II

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Challenge Process Form.'' Finally, the Commission has made some minor 
edits to the FCC Form 505 and its instructions.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Office of Managing Director.
[FR Doc. 2014-01981 Filed 1-30-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P