[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 117 (Wednesday, June 18, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 34639-34640]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-14292]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 54

[WC Docket No. 10-90; DA 13-1113, FCC 13-73, FCC 13-97]


Connect America Fund

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule; announcement of effective date.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Federal Communications Commission 
(Commission) announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
has approved, for a period of three years, an information collection 
associated with the Commission's Universal Service--Connect America 
Fund, Report and Orders and Order on Reconsideration (Orders). The 
Commission submitted revised information collection requirements for 
review and approval by OMB, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act 
(PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), which were approved by the OMB. 
This notice is consistent with the Orders, which stated that the 
Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing 
the effective date of new information collection requirements.

DATES: The rules associated with the Connect America Phase II state-
level commitment elections published at 78 FR 32991, June 3, 2013; 47 
CFR 54.312(b)(3), published at 78 FR 48622, August 9, 2013; and 47 CFR 
54.313(b) published at 78 FR 38227, June 26, 2013, are effective June 
18, 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ryan Yates, Wireline Competition 
Bureau at (202) 418-7400 or TTY (202) 418-0484.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document announces that, on March 11, 
2014, OMB approved, for a period of three years, the information 
collection requirements contained in the Commission's Orders, DA 13-
1113, published at 78 FR 32991, June 3, 2013, FCC 13-73, published at 
78 FR 38227, June 26, 2013, and FCC 13-97, published at 78 FR 48622, 
August 9, 2013. The OMB Control Number is 3060-1188. The Commission 
publishes this notice as an announcement of the effective date of the 
new rules associated with the Connect America Phase II state-level 
commitment elections, 47 CFR 54.312(b)(3), and 54.313(b). If you have 
any comments on the burden estimates listed below, or how the 
Commission can improve the collections and reduce any burdens caused 
thereby, please contact Leslie Smith, Federal Communications 
Commission, Room 1-C216, 445 12th Street SW., Washington, DC 20554. 
Please include the OMB Control Number, 3060-1188, 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 
March 11, 2014, for the new rules associated with the Connect America 
Phase II state-level commitment elections and the information 
collection requirements contained in the Commission's rules at 47 CFR 
54.312(b)(3), and 54.313(b). 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 3060-1188.
    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: 3060-1188.
    OMB Approval Date: March 11, 2014.
    OMB Expiration Date: March 31, 2017.
    Title: Connect America Challenge Process and Certifications, WC 
Docket No. 10-90.
    Form No.: FCC Form 505.
    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 reporting requirement 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.
    Total Annual Burden: 1,793 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: N/A.
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: The Commission is not 
requesting that respondents submit confidential information to the 
Commission. However, respondents may request materials or information 
submitted to the Commission or to the Universal Service Administrative 
Company (USAC) 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 to do so by the Commission.
    Needs and Uses: In documents DA 13-1113 and FCC 13-73, the 
Commission proposed to collect information to determine what areas 
should be eligible for Phase II of Connect America Fund and to ensure 
that Connect America Fund Phase I deployment occur in areas that are 
eligible for support. In document FCC 13-97, the Commission made 
mandatory the reporting of changes in deployment location involving 
census blocks that were not previously been identified. The information 
collection requirements announced in this notice further the 
Commission's goals under section 254(b) of the Communications Act to 
ensure that consumers in all regions of the Nation have access to 
telecommunications and information services, while minimizing waste, 
fraud, and abuse. Certain of the requirements covered by this 
information collection had been previously approved by OMB for a period 
of six month, 78 FR 44893, July 25, 2013. OMB has approved a renewal of 
these information collections for three years, in addition to approving 
the new information collections discussed herein. This information will 
be used to determine the amount of, and eligibility for, high-cost 
universal service support received by incumbent and competitive 
eligible telecommunications carriers under the Connect America Fund. To 
aid in collecting this information regarding the Phase II challenge 
process in a uniform fashion, FCC Form 505 will be used, which parties 
should use in filing their

[[Page 34640]]

Phase II challenges and responses with the FCC.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014-14292 Filed 6-17-14; 8:45 am]
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