[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 126 (Tuesday, July 1, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 37315]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-15300]


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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 July 31, 
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 F. Smith, 
Office of Managing Director (OMD), Federal Communications Commission 
(FCC), via the Internet at [email protected]. To submit your PRA 
comments by email, please send them to: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leslie F. Smith, Office of Managing 
Director (OMD), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), at 202-418-
0217, or via the Internet at: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    OMB Control Number: 3060-1081.
    Title: Section 54.202, Telecommunications Carriers Eligible to 
Receive Universal Service Support.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 20 respondents; 20 responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 40 hours.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits, 47 
CFR 54.202, 54.209.
    Frequency of Response: Annual reporting requirement.
    Total Annual Burden: 800 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: No cost.
    Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).
    Nature of Extent of Confidentiality: If respondents submit 
information which respondents believe is confidential, respondents may 
request confidential treatment of such information pursuant to section 
0.459 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 0.459.
    Needs and Uses: Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications 
Carrier (ETC) makes a telecommunications carrier eligible to 
participate in the Universal Service Fund's high-cost and low-income 
programs, which support the extension of telecommunications services to 
underserved rural and low-income communities. In the absence of this 
information collection, the Commission's ability to oversee the use of 
Federal universal service funds and to combat waste, fraud, and abuse 
in the use of Federal funds would be compromised. Section 54.202 of the 
Commission's rules requires carriers seeking designation from the 
Commission to submit an application that certifies that the carrier 
will comply with the service requirement applicable to the support that 
it receives, 47 CFR 54.202(a)(1)(i); applicants must submit a five year 
plan that describes with specificity proposed improvements or upgrades 
to the applicant's network throughout its proposed service area, with 
estimates of the area and population that will be served as a result of 
the improvements, Sec.  54.202(a)(1)(ii); an applicant must demonstrate 
its ability to remain functional in emergency situations, including a 
demonstration that it has a reasonable amount of back-up power to 
ensure functionality without an external power source, is able to 
reroute traffic around damaged facilities, and is capable of managing 
traffic spikes resulting from emergency situations, Sec.  54.202(a)(2); 
demonstrate that it will satisfy applicable consumer protection and 
service quality standards, Sec.  54.202(a)(3); A common carrier seeking 
designation as an ETC for purposes of receiving support only under 
subpart E of Part 54 of the Commission's rules (Universal Service 
Support for Low-Income Consumers) must demonstrate that it is 
financially and technically capable of providing the Lifeline service 
in compliance with subpart E, Sec.  54.202(a)(4); applicants must 
submit information describing the terms and conditions of any voice 
telephony service plans offered to Lifeline subscribers, including 
details on the number of minutes provided as part of the plan, 
additional charges, if any, for toll calls, and rates for each such 
plan, Sec.  54.202(a)(5). If the common carrier is seeking designation 
as an eligible telecommunications carrier under section 214(e)(6) for 
any part of Tribal lands shall provide a copy of its petition to the 
affected tribal government and tribal regulatory authority, as 
applicable, at the time it files its petition with the Federal 
Communications Commission. In addition, the Commission shall send any 
public notice seeking comment on any petition for designation as an 
eligible telecommunications carrier on Tribal lands, at the time it is 
released, the affected tribal government and tribal regulatory 
authority, as applicable, by the most expeditious means available, 
Sec.  54.202(c).

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Office of Managing Director.
[FR Doc. 2014-15300 Filed 6-30-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P