[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 17, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 7999-8000]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-03075]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 54

[WC Docket Nos. 11-42, 09-197 and 10-90; FCC 15-71]


Lifeline and Link Up Reform and Modernization, Telecommunications 
Carriers Eligible for Universal Service Support, 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, the information collection 
requirements associated with certain of the provision of the rules 
adopted as part of the Commission's Second Further Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking, Order on Reconsideration, Second Report and Order, and 
Memorandum Opinion and Order, (Lifeline Second Reform Order). This 
document is consistent with the Lifeline Second Reform Order, which 
stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal 
Register announcing OMB approval and the effective date of those rules.

DATES: The amendments to Sec. Sec.  54.201, 54.400, 54.401, 54.404, 
54.407, 54.410, and 54.417, published at 80 FR 40923, July 14, 2015, 
are effective February 17, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christian Hoefly, Wireline Competition 
Bureau, (202) 418-3607 or TTY: (202) 418-0484.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document announces that, on January 5, 
2016, OMB approved, for a period of three years, the information 
collection requirements contained in the Commission's Order, FCC 15-71, 
published at 80 FR 40923, July 14, 2015. The OMB Control Number is 
3060-0819. The Commission publishes this notice as an announcement of 
the effective date rules requiring OMB approval. 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 Nicole Ongele, Federal Communications Commission, Room 
1-A620, 445 12th Street SW., Washington, DC 20554. Please include the 
OMB Control Number, 3060-0819, in your correspondence. The Commission 
will also accept your comments via email at [email protected].
    To request material in accessible formation 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 
January 5, 2016, for the information collection requirements contained 
in the Commission's rules in 47 CFR part 54.
    Under 5 CFR 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 3060-0819.
    The foregoing notice is required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995, Pub. L. 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: 3060-0819.
    OMB Approval Date: January 5, 2016.
    OMB Expiration Date: January 31, 2019.
    Title: Lifeline and Link Up Reform and Modernization, 
Telecommunications Carriers Eligible

[[Page 8000]]

for Universal Service Support, Connect America Fund.
    Form Number: FCC Forms 497, 481 & 555.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Individuals or households and business or other for-
profit.
    Number of Respondents: 28,009,115 respondents; 30,541,922 
responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 0.0167 hours to 250 hours.
    Frequency of Response: Daily or monthly, every 60 days, annual, 
biennial, on occasion reporting requirements, third party disclosure 
requirement and record keeping requirement.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. 
Statutory authority is contained in Section 1, 4(i), 201-205, 214, 254, 
and 403 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 1, 
4(i), 201-205, 214, 254 and 403.
    Total Annual Burden: 22,064,798 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: None.
    Privacy Act Impact Assessment: Yes. The Commission completed a 
Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) for some of the information collection 
requirements contain in this collection. The PIA was published in the 
Federal Register at 78 FR 73535 on December 6, 2013. The PIA may be 
reviewed at: http://www.fcc.gov/omd/privacyact/Privacy_Impact_Assessment.html.
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: Some of the requirements 
contained in this information collection does affect individuals or 
households, and thus, there are impacts under the Privacy Act. The 
FCC's system of records notice (SORN), FCC/WCB-1, ``Lifeline Program.'' 
The Commission will use the information contained in FCC/WCB-1 to cover 
the personally identifiable information (PII) that is required as part 
of the Lifeline Program (``Lifeline''). As required by the Privacy Act 
of 1974, as amended, 5 U.S.C. 552a, the Commission also published a 
SORN, FCC/WCB-1 ``Lifeline Program'' in the Federal Register on 
December 6, 2013 (78 FR 73535).
    Also, respondents may request materials or information submitted to 
the Commission or to the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC 
or Administrator) be withheld from public inspection under 47 CFR 0.459 
of the FCC'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 June 2015, the Commission adopted an order 
reforming its low-income universal service support mechanisms. Lifeline 
and Link Up Reform and Modernization; Telecommunications Carriers 
Eligible for Universal Service Support; Connect America Fund, WC Docket 
Nos. 11-42, 09-197, 10-90, Second Further Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking, Order on Reconsideration, Second Report and Order, and 
Memorandum Opinion and Order, (Lifeline Second Reform Order). This 
revised information collection addresses requirements to carry out the 
reforms to which the Commission committed itself in the Lifeline Second 
Reform Order. Under this information collection, the Commission will 
implement the revised rules adopted in the 2015 Lifeline Second Reform 
Order, regarding the retention of subscriber eligibility documentation, 
eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) designation, and ETC 
reimbursement under the Lifeline program; update the number of 
respondents for all the existing information collection requirements, 
thus increasing the total burden hours for some requirements and 
decreasing the total burden hours for other requirements; eliminate 
some requirements as part of this information collection, because they 
are no longer applicable; revise the FCC Form 555 and the accompanying 
instructions to require ETCs to provide a Service Provider 
Identification Number (SPIN); and make non-substantive changes to this 
information collection, pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 3507, to update the FCC 
Form 497 Instructions. These updates do not modify the burdens or costs 
contained in this information collection.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-03075 Filed 2-16-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6712-01-P