[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 120 (Wednesday, June 22, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40696-40697]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-14794]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[OMB 3060-1192]


Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal 
Communications Commission Under Delegated Authority

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, 
and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3501-3520), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) 
invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this 
opportunity to comment on the following information collections. 
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 estimate; 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 August 22, 
2016. If you anticipate that you will be submitting comments, but find 
it difficult to do so within the period of time allowed by this notice, 
you should advise the contact listed below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Direct all PRA comments to Nicole Ongele, FCC, via email to 
[email protected] and to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information about the 
information collection, contact Nicole Ongele at (202) 418-2991.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    OMB Control Number: 3060-1192.

[[Page 40697]]

    Title: Survey of Urban Rates, DA 13-598.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Providers of fixed voice and fixed broadband 
residential services.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 1,000 respondents; 1,000 
responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 3.5 hours.
    Frequency of Response: Annual reporting requirement and 
recordkeeping requirement.
    Obligation To Respond: Mandatory. Statutory authority for this 
information collection is contained in 47 U.S.C. 254(b).
    Total Annual Burden: 3,500 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: No cost.
    Privacy Impact Assessment: No impact(s).
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: The Commission is not 
requesting that respondents submit confidential information to the 
Commission. Also, respondents may request materials or information 
submitted to the Commission be withheld from public inspection under 47 
CFR 0.459 of the Commission's rules.
    Needs and Uses: In April 2013, the Wireline Competition Bureau of 
the Federal Communications Commission adopted an Order (Order), in WC 
Docket No. 10-90; DA 13-598, 78 FR 29063, Connect America Fund. The 
Order adopted the form and content for a survey of urban rates for 
fixed voice and fixed broadband residential services for purposes of 
implementing various reforms adopted as part of the USF/ICC 
Transformation Order, 76 FR 73830, November 29, 2011. The information 
collected in this survey will be used to establish a rate floor that 
eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) receiving high-cost loop 
support (HCLS) or frozen high-cost support must meet to receive their 
full support amounts and to help ensure that universal service support 
recipients offering fixed voice and broadband services do so at 
reasonably comparable rates to those in urban areas. The rate floor and 
comparability requirements are important components of the Commission's 
overall effort to improve accountability for the use of universal 
service funding. The rate floor will prevent the use of universal 
service subsidizes to support artificially low local rates in rural 
areas. The comparability requirements will ensure that rates are 
reasonably comparable for voice as well as broadband service, between 
urban and rural, insular, and high cost areas. Rates must be reasonably 
comparable so that consumers in rural, insular, and high cost areas 
have meaningful access to these services. This Order required a 
statistically valid sample of urban providers to complete a survey with 
information regarding the types and prices of their offerings. The 
Commission conducts this survey through an online reporting form 
accessible to those urban providers of fixed voice and broadband 
services that are chosen to participate.

Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-14794 Filed 6-21-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6712-01-P