[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 206 (Tuesday, October 25, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73400-73401]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-25719]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[OMB 3060-XXXX]


Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal 
Communications Commission

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 the 
Commission) 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 
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 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 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
control number.

DATES: Written PRA comments should be submitted on or before December 
27, 2016. If you anticipate that you will be submitting comments, but 
find it

[[Page 73401]]

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 
[email protected] and to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information about the 
information collection, contact Nicole Ongele at (202) 418-2991.
    OMB Control Number: 3060-XXXX.
    Title: Connect America Fund--High Cost Portal Filing.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: New collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 1,525 unique respondents; 
3,590 responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 8 hours-30 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion, quarterly reporting 
requirements, annual reporting requirements, one-time reporting 
requirement and recordkeeping requirement.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. 
Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47 
U.S.C. 151-154, 155, 201-206, 214, 218-220, 251, 252, 254, 256, 303(r), 
332, 403, 405, 410, and 1302.
    Total Annual Burden: 65,640 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: No Cost.
    Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: We note that USAC must 
preserve the confidentiality of certain data obtained from respondents; 
must not use the data except for purposes of administering the 
universal service programs or other purposes specified by the 
Commission; and must not disclose data in company-specific form unless 
directed to do so by the Commission. Respondents may request materials 
or information submitted to the Commission or the Administrator 
believed confidential to be withheld from public inspection under 47 
CFR 0.459 of the FCC's rules.
    Needs and Uses: The Commission is requesting approval for this new 
information collection. In March 2016, the Commission adopted an order 
reforming its universal service support program in areas served by 
rate-of-return carriers. Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket Nos. 
10-90 et al., Report and Order, Order and Order on Reconsideration, and 
Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 16-33 (Rate-of-Return 
Order). Also, in May 2016, the Commission adopted rules to implement a 
competitive bidding process for Phase II of the Connect America Fund. 
Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket Nos. 10-90 et al., Report and 
Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 16-64 (Phase II 
Auction Order).
    This information collection addresses the requirement that certain 
carriers with high cost reporting obligations must file information 
about their locations which meet their broadband deployment public 
interest obligations via an electronic portal (``portal''). The Rate-
of-Return Order required that the Universal Service Administrative 
Company (USAC) establish the portal so that carriers could file their 
location data with the portal starting in 2017. The Rate-of-Return 
Order required all recipients of Phase II model-based support and rate-
of-return carriers to submit geocoded location data and related 
certifications to the portal. Recipients of Phase II model-based 
support had been required to file such information in their annual 
reports due by July 1. The Phase II Auction Order requires auction 
winners to build-out networks capable of meeting their public interest 
obligations and report, to an online portal, locations to which auction 
winners had deployed such networks. This collection also implements the 
Rate-of-Return Order by moving and revising the currently approved 
requirements under OMB Control Numbers 3060-1200 and 3060-0986 to 
enable recipients of Phase II model-based support and rural broadband 
experiment funding to file their location information and associated 
reports and certifications in the portal instead of on the FCC Form 481 
or as is currently required.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-25719 Filed 10-24-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6712-01-P