[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 127 (Tuesday, July 2, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31589-31590]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-14032]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
[OMB 3060-1219]
Information Collection Being Submitted for Review and Approval to
the Office of Management and Budget
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, 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
[[Page 31590]]
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 Commission may not conduct or sponsor a collection of
information unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management
and Budget (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 comments should be submitted on or before August 1,
2019. 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 contacts listed below as soon as possible.
ADDRESSES: Direct all PRA comments to Nicholas A. Fraser, OMB, via
email [email protected]; and to Nicole Ongele, FCC, via
email [email protected] and to [email protected]. Include in the comments
the OMB control number as shown in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or copies
of the information collection, contact Nicole Ongele at (202) 418-2991.
To view a copy of this information collection request (ICR) submitted
to OMB: (1) Go to the web page http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain, (2) look for the section of the web page called ``Currently
Under Review,'' (3) click on the downward-pointing arrow in the
``Select Agency'' box below the ``Currently Under Review'' heading, (4)
select ``Federal Communications Commission'' from the list of agencies
presented in the ``Select Agency'' box, (5) click the ``Submit'' button
to the right of the ``Select Agency'' box, (6) when the list of FCC
ICRs currently under review appears, look for the OMB control number of
this ICR and then click on the ICR Reference Number. A copy of the FCC
submission to OMB will be displayed.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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.
OMB Control Number: 3060-1219.
Title: Connect America Fund-Alternative Connect America Cost Model
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: 1,100 unique respondents;
1,100 responses.
Estimated Time per Response: 0.5-2 hours.
Frequency of Response: On occasion and one-time reporting
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: 700 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 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: The Commission is requesting approval for this
revised collection. In March 2016, the Commission adopted significant
reforms to place the universal service support program on solid footing
for the next decade to preserve and advance voice and broadband service
in areas served by rate-of-return carriers. Connect America Fund; ETC
Annual Reports and Certifications; Establishing Just and Reasonable
Rates for Local Exchange Carriers; Developing a Unified Intercarrier
Compensation Regime, WC Docket Nos. 10-90, 14-58, 07-135, 05-337, 03-
109; CC Docket Nos. 01-92, Report and Order, Order and Order on
Reconsideration, and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 16-33
(2016 Rate-of-Return Reform Order).
The Commission adopted a voluntary path for rate-of-return carriers
to receive model-based support in exchange for making a commitment to
deploy broadband-capable networks meeting certain service obligations
to a pre-determined number of eligible locations in a state. By
creating a voluntary pathway to model-based support, the Commission
will spur new broadband deployment in rural areas. In several
subsequent orders and public notices, the Commission has further
refined this voluntary pathway, and in the December 2018 Rate-of-Return
Reform Order, the Commission adopted a second pathway for carriers that
did not elect the first pathway. Connect America Fund; ETC Annual
Reports and Certifications; Establishing Just and Reasonable Rates for
Local Exchange Carriers; Developing a Unified Intercarrier Compensation
Regime, WC Docket Nos. 10-90, 14-58, 07-135, 05-337, 03-109; CC Docket
Nos. 01-92, Report and Order, Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking,
and Order on Reconsideration, FCC 18-176 (December 2018 Rate-of-Return
Reform Order). Additionally, in the 2016 Rate-of-Return Reform Order,
the Commission also adopted reforms to the universal service mechanisms
used to determine support for rate-of-return carriers not electing
model-based support. Among other such reforms, the Commission adopted
an operating expense limitation to improve carriers' incentives to be
prudent and efficient in their expenditures, a capital investment
allowance to better target support to those areas with less broadband
deployment, and broadband deployment obligations to promote
``accountability from companies receiving support to ensure that public
investment are used wisely to deliver intended results.'' In the
December 2018 Rate-of-Return Order, the Commission further modified or,
in the case of the capital investment allowance, eliminated these
requirements. This information collection addresses the revised burdens
associated with those reforms.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary. Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-14032 Filed 7-1-19; 8:45 am]
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