[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]
 BILLING CODE 6712-01-P