[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 161 (Tuesday, August 20, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43130-43132]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-17805]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
[OMB 3060-XXXX, OMB 3060-1228]
Information Collections Being Submitted for Review and Approval
to the Office of Management and Budget
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 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 September 19,
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,
[[Page 43131]]
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-XXXX.
Title: Connect America Fund--Performance Testing Measures.
Form Number: N/A.
Type of Review: New information collection.
Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents and Responses: 1,277 unique respondents;
3,195 responses.
Estimated Time per Response: 16 hours-60 hours.
Frequency of Response: Biennial reporting requirements, quarterly
reporting requirements and annual reporting requirements.
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: 120,518 hours.
Total Annual Cost: No Cost.
Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: We note that the Universal
Service Administrative Company (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.
Materials or information submitted to the Commission or the
Administrator will be confidential and not be available to the public.
Needs and Uses: In the USF/ICC Transformation Order, the Commission
laid the groundwork for today's universal service programs providing
$4.5 billion in support for broadband internet deployment in high-cost
areas. Connect America Fund et al., Report and Order and Further Notice
of Proposed Rulemaking, WC Docket No. 10-90 et al., 26 FCC Rcd 17663
(2011) (USF/ICC Transformation Order). The USF/ICC Transformation Order
required, among other things, that high-cost universal service
recipients ``test their broadband networks for compliance with speed
and latency metrics and certify to and report the results to the
Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) on an annual basis.''
Id. at 17705, para. 109. Pursuant to the Commission's direction in that
Order, the Wireline Competition Bureau, the Wireless Telecommunications
Bureau, and the Office of Engineering and Technology adopted more
specific methodologies for such testing in the Performance Measures
Order. See Connect America Fund, Order, WC Docket No. 10-90, 33 FCC Rcd
6509 (WCB/WTB/OET 2018) (Performance Measures Order). See also 47 CFR
54.313(a)(6) (requiring that recipients of high-cost support provide
``[t]he results of network performance tests pursuant to the
methodology and in the format determined by the Wireline Competition
Bureau, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, and Office of Engineering
and Technology'').
This collection includes requirements for testing speed and latency
to ensure that carriers are meeting the public interest obligations
associated with their receipt of high-cost universal service support.
Carriers will identify, from among the locations they have already
submitted and certified in USAC's High Cost Universal Broadband (HUBB)
portal, the locations where they have an active subscriber. From those
subscriber locations, USAC will then select a random sample from which
the carrier will be required to perform testing for speed and latency.
Carriers that do not provide location information in the HUBB will use
a randomization tool provided by USAC to select a random sample of
locations for testing. The carrier will then be required to submit to
USAC the results of the testing on an annual basis. These filings will
include the testing results for each quarter from the prior year. The
carrier's sample for each service tier (e.g. 10 Mbps/1 Mbps, 25 Mbps/1
Mbps) shall be regenerated every two years. During the two-year cycle,
carriers will have the ability to add and remove subscriber locations
if necessary, e.g., as subscribership changes. This information
collection addresses the burdens associated with these requirements.
OMB Control Number: 3060-1228.
Title: Connect America Fund--High Cost Portal Filing.
Form Number: N/A.
Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Respondents: Business or other for-profit, Not-for-profit
institutions.
Number of Respondents and Responses: 1,599 unique respondents;
3,730 responses.
Estimated Time per Response: 8 hours-60 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: 68,607 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
revised 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
(2016 Rate-of-Return Order). 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). In August 2016, the Commission adopted a plan
tailored to certain carriers, both fixed and mobile, serving Alaska.
Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket No. 10-90 et al., Report and
Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 16-115 (Alaska
Plan Order). In January 2017 the Commission adopted an order which
granted New York State waiver of the Connect America Phase II auction
program rules, subject to certain conditions. Connect America Fund et
al., WC Docket Nos. 10-90 et al., FCC 17-2 (New York Auction Order).
Also, in December 2018, the Commission adopted reforms that included
additional offers of model-based support and increased broadband
deployment obligations. Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket No. 10-
90 et al., Report
[[Page 43132]]
and Order, Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Order on
Reconsideration, FCC 18-176 (2018 Rate-of-Return 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 2016
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 2016 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, Alaska Plan Order,
and New York Auction Order require carriers 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. The Alaska Plan Order also made portal reporting requirements
for carriers to submit fiber/microwave middle-mile network maps. This
information collection also addresses the new additional offers of
model-based support and increased broadband deployment obligations, and
other improvements to the portal. With the new additional offers, there
will be more carriers subject to the model-based deployment milestones
and fewer carriers remaining on legacy support.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-17805 Filed 8-19-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P