[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 220 (Thursday, November 14, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 61829-61830]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-24658]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 54

[WC Docket No. 10-90; FCC 18-176]


Connect America Fund

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule; announcement of effective date.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Federal Communications Commission 
(Commission) announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
has approved, for a period of three years, an information collection 
associated with the rules for the Connect America Fund contained in the 
Commission's Connect America Fund Order, FCC 18-176. This document is 
consistent with the Connect America Fund Order, which stated that the 
Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing 
the effective date of the revised information collection requirement.

DATES: The amendment to Sec.  54.316 published at 84 FR 4711, February 
19, 2019, is effective November 14, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alexander Minard, Wireline

[[Page 61830]]

Competition Bureau at (202) 418-7400 or TTY (202) 418-0484. For 
additional information concerning the Paperwork Reduction Act 
information collection requirements contact Nicole Ongele at (202) 418-
2991 or via email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission submitted revised information 
collection requirements for review and approval by OMB, as required by 
the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, on August 20, 2019. OMB 
approved the revised information collection requirements on November 5, 
2019. The information collection requirements are contained in the 
Commission's Connect America Fund Order, FCC 18-176, published at 84 FR 
4711, February 19, 2019. The OMB Control Number is 3060-1228. The 
Commission publishes this document as an announcement of the effective 
date of the rules published on February 19, 2019. If you have any 
comments on the burden estimates listed in the following, or how the 
Commission can improve the collections and reduce any burdens caused 
thereby, please contact Nicole Ongele, Federal Communications 
Commission, Room 1-A620, 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554. 
Please include the OMB Control Number, 3060-1228, in your 
correspondence. The Commission will also accept your comments via email 
at [email protected]. To request materials in accessible formats for people 
with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio 
format), send an email to [email protected] or call the Consumer and 
Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-0432 
(TTY).

Synopsis

    As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3507), the Commission is notifying the public that it received OMB 
approval on November 5, 2019, for the amendment to 47 CFR 54.316 
published at 84 FR 4711, February 19, 2019. Under 5 CFR part 1320, an 
agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it 
displays a current, valid OMB Control Number. No person shall be 
subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of 
information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act that does not 
display a current, valid OMB Control Number. The OMB Control Number is 
3060-1228. The foregoing notice is required by the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13, October 1, 1995, and 44 U.S.C. 3507.
    The total annual reporting burdens and costs for the respondents 
are as follows:
    OMB Control Number: 3060-1228.
    OMB Approval Date: November 5, 2019.
    OMB Expiration Date: November 30, 2022.
    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 entities, 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(s): No Cost.
    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.
    Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).
    Needs and Uses: The Commission will use the information collected 
under this information collection to address the requirement that 
certain carriers now have increased broadband deployment reporting 
obligations about their locations which meet their broadband deployment 
public interest obligations via an electronic portal (``portal''). This 
collection also addresses additional offers of model-based support. 
With the new additional offers, there will be more carriers subject to 
the model-based deployment milestones and fewer carriers remaining on 
legacy support.
    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 and 
Order, Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Order on 
Reconsideration, FCC 18-176 (2018 Rate-of-Return Order).
    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.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-24658 Filed 11-13-19; 8:45 am]
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