[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 93 (Wednesday, May 13, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28634-28636]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-10160]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[OMB 3060-0233, OMB 3060-0986; FRS 16733]


Information Collections Being Submitted for Review and Approval 
to 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, 
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. Pursuant to the Small Business 
Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, the FCC seeks specific comment on how it 
might ``further reduce the information collection burden for 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 and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be submitted on or before June 12, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting 
``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using 
the search function. Your comment must be submitted into 
www.reginfo.gov per the above instructions for it to be considered. In 
addition to submitting in www.reginfo.gov also send a copy of your 
comment on the proposed information collection to Nicole Ongele, FCC, 
via email to [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/

[[Page 28635]]

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 Title 
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, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), the FCC invited the general public and 
other Federal Agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the 
following information collection. Comments are requested concerning: 
(a) 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; (b) the accuracy 
of the Commission's burden estimates; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (d) 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. Pursuant to the Small Business 
Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, Public Law 107-198, see 44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(4), the FCC seeks specific comment on how it might ``further 
reduce the information collection burden for small business concerns 
with fewer than 25 employees.''
    OMB Control Number: 3060-0233.
    Title: Part 54--Rate-of-Return Carrier Universal Service Reporting 
Requirements.
    Form Number: FCC Form 507, FCC Form 508 and FCC Form 509.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 1,095 respondents; 4,044 
responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 1-22 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion 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, 214, 218-220, 221(c), 254, and 303(r).
    Total Annual Burden: 43,638 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: No Cost.
    Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: No assurance of 
confidentiality has been given regarding the information. However, 
respondents may request materials or information submitted to the 
Commission be withheld from public inspection under 47 CFR 0.459 of the 
FCC's rules.
    Needs and Uses: In order to determine which carriers are entitled 
to universal service support, all rate-of-return regulated (rate-of-
return) incumbent local exchange carriers (LECs) must provide the 
National Exchange Carrier Association (NECA) with the loop cost and 
loop count data required by section 54.1305 for each of its study areas 
and, if applicable, for each wire center as that term is defined in 47 
CFR part 54. See 47 CFR 54.1305 and 54.5. The loop cost and loop count 
information is to be filed annually with NECA by July 31st of each 
year, and may be updated occasionally pursuant to section 54.1306. See 
47 CFR 54.1306. Pursuant to section 54.1307, the information filed on 
July 31st of each year will be used to calculate universal service 
support for each study area and is filed by NECA with the Commission on 
October 1 of each year. See 47 CFR 54.1307. An incumbent LEC is defined 
as a carrier that meets the definition of ``incumbent local exchange 
carrier'' in section 51.5 of the Commission's rules. See 47 CFR 51.5.
    In March 2016, the Commission adopted the Rate-of-Return Reform 
Order to continue modernizing the universal service support mechanisms 
for rate-of-return carriers. The Rate-of-Return Reform Order replaced 
the Interstate Common Line Support (ICLS) mechanism with the Connect 
America Fund--Broadband Loop Support (CAF-BLS) mechanism. While ICLS 
supported only lines used to provide traditional voice service 
(including voice service bundled with broadband service), CAF-BLS also 
supports consumer broadband-only loops. In March 2016, the Commission 
adopted the Rate-of-Return Reform Order to continue modernizing the 
universal service support mechanisms for rate-of-return carriers. The 
Rate-of-Return Reform Order replaced the Interstate Common Line Support 
(ICLS) mechanism with the Connect America Fund--Broadband Loop Support 
(CAF-BLS) mechanism. While ICLS supported only lines used to provide 
traditional voice service (including voice service bundled with 
broadband service), CAF-BLS also supports consumer broadband-only 
loops. For the purposes of calculating and monitoring CAF-BLS, rate-of-
return carriers that receive CAF-BLS must file common line and consumer 
broadband-only loop counts on FCC Form 507, forecasted common line and 
consumer broadband-only loop costs and revenues on FCC Form 508, and 
actual common line and consumer broadband-only loop costs and revenues 
on FCC Form 509. See 47 CFR 54.903(a).
    In December 2018, the Commission adopted the December 2018 Rate-of-
Return Reform Order to require rate-of-return carriers that receive 
Alternative Connect American Model (A-CAM) or Alaska Plan support to 
file line count data on FCC Form 507 as a condition of high-cost 
support. Historically, all rate-of-return carriers received CAF BLS or, 
prior to that, ICLS, and were required to file line count data on FCC 
Form 507 as a condition of that support. In recent years, some rate-of-
return carriers have elected to receive A-CAM I, A-CAM II, or Alaska 
Plan instead, and those carriers were not required to file line count 
data because the requirement to file applied only to rate-of-return 
carriers receiving CAF BLS. In order to restore a data set that the 
Commission relied on to evaluate the effectiveness of its high-cost 
universal service programs, the Commission revised its rules in that 
Order to require all rate-of-return carriers to file that data. While 
carriers receiving CAF-BLS must file the line count data on March 31 
for line counts as of the prior December 31, the A-CAM I, A-CAM II, and 
Alaska Plan carriers will be required to file on July 1 of each year to 
coincide with other existing requirements in OMB Control No. 3060-0986. 
Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket No. 10-90 et al., Report and 
Order, Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Order on 
Reconsideration, 33 FCC Rcd 11893 (2018) (2018 Rate-of-Return Reform 
Order). See also 47 CFR 54.313(f)(5).
    The Commission therefore proposes to revise this information 
collection. We also propose to increase the burdens associated with 
existing reporting requirements to account for additional carriers that 
will be subject to those requirements.
    OMB Control Number: 3060-0986.
    Title: High-Cost Universal Service Support.
    Form Number: FCC Form 481 and FCC Form 525.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit, Not-for-profit 
institutions and State, Local or Tribal government.

[[Page 28636]]

    Number of Respondents and Responses: 2,034 respondents; 12,729 
responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 0.1-15 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion, quarterly and annual reporting 
requirements, recordkeeping requirement and third-party disclosure 
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: 54,519 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: No Cost.
    Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: The Commission notes that the 
Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) must preserve the 
confidentiality of all data obtained from respondents and contributors 
to the universal service support program mechanism; must not use the 
data except for purposes of administering the universal service 
program; must not use the data except for purposes of administering the 
universal support program; and must not disclose data in company-
specific form unless directed to do so by the Commission. Parties may 
submit confidential information in relation pursuant to a protective 
order. Also, respondents may request materials or information submitted 
to the Commission or to 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 the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) approval for this revised information 
collection. On November 18, 2011, the Commission adopted an order 
reforming its high-cost universal service support mechanisms. Connect 
America Fund; A National Broadband Plan for Our Future; Establish Just 
and Reasonable Rates for Local Exchange Carriers; High-Cost Universal 
Service Support; Developing a Unified Intercarrier Compensation Regime; 
Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service; Lifeline and Link-Up; 
Universal Service Reform--Mobility Fund, WC Docket Nos. 10-90, 07-135, 
05-337, 03-109; GN Docket No. 09-51; CC Docket Nos. 01-92, 96-45; WT 
Docket No. 10-208, Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 26 
FCC Rcd 17663 (2011) (USF/ICC Transformation Order), and the Commission 
and Wireline Competition Bureau have since adopted a number of orders 
that implement the USF/ICC Transformation Order; see also Connect 
America Fund et al., WC Docket No. 10-90 et al., Third Order on 
Reconsideration, 27 FCC Rcd 5622 (2012); Connect America Fund et al., 
WC Docket No. 10-90 et al., Order, 27 FCC Rcd 605 (Wireline Comp. Bur. 
2012); Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket No. 10-90 et al., Fifth 
Order on Reconsideration, 27 FCC Rcd 14549 (2012); Connect America Fund 
et al., WC Docket No. 10-90 et al., Order, 28 FCC Rcd 2051 (Wireline 
Comp. Bur. 2013); Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket No. 10-90 et 
al., Order, 28 FCC Rcd 7227 (Wireline Comp. Bur. 2013); Connect America 
Fund, WC Docket No. 10-90, Report and Order, 28 FCC Rcd 7766 (Wireline 
Comp. Bur. 2013); Connect America Fund, WC Docket No. 10-90, Report and 
Order, 28 FCC Rcd 7211 (Wireline Comp. Bur. 2013); Connect America 
Fund, WC Docket No. 10-90, Report and Order, 28 FCC Rcd 10488 (Wireline 
Comp. Bur. 2013); Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket No. 10-90 et 
al., Report and Order, Order and Order on Reconsideration and Further 
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 31 FCC Rcd 3087 (2016); Connect America 
Fund et al., WC Docket Nos. 10-90, 16-271; WT Docket No. 10-208, Report 
and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 31 FCC Rcd 10139 
(2016); Connect America Fund; ETC Annual Reports and Certifications, WC 
Docket Nos. 10-90, 14-58, Report and Order, 32 FCC Rcd 5944 (2017). The 
Commission has received OMB approval for most of the information 
collections required by these orders.
    More recently, through several orders, the Commission has changed 
or modified reporting obligations for high-cost support. In the CAF 
Phase II Auction Order, the Commission adopted rules requiring Connect 
America Phase II auction support recipients to certify the networks 
they operated in the prior year meet the Commission's performance 
requirements, to identify the total amount of support, if any, that was 
used for capital expenditures in the previous calendar year, and to 
certify they have available funds for all project costs that will 
exceed the amount of support to be received from the authorization 
stemming from the Phase II auction for the next calendar year. Connect 
America Fund, et al., WC Docket No. 10-90, et al., Report and Order and 
Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 31 FCC Rcd 5949 (2016) (CAF 
Phase II Auction Order).
    In the New York Waiver Order, the Commission extended to New York 
carriers who receive Connect America Phase II support in conjunction 
with the state's New NY Broadband Program the same annual reporting 
requirements adopted for Phase II auction recipients, as well as the 
requirement for the state public service commission to certify annually 
that those carriers' high cost support ``was used in the preceding 
calendar year and will be used in the coming calendar year only for the 
provision, maintenance, and upgrading of facilities and services for 
which the support is intended.'' Connect America Fund; ETC Annual 
Reports and Certifications, WC Docket Nos. 10-90, 14-58, Order, 32 FCC 
Rcd 968 (2017) (New York Waiver Order).
    In the December 2018 Rate-of-Return Order, the Commission modified 
the reasonable request certification rule applicable to rate-of-return 
ETCs to (1) require Connect America Fund-Alternative Connect America 
Cost Model (CAF-ACAM) support recipients to certify that they are 
meeting the relevant reasonable request standard and (2) require rate-
of-return ETCs receiving legacy high-cost support to certify that they 
are meeting a 25 Mbps/3 Mbps reasonable request standard. 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, at 19-20, para. 17 (Dec. 13, 2018) (December 2018 Rate-of-
Return Order). See also 47 CFR 54.313(f)(1)(i).
    In the CAF Phase II Transitions Order, the Commission adopted rules 
requiring price cap or fixed competitive eligible communications 
carriers receiving phase-down support to certify that the phase-down 
support they received in the previous year was used to provide voice 
service to high-cost and extremely high-cost census blocks where they 
continue to have federal obligation to provide such services. Connect 
America Fund, WC Docket 10-90, Report and Order, FCC 19-8, at 11, para. 
25 (Feb. 15, 2019).
    The Commission therefore proposes to revise this information 
collection, as well as Form 481 and its accompanying instructions, to 
reflect these new and revised requirements. We also propose to increase 
the burdens associated with existing reporting requirements to account 
for additional carriers that will be subject to those requirements.

Federal Communications Commission.
Cecilia Sigmund,
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020-10160 Filed 5-12-20; 8:45 am]
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