[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 78 (Monday, April 26, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22050-22051]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-08546]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[OMB 3060-1270; FRS 22452]


Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal 
Communications Commission

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 of 1995 (PRA), the 
Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) invites the 
general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to 
comment on the following information collections. 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 FCC 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 PRA comments should be submitted on or before June 25, 
2021. 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 contact listed below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Direct all PRA comments to Nicole Ongele, FCC, via email 
[email protected] and to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information about the 
information collection, contact Nicole Ongele, (202) 418-2991.
    OMB Control Number: 3060-1270.
    Title: Protecting National Security Through FCC Programs.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for profit.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 3,500 respondents; 10,250 
responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 0.5-12 hours.
    Frequency of Response: Annual, semi-annual and recordkeeping 
requirements.
    Obligation to Respond: Mandatory and required to obtain or retain 
benefits. Statutory authority for this information collection is 
contained in 47 U.S.C. 1603-1604.
    Total Annual Burden: 27,400 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: 1,125,000.
    Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: The Commission is not 
requesting that respondents submit confidential information to the FCC. 
However, respondents may request confidential treatment of their 
information under 47 CFR 0.459 of the Commission's rules.
    Needs and Uses: The Commission will submit this information 
collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as a revision 
during this comment period to obtain the full three year clearance from 
OMB. Under this information collection, the Communications Act of 1934, 
as amended, requires the ``preservation and advancement of universal 
service.'' 47 U.S.C. 254(b). The information collection requirements 
reported under this collection are the result of the Federal 
Communications Commission's (the Commission) actions to promote the 
Act's universal service goals.
    On November 22, 2019, the Commission adopted the Protecting Against 
National Security Threats to the Communications Supply Chain Through 
FCC Programs, WC Docket No. 18-89, Report and Order, Order, and Further 
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 34 FCC Rcd 11423 (2019) (Report and 
Order). The Report and Order prohibits future use of Universal Service 
Fund (USF) monies to purchase, maintain, improve,

[[Page 22051]]

modify, obtain, or otherwise support any equipment or services produced 
or provided by a company that poses a national security threat to the 
integrity of communications networks or the communications supply 
chain.
    On March 12, 2020, the President signed into law the Secure and 
Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 (Secure Networks Act), 
Public Law 116-124, 133 Stat. 158 (2020) (codified as amended at 47 
U.S.C. 1601-1609), which among other measures, directs the FCC to 
establish the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement 
Program (Reimbursement Program). This program is intended to provide 
funding to providers of advanced communications service for the 
removal, replacement and disposal of certain communications equipment 
and services that poses an unacceptable national security risk (i.e., 
covered equipment and services) from their networks. The Commission has 
designated two entities--Huawei Technologies Company (Huawei) and ZTE 
Corporation (ZTE), along with their affiliates, subsidiaries, and 
parents--as covered companies posing such a national security threat. 
See Protecting Against National Security Threats to the Communications 
Supply Chain Through FCC Programs--Huawei Designation, PS Docket No. 
19-351, Memorandum Opinion and Order, 35 FCC Rcd 14435 (2020); 
Protecting Against National Security Threats to the Communications 
Supply Chain Through FCC Programs--ZTE Designation, PS Docket No. 19-
352, Memorandum Opinion and Order, DA 20-1399 (PSHSB rel. Nov. 24, 
2020).
    On December 10, 2020, the Commission adopted the Second Report and 
Order implementing the Secure Networks Act, which contained certain new 
information collection requirements. See Protecting Against National 
Security Threats to the Communications Supply Chain Through FCC 
Programs, WC Docket No. 18-89, Second Report and Order, 35 FCC Rcd 
14284 (2020) (Second Report and Order). These requirements will allow 
the Commission to receive, review and make eligibility determinations 
and funding decisions on applications to participate in the 
Reimbursement Program that are filed by certain providers of advanced 
communications service. These new information collection requirements 
will also assist the Commission in processing funding disbursement 
requests and in monitoring and furthering compliance with applicable 
program requirements to protect against waste, fraud, and abuse.
    On December 27, 2020, the President signed into law the 
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, appropriating $1.9 billion to 
``carry out'' the Reimbursement Program and amending the Reimbursement 
Program eligibility requirements to expand eligibility to include 
providers of advanced communications service with 10 million or fewer 
subscribers. See Public Law 116-260, Division N-Additional Coronavirus 
Response and Relief, Title IX-Broadband internet Access Service, 
sections 901, 906, 134 Stat. 1182 (2020). The Commission has 
interpreted the term ``provider of advanced communications service'' to 
mean ``facilities-based providers, whether fixed or mobile, with a 
broadband connection to end users with at least 200 kbps in one 
direction.'' Second Report and Order, 35 FCC Rcd at 14332, para. 111. 
Participation in the Reimbursement Program is voluntary but compliance 
with the new information collection requirements is required to obtain 
Reimbursement Program support.
    The Secure Networks Act requires all providers of advanced 
communications service to annually report, with exception, on whether 
they have purchased, rented, leased or otherwise obtained covered 
communications equipment or service on or after certain dates. 47 
U.S.C. 1603(d)(2)(B). The Second Report and Order adopted a new 
information collection requirement to implement this statutory mandate. 
See Secure Networks Act section 5. If the provider certifies it does 
not have any covered equipment and services, then the provider is not 
required to subsequently file an annual report, unless it later obtains 
covered equipment and services. Second Report and Order at para. 215.
    This submission is for new information collection requirements 
contained in the Second Report and Order adopted by the Commission on 
December 10, 2020. The new requirements are necessary for the creation 
of a $1.9 billion reimbursement program, as directed by Congress in the 
Secure Networks Act, as amended. This submission also covers a related 
information collection requirement necessitated by the Secure Networks 
Act and/or the Second Report and Order and proposes to eliminate a 
previously approved information collection requirement that is no 
longer necessary.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary. Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-08546 Filed 4-23-21; 8:45 am]
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