[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 146 (Tuesday, August 3, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41843-41845]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-16503]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[OMB 3060-XXXX, OMB 3060-1270; FR ID 40994]


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 September 2, 
2021.

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/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

[[Page 41844]]

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-XXXX.
    Title: 47 CFR Section 90.372, Dedicated Short-Range Communications 
(DSRC) Notification Requirement.
    Form No.: N/A.
    Type of Review: New information collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit, Not-for-profit 
institutions, Federal Government, and State, Local or Tribal 
Government.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 125 respondents; 125 
responses.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 2 hours.
    Frequency of Response: Recordkeeping requirement; On occasion and 
one-time reporting requirements.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. 
Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 
sections 309 and 316 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 
U.S.C. 309 and 316.
    Total Annual Burden: 250 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: $62,500.
    Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: No information is requested 
that would require assurance of confidentiality.
    Needs and Uses: The Commission will submit this information 
collection to OMB as a new collection after this 60-day comment period 
to obtain the full three-year clearance.
    On November 20, 2020, the Federal Communications Commission 
released a First Report and Order, Further Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking, and Order of Proposed Modification, Use of the 5.850-5.925 
GHz Band, ET Docket No. 19-138. Among other things, the Commission 
repurposed 45 megahertz of the 5.850-5.925 GHz band (the 5.9 GHz band), 
specifically the spectrum from 5.850-5.895 GHz, to allow for the 
expansion of unlicensed operations into the sub-band. At the same time, 
the Commission recognized that the 5.9 GHz band plays an important role 
in supporting intelligent transportation system (ITS) operations, and 
therefore continued to dedicate 30 megahertz of the 5.9 GHz band, 
specifically the sub-band from 5.895-5.925 GHz, for use by the ITS 
radio service. In addition, to promote the most efficient and effective 
use of the remaining ITS spectrum, the Commission will require ITS 
operations in the 5.895-5.925 GHz sub-band to transition from the 
current technology, Dedicated Short-Range Communications (DSRC), to the 
emerging Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X)-based technology by the 
end of a transition period to be decided following action on the 
Further Notice.
    47 CFR New Section 90.372 requires DSRC licensees to notify the 
Commission that they have ceased operations in the 5.850-5.895 GHz sub-
band. Below is section 90.372 as adopted in the First Report and Order.

Sec.  90.372 DSRCS Notification Requirement

    (a) DSRCS licensees authorized pursuant to 90.370(b) must notify 
the Commission that as of the transition deadline of July 5, 2022, they 
have ceased operating in the 5.850-5.895 GHz portion of the band. This 
notification must be filed via ULS within 15 days of the expiration of 
the transition deadline.
    (b) Continued operation in the 5.850-5.895 GHz portion of the band 
after the transition deadline, will result in automatic termination of 
that licensee's authorization without specific Commission action.
    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, 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

[[Page 41845]]

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, 
Sec. Sec.  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 Sec.  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. 2021-16503 Filed 8-2-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P