[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 152 (Wednesday, August 11, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44017-44018]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-17090]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[OMB 3060-0824; FR ID 41837]


Information Collection 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

[[Page 44018]]

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 10, 
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 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: 3060-0824.
    Title: Service Provider and Billed Entity Identification Number and 
Contact Information Form.
    Form Number: FCC Form 498.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit and Not-for-profit 
institutions.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 26,000 respondents; 26,000 
responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 0.75 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion 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 and 254 the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.
    Total Annual Burden: 19,500 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) who administers the 
universal service program must preserve the confidentiality of all data 
obtained from respondents and contributors to the universal service 
programs, must not use the data except for purposes of administering 
the universal service programs, and must not disclose data in company-
specific form unless directed to do so by the Commission. With respect 
to the FCC Form 498, USAC shall publish each participant's name, SPIN, 
and contact information via USAC's website. All other information, 
including financial institution account numbers or routing information, 
shall remain confidential.
    Needs and Uses: One of the functions of the Universal Service 
Administrative Company (USAC) is to provide a means for the billing, 
collection and disbursement of funds for the universal service support 
mechanisms. On October 1998, the OMB approved FCC Form 498, the 
``Service Provider Information Form'' to enable USAC to collect service 
provider name and address, telephone number, Federal Employer 
Identification Number (EIN), contact names, contact telephone numbers, 
and remittance information. FCC Form 498 enables participants to 
request a Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN) and provides 
the official record for participation in the universal service support 
mechanisms. The remittance information provided by participants on FCC 
Form 498 enables USAC to make payments to participants in the universal 
service support mechanisms.
    Pursuant to 47 CFR 54.202, 54.301, 54.303, 54.307, 54.309, 54.311, 
54.504, 54.407, 54.422, 54.514, 54.515, 54.679, 54.702, 54.802, and 
54.902, USAC collects service provider name, phone numbers, other 
contact information, and remittance information for all four of the 
universal service support mechanisms--Schools and Libraries, Rural 
Health Care, High-Cost and Low-Income (commonly referred to as 
Lifeline). On July 23, 2014, the Commission released an Order and FNPRM 
(WC Docket No. 13-184, FCC 14-99; 79 FR 49160, August 19, 2014) (E-rate 
Modernization Order) modernizing the E-rate program. Specifically, the 
E-rate Modernization Order revised the Commission rules to allow an 
applicant that pays the full cost of the Schools and Libraries (E-rate) 
supported services to a service provider to receive direct 
reimbursement from USAC.
    The Digital Accountability and Transparency Act (DATA Act) directs 
Federal agencies to report financial obligations and standardize the 
information that recipients of federal funds report to government 
agencies. To comply with the DATA Act, the DATA Act Business Type is 
reported on FCC Form 498. When completing or updating this form, 
service providers and billed entities are required to select up to 
three business types that best describes the organization.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-17090 Filed 8-10-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P