[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 126 (Monday, July 3, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42719-42720]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-14011]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[OMB 3060-0357; FR ID 151597]


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 
can further reduce the information collection burden for small business 
concerns with fewer than 25 employees.

DATES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be submitted on or before August 2, 2023.

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 Cathy Williams, 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 Cathy Williams at (202) 418-
2918. To view a copy of this information collection request (ICR) 
submitted to OMB: (1) go to the web page https://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: 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.
    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.

[[Page 42720]]

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 No.: 3060-0357.
    Title: Recognized Private Operating Agency (RPOA), 47 CFR 63.701.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 2 respondents; 3 responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 3-6 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement.
    Obligation To Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The 
Commission has statutory authority for this collection pursuant to 
Sections 4(i), 4(j), 201-205, 214 and 403 of the Communications Act of 
1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 154(j), 201-25, 214 and 403.
    Total Annual Burden: 8 hours.
    Annual Cost Burden: $4,810.
    Needs and Uses: The Federal Communications Commission (Commission) 
is requesting that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
a revision to OMB Control No. 3060-0357--Recognized Private Operating 
Agency--47 CFR 63.701. The Commission is developing revised and new 
electronic forms for this collection as part of the Commission's 
modernization of its online, web-based electronic filing system--the 
International Bureau filing system (IBFS). This information collection 
seeks approval for the new and revised forms for requests to be 
designated as a Recognized Operating Agency (ROA), and reflects changes 
in the costs and burdens associated with these applications.
    At the request of the U.S. Department of State (State Department), 
the Commission adopted a voluntary program by which companies that 
provide enhanced services could seek designation as a recognized 
private operating agency. The term recognized private operating agency 
was used in the International Telecommunication Convention, the 
international agreement that created the International 
Telecommunication Union (ITU), to refer to private-sector providers of 
international telecommunication services that had been ``recognized'' 
either by the government of the country in which they had been 
incorporated, or the country where they operated. Today, the term 
recognized private operating agency is interchangeable with the term 
recognized operating agency (ROA).
    Most providers of international telecommunications services to or 
from the U.S. hold either an authorization under section 214 of the 
Communications Act or a radio license under section 301 of the Act. The 
issuance of such authorizations or licenses is public evidence that the 
U.S. government ``recognizes'' the entities to which they are issued. 
However, providers of enhanced services are not licensed or authorized. 
They are permitted to begin operations without any formal applications 
or notifications. It is not, therefore, immediately apparent to foreign 
governments that a U.S. enhanced service provider has been 
``recognized'' within the meaning of the ITU Convention. As a 
consequence, such entities have sometimes found foreign governments 
unwilling to let them operate in those countries.
    As a result, providers requested that the Commission and the State 
Department develop a program whereby enhanced service providers could 
be formally designated as ROAs. The program that was developed calls 
for those entities wishing to obtain such a designation to submit an 
application to the Commission setting forth pertinent information about 
the provider and the services it proposes to provide and a pledge by 
the provider that it would abide by all international obligations to 
which the U.S. is a signatory. The Commission places the application on 
public notice and allows interested parties to comment on the 
application.
    The Commission then makes a recommendation, based on the 
application and comments, to the State Department either to grant or 
deny the request. The State Department then acts on the recommendation 
and notifies the ITU of any applications that it grants. ROA 
designation is voluntary. If an enhanced service provider does not find 
such designation necessary, it is not required to file an application. 
In order to implement this program, the Commission adopted 47 CFR 
63.701 to set forth the information that must be contained in an 
application for designation as an ROA. ROA designations do not have 
expiration dates. They continue indefinitely, unless revoked for cause. 
ROAs are not required to file any reports or other information with the 
Commission throughout their indefinite period of designation. Any party 
requesting designation as an ROA within the meaning of the 
International Telecommunication Convention must file a request for such 
designation with the Commission. This filing includes a statement of 
the nature of the services to be provided and a statement that the 
applicant is aware that it is obligated under Article 6 of the ITU to 
obey the mandatory provisions thereof, and all regulations promulgated 
there under, and a pledge that it will engage in no conduct or 
operations that contravene such mandatory provisions and that it will 
otherwise obey the Convention and regulations in all respects. The 
applicant must also include a statement that it is aware that failure 
to comply will result in an order from the Commission to cease and 
desist from future violations of an ITU regulation and may result in 
revocation of its ROA status by the State Department.
    ICFS Modernization of ROA Electronic Forms. The Commission seeks 
OMB approval of revisions to its ROA application forms and the addition 
of new forms that will be electronically filed through ICFS. The new 
online forms will ensure the Commission collects the information 
required by the Commission's rules. The use of such online forms will 
reduce costs and administrative burdens on applicants, resulting in 
greater efficiencies, and improve transparency to the public. Once the 
Commission receives approval for the new forms from OMB, as required by 
section 1.10006 of the Commission's rules, we will announce the 
availability of mandated e-forms and their effective dates.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-14011 Filed 6-30-23; 8:45 am]
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