[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 194 (Tuesday, October 10, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69925-69926]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-22424]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[OMB 3060-1168; FR ID 176893]


Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal 
Communications Commission Under Delegated Authority

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

DATES: Written PRA comments should be submitted on or before December 
11, 2023. 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 Cathy Williams, FCC, via email to 
[email protected] and to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information about the 
information collection, contact Cathy Williams at (202) 418-2918.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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.
    OMB Control Number: 3060-1168.

[[Page 69926]]

    Title: Application for Mobility Fund Phase I Support--FCC Form 680.
    Form Number: FCC Form 680.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities, not-for-profit 
institutions, and state, local or tribal governments.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 10 respondents and 10 
responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 1.5 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. 
Statutory authority for this information collection 47 U.S.C. 154, 254 
and 303(r).
    Total Annual Burden: 15 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: $0.
    Needs and Uses: The Commission uses the information collected on 
FCC Form 680 to determine whether a winning bidder is qualified to 
receive Mobility Fund Phase I and Tribal Mobility Fund Phase I support. 
On November 18, 2011, the Commission released an order comprehensively 
reforming and modernizing the universal service and intercarrier 
compensation systems to ensure that robust, affordable voice and 
broadband service, both fixed and mobile, are available to Americans 
throughout the nation. Connect America Fund et al., Order and Further 
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 11-161 (USF/ICC Transformation 
Order). In the USF/ICC Transformation Order, the Commission, among 
other things, created the Mobility Fund to ensure the availability of 
mobile broadband networks in areas where a private-sector business case 
is lacking. Phase I of the Mobility Fund provided one-time universal 
service support for the deployment of networks for mobile voice and 
broadband service, and a separate, complementary Tribal Mobility Fund 
Phase I provided one-time universal service support to accelerate the 
availability of mobile voice and broadband service on Tribal lands.
    The Commission adopted rules to implement the reforms it adopted in 
the USF/ICC Transformation Order, including the rules in sections 
1.21004(a), 54.1004, 54.1005, 54.1006, 54.1007, and 54.1008 which 
contain information collection requirements used to determine whether a 
winning bidder of Mobility Fund Phase I support and Tribal Mobility 
Fund Phase I support is qualified to receive such support.
    Section 1.21004(a) of the Commission's rules requires each winning 
bidder in an auction for universal service support to apply for the 
support it won by the applicable deadline. Sections 54.1005(b) and 
54.1006 require a winning bidder to submit, using FCC Form 680, 
ownership information, proof of its status as an Eligible 
Telecommunications Carrier, a description of its spectrum access, a 
detailed project description, any guarantee of performance that the 
Commission may require, and various certifications. Sections 
54.1004(d)(3) and 54.1008(d) require a winning bidder to certify in its 
application that it has substantively engaged appropriate Tribal 
officials. In addition, sections 54.1007(a) and (b) require a winning 
bidder to obtain and submit to the Commission an irrevocable standby 
letter of credit, which the winning bidder must maintain until at least 
120 days after the winning bidder receives its final distribution of 
support.
    The information collection requirements ensure that a winning 
bidder submits an application for the universal service support it won, 
and the Commission uses the information submitted in the application to 
determine whether the applicant is legally, technically, and 
financially qualified to receive such support. The requirement that a 
winning bidder obtain, submit, and maintain a letter of credit will 
secure a return of universal service funds from a winning bidder that 
defaults on its obligations and will protect the integrity of the 
universal service programs. Without such information, the Commission 
could not determine whether to disburse universal service support to a 
winning bidder or protect the government's interest in the funds 
allocated for Mobility Fund Phase I and Tribal Mobility Fund Phase I.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-22424 Filed 10-6-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P