[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 224 (Wednesday, November 22, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81416-81417]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-25806]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[OMB 3060-XXXX; FR ID 186010]


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 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 December 22, 
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 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

[[Page 81417]]

(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-XXXX.
    Title: Enhanced A-CAM Cybersecurity and Supply Chain Risk 
Management Plan Requirements.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: New information collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities and State, local 
or Tribal governments.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 450 respondents; 900 
responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 10-50 hours.
    Frequency of Response: One-time and 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. 154(i), 214, 218-220, 254, 303(r), and 403.
    Total Annual Burden: 27,000 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: No cost.
    Needs and Uses: On July 24, 2023, the Commission released the 
Enhanced A-CAM Order (Order), 88 FR 55918, August 17, 2023, WC Docket 
No. 10-90 et al., FCC 23-60, which adopted a voluntary path for 
supporting the widespread deployment of 100/20 Mbps broadband service 
throughout the rural areas served by carriers currently receiving 
Alternative Connect America Cost Model (A-CAM) support and in areas 
served by rate-of-return carriers eligible to receive legacy support by 
the end of 2028. The Commission extended by 10 years beyond the 
remaining five years, for a total of 15 years, the term of support for 
electing carriers and set a methodology for determining support amounts 
for locations without 100/20 Mbps broadband service within a potential 
budget of no more than $1.27 billion annually, or no more than $1.33 
billion annually if certain conditions are met, using an updated 
version of the A-CAM. By adopting this program, the Commission 
furthered its long-standing goals by promoting the universal 
availability of voice and broadband networks, while also taking 
measures to minimize the burden on the nation's ratepayers. The 
Commission also adopted requirements for the Enhanced A-CAM program to 
complement existing Federal, State, and local funding programs, so that 
broadband funding can be used efficiently to maximize the deployment of 
high-quality broadband service across the United States.
    To ensure that the Enhanced A-CAM program does not deprive rural 
consumers in high-cost areas of broadband service that is as secure as 
the service deployed pursuant to other Federal funding initiatives, the 
Commission required Enhanced A-CAM carriers to implement operational 
cybersecurity and supply chain risk management plans by January 1, 
2024--the start of the Enhanced A-CAM support term. Enhanced A-CAM 
carriers must submit such plans to the Universal Service Administrative 
Company (USAC) and certify they have done so, by January 2, 2024 or 
within 30 days of approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act, whichever 
is later. Failure to submit the plans and make the certification shall 
result in 25% of monthly support being withheld until the carrier comes 
into compliance. If a carrier makes a substantive modification to its 
cybersecurity or supply chain risk management plan, the Commission 
requires that the carrier submit its updated plan to USAC within 30 
days of making that modification.
    The purpose of this information collection is to collect the 
operational cybersecurity and supply chain risk management plans 
required of the Enhanced A-CAM carriers by the start of the Enhanced A-
CAM support term and address the burdens associated with that 
requirement.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-25806 Filed 11-21-23; 8:45 am]
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