Data Specifications for Collecting Study Area Boundaries, 10100-10102 [2013-03328]
Download as PDF
10100
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 30 / Wednesday, February 13, 2013 / Rules and Regulations
Governmental Affairs Bureau at (717)
338–2797 or email
Richard.Smith@fcc.gov.
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 54
The
Federal Communications Commission
published a document amending 47
CFR 1.80 in the Federal Register on
November 29, 2012, (77 FR 71131). The
amended rules are necessary to
implement the enforcement provisions
of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job
Creation Act of 2012 as applicable to the
PSAP Do-Not-Call registry.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
As published, the final regulations
inadvertently created two § 1.80(b)(7)’s
in the Commission’s rules and needs to
be corrected accordingly.
List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 1
Administrative practice and
procedure.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.
Accordingly, 47 CFR part 1 is
corrected by making the following
correcting amendments:
PART 1—PRACTICE AND
PROCEDURE
1. The authority citation for part 1 is
revised to read as follows:
■
Subpart A—General Rules of Practice
and Procedure
2. Amend § 1.80 by redesignating the
second paragraph (b)(7) as paragraph
(b)(9) and republishing the heading of
newly redesignated paragraph (b)(9) to
read as follows:
■
Forfeiture proceedings.
(b) * * *
(9) Inflation adjustments to the
maximum forfeiture amount. * * *
*
*
*
*
*
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with RULES
[FR Doc. 2013–03230 Filed 2–12–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
15:25 Feb 12, 2013
Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Final rule; announcement of
effective date.
AGENCY:
In this document, the Federal
Communications Commission
(Commission) announces that the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB) has
approved, until July 31, 2013, the
information collection associated with
the Commission’s Connect America
Fund; High-Cost Universal Service
Support, Report and Order, (Order),
released on November 6, 2012. The
Commission submitted a request for
approval of a new collection under
control number 3060–1181 to the OMB
for review and approval, as required by
the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501–3520). This notice
is consistent with the Order, which
stated that the Commission would
publish a document in the Federal
Register announcing the effective date
of those rules once it receives OMB
approval.
Jkt 229001
Paragraph 16 and Appendix A of
document DA 12–1777, published at 78
FR 5750, January 28, 2013, are effective
February 27, 2013.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Chelsea Fallon, Assistant Division
Chief, Wireline Competition Bureau, at
(202) 418–7991.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
document announces that, on January
23, 2013, OMB approved, for a period of
six months, the information collection
requirements contained in the
Commission’s Order, FCC 12–1777,
published at 78 FR 5750, January 28,
2013. The OMB Control Number is
3060–1181. The Commission publishes
this notice as an announcement of the
effective date of paragraph 16 and
Appendix A of document DA 12–1777.
If you have any comments on the
burden estimates listed below, or how
the Commission can improve the
collections and reduce any burdens
caused thereby, please contact Judith
Boley-Herman, Federal
Communications Commission, Room 1–
B441, 445 12th Street SW., Washington,
DC 20554. Please include the OMB
Control Number, 3060–1181, in your
correspondence. The Commission also
DATES:
Authority: 15 U.S.C. 79 et seq.; 47 U.S.C.
151, 154(i), 154(j), 155, 157, 225, 227, 303(r),
and 309, the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job
Creation Act of 2012, Pub. L. 112–96, and 47
U.S.C. 1473.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
Data Specifications for Collecting
Study Area Boundaries
SUMMARY:
Need for Correction
§ 1.80
[WC Docket Nos. 10–90 and 05–337; DA
12–1777]
PO 00000
Frm 00046
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
will accept comments via email. Please
send them to PRA@fcc.gov.
To request materials in accessible
formats for people with disabilities
(Braille, large print, electronic files,
audio format), send an email to
fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer
and Governmental Affairs Bureau at
(202) 418–0530 (voice), (202) 418–0432
(TTY).
Synopsis
As required by the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507),
the FCC is notifying the public that it
received OMB approval on January 23,
2013, for the information collection
requirements contained in paragraph 16
and Appendix A of document DA 12–
1777.
Under 5 CFR part 1320, an agency
may not conduct or sponsor a collection
of information unless it displays a
current, valid OMB Control Number.
No person shall be subject to any
penalty for failing to comply with a
collection of information subject to the
Paperwork Reduction Act that does not
display a current, valid OMB Control
Number. The OMB Control Number is
3060–1181.
The foregoing notice is required by
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
Public Law 104–13, October 1, 1995,
and 44 U.S.C. 3507.
The total annual reporting burdens
and costs for the respondents are as
follows:
OMB Control Number: 3060–1181.
OMB Approval Date: January 23,
2013.
OMB Expiration Date: July 31, 2013.
Title: Study Area Boundary Data
Reporting in Esri Shapefile Format, DA
12–1777.
Form Number: N/A.
Respondents: Incumbent local
exchange carriers, and state regulatory
entities.
Number of Respondents and
Responses: 1,443 respondents; 1,443
responses.
Estimated Time per Response: 26
hours.
Frequency of Response: Annually if
changes to study area boundaries;
biannually for recertification or
previously submitted data.
Obligation to Respond: Required.
Statutory authority for this information
collection is contained in 47 U.S.C.
254(b).
Total Annual Burden: 7,924 hours for
in-house work for large incumbent local
exchange carriers
Total Annual Cost: $705,935.00
contracting costs for small incumbent
local exchange carriers.
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality:
The Commission is not requesting that
E:\FR\FM\13FER1.SGM
13FER1
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with RULES
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 30 / Wednesday, February 13, 2013 / Rules and Regulations
respondents submit confidential
information to the Commission. Also,
respondents may request materials or
information submitted to the
Commission be withheld from public
inspection under 47 CFR 0.459 of the
Commission’s rules.
Needs and Uses: In November 2012,
the Wireline Competition Bureau of the
Federal Communications Commission
adopted a Report and Order (Order), in
WC Docket No. 10–90; WC Docket No.
05–337; DA 12–1777, 78 FR 5750,
Connect America Fund; High-Cost
Universal Service Support.
The Order adopts data specifications
for collecting study area boundaries for
purposes of implementing various
reforms adopted as part of the USF/ICC
Transformation Order, 76 FR 73830,
November 29, 2011. In the USF/ICC
Transformation FNPRM, 76 FR 78384,
December 16, 2011, the Commission
sought comment on a process to reduce
support where such an unsubsidized
competitor offers voice and broadband
service to a substantial majority, but not
100 percent of the study area. Study
area boundaries are needed to determine
whether unsubsidized competitors offer
service within all or a portion of an
incumbent’s study area
The Order requires incumbent local
exchange carriers (LECs) to submit esri
shapefiles of their study area
boundaries, with each submitted
shapefile representing a single study
area in each state that the incumbent
LEC serves. The shapefile for each study
area must depict each exchange within
the study area as a closed, nonoverlapping polygon. Each exchangearea polygon must constitute one record
in the shapefile and must contain
associated data with certain attributes
used to identify the exchange, such as
the exchange name and CLLI (Common
Language Location Identifier) code. The
Bureau will collect study area boundary
data at the exchange level so that it can
distinguish those exchanges that are
subject to ‘‘frozen’’ support levels from
those that are not, and so that the data
can be updated to reflect any exchanges
that have been transferred from one
incumbent LEC to another.
The Order finds that collecting study
area boundary data in an esri shapefile
format best balances the need for
accurate and timely data with the goal
of minimizing burdens on providers.
The Order states that the esri shapefile
is the best among possible data formats.
Since its introduction in the 1990s, the
esri shapefile has become the industry
standard for storing, depicting, and
analyzing spatial data. As a result, there
are multiple geographic information
system (GIS) platforms capable of
VerDate Mar<15>2010
15:25 Feb 12, 2013
Jkt 229001
creating and managing esri shapefiles,
and multiple software programs can
convert spatial data stored in other
formats (such as MapInfo) to an esri
shapefile format. Incumbent LECs that
do not already have esri shapefiles of
their study area boundaries may either
use software and information
technology, and/or rely on the expertise
of consultants, to develop a shapefile
based on the presumably known
locations of their physical plant and
their customers. Thus, the benefits
gained by requiring incumbent LECs to
provide and verify esri shapefiles
warrant the potential burdens imposed.
Incumbent LECs or other entities are not
expected to conduct physical surveys in
order to produce the degree of accuracy
required by the data specification.
Incumbent LECs reasonably can be
expected to know where they offer
services and thus should be able to
create and submit an esri shapefile to
the degree of accuracy required based
largely on existing information.
State entities are well situated to
assist incumbent LECs with their
responsibilities under this R&O.
Involvement of state entities that
undertake or assist with this data
collection effort could reduce the
burden on incumbent LECs and on
Commission staff, particularly because
some states already have digitized
service territory boundaries. State
entities wishing to submit such data
should notify the Commission in
writing of their intention to do so and
submit that notice to WC Docket No.
10–90 via the Commission’s Electronic
Comment Filing System (ECFS). The
Bureau will release a Public Notice
identifying the deadlines for these
notices (as well as the deadlines for the
shapefile submissions and incumbent
LEC certifications). In cases where a
state entity uploads data to the
Commission-sponsored Web site on
behalf of one or more incumbent LECs,
each incumbent LEC whose data are
submitted by the state must log into the
Web site to review the shapefile. If the
incumbent LEC has a reasonable basis to
conclude the shapefile is correct, the
incumbent LEC can certify and submit
the data using the same web interface.
The reporting obligation set forth in the
Order ultimately rests with incumbent
LECs; state entities may not certify as to
the accuracy of the data on behalf of
incumbent LECs. If the incumbent LEC
cannot certify that the data submitted by
the state entities are correct, the
incumbent LEC must so notify the
Bureau and upload corrected data,
either on its own or in conjunction with
the state entity that filed it. The
PO 00000
Frm 00047
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
10101
incumbent LEC can then certify that the
study area boundary data are accurate.
After reviewing and, if necessary,
correcting the study area boundary data
submitted by itself or a state entity, each
incumbent LEC must certify the
accuracy of the data. An official of the
firm, such as a corporate officer,
managing partner, or sole proprietor,
must provide an electronic signature
certifying that he or she has examined
the study area boundary shapefile and
that, to the best of his or her knowledge,
information, and belief, the data
contained in the shapefile are accurate
and correct. The certifying official may
be different from the GIS specialist or
other individual who developed the
study area boundary shapefile, and the
web interface will allow filers to enter
contact information for both the
certifying official and the individual
most knowledgeable about the spatial
data.
Once the shapefiles have been
submitted and certified, the Bureau will
review the study area boundaries and
resolve any voids and overlaps. Overlap
areas would be those shown to be
served by more than one incumbent
LEC, while void areas would be those
shown to be served by no incumbent
LEC. The Bureau will attempt to
distinguish unpopulated void areas
from populated void areas that are likely
to be served by some incumbent LEC, in
which case an error in the submitted
data may need to be resolved. The
Bureau may also seek help from state
commissions to resolve gaps, voids, and
overlap issues. During review, if
boundary overlaps or void areas are
found in the submitted boundary data,
the Bureau will contact the filer(s) to
resolve such issues. Once these issues
are resolved, the Bureau will ask
incumbent LECs to recertify the new,
corrected boundaries. When a complete
set of the reconciled boundaries has
been compiled the study area boundary
data will be published.
Incumbent LECs must provide
updated data when their study area
boundaries change. Incumbent LECs
and/or state entities must submit
updated data by March 15 of each year,
beginning the year following the initial
data submissions, showing any changes
made by December 31 of the previous
year. The incumbent LEC is responsible
for making any necessary changes and
for filing the revised shapefile. The
changes cannot be made using the web
interface itself; incumbent LECs will
need to modify the shapefile. However,
incumbent LECs can upload a revised
shapefile to the same Web site used for
the original filing. In addition, all
incumbent LECs must recertify their
E:\FR\FM\13FER1.SGM
13FER1
10102
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 30 / Wednesday, February 13, 2013 / Rules and Regulations
study area boundary data every two
years. Filers will need to examine,
through the web interface described
below, the boundary data previously
submitted, and then either certify that
they are correct or submit revised data.
In the near future, the Bureau will
issue a Public Notice providing detailed
instructions and announcing the
deadline for the submission of data and
providing further filing information.
The Commission plans to submit
information required to obtain OMB
review and approval to extend approval
of this collection.
Federal Communications Commission.
Lisa Gelb,
Deputy Bureau Chief, Wireline Competition
Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2013–03328 Filed 2–12–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 120403249–2492–02]
RIN 0648–XC437
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of
Mexico, and South Atlantic; SnapperGrouper Resources of the South
Atlantic; Trip Limit Reduction
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; trip limit
reduction.
AGENCY:
NMFS reduces the
commercial trip limit for golden tilefish
in the South Atlantic to 300 lb (136 kg),
gutted weight, per trip in or from the
exclusive economic zone (EEZ). This
trip limit reduction is necessary to
protect the South Atlantic golden
tilefish resource.
DATES: This rule is effective 12:01 a.m.,
local time, February 18, 2013, through
December 31, 2013, unless changed by
subsequent notification in the Federal
Register.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Catherine Hayslip, telephone: 727–824–
5305, or email:
Catherine.Hayslip@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
snapper-grouper fishery includes golden
tilefish in the South Atlantic and is
managed under the Fishery
Management Plan for the SnapperGrouper Resources of the South Atlantic
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with RULES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
15:25 Feb 12, 2013
Jkt 229001
(FMP). The FMP was prepared by the
South Atlantic Fishery Management
Council and is implemented under the
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management
Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) by
regulations at 50 CFR part 622.
Under 50 CFR 622.44(c)(2), NMFS is
required to reduce the trip limit in the
commercial sector for golden tilefish
from 4,000 lb (1,814 kg) to 300 lb (136
kg) per trip when 75 percent of the
fishing year quota is met prior to
September 1, by filing a notification to
that effect with the Office of the Federal
Register. As implemented by the final
rule for Regulatory Amendment 12 (77
FR 61295, October 9, 2012), the
commercial quota for golden tilefish in
the South Atlantic is 541,295 lb
(245,527 kg), gutted weight, as specified
in 50 CFR 622.42(e)(2). Based on current
statistics, NMFS has determined that 75
percent of the available commercial
quota of 541,295 lb (245,527 kg), gutted
weight, for golden tilefish will be
reached on or before February 18, 2013.
Accordingly, NMFS is reducing the
commercial golden tilefish trip limit to
300 lb (136 kg), gutted weight, in the
South Atlantic EEZ from 12:01 a.m.,
local time, on February 18, 2013, until
the quota is reached and the commercial
sector closes, or through December 31,
2013, whichever occurs first.
Classification
The Regional Administrator,
Southeast Region, NMFS, has
determined this temporary rule is
necessary for the conservation and
management of South Atlantic golden
tilefish and is consistent with the
Magnuson-Stevens Act and other
applicable laws.
This action is taken under 50 CFR
622.44(c)(2) and is exempt from review
under Executive Order 12866.
These measures are exempt from the
procedures of the Regulatory Flexibility
Act because the temporary rule is issued
without opportunity for prior notice and
comment.
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,
NOAA, (AA), finds good cause to waive
the requirements to provide prior notice
and the opportunity for public comment
on this temporary rule. Such procedures
are unnecessary because the rule itself
has already been subject to notice and
comment, and all that remains is to
notify the public of the trip limit
reduction.
Allowing prior notice and
opportunity for public comment is
contrary to the public interest because
of the need to immediately implement
this action to protect golden tilefish
PO 00000
Frm 00048
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
because the capacity of the fishing fleet
allows for rapid harvest of the quota.
Prior notice and opportunity for public
comment for this trip limit reduction
would require time and would
potentially result in a harvest well in
excess of the established quota.
For the aforementioned reasons, the
AA also finds good cause to waive the
30-day delay in the effectiveness of this
action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3).
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: February 8, 2013.
Kara Meckley,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013–03311 Filed 2–8–13; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 111207737–2141–02]
RIN 0648–XC495
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by
Vessels Using Pot Gear in the Central
Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
AGENCY:
NMFS is prohibiting directed
fishing for Pacific cod by vessels using
pot gear in the Central Regulatory Area
of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action
is necessary to prevent exceeding the A
season allowance of the 2013 Pacific
cod total allowable catch apportioned to
vessels using pot gear in the Central
Regulatory Area of the GOA.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska
local time (A.l.t.), February 10, 2013,
through 1200 hours, A.l.t., September 1,
2013.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Obren Davis, 907–586–7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
manages the groundfish fishery in the
GOA exclusive economic zone
according to the Fishery Management
Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of
Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North
Pacific Fishery Management Council
under authority of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act. Regulations governing
fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance
with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\13FER1.SGM
13FER1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 30 (Wednesday, February 13, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 10100-10102]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-03328]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 54
[WC Docket Nos. 10-90 and 05-337; DA 12-1777]
Data Specifications for Collecting Study Area Boundaries
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Final rule; announcement of effective date.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In this document, the Federal Communications Commission
(Commission) announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
has approved, until July 31, 2013, the information collection
associated with the Commission's Connect America Fund; High-Cost
Universal Service Support, Report and Order, (Order), released on
November 6, 2012. The Commission submitted a request for approval of a
new collection under control number 3060-1181 to the OMB for review and
approval, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44
U.S.C. 3501-3520). This notice is consistent with the Order, which
stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal
Register announcing the effective date of those rules once it receives
OMB approval.
DATES: Paragraph 16 and Appendix A of document DA 12-1777, published at
78 FR 5750, January 28, 2013, are effective February 27, 2013.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chelsea Fallon, Assistant Division
Chief, Wireline Competition Bureau, at (202) 418-7991.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document announces that, on January 23,
2013, OMB approved, for a period of six months, the information
collection requirements contained in the Commission's Order, FCC 12-
1777, published at 78 FR 5750, January 28, 2013. The OMB Control Number
is 3060-1181. The Commission publishes this notice as an announcement
of the effective date of paragraph 16 and Appendix A of document DA 12-
1777. If you have any comments on the burden estimates listed below, or
how the Commission can improve the collections and reduce any burdens
caused thereby, please contact Judith Boley-Herman, Federal
Communications Commission, Room 1-B441, 445 12th Street SW.,
Washington, DC 20554. Please include the OMB Control Number, 3060-1181,
in your correspondence. The Commission also will accept comments via
email. Please send them to PRA@fcc.gov.
To request materials in accessible formats for people with
disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format),
send an email to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer and Governmental
Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-0432 (TTY).
Synopsis
As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
3507), the FCC is notifying the public that it received OMB approval on
January 23, 2013, for the information collection requirements contained
in paragraph 16 and Appendix A of document DA 12-1777.
Under 5 CFR part 1320, an agency may not conduct or sponsor a
collection of information unless it displays a current, valid OMB
Control Number.
No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply
with a collection of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act
that does not display a current, valid OMB Control Number. The OMB
Control Number is 3060-1181.
The foregoing notice is required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995, Public Law 104-13, October 1, 1995, and 44 U.S.C. 3507.
The total annual reporting burdens and costs for the respondents
are as follows:
OMB Control Number: 3060-1181.
OMB Approval Date: January 23, 2013.
OMB Expiration Date: July 31, 2013.
Title: Study Area Boundary Data Reporting in Esri Shapefile Format,
DA 12-1777.
Form Number: N/A.
Respondents: Incumbent local exchange carriers, and state
regulatory entities.
Number of Respondents and Responses: 1,443 respondents; 1,443
responses.
Estimated Time per Response: 26 hours.
Frequency of Response: Annually if changes to study area
boundaries; biannually for recertification or previously submitted
data.
Obligation to Respond: Required. Statutory authority for this
information collection is contained in 47 U.S.C. 254(b).
Total Annual Burden: 7,924 hours for in-house work for large
incumbent local exchange carriers
Total Annual Cost: $705,935.00 contracting costs for small
incumbent local exchange carriers.
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: The Commission is not
requesting that
[[Page 10101]]
respondents submit confidential information to the Commission. Also,
respondents may request materials or information submitted to the
Commission be withheld from public inspection under 47 CFR 0.459 of the
Commission's rules.
Needs and Uses: In November 2012, the Wireline Competition Bureau
of the Federal Communications Commission adopted a Report and Order
(Order), in WC Docket No. 10-90; WC Docket No. 05-337; DA 12-1777, 78
FR 5750, Connect America Fund; High-Cost Universal Service Support.
The Order adopts data specifications for collecting study area
boundaries for purposes of implementing various reforms adopted as part
of the USF/ICC Transformation Order, 76 FR 73830, November 29, 2011. In
the USF/ICC Transformation FNPRM, 76 FR 78384, December 16, 2011, the
Commission sought comment on a process to reduce support where such an
unsubsidized competitor offers voice and broadband service to a
substantial majority, but not 100 percent of the study area. Study area
boundaries are needed to determine whether unsubsidized competitors
offer service within all or a portion of an incumbent's study area
The Order requires incumbent local exchange carriers (LECs) to
submit esri shapefiles of their study area boundaries, with each
submitted shapefile representing a single study area in each state that
the incumbent LEC serves. The shapefile for each study area must depict
each exchange within the study area as a closed, non-overlapping
polygon. Each exchange-area polygon must constitute one record in the
shapefile and must contain associated data with certain attributes used
to identify the exchange, such as the exchange name and CLLI (Common
Language Location Identifier) code. The Bureau will collect study area
boundary data at the exchange level so that it can distinguish those
exchanges that are subject to ``frozen'' support levels from those that
are not, and so that the data can be updated to reflect any exchanges
that have been transferred from one incumbent LEC to another.
The Order finds that collecting study area boundary data in an esri
shapefile format best balances the need for accurate and timely data
with the goal of minimizing burdens on providers. The Order states that
the esri shapefile is the best among possible data formats. Since its
introduction in the 1990s, the esri shapefile has become the industry
standard for storing, depicting, and analyzing spatial data. As a
result, there are multiple geographic information system (GIS)
platforms capable of creating and managing esri shapefiles, and
multiple software programs can convert spatial data stored in other
formats (such as MapInfo) to an esri shapefile format. Incumbent LECs
that do not already have esri shapefiles of their study area boundaries
may either use software and information technology, and/or rely on the
expertise of consultants, to develop a shapefile based on the
presumably known locations of their physical plant and their customers.
Thus, the benefits gained by requiring incumbent LECs to provide and
verify esri shapefiles warrant the potential burdens imposed. Incumbent
LECs or other entities are not expected to conduct physical surveys in
order to produce the degree of accuracy required by the data
specification. Incumbent LECs reasonably can be expected to know where
they offer services and thus should be able to create and submit an
esri shapefile to the degree of accuracy required based largely on
existing information.
State entities are well situated to assist incumbent LECs with
their responsibilities under this R&O. Involvement of state entities
that undertake or assist with this data collection effort could reduce
the burden on incumbent LECs and on Commission staff, particularly
because some states already have digitized service territory
boundaries. State entities wishing to submit such data should notify
the Commission in writing of their intention to do so and submit that
notice to WC Docket No. 10-90 via the Commission's Electronic Comment
Filing System (ECFS). The Bureau will release a Public Notice
identifying the deadlines for these notices (as well as the deadlines
for the shapefile submissions and incumbent LEC certifications). In
cases where a state entity uploads data to the Commission-sponsored Web
site on behalf of one or more incumbent LECs, each incumbent LEC whose
data are submitted by the state must log into the Web site to review
the shapefile. If the incumbent LEC has a reasonable basis to conclude
the shapefile is correct, the incumbent LEC can certify and submit the
data using the same web interface. The reporting obligation set forth
in the Order ultimately rests with incumbent LECs; state entities may
not certify as to the accuracy of the data on behalf of incumbent LECs.
If the incumbent LEC cannot certify that the data submitted by the
state entities are correct, the incumbent LEC must so notify the Bureau
and upload corrected data, either on its own or in conjunction with the
state entity that filed it. The incumbent LEC can then certify that the
study area boundary data are accurate.
After reviewing and, if necessary, correcting the study area
boundary data submitted by itself or a state entity, each incumbent LEC
must certify the accuracy of the data. An official of the firm, such as
a corporate officer, managing partner, or sole proprietor, must provide
an electronic signature certifying that he or she has examined the
study area boundary shapefile and that, to the best of his or her
knowledge, information, and belief, the data contained in the shapefile
are accurate and correct. The certifying official may be different from
the GIS specialist or other individual who developed the study area
boundary shapefile, and the web interface will allow filers to enter
contact information for both the certifying official and the individual
most knowledgeable about the spatial data.
Once the shapefiles have been submitted and certified, the Bureau
will review the study area boundaries and resolve any voids and
overlaps. Overlap areas would be those shown to be served by more than
one incumbent LEC, while void areas would be those shown to be served
by no incumbent LEC. The Bureau will attempt to distinguish unpopulated
void areas from populated void areas that are likely to be served by
some incumbent LEC, in which case an error in the submitted data may
need to be resolved. The Bureau may also seek help from state
commissions to resolve gaps, voids, and overlap issues. During review,
if boundary overlaps or void areas are found in the submitted boundary
data, the Bureau will contact the filer(s) to resolve such issues. Once
these issues are resolved, the Bureau will ask incumbent LECs to
recertify the new, corrected boundaries. When a complete set of the
reconciled boundaries has been compiled the study area boundary data
will be published.
Incumbent LECs must provide updated data when their study area
boundaries change. Incumbent LECs and/or state entities must submit
updated data by March 15 of each year, beginning the year following the
initial data submissions, showing any changes made by December 31 of
the previous year. The incumbent LEC is responsible for making any
necessary changes and for filing the revised shapefile. The changes
cannot be made using the web interface itself; incumbent LECs will need
to modify the shapefile. However, incumbent LECs can upload a revised
shapefile to the same Web site used for the original filing. In
addition, all incumbent LECs must recertify their
[[Page 10102]]
study area boundary data every two years. Filers will need to examine,
through the web interface described below, the boundary data previously
submitted, and then either certify that they are correct or submit
revised data.
In the near future, the Bureau will issue a Public Notice providing
detailed instructions and announcing the deadline for the submission of
data and providing further filing information. The Commission plans to
submit information required to obtain OMB review and approval to extend
approval of this collection.
Federal Communications Commission.
Lisa Gelb,
Deputy Bureau Chief, Wireline Competition Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2013-03328 Filed 2-12-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P