Information Collection(s) Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission, Comments Requested, 19479-19483 [2013-07478]

Agencies

• FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 62 (Monday, April 1, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19479-19483]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-07478]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


Information Collection(s) Being Reviewed by the Federal 
Communications Commission, Comments Requested

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden 
and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3501-3520), the Federal Communications Commission invites the general 
public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment 
on the following information collection(s). 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 burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 
employees.
    The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless it displays a currently 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 (PRA) that does 
not display a valid OMB control number.

DATES: Written Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) comments should be 
submitted on or before May 31, 2013. If you anticipate that you will be 
submitting PRA comments, but find it difficult to do so within the 
period of time allowed by this notice, you should advise the FCC 
contact listed below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Submit your PRA comments to Judith B. Herman, Federal 
Communications Commission, via the Internet at Judith-b.herman@fcc.gov. 
To submit your PRA comments by email send them to: PRA@fcc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Judith B. Herman, Office of Managing 
Director, (202) 418-0214.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    OMB Control Number: 3060-0804.
    Title: Universal Service--Rural Health Care Program.
    Form Numbers: FCC Forms 460, 461, 462, 463 (new); 465, 466, 466-A, 
and 467.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit; not-for-profit 
institutions; federal government; and state, local, or Tribal 
governments.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 10,400 respondents; 38,745 
responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 1.69 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion, one time, annual, quarterly, 
and monthly reporting requirements.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. 
Statutory authority for this collection of information is contained in 
47 U.S.C. sections 151, 154(i), 154(j), 201-205, 214, 254 and 403.
    Total Annual Burden: 65,614 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: $60,000.
    Privacy Impact Assessment: No Impact(s).
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: The Commission is not 
requesting that the respondents submit confidential information to the 
FCC. Respondents may, however, request confidential treatment for 
information they believe to be confidential under 47 CFR 0.459 of the 
Commission's rules. We note that the universal service administrator 
must preserve the confidentiality of all data obtained from respondents 
and contributors to the universal service support program mechanism; 
must not use the data except for purposes of administering the 
universal service support program; and must not disclose data in 
company-specific form unless directed to do so by the Commission.
    Needs and Uses: The Federal Communications Commission (hereinafter 
referred to as the Commission or FCC) seeks Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) approval of revisions (change in reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements) of an information collection (IC) 
previously approved by OMB under this OMB Control Number 3060-0804, 
which is utilized for the rural health care (RHC) support mechanism of 
the Commission's universal service fund (USF). The purpose of the 
revision is to seek approval for: (1) New information collection 
requirements associated with the Healthcare Connect Fund, a new RHC 
fund created by the Commission's Report and Order, Rural Health Care 
Support Mechanism, WC Docket No. 02-60, FCC 12-150 (released Dec. 21, 
2012) (Healthcare Connect Fund Order); (2) new information collection 
requirements associated with a skilled nursing facilities pilot program 
(SNF Pilot) created in the Healthcare Connect Fund Order; (3) revisions 
to the annual reporting requirement for participants in the 
Commission's existing rural health care Pilot Program (2006 Pilot 
Program), created in 2006; and (4) extend the information collection 
requirements for the existing RHC programs (the Telecommunications 
Program and the Internet Access Program, as well as the 2006 Pilot 
Program).
    The Commission issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in 
July 2010 (FCC 10-125) that led to the Healthcare Connect Fund Order, 
and received OMB pre-approval for the information collection 
requirements proposed in the NPRM. The Healthcare Connect Fund Order, 
however, adopted information collection requirements that are in some 
ways significantly different from those proposed in the NPRM, based on 
the comments received in the rulemaking proceeding. Many of the 
proposed requirements have been modified in light of commenters' 
recommendations on streamlining and simplifying the information 
collection burden, especially on smaller health care providers.
    The information collections described in this notice are contained 
in new rules adopted in the Healthcare Connect Fund Order (47 CFR 
54.601(b), 54.631(a), 54.631(c), 54.632, 54.633(c), 54.634(b), 54.636, 
54.639(d), 54.640(b), 54.642, 54.643, 54.645, 54.646, 54.647, 
54.648(b), 54.675(d), and 54.679), and existing rules as amended by the 
Healthcare Connect Fund Order (47 CFR 54.603(a), 54.603(b), 
54.609(d)(2), 54.615(c), 54.619(a)(1), 54.619(d), and 54.623(a)).
    Beginning in Funding Year 2012, its filing process to provide a 
simple, web-based, user-friendly interface for submission of the 
Telecommunications and Internet Access Program information collections. 
Applicants are also able to upload required documentation (such as a 
bill) as they complete the online form. The interface is designed to 
provide online storage of applications and related materials for health 
care providers, in order to ease compliance with recordkeeping 
requirements and possible audits.

[[Page 19480]]

Furthermore, the system is designed to carry forward information 
already provided by an applicant to future filings (i.e. pre-populate 
data), in order to further reduce the filing burden. Respondents in the 
Telecommunications and Internet Access Programs can also send their 
forms and other documents to USAC via mail or electronic mail. 
Respondents in the 2006 Pilot Program can send forms and documents via 
electronic mail, and invoices via mail.
    USAC will implement the information collection for the new 
Healthcare Connect Fund through an online-only interface on the USAC 
Web site. Health care providers who lack sufficient Internet access 
will be able to contact USAC's help desk over the telephone to obtain 
assistance with filing.
    Revised Information Collection Requirements: (1) HEALTHCARE CONNECT 
FUND: In December 2012, the Commission established the Healthcare 
Connect Fund, which reforms, expands, and modernizes the RHC program 
based on lessons learned from the 2006 Pilot Program. The Healthcare 
Connect Fund is separate from the Telecommunications Program and the 
2006 Pilot Program. The Healthcare Connect Fund provides support, in 
part, for services similar to those supported under the Internet Access 
Program. Therefore, the Commission will stop providing support under 
the Internet Access Program for services received after June 30, 2014.
    The following are the new Healthcare Connect Fund information 
collection requirements:
    (a) Authorization for Third Parties To Submit Forms on Behalf of 
HCP/Consortium. Third parties (for example, consultants) may submit 
forms and other documentation on behalf of eligible health care 
providers if USAC receives, prior to submission of the forms or 
documentation, a written, dated, and signed authorization from the 
relevant officer, director, or other authorized employee stating that 
the HCP or Consortium Leader accepts all potential liability from any 
errors, omissions, or misrepresentations on the forms and/or documents 
being submitted by the third party.
    (b) Form 460--Eligibility Determination and Consortium Information. 
Healthcare Connect Fund participants would be required to file a new 
FCC Form 460 in order to certify that they are eligible to receive 
support from the Fund. Applicants will be required to provide the HCP's 
address and contact information, identify the eligible HCP type, 
provide an address for each physical location that will receive 
supported connectivity, provide a brief explanation for why the HCP is 
eligible under the Act and the Commission's rules and orders, and 
certify to the accuracy of this information under penalty of perjury. 
They may also be required to provide a unique health care provider 
identifying number, such as a National Provider Identifier code and/or 
taxonomy code. Consortium applicants may file FCC Form 460 on behalf of 
member HCPs if they have a letter of agency (discussed below). 
Applicants must also register off-site administrative offices and off-
site data centers for which they are receiving support.
    FCC Form 460 will also be used to provide certain basic information 
about consortia to USAC: (1) The lead entity (``Consortium Leader''); 
(2) the individual contact person within the lead entity (the ``Project 
Coordinator''); and (3) HCP sites that will participate in a 
consortium, including sites ineligible to receive support.
    (c) Form 460 Attachment: Letter of Agency. Each Consortium Leader 
must also obtain a letter of agency (LOA) from each HCP participant 
that is independent of the Consortium Leader (i.e. HCP sites that are 
not owned or otherwise controlled by the Consortium Leader). The LOA is 
submitted as an attachment to FCC Form 460. The purposes of the LOA are 
to provide authority for the Consortium Leader to submit FCC Forms 460, 
461, and/or 462 on behalf of the HCP site. Consortium leaders are 
required to obtain supporting information and/or documents to support 
eligibility for each HCP when they collect the LOAs, and may be asked 
for this information during a future audit or investigation.
    (d) Form 460 Attachment: State/Non-Profit Entities That Want To 
Serve as Both Vendor and Consortium Leader/Consultant. In general, an 
entity may not simultaneously (1) serve as a Consortium Leader or 
provide consulting assistance to a consortium, and (2) participate as a 
potential vendor during the competitive bidding process. State 
organizations, public sector entities, or non-profit entities who wish 
to obtain an exemption from this prohibition may make a showing to USAC 
that they have set up an organizational and functional separation. The 
exemption must be obtained before the consortium begins preparing its 
FCC Form 461 (request for services) and associated documents.
    (e) Form 460 Attachment--Agreement Regarding Legal and Financial 
Responsibility for Consortium Activities. Consortia may allocate legal 
and financial responsibility for supported program activities as they 
see fit, except for certain responsibilities specified in the 
Healthcare Connect Fund Order, provided that this allocation is 
memorialized in a formal written agreement between the affected parties 
(i.e. the Consortium Leader, and the consortium as a whole and/or its 
individual members). The written agreement must submitted to USAC for 
approval with or prior to the submission of FCC Form 461. The agreement 
should clearly identify the party(ies) responsible for repayment if 
USAC is required, at a later date, to recover disbursements to the 
consortium due to violations of program rules.
    (f) Form 461--Request for Services (Competitive Bidding). All HCPs, 
unless their funding request is subject to a competitive bidding 
exemption, must submit a request for services (new Form 461 and 
associated documents) for posting by USAC, wait at least 28 days before 
selecting a service provider, and select the most cost-effective bid. 
On FCC Form 461, applicants will provide basic information regarding 
the HCP(s) on the application (including contact information for 
potential bidders), a brief description of the desired services, and 
evaluation criteria for bids. Each applicant must also certify that (1) 
it is authorized to submit the request and that all statements of fact 
in the application are true to the best of the signatory's knowledge; 
(2) it has followed any applicable state or local procurement rules; 
(3) the supported services and/or equipment will be used solely for 
purposes reasonably related to the provision of health care service or 
instruction that the HCP is legally authorized to provide under the law 
of the state in which the services are provided and will not be sold, 
resold, or transferred in consideration for money or any other thing of 
value; (4) the HCP or consortium satisfies all program requirements and 
will abide by all such requirements; and (5) all statements of facts 
contained therein are true to the best of their knowledge, information, 
and belief, and that under federal law, persons willfully making false 
statements on the form can be punished by fine, forfeiture, or 
imprisonment.
    (g) Form 461 Attachment--Network Planning for Consortia. Consortium 
applicants must also submit a narrative attachment with FCC Form 461 
that includes: (1) Goals and objectives of the proposed network; (2) 
strategy for aggregating the specific needs of HCPs (including 
providers that serve rural areas) within a state or region; (3) 
strategy for leveraging existing technology to adopt the most efficient 
and cost effective means of connecting

[[Page 19481]]

those providers; (4) how the broadband services will be used to improve 
or provide health care delivery; (5) any previous experience in 
developing and managing health IT (including telemedicine) programs; 
and (6) a project management plan outlining the project's leadership 
and management structure, and a work plan, schedule, and budget.
    (h) Form 461 Attachment--Request for Proposals (RFP). Submission of 
a separate RFP document with Form 461 is required for (1) applicants 
who are required to issue an RFP under applicable state, Tribal, or 
local procurement rules or regulations; (2) consortium applications 
that seek more than $100,000 in program support in a funding year; and 
(3) consortium applications that seek support for infrastructure (i.e. 
HCP-owned facilities) as well as services. In addition, any applicant 
is free to submit an RFP to USAC for posting. All applicants who 
utilize an RFP in conjunction with their competitive bidding process 
must submit the RFP to USAC for posting. RFPs must provide sufficient 
information to enable an effective competitive bidding process, 
including describing the HCP's service needs; specify the period during 
which bids will be accepted; and include the scoring criteria that will 
be used to evaluate bids for cost-effectiveness. In addition, certain 
additional requirements apply to RFPs if the applicant seeks support 
for long-term capital investments (such as HCP-constructed 
infrastructure or fiber indefeasible rights-of-use); dark fiber; 
services or equipment that include an ineligible component; or HCP-
owned and constructed network facilities.
    (i) FCC Form 462--Request for Funding. Once a service provider is 
selected, applicants will submit a ``Funding Request'' on FCC Form 462 
(and supporting documentation) to provide information about the 
services and service providers (vendors) selected and certify that the 
services were the most cost-effective offers received. FCC Form 462 is 
the means by which an applicant identifies the service(s), rates, 
service provider(s), and date(s) of service provider selection. 
Applicants will also certify on FCC Form 462 that: (1) The person 
signing the application is authorized to submit the application on 
behalf of the applicant, and has examined the form and all attachments, 
and to the best of his or her knowledge, information, and belief, all 
statements of fact contained therein are true; (2) each service 
provider selected is, to the best of the applicant's knowledge, 
information, and belief, the most cost-effective service provider 
available, as defined in the Commission's rules; (3) all Healthcare 
Connect Fund support will be used only for the eligible health care 
purposes, as described in this Order and consistent with the Act and 
the Commission's rules; (4) the applicant is not requesting support for 
the same service from both the Healthcare Connect Fund and from other 
RHC programs; (5) the applicant satisfies all of the requirements under 
section 254 of the Act and applicable Commission rules, and understands 
that any letter from USAC that erroneously commits funds for the 
benefit of the applicant may be subject to rescission; (6) the 
applicant has reviewed all applicable requirements for the program and 
will comply with those requirements; and (7) the applicant will 
maintain complete billing records for the service for five years (and 
for long-term capital investments, for five years after the end of the 
useful life of the facility).
    (j) FCC Form 462 Attachment--Contracts or Similar Documentation. 
All applicants must submit a contract or other documentation that 
clearly identifies (1) the vendor(s) selected and the HCP(s) who will 
receive the services; (2) the service, bandwidth, and costs for which 
support is being requested; (3) the term of the service agreement(s) if 
applicable (i.e. if services are not being provided on a month-to-month 
basis).
    (k) FCC Form 462 Attachment--Cost Allocation Method for Ineligible 
Entities or Components. Applicants who seek to include ineligible 
entities within a consortium, or to obtain support for services or 
equipment that include both eligible and ineligible components, should 
submit a written description of their allocation method(s) to USAC with 
their funding requests. If ineligible entities participate in a 
network, the allocation method must be memorialized in writing, such as 
a formal agreement among network members, a master services contract, 
or for smaller consortia, a letter signed and dated by all (or each) 
ineligible entity and the Consortium Leader. Applicants should also 
submit with their funding requests any agreements that memorialize 
cost-sharing arrangements with ineligible entities.
    (l) FCC Form 462 Attachment--Competitive Bidding Documents. 
Applicants must submit documentation to support their certifications 
that they have selected the most cost-effective option. Relevant 
documentation includes a copy of each bid received (winning, losing, 
and disqualified), the bid evaluation criteria, and any other related 
documents, such as bid evaluation sheets; a list of people who 
evaluated bids (along with their title/role/relationship to the 
applicant organization); memos, board minutes, or similar documents 
related to the vendor selection/award; copies of notices to winners; 
and any correspondence with service providers during the bidding/
evaluation/award phase of the process. If the application is exempt 
from competitive bidding, the applicant should submit sufficient 
documentation to allow USAC to verify that the applicant is eligible 
for the exemption.
    (m) FCC Form 462 Attachment--Updated Network Planning for 
Consortia. Consortium applicants should submit any revisions to the 
project management plan, work plan, schedule, and budget previously 
submitted with the Request for Services (Form 461). If not previously 
provided with the project management plan, applicants should also 
provide (or update) a narrative description of how the network will be 
managed, including all administrative aspects of the network (including 
but not limited to invoicing, contractual matters, and network 
operations.) If the consortium is required to provide a sustainability 
plan (see below), the revised budget should include the budgetary 
factors discussed in the sustainability plan requirements.
    (n) FCC Form 462 Attachment--List of Participating HCPs and 
Relevant Information. Consortium applicants will be required to provide 
electronically (via a spreadsheet or similar method) a list of the 
participating HCPs (both those eligible for support and those 
ineligible) and all of their relevant information, including eligible 
(and ineligible, if applicable) cost information for each participating 
HCP.
    (o) FCC Form 462 Attachment--Evidence of Viable Source for 35 
Percent Contribution. All consortium applicants must submit, with their 
funding requests, evidence of a viable source for their 35 percent 
contribution.
    (p) FCC Form 462 Attachment--Sustainability Plans for Applicants 
Requesting Support for Long-Term Capital Expenses. Consortia who seek 
funding to construct and own their own facilities or obtain 
indefeasible rights of use (IRUs) or capital lease interests must 
submit a sustainability plan with their funding requests demonstrating 
how they intend to maintain and operate the facilities that are 
supported over the relevant time period. Although participants are free 
to include additional information to demonstrate a project's 
sustainability, the sustainability plan must, at a minimum, address the 
following points: (1)

[[Page 19482]]

Projected sustainability period; (2) principal factors considered to 
demonstrate sustainability; (3) terms of membership in the network; 
ownership structure for the network; sources of future support; 
management structure of the network. Applicants will be required to 
later submit revised sustainability plans if there is a material change 
in sources of future support or management, a change that would impact 
projected income or expenses by the greater of 20 percent or $100,000 
from the previous submission, or if the applicant submits a funding 
request based on a new Form 461 (i.e., a new competitively bid 
contract).
    (q) FCC Form 463--Invoicing. Service providers will bill HCPs 
directly for services that they have provided. Upon receipt of a 
service provider's bill, the HCP will create and approve an invoice for 
USAC on FCC Form 463 for the services it has received. On the invoice, 
(1) the HCP or Consortium Leader must certify to USAC that it has paid 
its 35 percent contribution directly to the service provider; and (2) 
the HCP and service provider must certify that they have reviewed the 
invoice and that it is accurate. USAC will pay the service provider 
directly based on the invoice. For consortia, the Consortium Leader is 
responsible for the invoicing process, including certifying that the 
participant contribution has been paid and that the invoice is 
accurate.
    (r) Extension Request for Lighting Fiber. Fiber must be lit during 
the funding year for non-recurring charges associated with such fiber 
to be eligible. Applicants may receive up to a one-year extension to 
light fiber, however, if they provide documentation to USAC that 
construction was unavoidably delayed due to weather or other reasons.
    (s) Recordkeeping. Program participants and vendors in the 
Healthcare Connect Fund must maintain required documentation for five 
years after the service has been delivered (or after the end of the 
useful life of a facility for which the participant has received 
support to make a long-term capital investment) and produce these 
records upon request of the Commission, any auditor appointed by the 
Administrator or the Commission, or of any other state or federal 
agency with jurisdiction. For a consortium, the Consortium Leader is 
responsible for compliance with the Commission's recordkeeping 
requirements.
    (t) Annual Reporting Requirement for Consortium Participants. 
Consortium participants in the Healthcare Connect Fund will be required 
to submit annual reports to assist the Commission in measuring progress 
toward the three program goals for the Healthcare Connect Fund. 
Additionally, applicants may request support for upfront, non-recurring 
charges for long-term capital investments, such as constructing their 
own network facilities, or obtaining an indefeasible right-of-use (IRU) 
or prepaid lease interest in existing network facilities such as dark 
fiber. In such a case, the applicant may be obtaining access to 
facilities that have a useful life extending many years after program 
funds have been disbursed, but would not need to submit requests for 
funding on an annual basis once access to the facility is obtained. In 
order to ensure that such facilities continue to be used for eligible 
purposes throughout their useful life, the Commission will require such 
applicants to submit, during the useful life of the facility, 
additional information identifying the health care providers utilizing 
the network, and the services they are receiving from the supported 
network. Much of the data to be collected from participants in the 
Healthcare Connect Fund, as discussed in the Healthcare Connect Order, 
is already collected through FCC Forms 460, 461, 462, and 463. In order 
to minimize the burden posed by the annual report, the Commission and 
USAC will develop a simple and streamlined, electronic reporting system 
that integrates data collected through the application process, thereby 
eliminating the need to resubmit (in the annual report) any information 
that has previously been provided.
    (2) SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES PILOT: Also in December 2012, the 
Commission adopted the Skilled Nursing Facilities Pilot (SNF Pilot) to 
test how to support broadband connections for skilled nursing 
facilities. The SNF Pilot will focus on how the Commission can best 
utilize program support to assist skilled nursing facilities that are 
using broadband connectivity to work with eligible health care 
providers through the use of electronic health records, telemedicine, 
and other broadband-enabled health care applications. The Commission 
intends to utilize Healthcare Connect Fund forms for the Skilled 
Nursing Facilities Pilot Program (e.g. to register skilled nursing 
facility locations with USAC, invoicing, etc.) to the extent feasible, 
except with respect to the application and reporting requirements 
described below.
    The following new information collection requirements are 
associated with the SNF Pilot:
    (u) Application for Skilled Nursing Facilities Pilot. Participants 
in the SNF Pilot will be selected using a competitive process. It is 
anticipated that applications for the SNF Pilot will likely be in a 
narrative format, and may include the following elements: (1) Project 
description, budget and goals, including technologies to be used and 
patient population(s) to be targeted; (2) explanation of the need for 
broadband connectivity and anticipated health IT uses of supported 
connectivity; (3) anticipated health care cost savings and/or 
improvements in the quality of health care enabled through use of 
broadband-enabled health IT; (4) a detailed explanation of the design, 
data gathering and evaluation component of the project; (5) a 
description of the sites to be connected and the network design; and 
(6) certifications to ensure compliance with program requirements.
    The Commission will be developing scoring criteria for applications 
for the SNF Pilot with the input of relevant stakeholders (such as the 
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)), consistent with 
the program goals for the Healthcare Connect Fund. Once the scoring 
criteria are developed, the Commission will release a Public Notice 
announcing the application procedures and deadlines. Applicants will 
include in their applications a demonstration of how they satisfy the 
scoring criteria.
    (v) Reporting Requirements for Skilled Nursing Facilities Pilot 
Participants. The SNF Pilot Program will seek to collect data on a 
number of variables related to the broadband connections supported and 
their health care uses. Applicants must commit to robust data gathering 
as well as analysis and sharing of the data and to submitting an annual 
report. Applicants will be expected to explain what types of data they 
intend to gather and how they intend to gather that data in their 
applications. At the conclusion of the Pilot, applicants should be 
prepared to demonstrate with objective, observable metrics the health 
care cost savings and/or improved quality of patient care that have 
been realized through greater use of broadband to provide telemedicine 
to treat the residents of SNFs. The Commission plans to make this data 
public for the benefit of all interested parties, including third 
parties that may use such information for their own studies and 
observations.
    (3) REVISIONS TO 2006 PILOT PROGRAM REPORTING REQUIREMENTS: 
Participants in the 2006 Pilot Program are currently required to submit 
to USAC and the Commission quarterly reports containing data listed in 
the Rural Health Care Pilot Program Selection Order, Appendix D.

[[Page 19483]]

    (w) Revised Reporting Requirements for 2006 Pilot Program 
Participants. In the Healthcare Connect Fund Order, the Commission 
modified the 2006 Pilot Program reporting requirements to: (1) Extend 
through and include the last funding year in which a Pilot project 
received Pilot support, or, for Pilot Projects that received large 
upfront payments, for the life of the supported facility; (2) file 
annually instead of quarterly, filing their first annual report on 
September 30, 2013 and submitting the report to USAC, rather than USAC 
and the Commission; and (3) conform their reports with the Healthcare 
Connect Fund annual reports for consortia, where participants will be 
required to submit annual reports to assist the Commission in measuring 
progress toward the three program goals: increase access to broadband 
for health care providers; develop and deploy of broadband healthcare 
networks; and measure the cost-effectiveness of the program.
    Previously Approved Collection Requirements: The 
Telecommunications, Internet Access, and 2006 Pilot Programs use forms 
and instructions that have been previously approved by OMB as part of 
this information collection. The Commission is seeking renewal of these 
forms and instructions for a new three-year period.
    All eligible health care providers applying for discounts under the 
Telecommunications, Internet Access, and 2006 Pilot Programs must file 
FCC Forms 465, 466 and/or 466-A, and 467. Eligible health care 
providers file FCC Form 465 with USAC to make a bona fide request for 
supported services. Next, after a period of not less than 28-days after 
filing FCC Form 465, a health care provider that has selected a vendor 
submits FCC Form 466 and/or 466-A to indicate the type(s) and cost(s) 
of services ordered, information about the service provider, and the 
terms of the service agreement. Eligible health care providers must 
also certify on the applicable FCC Forms 466 and 466-A that the health 
care provider has selected the most cost-effective method of providing 
the selected service(s). The last form eligible health care providers 
submit is FCC Form 467, which is used by the entity to notify USAC that 
the service provider has begun providing supported services. As part of 
this information collection, OMB has also previously approved certain 
templates, samples, and spreadsheets provided to program participants 
to facilitate the reporting and record keeping requirements under this 
collection.

Federal Communications Commission.
Gloria J. Miles,
Federal Register Liaison, Office of the Secretary, Office of Managing 
Director.
[FR Doc. 2013-07478 Filed 3-29-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P