Technology Transitions, Policies and Rules Governing Retirement of Copper Loops by Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers and Special Access for Price Cap Local Exchange Carriers, 15647-15648 [2016-06683]
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 57 / Thursday, March 24, 2016 / Rules and Regulations
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
arguing that it changed longstanding
LSC policy and would have a
detrimental impact on providing
services to the elderly. NLADA stated
‘‘This section significantly changes
longstanding guidance regarding
eligibility determinations for senior
citizens that would result in a reduction
of services available to individuals age
60 and over.’’ This was mirrored by
several other LSC funded commenters.
Response—To avoid confusion and
unintended consequences, the LSC OIG
has removed the language referring to
OAA funds from this section.
Comment 2—NLADA also expressed
concern relating to a suggested audit
procedure for assessing the waiver of
eligibility requirements. NLADA
believed that the language needed
revision ‘‘so that an auditor does not
waste time looking for evidence of a
waiver determination, but rather
reviews whether the appropriate factors
allowing income eligibility have been
identified for households with income
between 125% and 200% of the Federal
Poverty Level.’’
Response—The LSC OIG has modified
the suggested audit procedure to
provide better clarity by including the
following language at the end of the
suggested audit procedure: ‘‘or the
recipient determined the client was
eligible based on the factors set forth in
45 CFR 1611.5(a)(3) or (4).’’
C. Regulatory Summary Adjustment for
Part 1612—Restrictions on Lobbying
and Certain Other Activities
Comment—Two commenters
(NLADA, CLS) expressed concern over
the regulatory summary language
regarding the prohibitions contained in
45 CFR 1612.6(c), describing it as
‘‘overly broad and/or confusing.’’
NLADA stated ‘‘The regulation does not
contain a general prohibition on
providing information in connection
with legislation or rulemaking.’’ CLS
stated ‘‘This sentence omits key
elements in the actual Regulation that
employees are only prohibited from
soliciting or arranging for a request from
any official to testify or otherwise
provide information in connection with
legislation or rulemaking.’’
Response—The LSC OIG has revised
the regulatory summary language
pertaining to 45 CFR 1612.6(c) to more
accurately reflect the prohibitions. Also,
a technical correction was made to the
45 CFR 1612.3 language contained in
the regulatory summary in order to
include phraseology that had been
inadvertently omitted from the initial
draft publication. The language added is
as follows (with emphasis placed on the
additions and corrections):
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16:15 Mar 23, 2016
Jkt 238001
(5) the issuance, amendment or
revocation of any executive order.
Recipients shall not use any funds to
pay for any personal service,
advertisement, telegram, telephone
communication, letter, printed or
written matter, administrative expense,
or related expense, associated with an
activity prohibited in (1)—(5) detailed
above (45 CFR 1612.3).
D. Proposed Regulatory Summary for
Part 1614—Private Attorney
Involvement
The LSC OIG proposed revisions to
update the regulatory summary for 45
CFR part 1614 in order to follow the
current LSC regulation.
Comment—Two commenters
(NLADA, CLS) expressed concern that
the revised regulatory summary
discussing § 1614.4(b)(1) omitted an
important clause. NLADA stated that
‘‘The sentence in the Draft Supplement
currently only references including
support provided by private attorneys to
the recipient’’ and does not mention
subrecipient, an entire category of
organizations that may receive private
attorney support.
Response—The LSC OIG has revised
the regulatory summary language as
follows:
Activities undertaken by the recipient to
meet the requirements of this Part may also
include, but are not limited to: (1) support
provided by private attorneys to the recipient
or a subrecipient as part of its delivery of
legal assistance. . . .
E. Audit Considerations and Proposed
Suggested Audit Procedures
Comment 1—Two commenters
(NLADA, CLS) expressed concern over
the LSC OIG policy on high risk
designation for LSC grantees, stating
that it is unwarranted, could be
confusing to stakeholders and be a
misnomer to a specific auditee. NLADA
recommended the elimination of this
blanket designation by the LSC OIG.
Response—The LSC OIG will retain
the policy of high risk designation at
this time. If the LSC OIG accepted the
requested modification to this section, it
could allow IPAs to designate LSC
grantees as low risk. Such a designation
would result in audits not in
compliance with statutory requirements.
Comment 2—NLADA also expressed
concern relating to the suggested audit
procedure on obtaining an
understanding of internal controls in
place associated with specific
regulations. NLADA recommended that
the LSC OIG include clarification that
‘‘. . . understanding internal controls
means that the auditor has identified
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Frm 00035
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
15647
that there are systems in place to assure
compliance.’’
Response—The LSC OIG believes that
the current language is sufficiently clear
to the IPA that the internal controls
relate to compliance with the applicable
LSC regulatory requirement. No
additional changes were made.
Comments provided by all three IPAs
related to non-audit questions,
satisfaction with improved procedures
and commentary on utilizing the
suggested audit procedures. No
additional changes were made.
For the reasons stated above, the Legal
Services Corporation Office of Inspector
General revises the Compliance
Supplement for Audits of LSC
Recipients. The Revised Compliance
Supplement for Audits of LSC
Recipients is available on the LSC OIG
Web site at: https://www.oig.lsc.gov/
images/pdfs/ipa_resources/April_2016_
Compliance_Supplement.pdf.
Dated: March 17, 2016.
Stefanie K. Davis,
Assistant General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2016–06451 Filed 3–23–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7050–01–P
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 51
[GN Docket No. 13–5, RM–11358; WC
Docket No. 05–25, RM–10593; FCC 15–97]
Technology Transitions, Policies and
Rules Governing Retirement of Copper
Loops by Incumbent Local Exchange
Carriers and Special Access for Price
Cap Local Exchange Carriers
Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Final rule; announcement of
effective date.
AGENCY:
In this document, the
Commission announces that the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB) has
approved, for a period of three years, the
information collection associated with
the Commission’s network change
disclosure rules pertaining to copper
retirement notices. This document is
consistent with the Emerging Wireline
Networks and Services (EWNS) Report
and Order, Order on Reconsideration,
and Further Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking, FCC 15–97, which stated
that the Commission would publish a
document in the Federal Register
announcing the effective date of those
rules.
DATES: The amendments to 47 CFR
51.325(a)(4) and (e), 51.332, and
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\24MRR1.SGM
24MRR1
15648
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 57 / Thursday, March 24, 2016 / Rules and Regulations
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
51.333(b) and (c) published at 80 FR
63322, October 19, 2015, are effective
March 24, 2016.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michele Levy Berlove, Attorney
Advisor, Wireline Competition Bureau,
at (202) 418–1477, or by email at
Michele.Berlove@fcc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
document announces that, on March 17,
2016, OMB approved, for a period of
three years, the information collection
requirements relating to the network
change disclosure rules pertaining to
copper retirement notices contained in
the Commission’s EWNS Report and
Order, Order on Reconsideration, and
Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking,
FCC 15–97, published at 80 FR 63322,
October 19, 2015.
The OMB Control Number is 3060–
0741. The Commission publishes this
notice as an announcement of the
effective date of the rules. 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 Nicole Ongele, Federal
Communications Commission, Room A–
C620, 445 12th Street SW., Washington,
DC 20554. Please include the OMB
Control Number, 3060–0741, in your
correspondence. The Commission will
also accept your comments via email at
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 final OMB approval on March
17, 2016, for the information collection
requirements contained in the
modifications to the Commission’s rules
in 47 CFR part 51. 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
3060–0741.
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.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:15 Mar 23, 2016
Jkt 238001
The total annual reporting burdens
and costs for the respondents are as
follows:
OMB Control Number: 3060–0741.
OMB Approval Date: March 17, 2017.
OMB Expiration Date: March 31,
2019.
Title: Technology Transitions, GN
Docket No. 13–5, et al.
Form Number: N/A.
Respondents: Business or other forprofit entities.
Number of Respondents and
Responses: 5,357 respondents; 573,767
responses.
Estimated Time per Response: 0.5–8
hours.
Frequency of Response: On occasion
reporting requirements; recordkeeping;
third party disclosure.
Obligation to Respond: Required to
obtain or retain benefits. Statutory
authority is contained in 47 U.S.C. 222
and 251.
Total Annual Burden: 575,840 hours.
Total Annual Cost: No cost.
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.
Privacy Act: No impact(s).
Needs and Uses: Section 251 of the
Communications Act of 1934, as
amended, 47 U.S.C. 251, is designed to
accelerate private sector development
and deployment of telecommunications
technologies and services by spurring
competition. Section 222(e) is also
designed to spur competition by
prescribing requirements for the sharing
of subscriber list information. These
OMB collections are designed to help
implement certain provisions of
sections 222(e) and 251, and to
eliminate operational barriers to
competition in the telecommunications
services market. Specifically, these
OMB collections will be used to
implement (1) local exchange carriers’
(‘‘LECs’’) obligations to provide their
competitors with dialing parity and
non-discriminatory access to certain
services and functionalities; (2)
incumbent local exchange carriers’
(‘‘ILECs’’) duty to make network
information disclosures; and (3)
numbering administration. The
Commission estimates that the total
annual burden of the entire collection,
as revised, is 575,840 hours. This
revision relates to a change in one of
many components of the currently
approved collection—specifically,
certain reporting, recordkeeping and/or
third party disclosure requirements
PO 00000
Frm 00036
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 9990
under section 251(c)(5). In August 2015,
the Commission adopted new rules
concerning certain information
collection requirements implemented
under section 251(c)(5) of the Act,
pertaining to network change
disclosures. The changes to those rules
apply specifically to a certain subset of
network change disclosures, namely
notices of planned copper retirements.
The changes are designed to provide
interconnecting entities adequate time
to prepare their networks for the
planned copper retirements and to
ensure that consumers are able to make
informed choices. There is also a change
in the number of potential respondents
to the rules promulgated under that
section. The number of respondents as
to the information collection
requirements implemented under
section 251(c)(5) of the Act, has changed
from 1,300 to 750, a decrease of 550
respondents from the previous
submission. Under section 251(f)(1) of
the Act, rural telephone companies are
exempt from the requirements of section
251(c) ‘‘until (i) such company has
received a bona fide request for
interconnection, services, or network
elements, and (ii) the State commission
determines . . . that such request is not
unduly economically burdensome, is
technically feasible, and is consistent
with section 254 . . . .’’ The
Commission has determined that the
number of potential respondents set
forth in the previous submission
inadvertently failed to take this
exemption into account. There are 1,429
ILECs nationwide. Of those, 87 are nonrural ILECs and 1,342 are rural ILECs.
The Commission estimates that of the
1,342 rural ILECs, 679 are entitled to the
exemption and 663 are not entitled to
the exemption and thus must comply
with rules promulgated under section
251(c) of the Act, including the rules
that are the subject of this information
collection. Thus, the Commission
estimates that there are 87 (non-rural) +
663 (rural) = 750 potential respondents.
The Commission estimates that the
revision does not result in any
additional outlays of funds for hiring
outside contractors or procuring
equipment.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016–06683 Filed 3–23–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
E:\FR\FM\24MRR1.SGM
24MRR1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 57 (Thursday, March 24, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 15647-15648]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-06683]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 51
[GN Docket No. 13-5, RM-11358; WC Docket No. 05-25, RM-10593; FCC 15-
97]
Technology Transitions, Policies and Rules Governing Retirement
of Copper Loops by Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers and Special Access
for Price Cap Local Exchange Carriers
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Final rule; announcement of effective date.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In this document, the Commission announces that the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) has approved, for a period of three years,
the information collection associated with the Commission's network
change disclosure rules pertaining to copper retirement notices. This
document is consistent with the Emerging Wireline Networks and Services
(EWNS) Report and Order, Order on Reconsideration, and Further Notice
of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 15-97, which stated that the Commission
would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the
effective date of those rules.
DATES: The amendments to 47 CFR 51.325(a)(4) and (e), 51.332, and
[[Page 15648]]
51.333(b) and (c) published at 80 FR 63322, October 19, 2015, are
effective March 24, 2016.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michele Levy Berlove, Attorney
Advisor, Wireline Competition Bureau, at (202) 418-1477, or by email at
Michele.Berlove@fcc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document announces that, on March 17,
2016, OMB approved, for a period of three years, the information
collection requirements relating to the network change disclosure rules
pertaining to copper retirement notices contained in the Commission's
EWNS Report and Order, Order on Reconsideration, and Further Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 15-97, published at 80 FR 63322, October 19,
2015.
The OMB Control Number is 3060-0741. The Commission publishes this
notice as an announcement of the effective date of the rules. 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 Nicole Ongele, Federal Communications
Commission, Room A-C620, 445 12th Street SW., Washington, DC 20554.
Please include the OMB Control Number, 3060-0741, in your
correspondence. The Commission will also accept your comments via email
at 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 final OMB
approval on March 17, 2016, for the information collection requirements
contained in the modifications to the Commission's rules in 47 CFR part
51. 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 3060-0741.
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: 3060-0741.
OMB Approval Date: March 17, 2017.
OMB Expiration Date: March 31, 2019.
Title: Technology Transitions, GN Docket No. 13-5, et al.
Form Number: N/A.
Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.
Number of Respondents and Responses: 5,357 respondents; 573,767
responses.
Estimated Time per Response: 0.5-8 hours.
Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirements;
recordkeeping; third party disclosure.
Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits.
Statutory authority is contained in 47 U.S.C. 222 and 251.
Total Annual Burden: 575,840 hours.
Total Annual Cost: No cost.
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.
Privacy Act: No impact(s).
Needs and Uses: Section 251 of the Communications Act of 1934, as
amended, 47 U.S.C. 251, is designed to accelerate private sector
development and deployment of telecommunications technologies and
services by spurring competition. Section 222(e) is also designed to
spur competition by prescribing requirements for the sharing of
subscriber list information. These OMB collections are designed to help
implement certain provisions of sections 222(e) and 251, and to
eliminate operational barriers to competition in the telecommunications
services market. Specifically, these OMB collections will be used to
implement (1) local exchange carriers' (``LECs'') obligations to
provide their competitors with dialing parity and non-discriminatory
access to certain services and functionalities; (2) incumbent local
exchange carriers' (``ILECs'') duty to make network information
disclosures; and (3) numbering administration. The Commission estimates
that the total annual burden of the entire collection, as revised, is
575,840 hours. This revision relates to a change in one of many
components of the currently approved collection--specifically, certain
reporting, recordkeeping and/or third party disclosure requirements
under section 251(c)(5). In August 2015, the Commission adopted new
rules concerning certain information collection requirements
implemented under section 251(c)(5) of the Act, pertaining to network
change disclosures. The changes to those rules apply specifically to a
certain subset of network change disclosures, namely notices of planned
copper retirements. The changes are designed to provide interconnecting
entities adequate time to prepare their networks for the planned copper
retirements and to ensure that consumers are able to make informed
choices. There is also a change in the number of potential respondents
to the rules promulgated under that section. The number of respondents
as to the information collection requirements implemented under section
251(c)(5) of the Act, has changed from 1,300 to 750, a decrease of 550
respondents from the previous submission. Under section 251(f)(1) of
the Act, rural telephone companies are exempt from the requirements of
section 251(c) ``until (i) such company has received a bona fide
request for interconnection, services, or network elements, and (ii)
the State commission determines . . . that such request is not unduly
economically burdensome, is technically feasible, and is consistent
with section 254 . . . .'' The Commission has determined that the
number of potential respondents set forth in the previous submission
inadvertently failed to take this exemption into account. There are
1,429 ILECs nationwide. Of those, 87 are non-rural ILECs and 1,342 are
rural ILECs. The Commission estimates that of the 1,342 rural ILECs,
679 are entitled to the exemption and 663 are not entitled to the
exemption and thus must comply with rules promulgated under section
251(c) of the Act, including the rules that are the subject of this
information collection. Thus, the Commission estimates that there are
87 (non-rural) + 663 (rural) = 750 potential respondents. The
Commission estimates that the revision does not result in any
additional outlays of funds for hiring outside contractors or procuring
equipment.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-06683 Filed 3-23-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P