Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission, 29564 [2016-11143]

Agencies

• FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 92 (Thursday, May 12, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 29564]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-11143]



[[Page 29564]]

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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[OMB 3060-0819]


Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal 
Communications Commission

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, 
and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3501-3520), 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. Comments are requested concerning: whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the Commission, including whether the information 
shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the Commission's burden 
estimate; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information collected; ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on the respondents, including the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and 
ways to further reduce the information collection burden on small 
business concerns with fewer than 25 employees.
    The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless it displays a currently valid 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 Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) control number.

DATES: Written PRA comments should be submitted on or before July 11, 
2016. If you anticipate that you will be submitting comments, but find 
it difficult to do so within the period of time allowed by this notice, 
you should advise the contact listed below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Direct all PRA comments to Nicole Ongele, FCC, via email 
PRA@fcc.gov and to Nicole.Ongele@fcc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information about the 
information collection, contact Nicole Ongele at (202) 418-2991.
    OMB Control Number: 3060-0819.
    Title: Lifeline and Link Up Reform and Modernization, 
Telecommunications Carriers Eligible for Universal Service Support, 
Connect America Fund.
    Form Numbers: FCC Form 497, 555, & 481.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Individuals or households and business or other for-
profit.
    Number of Respondents: 21,162,260 respondents; 23,956,240 
responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: .0167 hours--250 hours.
    Frequency of Response: Annual and on occasion reporting 
requirements and third party disclosure requirement.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits.
    Total Annual Burden: 13,484,412 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: $937,500.
    Privacy Act Impact Assessment: Yes. The Commission completed a 
Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) for some of the information collection 
requirements contain in this collect. The PIA was published in the 
Federal Register at 78 FR 73535 on December 6, 2013. The PIA may be 
reviewed at: https://www.fcc.gov/omd/privacyact/Privacy_Impact_Assessment.html.
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: Some of the requirements 
contained in this information collection do affect individuals or 
households, and thus, there are impacts under the Privacy Act. The 
FCC's system of records notice (SORN), FCC/WCB-1, ``Lifeline Program.'' 
The Commission will use the information contained in FCC/WCB-1 to cover 
the personally identifiable information (PII) that is required as part 
of the Lifeline Program (``Lifeline''). As required by the Privacy Act 
of 1974, as amended, 5 U.S.C. 552a, the Commission also published a 
SORN, FCC/WCB-1 ``Lifeline Program'' in the Federal Register on 
December 6, 2013 (78 FR 73535).
    Also, respondents may request materials or information submitted to 
the Commission or to the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC 
or Administrator) be withheld from public inspection under 47 CFR 0.459 
of the FCC's rules. We note that USAC must preserve the confidentiality 
of all data obtained from respondents; must not use the data except for 
purposes of administering the universal service programs; and must not 
disclose data in company-specific form unless directed to do so by the 
Commission.
    Needs and Uses: The Commission will submit this information 
collection after this comment period to obtain the full, three-year 
clearance from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The 
Commission also proposes several revisions to this information 
collection.
    On April 27, 2016, the Commission released an order reforming its 
low-income universal service support mechanisms. Lifeline and Link Up 
Reform and Modernization; Telecommunications Carriers Eligible for 
Universal Service Support; Connect America Fund, WC Docket Nos. 11-42, 
09-197, 10-90, Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Order on 
Reconsideration, and Further Report and Order, (Lifeline Third Reform 
Order). This revised information collection addresses requirements to 
carry out the programs to which the Commission committed itself in the 
Lifeline Third Reform Order. Under this information collection, the 
Commission seeks to revise the information collection to comply with 
the Commission's new rules, adopted in the Lifeline Third Reform Order, 
regarding phasing out support for mobile voice over the next six years, 
requiring Eligible Telecommunications Carriers (ETCs) to certify 
compliance with the new minimum service requirements, creating a new 
ETC designation for Lifeline Broadband Providers (LBPs), updating the 
obligations to advertise Lifeline offerings, modifying the non-usage 
de-enrollment requirements within the program, moving to rolling annual 
subscriber recertification, and streamlining the first-year ETC audit 
requirements. Also, the Commission seeks to update the number of 
respondents for all the existing information collection requirements, 
thus increasing the total burden hours for some requirements and 
decreasing the total burden hours for other requirements. Finally, the 
Commission seeks to revise the FCC Forms 555, 497, and 481 to 
incorporate the new Commission rules and modify the filings for FCC 
Forms 555 and 497 to include detailed field descriptions.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-11143 Filed 5-11-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6712-01-P