Elimination of Certain System-Generated Paper Correspondence Notices as Initial Step Toward Providing Electronic Access to Correspondence Notices, 65638-65642 [2016-22934]
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 185 / Friday, September 23, 2016 / Notices
444 North Capitol Street NW., Suite 322,
Washington, DC 20001; (202) 508–3840;
email: ozone@otcair.org; Web site:
https://www.otcair.org.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Clean
Air Act Amendments of 1990 contain at
Section 184 provisions for the Control of
Interstate Ozone Air Pollution. Section
184(a) establishes an Ozone Transport
Region (OTR) comprised of the States of
Connecticut, Delaware, Maine,
Maryland, Massachusetts, New
Hampshire, New Jersey, New York,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont,
parts of Virginia and the District of
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deal with ground-level ozone formation,
transport, and control within the OTR.
The Mid-Atlantic/Northeast Visibility
Union (MANE–VU) was formed in 2001,
in response to EPA’s issuance of the
Regional Haze rule. MANE–VU’s
members include: Connecticut,
Delaware, the District of Columbia,
Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New
Hampshire, New Jersey, New York,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont,
the Penobscot Indian Nation, the St.
Regis Mohawk Tribe along with EPA
and Federal Land Managers.
Type of Meeting: Open.
Agenda: Copies of the final agenda
will be available from the OTC office
(202) 508–3840; by email: ozone@
otcair.org or via the OTC Web site at
https://www.otcair.org.
Dated: September 13, 2016.
H. Curtis Spalding,
Regional Administrator, Region I.
[FR Doc. 2016–22969 Filed 9–22–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
[DA 16–1025]
Consumer Advisory Committee
Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Commission announces
the next meeting date, time, and agenda
of its Consumer Advisory Committee
(hereinafter the Committee). The
mission of the Committee is to make
recommendations to the Commission
regarding consumer issues within the
jurisdiction of the Commission and to
facilitate the participation of consumers
(including underserved populations,
such as Native Americans, persons
living in rural areas, older persons,
people with disabilities, and persons for
whom English is not their primary
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SUMMARY:
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language) in proceedings before the
Commission.
DATES: October 14, 2016, 9:00 a.m. to
3:00 p.m.
ADDRESSES: Federal Communications
Commission, Commission Meeting
Room TW–C305, 445 12th Street SW.,
Washington, DC 20554.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Scott Marshall, Designated Federal
Officer of the Committee, (202) 418–
2809 (voice or Relay); email
Scott.Marshall@fcc.gov, or the Deputy
Designated Federal Officer of the
Committee, Beau Finley, (202) 418–7835
(voice); email: Robert.finley@fcc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a
summary of the Commission’s
document DA 16–1025, released
September 12, 2016, announcing the
Agenda, Date, and Time of the
Committee’s Next Meeting.
Meeting Agenda
At its October 14, 2016 meeting, the
Committee is expected to consider a
recommendation from its No Surprise
Billing Task Force regarding the clarity
of charges at point of sale and on bills.
The Committee will also receive
briefings from Commission staff on
issues of interest to the Committee. A
limited amount of time will be available
for comments from the public. If time
permits, the public may ask questions of
presenters via the email address
livequestions@fcc.gov or via Twitter
using the hashtag #fcclive. The public
may also follow the meeting on Twitter
@fcc or via the Commission’s Facebook
page at www.facebook.com/fcc.
Alternatively, members of the public
may send written comments to: Scott
Marshall, Designated Federal Officer of
the Committee at the address provided
below.
The meeting is open to the public and
the site is fully accessible to people
using wheelchairs or other mobility
aids. Sign language interpreters, open
captioning, assistive listening devices,
and Braille copies of the agenda and
committee roster will be provided on
site. Meetings of the Committee are also
broadcast live with open captioning
over the Internet from the FCC Live Web
page at www.fcc.gov/live/. Other
reasonable accommodations for people
with disabilities are available upon
request. The request should include a
detailed description of the
accommodation needed and contact
information. Please provide as much
advance notice as possible; last minute
requests will be accepted, but may not
be possible to fill. To request an
accommodation, send an email to
fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer
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and Governmental Affairs Bureau at
(202) 418–0530 (voice), (202) 418–0432
(TTY).
Federal Communications Commission.
D’wana Terry,
Associate Chief, Consumer and Governmental
Affairs Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2016–22946 Filed 9–22–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
[DA 16–1039]
Elimination of Certain SystemGenerated Paper Correspondence
Notices as Initial Step Toward
Providing Electronic Access to
Correspondence Notices
Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
In this document, the
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
and Public Safety and Homeland
Security Bureau (Bureaus) announce the
elimination of certain paper
correspondence notices related to
applications, licenses, and antenna
structure registrations currently
generated by the Commission’s
Universal Licensing System and
Antenna Structure Registration System.
DATES: Effective September 23, 2016.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mary Bucher at (717) 338–2656 or via
email at Mary.Bucher@fcc.gov or Cyndi
Thomas at (202) 418–2018 or via email
at Cyndi.Thomas@fcc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a
summary of the Bureaus’ Public Notice
(Notice), DA 16–1039, released on
September 14, 2016. The complete text
of this document is available for
viewing via the Commission’s EDOCS
Web site by entering the DA number,
DA 16–1039. The complete text of the
document is also available for public
inspection and copying during business
hours at the FCC Reference Information
Center on the Court Yard Level (Room
CY–A257), 445 12th Street SW.,
Washington, DC (telephone 202–418–
0270; TTY 202–418–2555). Alternate
formats of this Public Notice (computer
diskette, large print, audio recording,
and Braille) are available to persons
with disabilities by contacting the
Consumer & Governmental Affairs
Bureau at 202–418–0530 (voice), 202–
418–0432 (TTY), or by sending an email
to fcc504@fcc.gov.
In the Notice, the Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) and
the Public Safety and Homeland
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 185 / Friday, September 23, 2016 / Notices
Security Bureau (PSHSB) (collectively
‘‘Bureaus’’) announce the elimination of
certain paper correspondence notices
related to applications, licenses, and
antenna structure registrations currently
generated by the Commission’s
Universal Licensing System (ULS) and
Antenna Structure Registration (ASR)
System and mailed to system users
through the U.S. Postal Service. This
action marks another step in the
Commission’s process reform efforts,
which recommended eliminating paper
copies of correspondence, and allows
the Bureaus to streamline the
Commission’s wireless service licensing
and antenna structure registration
processes, in advance of the transition
of initial services to a modernized ULS
platform. The action also builds on
earlier efforts to transition from paper to
electronic records in the context of
official authorizations issued in ULS
and ASR.
The paper correspondence notices
that the Bureaus are eliminating provide
information about Bureau actions that
do not require a response from a system
user and the information from those
notices is available by other means in
either ULS or the ASR System. Taking
this step now—reducing the number of
notices generated by the Commission’s
systems—will save money in terms of
staff resources, paper supplies, and
mailing costs. The Bureaus are not
eliminating certain paper notices that
provide information about Commission
actions or approaching deadlines that
require action from the system user. As
explained in the Notice, the
Commission ultimately anticipates
providing electronic access to these
system-generated correspondence
notices with the transition to the
modernized ULS platform.
By this Notice, as discussed in detail
below, the Bureaus announce the
following actions with respect to
system-generated notifications:
• Effective upon publication of this
Notice in the Federal Register, the
Bureaus eliminate seven ULS-generated
correspondence notices from ULS, and
those notices will not be migrated to the
Commission’s new wireless licensing
system. The Bureaus eliminate seven
ASR-generated correspondence notices
from the ASR System.
• The Bureaus retain 15 ULSgenerated correspondence notices in
ULS. These notices will also be
migrated to the Commission’s new
wireless licensing system with each
service as the service is deployed in the
new system. The Bureaus retain three
ASR-generated correspondence notices.
• The Bureaus retain the ULSgenerated license cancellation notice in
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ULS, but that notice will not be
migrated to the Commission’s new
licensing system. Electronic safeguards
will be implemented in the new
licensing system to help prevent
licensees from inadvertently cancelling
a license.
The new procedures become effective
upon publication of this Notice in the
Federal Register. For promulgating
‘‘rules of agency organization,
procedure, or practice’’—so-called
‘‘procedural rules’’—Section 4 of the
Administrative Procedure Act (APA)
exempts agencies like the Federal
Communications Commission from the
general APA requirements to provide
the public with advance notice and
opportunity for comment. 5 U.S.C.
553(b)(A). Section 3(a) of the APA
requires agencies to publish their ‘‘rules
of procedure’’ in the Federal Register, 5
U.S.C. 552(a)(1)(C), and Section 4(d)
generally requires an agency to publish
its substantive rules 30 days prior to the
date on which the rules become
effective, id. § 553(d). Because Section
4(d) expressly applies to substantive
rules and not to procedural rules, the
requirement to publish the new
procedures with respect to systemgenerated correspondence notices 30
days before those procedures become
effective is inapplicable in this
proceeding.
Background
The Commission implemented ULS
and the ASR System nearly 20 years ago
to facilitate electronic filing for all
wireless licensing and antenna structure
registration applications as well as
electronic access to authorizations. The
systems also improve data accuracy
through automated checking of
applications and enhanced electronic
access to license and registration
database information. In fact, the two
systems receive hundreds of thousands
of applications electronically each year
and the systems currently store over two
million active authorizations. To
facilitate communication between the
Commission and system users with
regard to the status of applications and
authorizations, the Commission
developed several notices that the
systems generate. Correspondence
notices are generated from forms that
are assigned FCC Form numbers.
Notices are assigned form numbers
depending on whether they are
generated for WTB services (600 series
forms) or PSHSB services (1400 series
forms). Notices that are being eliminated
are listed in Attachment A and notices
that are being retained are listed in
Attachment B to this Notice. Currently,
ULS generates 23 correspondence
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notices and the ASR System generates
10 correspondence notices.
These system-generated notices
provide a range of information. Once an
application is filed, ULS or the ASR
System may generate notices ranging
from a notice stating that the application
has been received to a notice dismissing
the application, which could result in
termination of an authorization. Both
systems also generate notices from data
associated with authorizations, e.g.,
notices reminding licensees and
registrants of approaching construction
deadlines. Notices may include
automated system messages or
individual messages manually drafted
by Commission staff, depending on the
reason for generating a notice. Each
notice is then printed on paper, placed
in a postage-paid envelope, and mailed
through the U.S. Postal System to
system users. In some cases, a paper
copy of the same notice is mailed to as
many as three individuals or entities.
Discussion
Electronic Access to Correspondence
Notices
To implement the FCC Process
Reform recommendation to eliminate
paper copies of correspondence, the
Commission anticipates using a multiphased process for reducing the overall
number of notices generated by its
wireless licensing and antenna structure
registration systems, and for moving
toward options that would allow system
users electronic access to systemgenerated correspondence notices. The
first step in this process is addressed by
this Notice and affects ULS and the ASR
System. Further steps in the process
toward electronic access, for licensing,
would be implemented in the
Commission’s new wireless service
licensing system.
As the Commission concluded in
adopting final procedures for electronic
access to official authorizations in both
ULS and the ASR System, given the ease
of access to the Internet, the ubiquitous
availability of electronic documents,
and the high adoption rate by
consumers of electronic delivery of
many other documents, as well as the
near-term deployment of the
Commission’s new wireless licensing
system, the Bureaus believe that the
time is appropriate for moving toward
modernizing the treatment of systemgenerated correspondence. Reducing the
number of notices generated by the
Commission’s systems and moving to
electronic access will save money in
terms of staff resources, paper supplies,
and mailing costs. Over the three-year
period 2013–2015, ULS and the ASR
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System together generated 708,940
correspondence notices that were each
printed on paper, placed in a postagepaid envelope, and mailed through the
U.S. Postal Service. The Bureaus also
anticipate that making the
correspondence notices available
electronically will eliminate the risk of
a notice getting lost or damaged in
delivery.
The Bureaus initiate the
Commission’s phased-in process toward
electronic access by first eliminating
seven ULS-generated and seven ASRgenerated correspondence notices. With
respect to the remaining correspondence
notices, as services are deployed in the
new wireless licensing system, the
Bureaus will initially continue the
current process of mailing licensing
system-generated notices to recipients
through the U.S. Postal Service. After
some or all services have been deployed
in the new licensing system, the
Commission anticipates reviewing
options for allowing applicants and
licensees electronic access to notices
generated by that new system. The
Commission also anticipates reviewing
options for allowing applicants and
registrants electronic access to ASRgenerated notices. Finally, while we are
eliminating a number of existing
notices, the new wireless licensing
system presents an opportunity for
developing new electronic notifications
that could provide information formerly
included in eliminated notices, as well
as other information not currently
provided by ULS or the ASR System.
Notices Eliminated
All of the correspondence notices that
the Bureaus are eliminating provide
information about Bureau actions that
do not require a response from a system
user. In particular, because the
information provided in these notices is
readily available by some other means
in either ULS or the ASR System, or
because the reasons for initially
developing the notices are no longer
supported, we eliminate seven notices
from ULS and seven notices from the
ASR System. Some notices simply
acknowledge that the systems have
received an application. The Bureaus
find this information redundant because
today, an applicant can check ULS or
the ASR System within a few days of
filing an application to confirm that the
relevant system has received the
application.
ULS also generates notices that advise
former aircraft or ship licensees that
their authorizations have terminated
and another party has obtained a license
for the aircraft or ship. The ASR System
informs a former owner of an antenna
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structure that an application has been
processed to change the ownership of
the antenna structure on a registration.
The notices, in each of these cases, were
developed to limit third parties from
fraudulently cancelling or obtaining
someone else’s license or registration.
Over the past several years, however,
the Bureaus have found that fraudulent
actions rarely, if ever, happen.
Both ULS and the ASR System also
generate notices that acknowledge a
licensee or registrant has associated,
removed, or replaced an FCC
Registration Number (FRN) with respect
to a license or registration. Again, these
notifications were developed to limit
third parties from tampering with the
association of an FRN to a license or
registration. Today, however, because
licensees and registrants associate,
remove, or replace an FRN with respect
to an authorization only by electronic
filings, a third party could not submit an
application manually to tamper with the
association between an FRN and a
license or registration. The Bureaus
therefore eliminate these six notices.
The Bureaus further note that in 2004,
WTB issued public notices announcing
that it would send these FRN
notifications first by email, and where
the applicant did not provide an email
address, by mail through the U.S. Postal
Service. Because we eliminate the
notices, we will no longer send FRN
notices by email.
Finally, the Bureaus will not migrate
the notices that we are eliminating in
ULS to the Commission’s new wireless
licensing system. As the new wireless
licensing system is deployed and as
enhancements are made to the ASR
System, the Commission may consider
developing electronic notifications that
provide information similar to the
information currently included in these
notices, where, for example a system
user elects to receive the information by
email or text message.
Notices Retained
Return, Dismissal, Termination
Pending, and Courtesy Reminder
Notices. The Bureaus retain 15
correspondence notices in ULS and
three notices in the ASR System because
they provide (1) information about
Commission actions that require a
response from the applicant; or (2)
information about approaching
deadlines that require action from the
applicant, licensee, or registrant. The
Bureaus will also migrate the notices
that they are retaining in ULS to the
new wireless licensing system as
services are deployed in that system. In
particular, the Bureaus retain notices
that return an application for correction
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or additional information, as well as
notices that dismiss an application. The
Bureaus also retain ‘‘courtesy’’ notices
that remind a licensee or registrant that
a construction or renewal deadline is
approaching, as well as notices warning
a licensee that its license has been
placed in termination pending status.
The Bureaus explain that notices that
fall within these categories are often
critical to an applicant that intends to
continue prosecuting an application, as
well as a licensee or registrant that
intends to retain an authorization. The
Bureaus further note that the
Commission has addressed these types
of processes in adopting policies for
ULS and the ASR System. In 1999, the
Commission developed a unified policy
for dismissing and returning
applications in both ULS and the ASR
System. The system-generated return
and dismissal notices are the
mechanisms by which the Bureaus
implemented this policy.
In adopting rules governing license
application procedures for ULS, the
Commission also stated that, as a
convenience to licensees, ULS would
issue construction notifications prior to
construction deadlines as well as
renewal reminder notices prior to
license expiration dates. The
Commission further stated that, for the
time being, these types of courtesy
reminder notices would be sent by mail.
In particular, at the time it adopted ULS
rules and procedures, the Commission
rejected delivery of notices by email,
instead deciding that licensees would
continue to be notified of official
Commission action by regular mail only.
The Commission noted, however, that it
was ‘‘optimistic that a system of
electronic communication at some time
in the future may offer a substantial
increase in efficiency and paper
reduction’’ and that ‘‘we may revisit this
issue at a later time should
circumstances warrant.’’ Based on
general requirements established by the
Commission in that same proceeding for
its automated termination procedures,
ULS generates on the same day
correspondence notices as well as a
public notice warning licensees that
they have not filed construction
notifications in a timely manner and,
absent confirmation of timely
construction, termination of the licenses
becomes final.
The Bureaus further explain that the
Commission found that these policies
would produce staff efficiencies, lessen
the burden on applicants and licensees,
increase the accuracy of the ULS
database, and promote efficient
spectrum use. The Bureaus also note,
importantly, that the date on a return or
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dismissal notice, as well as a
termination pending notice, is the date
on which the period for seeking
reconsideration begins. For these
reasons, the Bureaus retain notices that
require responses from system users
because of an action taken by the
Bureaus or because of an approaching
renewal or construction deadline.
The Bureaus also retain four notices
currently generated by ULS that the
Commission anticipates moving to its
Electronic Authorization process in the
new wireless licensing system. Three of
these notices acknowledge the addition,
modification, or deletion of a registered
site on an authorization in the 3650–
3700 MHz Service, as well as in the
Non-Public Safety and Public Safety
Intelligent Transportation Services. The
fourth notice acknowledges the addition
of a registered link on an authorization
in the Millimeter Wave 70/80/90 GHz
Service. The Bureaus retain these
notices because they currently confirm
modifications to registered sites or links
on an authorization in these services.
Once moved to the Commission’s
Electronic Authorization process, the
Bureaus anticipate that the registration
notices will be available electronically,
unless a licensee notifies the
Commission that it wishes to receive the
notice on paper through the U.S. Postal
Service.
License Cancellation and Antenna
Structure Registration Cancellation and
Termination Notice
The Bureaus also retain license
cancellation notices in ULS. For the
following reasons, however, the Bureaus
will not migrate the license cancellation
notice to the new wireless licensing
system, and the Bureaus eliminate the
cancellation and termination notices in
the ASR System. After an application to
cancel a license is granted, ULS
generates a notice that is mailed to the
licensee stating that the license
referenced in the notice has been
cancelled. In the ASR System,
registrations have two statuses—granted
and constructed. If a registrant cancels
a registration before the antenna
structure is constructed, the ASR
System automatically generates a
cancellation notice. If the registrant
terminates a registration after the
antenna structure is constructed, staff
triggers the ASR System to generate a
termination notice. The intent of these
notices is to allow the licensee or
registrant to take action if the license or
registration is improperly cancelled by a
third party, but in our experience, the
vast majority of erroneous cancellations
are filed by someone who was
authorized to act on behalf of the
licensee or registrant.
An inadvertent cancellation of a sitebased license that goes unnoticed may,
in many services, result in another party
obtaining a license for the spectrum
formerly authorized in the cancelled
license. In addition, where another
party has not obtained a license for the
spectrum, a new application to replace
the cancelled license may require
frequency coordination and application
fees, potentially resulting in significant
costs. In auction services, an inadvertent
cancellation might result in the loss of
the authorization with return of the
license spectrum to the Commission. To
limit these consequences, the Bureaus
retain license cancellation notices in
ULS. The Bureaus will, however,
eliminate the notice in services as they
are deployed in the new wireless
licensing system. Rather than generating
license cancellation notices in the new
licensing system, that system will offer
electronic safeguards to prevent a
licensee from inadvertently cancelling
its license. For example, the new
licensing system may create ‘‘pop-ups’’
asking the applicant if it is sure it wants
to cancel the license at issue in the
application and warning of the
consequences of cancelling the
authorization.
The Bureaus also eliminate the
cancellation and termination notices in
the ASR System. Parties filing
registration applications do not obtain
registrations through the Commission’s
competitive bidding procedures, do not
pay application fees, and rarely, if ever,
does someone other than an antenna
structure owner cancel or terminate a
registration. Where an antenna structure
owner inadvertently cancels or
terminates a registration, it simply files
a new application.
Attachment A—Eliminated
Correspondence Notices
The 600 series form numbers are
assigned to notices generated for
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
services and the 1400 series form
numbers are assigned to notices
generated for Public Safety and
Homeland Security Bureau services.
ULS-GENERATED CORRESPONDENCE NOTICES ELIMINATED
Notice
Form No.
Notice of Aircraft Radio Station Termination ......................................................................................................................................
Notice of Ship Radio Station Termination ...........................................................................................................................................
Ownership Notification Letter ..............................................................................................................................................................
Application Notification Letter ..............................................................................................................................................................
FCC Registration Notification Letter (associate) .................................................................................................................................
FCC Registration Notification Letter (remove) ....................................................................................................................................
FCC Registration Notification Letter (replace) ....................................................................................................................................
696A
696S
602–A
682/1404
683A/1405
683D/1405
683R/1405
ASR-GENERATED CORRESPONDENCE NOTICES ELIMINATED
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Notice
Form No.
Notice of ASR Change of Ownership .................................................................................................................................................
Notification of Application Receipt ......................................................................................................................................................
FCC Registration Notification Letter (associate) .................................................................................................................................
FCC Registration Notification Letter (remove) ....................................................................................................................................
FCC Registration Notification Letter (replace) ....................................................................................................................................
Notice of ASR Cancellation .................................................................................................................................................................
Notice of ASR Termination .................................................................................................................................................................
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675
676A
676D
676R
686
687
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Attachment B—Retained
Correspondence Notices
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
services and the 1400 series form
numbers are assigned to notices
The 600 series form numbers are
assigned to notices generated for
generated for Public Safety and
Homeland Security Bureau services.
ULS-GENERATED CORRESPONDENCE NOTICES RETAINED
Notice
Form No.
[Form 603] Application Dismissal Letter .............................................................................................................................................
Notice of Return for Canadian Objections ..........................................................................................................................................
Notice of Immediate Return ................................................................................................................................................................
Notice of Immediate Dismissal ............................................................................................................................................................
Notice of Return ..................................................................................................................................................................................
Notice of Dismissal ..............................................................................................................................................................................
Notice of Authorization Grant-In-Part ..................................................................................................................................................
Notification of Consummation Reminder Letter ..................................................................................................................................
Construction/Coverage Deadline Notice of License Termination Pending Status .............................................................................
Construction/Coverage Deadline Important Reminder Notice ............................................................................................................
Renewal Reminder Notice ..................................................................................................................................................................
3650–3700 MHz Service Registration Acceptance Letter ..................................................................................................................
Intelligent Transportation Service (Non-Public Safety) Registration Acceptance Letter ....................................................................
Millimeter Wave 70/80/90 GHz Service Registration Acceptance Letter ...........................................................................................
Intelligent Transportation Service (Public Safety) Registration Acceptance Letter ............................................................................
Notice of License Cancellation ............................................................................................................................................................
603–D/1401
690/1408
693/1410
694/1411
698/1414
699/1415
700/1416
603–CR/1402
672/1403
691/1409
695/1412
674
677
678
1418
697/1413
ASR-GENERATED CORRESPONDENCE NOTICES RETAINED
Form
Form No.
Notice of Return ..................................................................................................................................................................................
Notice of Dismissal ..............................................................................................................................................................................
ASR Construction Reminder ...............................................................................................................................................................
Federal Communications Commission.
Katherine M. Harris,
Deputy Chief, Mobility Division, Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2016–22934 Filed 9–22–16; 8:45 am]
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Agency Information Collection
Activities: Proposed Collection
Reinstatement and Renewal;
Submission for OMB Review;
Comment Request (3064–0029)
Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation (FDIC).
ACTION: Notice and request for comment.
AGENCY:
The FDIC, as part of its
continuing effort to reduce paperwork
and respondent burden, invites the
general public and other Federal
agencies to take this opportunity to
comment on the reinstatement and
renewal of an existing information
collection, as required by the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
chapter 35). On July 11, 2016, (81 FR
44863), the FDIC requested comment for
60 days on a proposal to reinstate and
renew the information collection
described below. No comments were
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:22 Sep 22, 2016
Jkt 238001
received. The FDIC hereby gives notice
of its plan to submit to OMB a request
to approve the reinstatement and
renewal of this collection, and again
invites comment on this proposal.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on
or before October 24, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Interested parties are
invited to submit written comments to
the FDIC by any of the following
methods:
• https://www.FDIC.gov/regulations/
laws/federal/.
• Email: comments@fdic.gov. Include
the name of the collection in the subject
line of the message.
• Mail: Manny Cabeza, (202–898–
3767), Counsel, Room MB–3007,
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation,
550 17th Street NW., Washington, DC
20429.
• Hand Delivery: Comments may be
hand-delivered to the guard station at
the rear of the 17th Street Building
(located on F Street), on business days
between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
All comments should refer to the
relevant OMB control number. A copy
of the comments may also be submitted
to the OMB desk officer for the FDIC:
Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs, Office of Management and
Budget, New Executive Office Building,
Washington, DC 20503.
PO 00000
Frm 00021
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
688
689
685
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Manny Cabeza, at the FDIC address
above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Proposal
to reinstate and renew the following
previously-approved collection of
information:
1. Title: Notification of Performance of
Bank Services.
OMB Number: 3064–0029.
Form Numbers: FDIC 6120/06.
Affected Public: Business or other
financial institutions.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
40.
Estimated Time per Response: 1⁄2
hour.
Frequency of Response: On occasion.
Total estimated annual burden: 20
hours.
General Description of Collection:
Insured state nonmember banks and
state savings associations are required to
notify the FDIC, under section 7 of the
Bank Service Corporation Act (12 U.S.C.
1867), of the relationship with a bank
service corporation. Form 6120/06
(Notification of Performance of Bank
Services) may be used by banks to
satisfy the notification requirement.
Request for Comment
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether
the collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of
E:\FR\FM\23SEN1.SGM
23SEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 185 (Friday, September 23, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65638-65642]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-22934]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
[DA 16-1039]
Elimination of Certain System-Generated Paper Correspondence
Notices as Initial Step Toward Providing Electronic Access to
Correspondence Notices
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In this document, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and
Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (Bureaus) announce the
elimination of certain paper correspondence notices related to
applications, licenses, and antenna structure registrations currently
generated by the Commission's Universal Licensing System and Antenna
Structure Registration System.
DATES: Effective September 23, 2016.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Bucher at (717) 338-2656 or via
email at Mary.Bucher@fcc.gov or Cyndi Thomas at (202) 418-2018 or via
email at Cyndi.Thomas@fcc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Bureaus' Public
Notice (Notice), DA 16-1039, released on September 14, 2016. The
complete text of this document is available for viewing via the
Commission's EDOCS Web site by entering the DA number, DA 16-1039. The
complete text of the document is also available for public inspection
and copying during business hours at the FCC Reference Information
Center on the Court Yard Level (Room CY-A257), 445 12th Street SW.,
Washington, DC (telephone 202-418-0270; TTY 202-418-2555). Alternate
formats of this Public Notice (computer diskette, large print, audio
recording, and Braille) are available to persons with disabilities by
contacting the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530
(voice), 202-418-0432 (TTY), or by sending an email to fcc504@fcc.gov.
In the Notice, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) and the
Public Safety and Homeland
[[Page 65639]]
Security Bureau (PSHSB) (collectively ``Bureaus'') announce the
elimination of certain paper correspondence notices related to
applications, licenses, and antenna structure registrations currently
generated by the Commission's Universal Licensing System (ULS) and
Antenna Structure Registration (ASR) System and mailed to system users
through the U.S. Postal Service. This action marks another step in the
Commission's process reform efforts, which recommended eliminating
paper copies of correspondence, and allows the Bureaus to streamline
the Commission's wireless service licensing and antenna structure
registration processes, in advance of the transition of initial
services to a modernized ULS platform. The action also builds on
earlier efforts to transition from paper to electronic records in the
context of official authorizations issued in ULS and ASR.
The paper correspondence notices that the Bureaus are eliminating
provide information about Bureau actions that do not require a response
from a system user and the information from those notices is available
by other means in either ULS or the ASR System. Taking this step now--
reducing the number of notices generated by the Commission's systems--
will save money in terms of staff resources, paper supplies, and
mailing costs. The Bureaus are not eliminating certain paper notices
that provide information about Commission actions or approaching
deadlines that require action from the system user. As explained in the
Notice, the Commission ultimately anticipates providing electronic
access to these system-generated correspondence notices with the
transition to the modernized ULS platform.
By this Notice, as discussed in detail below, the Bureaus announce
the following actions with respect to system-generated notifications:
Effective upon publication of this Notice in the Federal
Register, the Bureaus eliminate seven ULS-generated correspondence
notices from ULS, and those notices will not be migrated to the
Commission's new wireless licensing system. The Bureaus eliminate seven
ASR-generated correspondence notices from the ASR System.
The Bureaus retain 15 ULS-generated correspondence notices
in ULS. These notices will also be migrated to the Commission's new
wireless licensing system with each service as the service is deployed
in the new system. The Bureaus retain three ASR-generated
correspondence notices.
The Bureaus retain the ULS-generated license cancellation
notice in ULS, but that notice will not be migrated to the Commission's
new licensing system. Electronic safeguards will be implemented in the
new licensing system to help prevent licensees from inadvertently
cancelling a license.
The new procedures become effective upon publication of this Notice
in the Federal Register. For promulgating ``rules of agency
organization, procedure, or practice''--so-called ``procedural
rules''--Section 4 of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) exempts
agencies like the Federal Communications Commission from the general
APA requirements to provide the public with advance notice and
opportunity for comment. 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A). Section 3(a) of the APA
requires agencies to publish their ``rules of procedure'' in the
Federal Register, 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(1)(C), and Section 4(d) generally
requires an agency to publish its substantive rules 30 days prior to
the date on which the rules become effective, id. Sec. 553(d). Because
Section 4(d) expressly applies to substantive rules and not to
procedural rules, the requirement to publish the new procedures with
respect to system-generated correspondence notices 30 days before those
procedures become effective is inapplicable in this proceeding.
Background
The Commission implemented ULS and the ASR System nearly 20 years
ago to facilitate electronic filing for all wireless licensing and
antenna structure registration applications as well as electronic
access to authorizations. The systems also improve data accuracy
through automated checking of applications and enhanced electronic
access to license and registration database information. In fact, the
two systems receive hundreds of thousands of applications
electronically each year and the systems currently store over two
million active authorizations. To facilitate communication between the
Commission and system users with regard to the status of applications
and authorizations, the Commission developed several notices that the
systems generate. Correspondence notices are generated from forms that
are assigned FCC Form numbers. Notices are assigned form numbers
depending on whether they are generated for WTB services (600 series
forms) or PSHSB services (1400 series forms). Notices that are being
eliminated are listed in Attachment A and notices that are being
retained are listed in Attachment B to this Notice. Currently, ULS
generates 23 correspondence notices and the ASR System generates 10
correspondence notices.
These system-generated notices provide a range of information. Once
an application is filed, ULS or the ASR System may generate notices
ranging from a notice stating that the application has been received to
a notice dismissing the application, which could result in termination
of an authorization. Both systems also generate notices from data
associated with authorizations, e.g., notices reminding licensees and
registrants of approaching construction deadlines. Notices may include
automated system messages or individual messages manually drafted by
Commission staff, depending on the reason for generating a notice. Each
notice is then printed on paper, placed in a postage-paid envelope, and
mailed through the U.S. Postal System to system users. In some cases, a
paper copy of the same notice is mailed to as many as three individuals
or entities.
Discussion
Electronic Access to Correspondence Notices
To implement the FCC Process Reform recommendation to eliminate
paper copies of correspondence, the Commission anticipates using a
multi-phased process for reducing the overall number of notices
generated by its wireless licensing and antenna structure registration
systems, and for moving toward options that would allow system users
electronic access to system-generated correspondence notices. The first
step in this process is addressed by this Notice and affects ULS and
the ASR System. Further steps in the process toward electronic access,
for licensing, would be implemented in the Commission's new wireless
service licensing system.
As the Commission concluded in adopting final procedures for
electronic access to official authorizations in both ULS and the ASR
System, given the ease of access to the Internet, the ubiquitous
availability of electronic documents, and the high adoption rate by
consumers of electronic delivery of many other documents, as well as
the near-term deployment of the Commission's new wireless licensing
system, the Bureaus believe that the time is appropriate for moving
toward modernizing the treatment of system-generated correspondence.
Reducing the number of notices generated by the Commission's systems
and moving to electronic access will save money in terms of staff
resources, paper supplies, and mailing costs. Over the three-year
period 2013-2015, ULS and the ASR
[[Page 65640]]
System together generated 708,940 correspondence notices that were each
printed on paper, placed in a postage-paid envelope, and mailed through
the U.S. Postal Service. The Bureaus also anticipate that making the
correspondence notices available electronically will eliminate the risk
of a notice getting lost or damaged in delivery.
The Bureaus initiate the Commission's phased-in process toward
electronic access by first eliminating seven ULS-generated and seven
ASR-generated correspondence notices. With respect to the remaining
correspondence notices, as services are deployed in the new wireless
licensing system, the Bureaus will initially continue the current
process of mailing licensing system-generated notices to recipients
through the U.S. Postal Service. After some or all services have been
deployed in the new licensing system, the Commission anticipates
reviewing options for allowing applicants and licensees electronic
access to notices generated by that new system. The Commission also
anticipates reviewing options for allowing applicants and registrants
electronic access to ASR-generated notices. Finally, while we are
eliminating a number of existing notices, the new wireless licensing
system presents an opportunity for developing new electronic
notifications that could provide information formerly included in
eliminated notices, as well as other information not currently provided
by ULS or the ASR System.
Notices Eliminated
All of the correspondence notices that the Bureaus are eliminating
provide information about Bureau actions that do not require a response
from a system user. In particular, because the information provided in
these notices is readily available by some other means in either ULS or
the ASR System, or because the reasons for initially developing the
notices are no longer supported, we eliminate seven notices from ULS
and seven notices from the ASR System. Some notices simply acknowledge
that the systems have received an application. The Bureaus find this
information redundant because today, an applicant can check ULS or the
ASR System within a few days of filing an application to confirm that
the relevant system has received the application.
ULS also generates notices that advise former aircraft or ship
licensees that their authorizations have terminated and another party
has obtained a license for the aircraft or ship. The ASR System informs
a former owner of an antenna structure that an application has been
processed to change the ownership of the antenna structure on a
registration. The notices, in each of these cases, were developed to
limit third parties from fraudulently cancelling or obtaining someone
else's license or registration. Over the past several years, however,
the Bureaus have found that fraudulent actions rarely, if ever, happen.
Both ULS and the ASR System also generate notices that acknowledge
a licensee or registrant has associated, removed, or replaced an FCC
Registration Number (FRN) with respect to a license or registration.
Again, these notifications were developed to limit third parties from
tampering with the association of an FRN to a license or registration.
Today, however, because licensees and registrants associate, remove, or
replace an FRN with respect to an authorization only by electronic
filings, a third party could not submit an application manually to
tamper with the association between an FRN and a license or
registration. The Bureaus therefore eliminate these six notices. The
Bureaus further note that in 2004, WTB issued public notices announcing
that it would send these FRN notifications first by email, and where
the applicant did not provide an email address, by mail through the
U.S. Postal Service. Because we eliminate the notices, we will no
longer send FRN notices by email.
Finally, the Bureaus will not migrate the notices that we are
eliminating in ULS to the Commission's new wireless licensing system.
As the new wireless licensing system is deployed and as enhancements
are made to the ASR System, the Commission may consider developing
electronic notifications that provide information similar to the
information currently included in these notices, where, for example a
system user elects to receive the information by email or text message.
Notices Retained
Return, Dismissal, Termination Pending, and Courtesy Reminder
Notices. The Bureaus retain 15 correspondence notices in ULS and three
notices in the ASR System because they provide (1) information about
Commission actions that require a response from the applicant; or (2)
information about approaching deadlines that require action from the
applicant, licensee, or registrant. The Bureaus will also migrate the
notices that they are retaining in ULS to the new wireless licensing
system as services are deployed in that system. In particular, the
Bureaus retain notices that return an application for correction or
additional information, as well as notices that dismiss an application.
The Bureaus also retain ``courtesy'' notices that remind a licensee or
registrant that a construction or renewal deadline is approaching, as
well as notices warning a licensee that its license has been placed in
termination pending status.
The Bureaus explain that notices that fall within these categories
are often critical to an applicant that intends to continue prosecuting
an application, as well as a licensee or registrant that intends to
retain an authorization. The Bureaus further note that the Commission
has addressed these types of processes in adopting policies for ULS and
the ASR System. In 1999, the Commission developed a unified policy for
dismissing and returning applications in both ULS and the ASR System.
The system-generated return and dismissal notices are the mechanisms by
which the Bureaus implemented this policy.
In adopting rules governing license application procedures for ULS,
the Commission also stated that, as a convenience to licensees, ULS
would issue construction notifications prior to construction deadlines
as well as renewal reminder notices prior to license expiration dates.
The Commission further stated that, for the time being, these types of
courtesy reminder notices would be sent by mail. In particular, at the
time it adopted ULS rules and procedures, the Commission rejected
delivery of notices by email, instead deciding that licensees would
continue to be notified of official Commission action by regular mail
only. The Commission noted, however, that it was ``optimistic that a
system of electronic communication at some time in the future may offer
a substantial increase in efficiency and paper reduction'' and that
``we may revisit this issue at a later time should circumstances
warrant.'' Based on general requirements established by the Commission
in that same proceeding for its automated termination procedures, ULS
generates on the same day correspondence notices as well as a public
notice warning licensees that they have not filed construction
notifications in a timely manner and, absent confirmation of timely
construction, termination of the licenses becomes final.
The Bureaus further explain that the Commission found that these
policies would produce staff efficiencies, lessen the burden on
applicants and licensees, increase the accuracy of the ULS database,
and promote efficient spectrum use. The Bureaus also note, importantly,
that the date on a return or
[[Page 65641]]
dismissal notice, as well as a termination pending notice, is the date
on which the period for seeking reconsideration begins. For these
reasons, the Bureaus retain notices that require responses from system
users because of an action taken by the Bureaus or because of an
approaching renewal or construction deadline.
The Bureaus also retain four notices currently generated by ULS
that the Commission anticipates moving to its Electronic Authorization
process in the new wireless licensing system. Three of these notices
acknowledge the addition, modification, or deletion of a registered
site on an authorization in the 3650-3700 MHz Service, as well as in
the Non-Public Safety and Public Safety Intelligent Transportation
Services. The fourth notice acknowledges the addition of a registered
link on an authorization in the Millimeter Wave 70/80/90 GHz Service.
The Bureaus retain these notices because they currently confirm
modifications to registered sites or links on an authorization in these
services. Once moved to the Commission's Electronic Authorization
process, the Bureaus anticipate that the registration notices will be
available electronically, unless a licensee notifies the Commission
that it wishes to receive the notice on paper through the U.S. Postal
Service.
License Cancellation and Antenna Structure Registration Cancellation
and Termination Notice
The Bureaus also retain license cancellation notices in ULS. For
the following reasons, however, the Bureaus will not migrate the
license cancellation notice to the new wireless licensing system, and
the Bureaus eliminate the cancellation and termination notices in the
ASR System. After an application to cancel a license is granted, ULS
generates a notice that is mailed to the licensee stating that the
license referenced in the notice has been cancelled. In the ASR System,
registrations have two statuses--granted and constructed. If a
registrant cancels a registration before the antenna structure is
constructed, the ASR System automatically generates a cancellation
notice. If the registrant terminates a registration after the antenna
structure is constructed, staff triggers the ASR System to generate a
termination notice. The intent of these notices is to allow the
licensee or registrant to take action if the license or registration is
improperly cancelled by a third party, but in our experience, the vast
majority of erroneous cancellations are filed by someone who was
authorized to act on behalf of the licensee or registrant.
An inadvertent cancellation of a site-based license that goes
unnoticed may, in many services, result in another party obtaining a
license for the spectrum formerly authorized in the cancelled license.
In addition, where another party has not obtained a license for the
spectrum, a new application to replace the cancelled license may
require frequency coordination and application fees, potentially
resulting in significant costs. In auction services, an inadvertent
cancellation might result in the loss of the authorization with return
of the license spectrum to the Commission. To limit these consequences,
the Bureaus retain license cancellation notices in ULS. The Bureaus
will, however, eliminate the notice in services as they are deployed in
the new wireless licensing system. Rather than generating license
cancellation notices in the new licensing system, that system will
offer electronic safeguards to prevent a licensee from inadvertently
cancelling its license. For example, the new licensing system may
create ``pop-ups'' asking the applicant if it is sure it wants to
cancel the license at issue in the application and warning of the
consequences of cancelling the authorization.
The Bureaus also eliminate the cancellation and termination notices
in the ASR System. Parties filing registration applications do not
obtain registrations through the Commission's competitive bidding
procedures, do not pay application fees, and rarely, if ever, does
someone other than an antenna structure owner cancel or terminate a
registration. Where an antenna structure owner inadvertently cancels or
terminates a registration, it simply files a new application.
Attachment A--Eliminated Correspondence Notices
The 600 series form numbers are assigned to notices generated for
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau services and the 1400 series form
numbers are assigned to notices generated for Public Safety and
Homeland Security Bureau services.
ULS-Generated Correspondence Notices Eliminated
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice Form No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice of Aircraft Radio Station Termination.. 696A
Notice of Ship Radio Station Termination...... 696S
Ownership Notification Letter................. 602-A
Application Notification Letter............... 682/1404
FCC Registration Notification Letter 683A/1405
(associate).
FCC Registration Notification Letter (remove). 683D/1405
FCC Registration Notification Letter (replace) 683R/1405
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASR-Generated Correspondence Notices Eliminated
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice Form No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice of ASR Change of Ownership............. 684
Notification of Application Receipt........... 675
FCC Registration Notification Letter 676A
(associate).
FCC Registration Notification Letter (remove). 676D
FCC Registration Notification Letter (replace) 676R
Notice of ASR Cancellation.................... 686
Notice of ASR Termination..................... 687
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 65642]]
Attachment B--Retained Correspondence Notices
The 600 series form numbers are assigned to notices generated for
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau services and the 1400 series form
numbers are assigned to notices generated for Public Safety and
Homeland Security Bureau services.
ULS-Generated Correspondence Notices Retained
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice Form No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Form 603] Application Dismissal Letter....... 603-D/1401
Notice of Return for Canadian Objections...... 690/1408
Notice of Immediate Return.................... 693/1410
Notice of Immediate Dismissal................. 694/1411
Notice of Return.............................. 698/1414
Notice of Dismissal........................... 699/1415
Notice of Authorization Grant-In-Part......... 700/1416
Notification of Consummation Reminder Letter.. 603-CR/1402
Construction/Coverage Deadline Notice of 672/1403
License Termination Pending Status.
Construction/Coverage Deadline Important 691/1409
Reminder Notice.
Renewal Reminder Notice....................... 695/1412
3650-3700 MHz Service Registration Acceptance 674
Letter.
Intelligent Transportation Service (Non-Public 677
Safety) Registration Acceptance Letter.
Millimeter Wave 70/80/90 GHz Service 678
Registration Acceptance Letter.
Intelligent Transportation Service (Public 1418
Safety) Registration Acceptance Letter.
Notice of License Cancellation................ 697/1413
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASR-Generated Correspondence Notices Retained
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Form Form No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice of Return.............................. 688
Notice of Dismissal........................... 689
ASR Construction Reminder..................... 685
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Federal Communications Commission.
Katherine M. Harris,
Deputy Chief, Mobility Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2016-22934 Filed 9-22-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
