Connect America Fund, Connect America Fund-Alaska Plan, 33139-33140 [2018-15171]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 137 / Tuesday, July 17, 2018 / Rules and Regulations taking it without prior publication. This action will be effective September 17, 2018 unless EPA receives adverse comments by August 16, 2018. If adverse comments are received within the 30-day public comment period, EPA will publish a timely withdrawal of this direct final notice of partial deletion before the effective date of the partial deletion and it will not take effect. EPA will prepare a response to comments and continue with the deletion process on the basis of the notification of intent to partially delete and the comments already received. There will be no additional opportunity to comment. Federal Communications Commission. ACTION: Final rule; announcement of effective date. The amendments regarding §§ 54.313(f)(1)(i), 54.313(f)(3) and 54.313(l) published at 81 FR 69696, October 7, 2016, are effective July 17, 2018. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alexander Minard, Wireline Competition Bureau at (202) 418–7400 or TTY (202) 418–0484. For additional information concerning the Paperwork Reduction Act information collection requirements contact Nicole Ongele at (202) 418–2991 or via email: Nicole.Ongele@fcc.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission submitted revised information collection requirements for review and approval by OMB, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, on May 30, 2018, which were approved by OMB on July 2, 2018. The information collection requirements are contained in the Commission’s Connect America Fund— Alaska Plan Order, FCC 16–115, published at 81 FR 69696, October 7, 2016. The OMB Control Number is 3060–0986. The Commission publishes this document as an announcement of the effective date of the rules published October 7, 2016. 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 1–A620, 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554. Please include the OMB Control Number, 3060–0986, 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). In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved, for a period of three years, an information collection associated with the rules for the Connect America Fund contained in the Commission’s Connect America Fund—Alaska Plan Order, FCC 16–115. This document is consistent with the Connect America Fund— Alaska Plan Order, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date of the new information collection requirements. Synopsis As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507), the Commission is notifying the public that it received OMB approval on July 2, 2018, for the information collection requirements contained in 47 CFR 54.313(f)(1)(i), 54.313(f)(3) and 54.313(l), published at 81 FR 69696, October 7, 2016. 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 List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 300 Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Chemicals, Hazardous waste, Hazardous substances, Intergovernmental relations, Penalties, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Superfund, Water pollution control, Water supply. Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1321(d); 42 U.S.C. 9601–9657; E.O. 13626, 77 FR 56749, 3 CFR, 2013 Comp., p. 306; E.O. 12777, 56 FR 54757, 3 CFR, 1991 Comp., p. 351; E.O. 12580, 52 FR 2923, 3 CFR, 1987 Comp., p. 193. Dated: June 25, 2018. Cathy Stepp, Regional Administrator, Region 5. [FR Doc. 2018–15240 Filed 7–16–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 47 CFR Part 54 [WC Docket No. 10–90, 16–271; FCC 16– 115] Connect America Fund, Connect America Fund—Alaska Plan AGENCY: daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with RULES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:09 Jul 16, 2018 Jkt 244001 DATES: PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 33139 collection of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act that does not display a current, valid OMB Control Number. The OMB Control Number is 3060–0986. 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: 3060–0986. OMB Approval Date: July 2, 2018. OMB Expiration Date: July 31, 2021. Title: High-Cost Universal Service Support. Form Number: FCC Form 481, FCC Form 505, FCC Form 507, FCC Form 508, FCC Form 509 and FCC Form 525. Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection. Respondents: Business or other forprofit, not-for-profit institutions and state, local or tribal government. Number of Respondents and Responses: 1,877 respondents; 14,335 responses. Estimated Time per Response: 0.5–15 hours. Frequency of Response: On occasion, quarterly and annual reporting requirements, recordkeeping requirement and third party disclosure requirement. Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47 U.S.C. 151–154, 155, 201–206, 214, 218–220, 251, 252, 254, 256, 303(r), 332, 403, 405, 410, and 1302. Total Annual Burden: 63,486 hours. Total Annual Cost: No Cost. Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s). Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: The Commission notes 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. Privatelyheld rate-of-return carriers may file the financial information they disclose in FCC Form 481 pursuant to a protective order. Needs and Uses: On November 18, 2011, the Commission adopted an order reforming its high-cost universal service support mechanisms. Connect America Fund; A National Broadband Plan for Our Future; Establish Just and Reasonable Rates for Local Exchange Carriers; High-Cost Universal Service Support; Developing a Unified Intercarrier Compensation Regime; E:\FR\FM\17JYR1.SGM 17JYR1 daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with RULES 33140 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 137 / Tuesday, July 17, 2018 / Rules and Regulations Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service; Lifeline and Link-Up; Universal Service Reform—Mobility Fund, WC Docket Nos. 10–90, 07–135, 05–337, 03– 109; GN Docket No. 09–51; CC Docket Nos. 01–92, 96–45; WT Docket No. 10– 208, Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 26 FCC Rcd 17663 (2011) (USF/ICC Transformation Order), and the Commission and Wireline Competition Bureau have since adopted a number of orders that implement the USF/ICC Transformation Order; see also Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket No. 10–90 et al., Third Order on Reconsideration, 27 FCC Rcd 5622 (2012); Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket No. 10–90 et al., Order, 27 FCC Rcd 605 (Wireline Comp. Bur. 2012); Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket No. 10–90 et al., Fifth Order on Reconsideration, 27 FCC Rcd 14549 (2012); Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket No. 10–90 et al., Order, 28 FCC Rcd 2051 (Wireline Comp. Bur. 2013); Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket No. 10–90 et al., Order, 28 FCC Rcd 7227 (Wireline Comp. Bur. 2013); Connect America Fund, WC Docket No. 10–90, Report and Order, 28 FCC Rcd 7766 (Wireline Comp. Bur. 2013); Connect America Fund, WC Docket No. 10–90, Report and Order, 28 FCC Rcd 7211 (Wireline Comp. Bur. 2013); Connect America Fund, WC Docket No. 10–90, Report and Order, 28 FCC Rcd 10488 (Wireline Comp. Bur. 2013); Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket No. 10–90 et al., Report and Order, Order and Order on Reconsideration and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 31 FCC Rcd 3087 (2016). The Commission has received OMB approval for most of the information collections required by these orders. At a later date, the Commission plans to submit additional revisions for OMB review to address other reforms adopted in the orders (e.g., 47 CFR 54.313(a)(6)). More recently, on August 23, 2016, the Commission adopted the Alaska Plan Order. See Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket Nos. 10–90, 16–271; WT Docket No. 10–208, Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 31 FCC Rcd 10139 (2016) (Alaska Plan Order). In that order, the Commission adopted a plan for providing Alaskan rate-of-return carriers and competitive eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) the option to obtain a fixed level of funding for a defined term in exchange for committing to deployment obligations that are tailored to each Alaskan carrier’s circumstances. ETCs receiving support pursuant to the Alaska Plan VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:09 Jul 16, 2018 Jkt 244001 must comply with the Commission’s existing high-cost reporting and oversight mechanisms, with certain exceptions and modifications. On July 7, 2017, the Commission adopted the ETC Reporting Streamlining Order. See Connect America Fund; ETC Annual Reports and Certifications, WC Docket Nos. 10–90, 14–58, Report and Order, 32 FCC Rcd 5944 (2017) (ETC Reporting Streamlining Order). In that order, the Commission streamlined the annual reporting requirements for ETCs by eliminating rules duplicative of other reporting requirements or that are no longer necessary. Further, since the previous filing deadline associated with this collection, changing circumstances have made filing certain information no longer necessary or required under the rules. For instance, the final Connect America Phase I incremental support deployment deadlines were in early 2017, so there are no longer any reporting obligations associated with that support. Moreover, because the Connect America Phase II challenge process has ended, the Commission removed Form 505 from this collection. The Commission also moved FCC Form 507, FCC Form 508, FCC Form 509 and the accompanying instructions to information collection 3060–0233. The Commission therefore revises this information collection, as well as Form 481 and its accompanying instructions, to reflect these new or modified requirements. The Commission also implemented a number of nonsubstantive changes to the Form 481 and accompanying instructions. Any increased burdens for particular reporting requirements are associated with ETCs newly subject to those requirements as a condition of receiving high-cost support. SUMMARY: Federal Communications Commission. Marlene Dortch, Secretary, Office of the Secretary. Final Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 Analysis The Report and Order does not contain any new or modified information collection requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104–13. In addition, therefore, it does not contain any new or modified information collection burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees, pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, Public Law 107–198, see 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(4). [FR Doc. 2018–15171 Filed 7–16–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6712–01–P FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 47 CFR Part 64 [CG Docket No. 17–169; FCC 18–78] Protecting Consumers From Unauthorized Carrier Changes and Related Unauthorized Charges Federal Communications Commission. ACTION: Final rule. AGENCY: PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 In this document, the Commission takes measures to strengthen our rules to protect consumers from slamming and cramming by codifying rules against sales call misrepresentations and cramming and revising rules to improve the effectiveness of the third-party verification (TPV) process. Slamming is an unauthorized change in a consumers’ telephone provider and cramming is the placement of an unauthorized charge on the consumers’ telephone bill. DATES: Effective August 16, 2018. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard D. Smith, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (717) 338– 2797, email Richard.Smith@fcc.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission’s Report and Order, document FCC 18–78, adopted on June 7, 2018, and released on June 8, 2018, in CG Docket No. 17– 169. The full text of document FCC 18– 78 will be available for public inspection and copying via the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), and during regular business hours at the FCC Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street SW, Room CY–A257, Washington, DC 20554. 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), (844) 432–2272 (videophone), or (202) 418– 0432 (TTY). Congressional Review Act The Commission will send a copy of document FCC 18–78 to Congress and the Government Accountability Office pursuant to the Congressional Review Act, see 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A). Synopsis Misrepresentations on Sales Calls 1. The Commission’s recent enforcement actions reveal that misrepresentations on sales calls are a E:\FR\FM\17JYR1.SGM 17JYR1

Agencies

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 137 (Tuesday, July 17, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 33139-33140]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-15171]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 54

[WC Docket No. 10-90, 16-271; FCC 16-115]


Connect America Fund, Connect America Fund--Alaska Plan

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule; announcement of effective date.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In this document, the Federal Communications Commission 
(Commission) announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
has approved, for a period of three years, an information collection 
associated with the rules for the Connect America Fund contained in the 
Commission's Connect America Fund--Alaska Plan Order, FCC 16-115. This 
document is consistent with the Connect America Fund--Alaska Plan 
Order, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the 
Federal Register announcing the effective date of the new information 
collection requirements.

DATES: The amendments regarding Sec. Sec.  54.313(f)(1)(i), 
54.313(f)(3) and 54.313(l) published at 81 FR 69696, October 7, 2016, 
are effective July 17, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alexander Minard, Wireline Competition 
Bureau at (202) 418-7400 or TTY (202) 418-0484. For additional 
information concerning the Paperwork Reduction Act information 
collection requirements contact Nicole Ongele at (202) 418-2991 or via 
email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission submitted revised information 
collection requirements for review and approval by OMB, as required by 
the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, on May 30, 2018, which were 
approved by OMB on July 2, 2018. The information collection 
requirements are contained in the Commission's Connect America Fund--
Alaska Plan Order, FCC 16-115, published at 81 FR 69696, October 7, 
2016. The OMB Control Number is 3060-0986. The Commission publishes 
this document as an announcement of the effective date of the rules 
published October 7, 2016. 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 1-A620, 445 12th 
Street SW, Washington, DC 20554. Please include the OMB Control Number, 
3060-0986, in your correspondence. The Commission will also accept your 
comments via email at [email protected].
    To request materials in accessible formats for people with 
disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), 
send an email to [email protected] 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 Commission is notifying the public that it received OMB 
approval on July 2, 2018, for the information collection requirements 
contained in 47 CFR 54.313(f)(1)(i), 54.313(f)(3) and 54.313(l), 
published at 81 FR 69696, October 7, 2016. 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 3060-0986.
    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: 3060-0986.
    OMB Approval Date: July 2, 2018.
    OMB Expiration Date: July 31, 2021.
    Title: High-Cost Universal Service Support.
    Form Number: FCC Form 481, FCC Form 505, FCC Form 507, FCC Form 
508, FCC Form 509 and FCC Form 525.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit, not-for-profit 
institutions and state, local or tribal government.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 1,877 respondents; 14,335 
responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 0.5-15 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion, quarterly and annual reporting 
requirements, recordkeeping requirement and third party disclosure 
requirement.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. 
Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47 
U.S.C. 151-154, 155, 201-206, 214, 218-220, 251, 252, 254, 256, 303(r), 
332, 403, 405, 410, and 1302.
    Total Annual Burden: 63,486 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: No Cost.
    Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: The Commission notes 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. Privately-
held rate-of-return carriers may file the financial information they 
disclose in FCC Form 481 pursuant to a protective order.
    Needs and Uses: On November 18, 2011, the Commission adopted an 
order reforming its high-cost universal service support mechanisms. 
Connect America Fund; A National Broadband Plan for Our Future; 
Establish Just and Reasonable Rates for Local Exchange Carriers; High-
Cost Universal Service Support; Developing a Unified Intercarrier 
Compensation Regime;

[[Page 33140]]

Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service; Lifeline and Link-Up; 
Universal Service Reform--Mobility Fund, WC Docket Nos. 10-90, 07-135, 
05-337, 03-109; GN Docket No. 09-51; CC Docket Nos. 01-92, 96-45; WT 
Docket No. 10-208, Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 26 
FCC Rcd 17663 (2011) (USF/ICC Transformation Order), and the Commission 
and Wireline Competition Bureau have since adopted a number of orders 
that implement the USF/ICC Transformation Order; see also Connect 
America Fund et al., WC Docket No. 10-90 et al., Third Order on 
Reconsideration, 27 FCC Rcd 5622 (2012); Connect America Fund et al., 
WC Docket No. 10-90 et al., Order, 27 FCC Rcd 605 (Wireline Comp. Bur. 
2012); Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket No. 10-90 et al., Fifth 
Order on Reconsideration, 27 FCC Rcd 14549 (2012); Connect America Fund 
et al., WC Docket No. 10-90 et al., Order, 28 FCC Rcd 2051 (Wireline 
Comp. Bur. 2013); Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket No. 10-90 et 
al., Order, 28 FCC Rcd 7227 (Wireline Comp. Bur. 2013); Connect America 
Fund, WC Docket No. 10-90, Report and Order, 28 FCC Rcd 7766 (Wireline 
Comp. Bur. 2013); Connect America Fund, WC Docket No. 10-90, Report and 
Order, 28 FCC Rcd 7211 (Wireline Comp. Bur. 2013); Connect America 
Fund, WC Docket No. 10-90, Report and Order, 28 FCC Rcd 10488 (Wireline 
Comp. Bur. 2013); Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket No. 10-90 et 
al., Report and Order, Order and Order on Reconsideration and Further 
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 31 FCC Rcd 3087 (2016). The Commission 
has received OMB approval for most of the information collections 
required by these orders. At a later date, the Commission plans to 
submit additional revisions for OMB review to address other reforms 
adopted in the orders (e.g., 47 CFR 54.313(a)(6)).
    More recently, on August 23, 2016, the Commission adopted the 
Alaska Plan Order. See Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket Nos. 10-
90, 16-271; WT Docket No. 10-208, Report and Order and Further Notice 
of Proposed Rulemaking, 31 FCC Rcd 10139 (2016) (Alaska Plan Order). In 
that order, the Commission adopted a plan for providing Alaskan rate-
of-return carriers and competitive eligible telecommunications carriers 
(ETCs) the option to obtain a fixed level of funding for a defined term 
in exchange for committing to deployment obligations that are tailored 
to each Alaskan carrier's circumstances. ETCs receiving support 
pursuant to the Alaska Plan must comply with the Commission's existing 
high-cost reporting and oversight mechanisms, with certain exceptions 
and modifications.
    On July 7, 2017, the Commission adopted the ETC Reporting 
Streamlining Order. See Connect America Fund; ETC Annual Reports and 
Certifications, WC Docket Nos. 10-90, 14-58, Report and Order, 32 FCC 
Rcd 5944 (2017) (ETC Reporting Streamlining Order). In that order, the 
Commission streamlined the annual reporting requirements for ETCs by 
eliminating rules duplicative of other reporting requirements or that 
are no longer necessary.
    Further, since the previous filing deadline associated with this 
collection, changing circumstances have made filing certain information 
no longer necessary or required under the rules. For instance, the 
final Connect America Phase I incremental support deployment deadlines 
were in early 2017, so there are no longer any reporting obligations 
associated with that support.
    Moreover, because the Connect America Phase II challenge process 
has ended, the Commission removed Form 505 from this collection. The 
Commission also moved FCC Form 507, FCC Form 508, FCC Form 509 and the 
accompanying instructions to information collection 3060-0233.
    The Commission therefore revises this information collection, as 
well as Form 481 and its accompanying instructions, to reflect these 
new or modified requirements. The Commission also implemented a number 
of non-substantive changes to the Form 481 and accompanying 
instructions. Any increased burdens for particular reporting 
requirements are associated with ETCs newly subject to those 
requirements as a condition of receiving high-cost support.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-15171 Filed 7-16-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6712-01-P

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.