Information Collections Being Submitted for Review and Approval to the Office of Management and Budget, 51944-51946 [2018-22387]
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51944
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 199 / Monday, October 15, 2018 / Notices
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
[OMB 3060–0149, OMB 3060–0741]
Information Collections Being
Submitted for Review and Approval to
the Office of Management and Budget
Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
As part of its continuing effort
to reduce paperwork burdens, and as
required by the Paperwork Reduction
Act (PRA) of 1995, 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 Commission may not conduct or
sponsor a collection of information
unless it displays a currently valid
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) 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 OMB control number.
DATES: Written comments should be
submitted on or before November 14,
2018. 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 contacts listed below as soon
as possible.
ADDRESSES: Direct all PRA comments to
Nicholas A. Fraser, OMB, via email
Nicholas_A._Fraser@omb.eop.gov; and
to Nicole Ongele, FCC, via email PRA@
fcc.gov and to Nicole.Ongele@fcc.gov.
Include in the comments the OMB
control number as shown in the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
additional information or copies of the
information collection, contact Nicole
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SUMMARY:
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Ongele at (202) 418–2991. To view a
copy of this information collection
request (ICR) submitted to OMB: (1) Go
to the webpage <https://
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain>,
(2) look for the section of the webpage
called ‘‘Currently Under Review,’’ (3)
click on the downward-pointing arrow
in the ‘‘Select Agency’’ box below the
‘‘Currently Under Review’’ heading, (4)
select ‘‘Federal Communications
Commission’’ from the list of agencies
presented in the ‘‘Select Agency’’ box,
(5) click the ‘‘Submit’’ button to the
right of the ‘‘Select Agency’’ box, (6)
when the list of FCC ICRs currently
under review appears, look for the OMB
control number of this ICR and then
click on the ICR Reference Number. A
copy of the FCC submission to OMB
will be displayed.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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.
OMB Control Number: 3060–0149.
Title: Part 63, Accelerating Wireline
Broadband Deployment by Removing
Barriers to Infrastructure Investment,
WC Docket No. 17–84, FCC 18–74.
Form Number(s): N/A.
Type of Review: Revision of a
currently approved collection.
Respondents: Business or other forprofit.
Number of Respondents and
Responses: 80 respondents; 88
responses.
Estimated Time per Response: 6–62
hours per response.
Frequency of Response: One-time
reporting requirement and third-party
disclosure requirements.
Obligation to Respond: Required to
obtain or retain benefits. Statutory
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authority for this collection of
information is contained in 47 U.S.C.
214 and 402 of the Communications Act
of 1934, as amended.
Total Annual Burden: 1,086 hours.
Total Annual Cost: $27,900.
Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No
impact(s).
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality:
Information filed in section 214
applications has generally been nonconfidential. Requests from parties
seeking confidential treatment are
considered by Commission staff
pursuant to 47 CFR 0.459 of the
Commission’s rules.
Needs and Uses: The Commission is
seeking Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) approval for a revision of
a currently approved collection to OMB.
The Commission will submit this
information collection to OMB after this
60-day comment period. Section 214 of
the Communications Act of 1934, as
amended, requires that a carrier must
first obtain FCC authorization either to
(1) construct, operate, or engage in
transmission over a line of
communications; or (2) discontinue,
reduce or impair service over a line of
communications. Part 63 of Title 47 of
the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
implements Section 214. Part 63 also
implements provisions of the Cable
Communications Policy Act of 1984
pertaining to video which was approved
under this OMB Control Number 3060–
0149. In 2009, the Commission modified
Part 63 to extend to providers of
interconnected Voice of internet
Protocol (VoIP) service the
discontinuance obligations that apply to
domestic non-dominant
telecommunications carriers under
Section 214 of the Communications Act
of 1934, as amended. In 2014, the
Commission adopted improved
administrative filing procedures for
domestic transfers of control, domestic
discontinuances and notices of network
changes, and among other adjustments,
modified Part 63 to require electronic
filing for applications for authorization
to discontinue, reduce, or impair service
under section 214(a) of the Act. In July
2016, the Commission concluded that
applicants seeking to discontinue a
legacy time division multiplexing
(TDM)-based voice service as part of a
transition to a new technology, whether
internet Protocol (IP), wireless, or
another type (technology transition
discontinuance application) must
demonstrate that an adequate
replacement for the legacy service exists
in order to be eligible for streamlined
treatment and revised part 63
accordingly. The Commission
concluded that an applicant for a
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 199 / Monday, October 15, 2018 / Notices
technology transition discontinuance
may demonstrate that a service is an
adequate replacement for a legacy voice
service by certifying or showing that one
or more replacement service(s) offers all
of the following: (i) Substantially similar
levels of network infrastructure and
service quality as the applicant service;
(ii) compliance with existing federal
and/or industry standards required to
ensure that critical applications such as
911, network security, and applications
for individuals with disabilities remain
available; and (iii) interoperability and
compatibility with an enumerated list of
applications and functionalities
determined to be key to consumers and
competitors (the ‘‘adequate replacement
test’’).
In June 2018, the Commission further
modified the rules applicable to section
214(a) discontinuance applications.
First, all carriers, whether dominant or
non-dominant, that seek approval to
grandfather data services below speeds
of 25 Mbps download speed and 3 Mbps
upload speed are now subject to a
uniform reduced public comment
period of 10 days and an automatic
grant period of 25 days. Second, all
carriers, whether dominant or nondominant, seeking authorization to
discontinue data services below speeds
of 25 Mbps download speed and 3 Mbps
upload speed that have previously been
grandfathered for a period of at least 180
days are subject to a uniform reduced
public comment period of 10 days and
an automatic grant period of 31 days,
provided they submit a statement as
part of their discontinuance application
that they have received Commission
authority to grandfather the services at
issue at least 180 days prior to the filing
of the discontinuance application. This
statement must reference the file
number of the prior Commission
authorization to grandfather the services
the carrier now seeks to permanently
discontinue. Third, carriers are no
longer required to file an application to
discontinue, reduce, or impair any
service for which it has had no
customers and no request for service for
at least a 30-day period immediately
preceding the discontinuance. Fourth,
all carriers, whether dominant or nondominant, that seek approval to
discontinue legacy voice service can
obtain further streamlined processing
with a public comment period of 15
days and an automatic grant period of
31 days, provided (1) they offer a standalone interconnected VoIP service
throughout the service area, and (2) at
least one alternative stand-alone,
facilities-based voice service is available
from an unaffiliated provider
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throughout the affected service area (the
‘‘alternative options test’’). Finally, all
carriers, whether dominant or nondominant, that seek approval to
grandfather legacy voice service are now
subject to a uniform reduced public
comment period of 10 days and an
automatic grant period of 25 days. The
Commission estimates that it will
receive three fewer section 214(a)
discontinuance applications annually in
light of the Commission’s forbearance
from applying its section 214(a)
discontinuance requirements to services
for which the carrier has had no
customers and no reasonable requests
for service during the preceding 30-day
period. The Commission also
anticipates that the number of
respondents and responses under the
adequate replacement test will likely
decrease from 5 and 25, respectively, to
2 and 10, respectively. The remaining
15 responses previously attributable to
the adequate replacement test will likely
proceed pursuant to the less rigorous
alternative options test. The
Commission estimates that the total
annual burden of the entire collection,
as revised, is reduced from 1,923 hours
to 1,086 hours.
OMB Control Number: 3060–0741.
Title: Accelerating Wireline
Broadband Deployment by Removing
Barriers to Infrastructure Investment,
GN Docket No. 17–84.
Form Number(s): N/A.
Type of Review: Revision of a
currently approved collection.
Respondents: Business or other forprofit entities.
Number of Respondents and
Responses: 5,357 respondents; 573,928
responses.
Estimated Time per Response: 0.5–4.5
hours.
Frequency of Response: On occasion
reporting requirements; recordkeeping
and third-party disclosure requirements.
Obligation to Respond: Required to
obtain or retain benefits. Statutory
authority for this information collection
is contained in 47 U.S.C. 222 and 251.
Total Annual Burden: 575,448 hours.
Total Annual Cost: No cost.
Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No
impact(s).
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality:
The Commission is not requesting that
the respondents submit confidential
information to the FCC. Respondents
may, however, request confidential
treatment for information they believe to
be confidential under 47 CFR 0.459 of
the Commission’s rules.
Needs and Uses: Section 251 of the
Communications Act of 1934, as
amended, 47 U.S.C. 251, is designed to
accelerate private sector development
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51945
and deployment of telecommunications
technologies and services by spurring
competition. Section 222(e) is also
designed to spur competition by
prescribing requirements for the sharing
of subscriber list information. These
information collection requirements are
designed to help implement certain
provisions of sections 222(e) and 251,
and to eliminate operational barriers to
competition in the telecommunications
services market. Specifically, these
information collection requirements
will be used to implement (1) local
exchange carriers’ (‘‘LECs’’) obligations
to provide their competitors with
dialing parity and non-discriminatory
access to certain services and
functionalities; (2) incumbent local
exchange carriers’ (‘‘ILECs’’) duty to
make network information disclosures;
and (3) numbering administration. The
revisions to this collection relate to
changes in one of many components of
the currently approved collection—
specifically, certain reporting,
recordkeeping and/or third-party
disclosure requirements under section
251(c)(5). In November 2017, the
Commission adopted new rules
concerning certain information
collection requirements implemented
under section 251(c)(5) of the Act,
pertaining to network change
disclosures. Most of the changes to
those rules applied specifically to a
certain subset of network change
disclosures, namely notices of planned
copper retirements. In addition, the
changes removed a rule that prohibits
incumbent LECs from engaging in useful
advanced coordination with entities
affected by network changes. In June
2018, the Commission revised its
network change disclosure rules to (1)
revise the types of network changes that
trigger an incumbent LEC’s public
notice obligation, and (2) extend the
force majeure provisions applicable to
copper retirements to all types of
network changes. The changes are
aimed at removing unnecessary
regulatory barriers to the deployment of
high-speed broadband networks. The
Commission estimates that these
revisions do not result in any change to
the total annual burden hours or any
additional outlays of funds for hiring
outside contractors or procuring
equipment as the changes eliminate
notices that are subsumed by notice
obligations that remain in force or
simply codify procedures available to a
small number of incumbent LECs by
waiver orders.
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51946
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 199 / Monday, October 15, 2018 / Notices
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018–22387 Filed 10–12–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program
Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Notice of a new matching
program.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Privacy Act of 1974, as amended
(‘‘Privacy Act’’), this notice announces
the establishment of a computer
matching program the Federal
Communications Commission (‘‘FCC’’
or ‘‘Commission’’ or ‘‘Agency’’) and the
Universal Service Administrative
Company (USAC) will conduct with
four non-Federal agencies. The purpose
of this matching program is to verify the
eligibility of applicants to and
subscribers of the Universal Service
Fund (USF) Lifeline program, which is
administered by USAC under the
direction of the FCC. More information
about this program is provided in the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section
below.
SUMMARY:
Written comments are due on or
before November 14, 2018. This
computer matching program will
commence on November 14, 2018,
unless comments are received that
require a contrary determination, and
will conclude on April 15, 2020.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to Mr.
Leslie F. Smith, Privacy Manager,
Information Technology (IT), Room 1–
C216, FCC, 445 12th Street SW,
Washington, DC 20554, or to
Leslie.Smith@fcc.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Leslie F. Smith, (202) 418–0217, or
Leslie.Smith@fcc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Lifeline program provides support for
discounted broadband and voice
services to low-income consumers.
Lifeline is administered by the
Universal Service Administrative
Company (USAC) under FCC direction.
Consumers qualify for Lifeline through
proof of income or participation in a
qualifying program, such as Medicaid,
the Supplemental Nutritional
Assistance Program (SNAP), Federal
Public Housing Assistance,
Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or
Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit.
In a Report and Order adopted on March
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DATES:
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31, 2016, the Commission ordered
USAC to create a National Lifeline
Eligibility Verifier (‘‘National Verifier’’),
including the National Lifeline
Eligibility Database (LED), that would
match data about Lifeline applicants
and subscribers with other data sources
to verify the eligibility of an applicant
or subscriber. The Commission found
that the National Verifier would reduce
compliance costs for Lifeline service
providers, improve service for Lifeline
subscribers, and reduce waste, fraud,
and abuse in the program.
enable another individual in their
household to qualify for Lifeline
benefits; are minors whose status
qualifies a parent or guardian for
Lifeline benefits; are individuals who
have received Lifeline benefits; or are
individuals acting on behalf of an
eligible telecommunications carrier
(ETC) who have enrolled individuals in
the Lifeline program.
Categories of Records
The categories of records involved in
the matching program include, but are
not limited to, a Lifeline applicant or
Participating Agencies
subscriber’s full name; physical and
• Missouri Department of Social
mailing addresses; partial Social
Services;
Security number or Tribal ID number;
• North Carolina Department of
date of birth; qualifying person’s full
Health and Human Services;
name (if qualifying person is different
• Pennsylvania Department of Human from subscriber); qualifying person’s
Services; and
physical and mailing addresses;
• Tennessee Department of Human
qualifying person’s partial Social
Services.
Security number or Tribal ID number,
and qualifying person’s date of birth.
Authority for Conducting the Matching
The National Verifier will transfer these
Program
data elements to the source agencies,
47 U.S.C. 254; 47 CFR 54.400 et seq.;
which will respond either ‘‘yes’’ or ‘‘no’’
Lifeline and Link Up Reform and
that the individual is enrolled in a
Modernization, et al., Third Report and
Lifeline-qualifying assistance program.
Order, Further Report and Order, and
System(s) of Records
Order on Reconsideration, 31 FCC Rcd
3962, 4006–21, paras. 126–66 (2016)
The USAC records shared as part of
(2016 Lifeline Modernization Order).
this matching program reside in the
Lifeline system of records, FCC/WCB–1,
Purpose(s)
Lifeline Program, a notice of which the
In the 2016 Lifeline Modernization
FCC published at 82 FR 38686 (Aug. 15,
Order, the FCC required USAC to
2017) and became effective on
develop and operate a National Lifeline
September 14, 2017.
Eligibility Verifier (National Verifier) to
Federal
Communications Commission.
improve efficiency and reduce waste,
Marlene Dortch,
fraud, and abuse in the Lifeline
Secretary.
program. The stated purpose of the
National Verifier is ‘‘to increase the
[FR Doc. 2018–22380 Filed 10–12–18; 8:45 am]
integrity and improve the performance
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
of the Lifeline program for the benefit of
a variety of Lifeline participants,
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
including Lifeline providers,
COMMISSION
subscribers, states, community-based
organizations, USAC, and the
[OMB 3060–0625]
Commission.’’ 31 FCC Rcd 3962, 4006,
para. 126. To help determine whether
Information Collection Being Reviewed
Lifeline applicants and subscribers are
by the Federal Communications
eligible for Lifeline benefits, the Order
Commission Under Delegated
contemplates that a USAC-operated
Authority
Lifeline Eligibility Database (LED) will
communicate with information systems AGENCY: Federal Communications
and databases operated by other Federal Commission.
and State agencies. Id. at 4011–2, paras. ACTION: Notice and request for
135–7.
comments.
Categories of Individuals
The categories of individuals whose
information is involved in this matching
program include, but are not limited to,
those individuals (residing in a single
household) who have applied for
Lifeline benefits; are currently receiving
Lifeline benefits; are individuals who
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As part of its continuing effort
to reduce paperwork burdens, and as
required by the Paperwork Reduction
Act (PRA) of 1995, the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC or
Commission) invites the general public
and other Federal agencies to take this
opportunity to comment on the
SUMMARY:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 199 (Monday, October 15, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51944-51946]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-22387]
[[Page 51944]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
[OMB 3060-0149, OMB 3060-0741]
Information Collections Being Submitted for Review and Approval
to the Office of Management and Budget
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens,
and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, 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 Commission may not conduct or sponsor a collection of
information unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) 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 OMB control number.
DATES: Written comments should be submitted on or before November 14,
2018. 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 contacts listed below as soon as possible.
ADDRESSES: Direct all PRA comments to Nicholas A. Fraser, OMB, via
email [email protected]; and to Nicole Ongele, FCC, via
email [email protected] and to [email protected]. Include in the comments
the OMB control number as shown in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or copies
of the information collection, contact Nicole Ongele at (202) 418-2991.
To view a copy of this information collection request (ICR) submitted
to OMB: (1) Go to the webpage <https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain>, (2) look for the section of the webpage called ``Currently
Under Review,'' (3) click on the downward-pointing arrow in the
``Select Agency'' box below the ``Currently Under Review'' heading, (4)
select ``Federal Communications Commission'' from the list of agencies
presented in the ``Select Agency'' box, (5) click the ``Submit'' button
to the right of the ``Select Agency'' box, (6) when the list of FCC
ICRs currently under review appears, look for the OMB control number of
this ICR and then click on the ICR Reference Number. A copy of the FCC
submission to OMB will be displayed.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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.
OMB Control Number: 3060-0149.
Title: Part 63, Accelerating Wireline Broadband Deployment by
Removing Barriers to Infrastructure Investment, WC Docket No. 17-84,
FCC 18-74.
Form Number(s): N/A.
Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents and Responses: 80 respondents; 88 responses.
Estimated Time per Response: 6-62 hours per response.
Frequency of Response: One-time reporting requirement and third-
party disclosure requirements.
Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits.
Statutory authority for this collection of information is contained in
47 U.S.C. 214 and 402 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.
Total Annual Burden: 1,086 hours.
Total Annual Cost: $27,900.
Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: Information filed in section
214 applications has generally been non-confidential. Requests from
parties seeking confidential treatment are considered by Commission
staff pursuant to 47 CFR 0.459 of the Commission's rules.
Needs and Uses: The Commission is seeking Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) approval for a revision of a currently approved collection
to OMB. The Commission will submit this information collection to OMB
after this 60-day comment period. Section 214 of the Communications Act
of 1934, as amended, requires that a carrier must first obtain FCC
authorization either to (1) construct, operate, or engage in
transmission over a line of communications; or (2) discontinue, reduce
or impair service over a line of communications. Part 63 of Title 47 of
the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) implements Section 214. Part 63
also implements provisions of the Cable Communications Policy Act of
1984 pertaining to video which was approved under this OMB Control
Number 3060-0149. In 2009, the Commission modified Part 63 to extend to
providers of interconnected Voice of internet Protocol (VoIP) service
the discontinuance obligations that apply to domestic non-dominant
telecommunications carriers under Section 214 of the Communications Act
of 1934, as amended. In 2014, the Commission adopted improved
administrative filing procedures for domestic transfers of control,
domestic discontinuances and notices of network changes, and among
other adjustments, modified Part 63 to require electronic filing for
applications for authorization to discontinue, reduce, or impair
service under section 214(a) of the Act. In July 2016, the Commission
concluded that applicants seeking to discontinue a legacy time division
multiplexing (TDM)-based voice service as part of a transition to a new
technology, whether internet Protocol (IP), wireless, or another type
(technology transition discontinuance application) must demonstrate
that an adequate replacement for the legacy service exists in order to
be eligible for streamlined treatment and revised part 63 accordingly.
The Commission concluded that an applicant for a
[[Page 51945]]
technology transition discontinuance may demonstrate that a service is
an adequate replacement for a legacy voice service by certifying or
showing that one or more replacement service(s) offers all of the
following: (i) Substantially similar levels of network infrastructure
and service quality as the applicant service; (ii) compliance with
existing federal and/or industry standards required to ensure that
critical applications such as 911, network security, and applications
for individuals with disabilities remain available; and (iii)
interoperability and compatibility with an enumerated list of
applications and functionalities determined to be key to consumers and
competitors (the ``adequate replacement test'').
In June 2018, the Commission further modified the rules applicable
to section 214(a) discontinuance applications. First, all carriers,
whether dominant or non-dominant, that seek approval to grandfather
data services below speeds of 25 Mbps download speed and 3 Mbps upload
speed are now subject to a uniform reduced public comment period of 10
days and an automatic grant period of 25 days. Second, all carriers,
whether dominant or non-dominant, seeking authorization to discontinue
data services below speeds of 25 Mbps download speed and 3 Mbps upload
speed that have previously been grandfathered for a period of at least
180 days are subject to a uniform reduced public comment period of 10
days and an automatic grant period of 31 days, provided they submit a
statement as part of their discontinuance application that they have
received Commission authority to grandfather the services at issue at
least 180 days prior to the filing of the discontinuance application.
This statement must reference the file number of the prior Commission
authorization to grandfather the services the carrier now seeks to
permanently discontinue. Third, carriers are no longer required to file
an application to discontinue, reduce, or impair any service for which
it has had no customers and no request for service for at least a 30-
day period immediately preceding the discontinuance. Fourth, all
carriers, whether dominant or non-dominant, that seek approval to
discontinue legacy voice service can obtain further streamlined
processing with a public comment period of 15 days and an automatic
grant period of 31 days, provided (1) they offer a stand-alone
interconnected VoIP service throughout the service area, and (2) at
least one alternative stand-alone, facilities-based voice service is
available from an unaffiliated provider throughout the affected service
area (the ``alternative options test''). Finally, all carriers, whether
dominant or non-dominant, that seek approval to grandfather legacy
voice service are now subject to a uniform reduced public comment
period of 10 days and an automatic grant period of 25 days. The
Commission estimates that it will receive three fewer section 214(a)
discontinuance applications annually in light of the Commission's
forbearance from applying its section 214(a) discontinuance
requirements to services for which the carrier has had no customers and
no reasonable requests for service during the preceding 30-day period.
The Commission also anticipates that the number of respondents and
responses under the adequate replacement test will likely decrease from
5 and 25, respectively, to 2 and 10, respectively. The remaining 15
responses previously attributable to the adequate replacement test will
likely proceed pursuant to the less rigorous alternative options test.
The Commission estimates that the total annual burden of the entire
collection, as revised, is reduced from 1,923 hours to 1,086 hours.
OMB Control Number: 3060-0741.
Title: Accelerating Wireline Broadband Deployment by Removing
Barriers to Infrastructure Investment, GN Docket No. 17-84.
Form Number(s): N/A.
Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.
Number of Respondents and Responses: 5,357 respondents; 573,928
responses.
Estimated Time per Response: 0.5-4.5 hours.
Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirements;
recordkeeping and third-party disclosure requirements.
Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits.
Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47
U.S.C. 222 and 251.
Total Annual Burden: 575,448 hours.
Total Annual Cost: No cost.
Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: The Commission is not
requesting that the respondents submit confidential information to the
FCC. Respondents may, however, request confidential treatment for
information they believe to be confidential under 47 CFR 0.459 of the
Commission's rules.
Needs and Uses: Section 251 of the Communications Act of 1934, as
amended, 47 U.S.C. 251, is designed to accelerate private sector
development and deployment of telecommunications technologies and
services by spurring competition. Section 222(e) is also designed to
spur competition by prescribing requirements for the sharing of
subscriber list information. These information collection requirements
are designed to help implement certain provisions of sections 222(e)
and 251, and to eliminate operational barriers to competition in the
telecommunications services market. Specifically, these information
collection requirements will be used to implement (1) local exchange
carriers' (``LECs'') obligations to provide their competitors with
dialing parity and non-discriminatory access to certain services and
functionalities; (2) incumbent local exchange carriers' (``ILECs'')
duty to make network information disclosures; and (3) numbering
administration. The revisions to this collection relate to changes in
one of many components of the currently approved collection--
specifically, certain reporting, recordkeeping and/or third-party
disclosure requirements under section 251(c)(5). In November 2017, the
Commission adopted new rules concerning certain information collection
requirements implemented under section 251(c)(5) of the Act, pertaining
to network change disclosures. Most of the changes to those rules
applied specifically to a certain subset of network change disclosures,
namely notices of planned copper retirements. In addition, the changes
removed a rule that prohibits incumbent LECs from engaging in useful
advanced coordination with entities affected by network changes. In
June 2018, the Commission revised its network change disclosure rules
to (1) revise the types of network changes that trigger an incumbent
LEC's public notice obligation, and (2) extend the force majeure
provisions applicable to copper retirements to all types of network
changes. The changes are aimed at removing unnecessary regulatory
barriers to the deployment of high-speed broadband networks. The
Commission estimates that these revisions do not result in any change
to the total annual burden hours or any additional outlays of funds for
hiring outside contractors or procuring equipment as the changes
eliminate notices that are subsumed by notice obligations that remain
in force or simply codify procedures available to a small number of
incumbent LECs by waiver orders.
[[Page 51946]]
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-22387 Filed 10-12-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
