Connect America Fund, 61829-61830 [2019-24658]
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 220 / Thursday, November 14, 2019 / Rules and Regulations
(5) If you have a commercial interest
that would be furthered by disclosure,
explain how the public interest in
disclosure would be greater than any
commercial interest you may have in
the documents.
(i) Your identity, vocation, and
intended use of the requested records
are all factors to be considered in
determining whether disclosure would
be primarily in your commercial
interest.
(ii) If you are a representative of a
news media organization seeking
records as part of the news gathering
process, we will ordinarily presume that
the public interest outweighs your
commercial interest. Disclosure to data
brokers or others who merely compile
and market government information for
direct economic return will not be
presumed to primarily serve the public
interest.
(iii) If you represent a business/
corporation/association or you are an
attorney representing such an
organization, we will presume that your
commercial interest outweighs the
public interest unless you demonstrate
otherwise.
■ 24. Amend § 2.49 by:
■ a. Removing the word ‘‘or’’ from
paragraph (a)(2);
■ b. Redesignating paragraph (a)(3) as
(4);
■ c. Adding a new paragraph (a)(3);
■ d. In the newly redesignated
paragraph (a)(4), removing the word
‘‘previously’’ and adding in its place the
word ‘‘already’’; and
■ e. In paragraph (e), removing the
words ‘‘FOIA Public Liaison’’ and
adding in their place the words ‘‘FOIA
Requester Center’’.
The addition reads as follows:
§ 2.49 When will you be notified of
anticipated fees?
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES
(a) * * *
(3)Your request does not reasonably
describe the records sought and/or does
not explicitly state that you will pay all
fees associated with the processing of
the request, that you will pay fees up to
a specified amount, and/or that you are
seeking a fee waiver; or
*
*
*
*
*
■ 25. In § 2.54, add paragraph (c) to read
as set out below:
§ 2.54 When will the bureau combine or
aggregate requests?
*
*
*
*
*
(c) The bureau may administratively
aggregate requests without charging fees
accordingly when it reasonably believes
you, or a group of requesters acting in
concert with you, are dividing a single
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16:00 Nov 13, 2019
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request into a series of requests on a
single subject or related subjects.
(1) The bureau may presume that
multiple requests on a single subject or
related subjects made within a 30-day
period are dividing a single request into
a series of requests.
(2) The bureau may administratively
aggregate requests separated by a longer
period only where there is a reasonable
basis for determining that aggregation is
warranted in view of all the
circumstances involved.
Subpart I—General Information
■
26. Revise § 2.66 as follows:
§ 2.66 What are FOIA Requester Centers
and the FOIA Public Liaison?
(a) FOIA Requester Centers typically
serve as your first point of contact for
questions about how the FOIA works.
Before and after you make a request,
FOIA Requester Centers can assist you
by:
(1) Identifying information that is
already posted and available;
(2) Informing you about the types of
records maintained by the bureau;
(3) Providing guidance on formulating
effective requests;
(4) Describing the Department’s
various processing tracks and the
average processing times for the various
tracks;
(5) Answering questions about
expedited processing standards and the
FOIA’s fee provisions; and
(6) Answering questions about the
status of an existing request.
(b) The FOIA Public Liaison is
responsible for:
(1) Assisting in reducing delays;
(2) Increasing transparency and
understanding of the status of requests;
and
(3) Assisting in the resolution of
disputes between you and the agency.
(c) If you need further information or
assistance after contacting the
applicable FOIA Requester Center and
the FOIA Public Liaison, you may wish
to seek dispute resolution services from
the Office of Government Information
Services.
(d) Contact information for the FOIA
Requester Centers and FOIA Public
Liaison is available at https://
www.doi.gov/foia/foiacenters.
■ 27. Amend § 2.70 by:
■ a. In the definition of ‘‘Educational
institution’’, add a new sentence after
the first sentence;
■ b. In the definition of ‘‘Multitrack
processing’’, after the words ‘‘first-in/
first-out basis’’ add the words ‘‘, but
other factors, such as litigation, may
affect the sequence and/or timing of
processing’’; and
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61829
c. In the definition of ‘‘Representative
of the news media’’, add a new sentence
after the first sentence.
■
§ 2.70 What definitions apply to subparts
A through I of this part?
*
*
*
*
*
Educational institution * * *
Teachers (if they demonstrate how the
requested records will further their
teaching, scholarly research, or
production of scholarly works) and
students (if they demonstrate how the
requested records will further their
coursework or other school-sponsored
activities) may also qualify as an
educational institution for the purposes
of this definition. * * *
*
*
*
*
*
Representative of the news media
* * * Simply distributing copies of
released records, electronically or
otherwise, does not qualify as using
editorial skills to turn the raw materials
into a distinct work. * * *
*
*
*
*
*
Dated: October 24, 2019.
Rachel Spector,
Deputy Chief Freedom of Information Act
Officer.
[FR Doc. 2019–23783 Filed 11–13–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–10–P
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 54
[WC Docket No. 10–90; FCC 18–176]
Connect America Fund
Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Final rule; announcement of
effective date.
AGENCY:
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 Order, FCC 18–176. This
document is consistent with the
Connect America Fund Order, which
stated that the Commission would
publish a document in the Federal
Register announcing the effective date
of the revised information collection
requirement.
DATES: The amendment to § 54.316
published at 84 FR 4711, February 19,
2019, is effective November 14, 2019.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Alexander Minard, Wireline
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\14NOR1.SGM
14NOR1
61830
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 220 / Thursday, November 14, 2019 / Rules and Regulations
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 at
Nicole.Ongele@fcc.gov.
The
Commission submitted revised
information collection requirements for
review and approval by OMB, as
required by the Paperwork Reduction
Act (PRA) of 1995, on August 20, 2019.
OMB approved the revised information
collection requirements on November 5,
2019. The information collection
requirements are contained in the
Commission’s Connect America Fund
Order, FCC 18–176, published at 84 FR
4711, February 19, 2019. The OMB
Control Number is 3060–1228. The
Commission publishes this document as
an announcement of the effective date of
the rules published on February 19,
2019. If you have any comments on the
burden estimates listed in the following,
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, 3060–1228, 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).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES
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
November 5, 2019, for the amendment
to 47 CFR 54.316 published at 84 FR
4711, February 19, 2019. 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 3060–1228. The
foregoing notice is required by the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
Public Law 104–13, October 1, 1995,
and 44 U.S.C. 3507.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:00 Nov 13, 2019
Jkt 250001
The total annual reporting burdens
and costs for the respondents are as
follows:
OMB Control Number: 3060–1228.
OMB Approval Date: November 5,
2019.
OMB Expiration Date: November 30,
2022.
Title: Connect America Fund—High
Cost Portal Filing.
Form Number: N/A.
Type of Review: Revision of a
currently approved collection.
Respondents: Business or other forprofit entities, not-for-profit institutions.
Number of Respondents and
Responses: 1,599 unique respondents;
3,730 responses.
Estimated Time per Response: 8
hours–60 hours.
Frequency of Response: On occasion,
quarterly reporting requirements,
annual reporting requirements, one-time
reporting requirement and
recordkeeping 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: 68,607 hours.
Total Annual Cost(s): No Cost.
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality:
We note that USAC must preserve the
confidentiality of certain data obtained
from respondents; must not use the data
except for purposes of administering the
universal service programs or other
purposes specified by the Commission;
and must not disclose data in companyspecific form unless directed to do so by
the Commission. Respondents may
request materials or information
submitted to the Commission or the
Administrator believed confidential to
be withheld from public inspection
under 47 CFR 0.459 of the FCC’s rules.
Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No
impact(s).
Needs and Uses: The Commission
will use the information collected under
this information collection to address
the requirement that certain carriers
now have increased broadband
deployment reporting obligations about
their locations which meet their
broadband deployment public interest
obligations via an electronic portal
(‘‘portal’’). This collection also
addresses additional offers of modelbased support. With the new additional
offers, there will be more carriers
subject to the model-based deployment
milestones and fewer carriers remaining
on legacy support.
In March 2016, the Commission
adopted an order reforming its universal
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
service support program in areas served
by rate-of-return carriers. Connect
America Fund et al., WC Docket Nos.
10–90 et al., Report and Order, Order
and Order on Reconsideration, and
Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking,
FCC 16–33 (2016 Rate-of-Return Order).
In May 2016, the Commission adopted
rules to implement a competitive
bidding process for Phase II of the
Connect America Fund. Connect
America Fund et al., WC Docket Nos.
10–90 et al., Report and Order and
Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking,
FCC 16–64 (Phase II Auction Order). In
August 2016, the Commission adopted a
plan tailored to certain carriers, both
fixed and mobile, serving Alaska.
Connect America Fund et al., WC
Docket No. 10–90 et al., Report and
Order and Further Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking, FCC 16–115 (Alaska Plan
Order). In January 2017 the Commission
adopted an order which granted New
York State waiver of the Connect
America Phase II auction program rules,
subject to certain conditions. Connect
America Fund et al., WC Docket Nos.
10–90 et al., FCC 17–2 (New York
Auction Order). Also, in December
2018, the Commission adopted reforms
that included additional offers of modelbased support and increased broadband
deployment obligations. Connect
America Fund et al., WC Docket No. 10–
90 et al., Report and Order, Further
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and
Order on Reconsideration, FCC 18–176
(2018 Rate-of-Return Order).
The 2016 Rate-of-Return Order
required that the Universal Service
Administrative Company (USAC)
establish the portal so that carriers
could file their location data with the
portal starting in 2017. The 2016 Rateof-Return Order required all recipients
of Phase II model-based support and
rate-of-return carriers to submit
geocoded location data and related
certifications to the portal. Recipients of
Phase II model-based support had been
required to file such information in their
annual reports due by July 1. The Phase
II Auction Order, Alaska Plan Order,
and New York Auction Order require
carriers to build-out networks capable of
meeting their public interest obligations
and report, to an online portal, locations
to which auction winners had deployed
such networks. The Alaska Plan Order
also made portal reporting requirements
for carriers to submit fiber/microwave
middle-mile network maps.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019–24658 Filed 11–13–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
E:\FR\FM\14NOR1.SGM
14NOR1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 220 (Thursday, November 14, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 61829-61830]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-24658]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 54
[WC Docket No. 10-90; FCC 18-176]
Connect America Fund
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 Order, FCC 18-176. This document is
consistent with the Connect America Fund Order, which stated that the
Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing
the effective date of the revised information collection requirement.
DATES: The amendment to Sec. 54.316 published at 84 FR 4711, February
19, 2019, is effective November 14, 2019.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alexander Minard, Wireline
[[Page 61830]]
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 at [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 August 20, 2019. OMB
approved the revised information collection requirements on November 5,
2019. The information collection requirements are contained in the
Commission's Connect America Fund Order, FCC 18-176, published at 84 FR
4711, February 19, 2019. The OMB Control Number is 3060-1228. The
Commission publishes this document as an announcement of the effective
date of the rules published on February 19, 2019. If you have any
comments on the burden estimates listed in the following, 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, 3060-1228, 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 November 5, 2019, for the amendment to 47 CFR 54.316
published at 84 FR 4711, February 19, 2019. 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
3060-1228. 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: 3060-1228.
OMB Approval Date: November 5, 2019.
OMB Expiration Date: November 30, 2022.
Title: Connect America Fund--High Cost Portal Filing.
Form Number: N/A.
Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities, not-for-profit
institutions.
Number of Respondents and Responses: 1,599 unique respondents;
3,730 responses.
Estimated Time per Response: 8 hours-60 hours.
Frequency of Response: On occasion, quarterly reporting
requirements, annual reporting requirements, one-time reporting
requirement and recordkeeping 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: 68,607 hours.
Total Annual Cost(s): No Cost.
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: We note that USAC must
preserve the confidentiality of certain data obtained from respondents;
must not use the data except for purposes of administering the
universal service programs or other purposes specified by the
Commission; and must not disclose data in company-specific form unless
directed to do so by the Commission. Respondents may request materials
or information submitted to the Commission or the Administrator
believed confidential to be withheld from public inspection under 47
CFR 0.459 of the FCC's rules.
Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).
Needs and Uses: The Commission will use the information collected
under this information collection to address the requirement that
certain carriers now have increased broadband deployment reporting
obligations about their locations which meet their broadband deployment
public interest obligations via an electronic portal (``portal''). This
collection also addresses additional offers of model-based support.
With the new additional offers, there will be more carriers subject to
the model-based deployment milestones and fewer carriers remaining on
legacy support.
In March 2016, the Commission adopted an order reforming its
universal service support program in areas served by rate-of-return
carriers. Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket Nos. 10-90 et al.,
Report and Order, Order and Order on Reconsideration, and Further
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 16-33 (2016 Rate-of-Return Order).
In May 2016, the Commission adopted rules to implement a competitive
bidding process for Phase II of the Connect America Fund. Connect
America Fund et al., WC Docket Nos. 10-90 et al., Report and Order and
Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 16-64 (Phase II Auction
Order). In August 2016, the Commission adopted a plan tailored to
certain carriers, both fixed and mobile, serving Alaska. Connect
America Fund et al., WC Docket No. 10-90 et al., Report and Order and
Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 16-115 (Alaska Plan Order).
In January 2017 the Commission adopted an order which granted New York
State waiver of the Connect America Phase II auction program rules,
subject to certain conditions. Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket
Nos. 10-90 et al., FCC 17-2 (New York Auction Order). Also, in December
2018, the Commission adopted reforms that included additional offers of
model-based support and increased broadband deployment obligations.
Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket No. 10-90 et al., Report and
Order, Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Order on
Reconsideration, FCC 18-176 (2018 Rate-of-Return Order).
The 2016 Rate-of-Return Order required that the Universal Service
Administrative Company (USAC) establish the portal so that carriers
could file their location data with the portal starting in 2017. The
2016 Rate-of-Return Order required all recipients of Phase II model-
based support and rate-of-return carriers to submit geocoded location
data and related certifications to the portal. Recipients of Phase II
model-based support had been required to file such information in their
annual reports due by July 1. The Phase II Auction Order, Alaska Plan
Order, and New York Auction Order require carriers to build-out
networks capable of meeting their public interest obligations and
report, to an online portal, locations to which auction winners had
deployed such networks. The Alaska Plan Order also made portal
reporting requirements for carriers to submit fiber/microwave middle-
mile network maps.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-24658 Filed 11-13-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
