Information Collections Being Submitted for Review and Approval to Office of Management and Budget, 28634-28636 [2020-10160]
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<![CDATA[
28634
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 93 / Wednesday, May 13, 2020 / Notices
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),
Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit,
or various Tribal-specific federal
assistance programs. In a Report and
Order adopted on March 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. The purpose
of this particular program is to verify
Lifeline eligibility by establishing that
applicants or subscribers in Nevada are
enrolled in the SNAP or Medicaid
programs.
Participating Non-Federal Agency
Nevada Department of Health and
Human Services, Division of Welfare
and Supportive Services (DWSS).
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Authority for Conducting the Matching
Program
47 U.S.C. 254; 47 CFR 54.400 et seq.;
Lifeline and Link Up Reform and
Modernization, et al., Third Report and
Order, Further Report and Order, and
Order on Reconsideration, 31 FCC Rcd
3962, 4006–21, paras. 126–66 (2016)
(2016 Lifeline Modernization Order).
Purpose(s)
In the 2016 Lifeline Modernization
Order, the FCC required USAC to
develop and operate a National Lifeline
Eligibility Verifier (National Verifier) to
improve efficiency and reduce waste,
fraud, and abuse in the Lifeline
program. The stated purpose of the
National Verifier is ‘‘to increase the
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integrity and improve the performance
of the Lifeline program for the benefit of
a variety of Lifeline participants,
including Lifeline providers,
subscribers, states, community-based
organizations, USAC, and the
Commission.’’ 31 FCC Rcd 3962, 4006,
para. 126. To help determine whether
Lifeline applicants and subscribers are
eligible for Lifeline benefits, the Order
contemplates that a USAC-operated
Lifeline Eligibility Database (LED) will
communicate with information systems
and databases operated by other Federal
and State agencies. Id. at 4011–2, paras.
135–7.
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
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, the last four digits of the
Lifeline applicant’s Social Security
Number, date of birth, and last name.
The National Verifier will transfer these
data elements to the Nevada DWSS,
which will respond either ‘‘yes’’ or ‘‘no’’
that the individual is enrolled in a
Lifeline-qualifying assistance program:
the State of Nevada’s SNAP and
Medicaid data.
System(s) of Records
The USAC records shared as part of
this matching program reside in the
Lifeline system of records, FCC/WCB–1,
Lifeline Program, a notice of which the
FCC published at 82 FR 38,686 (Aug. 15,
2017) and became effective on
September 14, 2017.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020–10162 Filed 5–12–20; 8:45 am]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
[OMB 3060–0233, OMB 3060–0986; FRS
16733]
Information Collections Being
Submitted for Review and Approval to
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, 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.
Pursuant to the Small Business
Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, the FCC
seeks specific comment on how it might
‘‘further reduce the information
collection burden for 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 and
recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be
submitted on or before June 12, 2020.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.
Find this particular information
collection by selecting ‘‘Currently under
30-day Review—Open for Public
Comments’’ or by using the search
function. Your comment must be
submitted into www.reginfo.gov per the
above instructions for it to be
considered. In addition to submitting in
www.reginfo.gov also send a copy of
your comment on the proposed
information collection to Nicole Ongele,
FCC, via email to 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
Ongele at (202) 418–2991. To view a
copy of this information collection
request (ICR) submitted to OMB: (1) Go
to the web page https://www.reginfo.gov/
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 93 / Wednesday, May 13, 2020 / Notices
public/do/PRAMain, (2) look for the
section of the web page 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 Title
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, as required by the
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995
(44 U.S.C. 3501–3520), the FCC invited
the general public and other Federal
Agencies to take this opportunity to
comment on the following information
collection. Comments are requested
concerning: (a) 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; (b) the accuracy of the
Commission’s burden estimates; (c)
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information collected; and
(d) 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.
Pursuant to the Small Business
Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, Public
Law 107–198, see 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(4),
the FCC seeks specific comment on how
it might ‘‘further reduce the information
collection burden for small business
concerns with fewer than 25
employees.’’
OMB Control Number: 3060–0233.
Title: Part 54—Rate-of-Return Carrier
Universal Service Reporting
Requirements.
Form Number: FCC Form 507, FCC
Form 508 and FCC Form 509.
Type of Review: Revision of a
currently approved collection.
Respondents: Business or other forprofit.
Number of Respondents and
Responses: 1,095 respondents; 4,044
responses.
Estimated Time per Response: 1–22
hours.
Frequency of Response: On occasion
and annual reporting requirements.
Obligation to Respond: Required to
obtain or retain benefits. Statutory
authority for this information collection
is contained in 47 U.S.C. 151–154, 214,
218–220, 221(c), 254, and 303(r).
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Total Annual Burden: 43,638 hours.
Total Annual Cost: No Cost.
Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No
impact(s).
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality:
No assurance of confidentiality has been
given regarding the information.
However, respondents may request
materials or information submitted to
the Commission be withheld from
public inspection under 47 CFR 0.459 of
the FCC’s rules.
Needs and Uses: In order to determine
which carriers are entitled to universal
service support, all rate-of-return
regulated (rate-of-return) incumbent
local exchange carriers (LECs) must
provide the National Exchange Carrier
Association (NECA) with the loop cost
and loop count data required by section
54.1305 for each of its study areas and,
if applicable, for each wire center as that
term is defined in 47 CFR part 54. See
47 CFR 54.1305 and 54.5. The loop cost
and loop count information is to be filed
annually with NECA by July 31st of
each year, and may be updated
occasionally pursuant to section
54.1306. See 47 CFR 54.1306. Pursuant
to section 54.1307, the information filed
on July 31st of each year will be used
to calculate universal service support
for each study area and is filed by NECA
with the Commission on October 1 of
each year. See 47 CFR 54.1307. An
incumbent LEC is defined as a carrier
that meets the definition of ‘‘incumbent
local exchange carrier’’ in section 51.5
of the Commission’s rules. See 47 CFR
51.5.
In March 2016, the Commission
adopted the Rate-of-Return Reform
Order to continue modernizing the
universal service support mechanisms
for rate-of-return carriers. The Rate-ofReturn Reform Order replaced the
Interstate Common Line Support (ICLS)
mechanism with the Connect America
Fund—Broadband Loop Support (CAF–
BLS) mechanism. While ICLS supported
only lines used to provide traditional
voice service (including voice service
bundled with broadband service), CAF–
BLS also supports consumer broadbandonly loops. In March 2016, the
Commission adopted the Rate-of-Return
Reform Order to continue modernizing
the universal service support
mechanisms for rate-of-return carriers.
The Rate-of-Return Reform Order
replaced the Interstate Common Line
Support (ICLS) mechanism with the
Connect America Fund—Broadband
Loop Support (CAF–BLS) mechanism.
While ICLS supported only lines used to
provide traditional voice service
(including voice service bundled with
broadband service), CAF–BLS also
supports consumer broadband-only
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28635
loops. For the purposes of calculating
and monitoring CAF–BLS, rate-of-return
carriers that receive CAF–BLS must file
common line and consumer broadbandonly loop counts on FCC Form 507,
forecasted common line and consumer
broadband-only loop costs and revenues
on FCC Form 508, and actual common
line and consumer broadband-only loop
costs and revenues on FCC Form 509.
See 47 CFR 54.903(a).
In December 2018, the Commission
adopted the December 2018 Rate-ofReturn Reform Order to require rate-ofreturn carriers that receive Alternative
Connect American Model (A–CAM) or
Alaska Plan support to file line count
data on FCC Form 507 as a condition of
high-cost support. Historically, all rateof-return carriers received CAF BLS or,
prior to that, ICLS, and were required to
file line count data on FCC Form 507 as
a condition of that support. In recent
years, some rate-of-return carriers have
elected to receive A–CAM I, A–CAM II,
or Alaska Plan instead, and those
carriers were not required to file line
count data because the requirement to
file applied only to rate-of-return
carriers receiving CAF BLS. In order to
restore a data set that the Commission
relied on to evaluate the effectiveness of
its high-cost universal service programs,
the Commission revised its rules in that
Order to require all rate-of-return
carriers to file that data. While carriers
receiving CAF–BLS must file the line
count data on March 31 for line counts
as of the prior December 31, the A–CAM
I, A–CAM II, and Alaska Plan carriers
will be required to file on July 1 of each
year to coincide with other existing
requirements in OMB Control No. 3060–
0986. Connect America Fund et al., WC
Docket No. 10–90 et al., Report and
Order, Further Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking and Order on
Reconsideration, 33 FCC Rcd 11893
(2018) (2018 Rate-of-Return Reform
Order). See also 47 CFR 54.313(f)(5).
The Commission therefore proposes
to revise this information collection. We
also propose to increase the burdens
associated with existing reporting
requirements to account for additional
carriers that will be subject to those
requirements.
OMB Control Number: 3060–0986.
Title: High-Cost Universal Service
Support.
Form Number: FCC Form 481 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.
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28636
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 93 / Wednesday, May 13, 2020 / Notices
Number of Respondents and
Responses: 2,034 respondents; 12,729
responses.
Estimated Time per Response: 0.1–15
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: 54,519 hours.
Total Annual Cost: No Cost.
Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No
impact(s).
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality:
The Commission notes that the
Universal Service Administrative
Company (USAC) must preserve the
confidentiality of all data obtained from
respondents and contributors to the
universal service support program
mechanism; must not use the data
except for purposes of administering the
universal service program; must not use
the data except for purposes of
administering the universal support
program; and must not disclose data in
company-specific form unless directed
to do so by the Commission. Parties may
submit confidential information in
relation pursuant to a protective order.
Also, respondents may request materials
or information submitted to the
Commission or to the Administrator
believed confidential to be withheld
from public inspection under 47 CFR
0.459 of the FCC’s rules.
Needs and Uses: The Commission is
requesting the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) approval for this
revised information collection. 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; 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
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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); 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);
Connect America Fund; ETC Annual
Reports and Certifications, WC Docket
Nos. 10–90, 14–58, Report and Order, 32
FCC Rcd 5944 (2017). The Commission
has received OMB approval for most of
the information collections required by
these orders.
More recently, through several orders,
the Commission has changed or
modified reporting obligations for highcost support. In the CAF Phase II
Auction Order, the Commission adopted
rules requiring Connect America Phase
II auction support recipients to certify
the networks they operated in the prior
year meet the Commission’s
performance requirements, to identify
the total amount of support, if any, that
was used for capital expenditures in the
previous calendar year, and to certify
they have available funds for all project
costs that will exceed the amount of
support to be received from the
authorization stemming from the Phase
II auction for the next calendar year.
Connect America Fund, et al., WC
Docket No. 10–90, et al., Report and
Order and Further Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking, 31 FCC Rcd 5949 (2016)
(CAF Phase II Auction Order).
In the New York Waiver Order, the
Commission extended to New York
carriers who receive Connect America
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Phase II support in conjunction with the
state’s New NY Broadband Program the
same annual reporting requirements
adopted for Phase II auction recipients,
as well as the requirement for the state
public service commission to certify
annually that those carriers’ high cost
support ‘‘was used in the preceding
calendar year and will be used in the
coming calendar year only for the
provision, maintenance, and upgrading
of facilities and services for which the
support is intended.’’ Connect America
Fund; ETC Annual Reports and
Certifications, WC Docket Nos. 10–90,
14–58, Order, 32 FCC Rcd 968 (2017)
(New York Waiver Order).
In the December 2018 Rate-of-Return
Order, the Commission modified the
reasonable request certification rule
applicable to rate-of-return ETCs to (1)
require Connect America FundAlternative Connect America Cost
Model (CAF–ACAM) support recipients
to certify that they are meeting the
relevant reasonable request standard
and (2) require rate-of-return ETCs
receiving legacy high-cost support to
certify that they are meeting a 25 Mbps/
3 Mbps reasonable request standard.
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, at 19–20,
para. 17 (Dec. 13, 2018) (December 2018
Rate-of-Return Order). See also 47 CFR
54.313(f)(1)(i).
In the CAF Phase II Transitions Order,
the Commission adopted rules requiring
price cap or fixed competitive eligible
communications carriers receiving
phase-down support to certify that the
phase-down support they received in
the previous year was used to provide
voice service to high-cost and extremely
high-cost census blocks where they
continue to have federal obligation to
provide such services. Connect America
Fund, WC Docket 10–90, Report and
Order, FCC 19–8, at 11, para. 25 (Feb.
15, 2019).
The Commission therefore proposes
to revise this information collection, as
well as Form 481 and its accompanying
instructions, to reflect these new and
revised requirements. We also propose
to increase the burdens associated with
existing reporting requirements to
account for additional carriers that will
be subject to those requirements.
Federal Communications Commission.
Cecilia Sigmund,
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020–10160 Filed 5–12–20; 8:45 am]
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[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 93 (Wednesday, May 13, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28634-28636]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-10160]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
[OMB 3060-0233, OMB 3060-0986; FRS 16733]
Information Collections Being Submitted for Review and Approval
to 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,
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. Pursuant to the Small Business
Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, the FCC seeks specific comment on how it
might ``further reduce the information collection burden for 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 and recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be submitted on or before June 12, 2020.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting
``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using
the search function. Your comment must be submitted into
www.reginfo.gov per the above instructions for it to be considered. In
addition to submitting in www.reginfo.gov also send a copy of your
comment on the proposed information collection to Nicole Ongele, FCC,
via email to [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 web page https://www.reginfo.gov/
[[Page 28635]]
public/do/PRAMain, (2) look for the section of the web page 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 Title
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, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), the FCC invited the general public and
other Federal Agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the
following information collection. Comments are requested concerning:
(a) 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; (b) the accuracy
of the Commission's burden estimates; (c) ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (d) 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. Pursuant to the Small Business
Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, Public Law 107-198, see 44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(4), the FCC seeks specific comment on how it might ``further
reduce the information collection burden for small business concerns
with fewer than 25 employees.''
OMB Control Number: 3060-0233.
Title: Part 54--Rate-of-Return Carrier Universal Service Reporting
Requirements.
Form Number: FCC Form 507, FCC Form 508 and FCC Form 509.
Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents and Responses: 1,095 respondents; 4,044
responses.
Estimated Time per Response: 1-22 hours.
Frequency of Response: On occasion and annual reporting
requirements.
Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits.
Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47
U.S.C. 151-154, 214, 218-220, 221(c), 254, and 303(r).
Total Annual Burden: 43,638 hours.
Total Annual Cost: No Cost.
Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: No assurance of
confidentiality has been given regarding the information. However,
respondents may request materials or information submitted to the
Commission be withheld from public inspection under 47 CFR 0.459 of the
FCC's rules.
Needs and Uses: In order to determine which carriers are entitled
to universal service support, all rate-of-return regulated (rate-of-
return) incumbent local exchange carriers (LECs) must provide the
National Exchange Carrier Association (NECA) with the loop cost and
loop count data required by section 54.1305 for each of its study areas
and, if applicable, for each wire center as that term is defined in 47
CFR part 54. See 47 CFR 54.1305 and 54.5. The loop cost and loop count
information is to be filed annually with NECA by July 31st of each
year, and may be updated occasionally pursuant to section 54.1306. See
47 CFR 54.1306. Pursuant to section 54.1307, the information filed on
July 31st of each year will be used to calculate universal service
support for each study area and is filed by NECA with the Commission on
October 1 of each year. See 47 CFR 54.1307. An incumbent LEC is defined
as a carrier that meets the definition of ``incumbent local exchange
carrier'' in section 51.5 of the Commission's rules. See 47 CFR 51.5.
In March 2016, the Commission adopted the Rate-of-Return Reform
Order to continue modernizing the universal service support mechanisms
for rate-of-return carriers. The Rate-of-Return Reform Order replaced
the Interstate Common Line Support (ICLS) mechanism with the Connect
America Fund--Broadband Loop Support (CAF-BLS) mechanism. While ICLS
supported only lines used to provide traditional voice service
(including voice service bundled with broadband service), CAF-BLS also
supports consumer broadband-only loops. In March 2016, the Commission
adopted the Rate-of-Return Reform Order to continue modernizing the
universal service support mechanisms for rate-of-return carriers. The
Rate-of-Return Reform Order replaced the Interstate Common Line Support
(ICLS) mechanism with the Connect America Fund--Broadband Loop Support
(CAF-BLS) mechanism. While ICLS supported only lines used to provide
traditional voice service (including voice service bundled with
broadband service), CAF-BLS also supports consumer broadband-only
loops. For the purposes of calculating and monitoring CAF-BLS, rate-of-
return carriers that receive CAF-BLS must file common line and consumer
broadband-only loop counts on FCC Form 507, forecasted common line and
consumer broadband-only loop costs and revenues on FCC Form 508, and
actual common line and consumer broadband-only loop costs and revenues
on FCC Form 509. See 47 CFR 54.903(a).
In December 2018, the Commission adopted the December 2018 Rate-of-
Return Reform Order to require rate-of-return carriers that receive
Alternative Connect American Model (A-CAM) or Alaska Plan support to
file line count data on FCC Form 507 as a condition of high-cost
support. Historically, all rate-of-return carriers received CAF BLS or,
prior to that, ICLS, and were required to file line count data on FCC
Form 507 as a condition of that support. In recent years, some rate-of-
return carriers have elected to receive A-CAM I, A-CAM II, or Alaska
Plan instead, and those carriers were not required to file line count
data because the requirement to file applied only to rate-of-return
carriers receiving CAF BLS. In order to restore a data set that the
Commission relied on to evaluate the effectiveness of its high-cost
universal service programs, the Commission revised its rules in that
Order to require all rate-of-return carriers to file that data. While
carriers receiving CAF-BLS must file the line count data on March 31
for line counts as of the prior December 31, the A-CAM I, A-CAM II, and
Alaska Plan carriers will be required to file on July 1 of each year to
coincide with other existing requirements in OMB Control No. 3060-0986.
Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket No. 10-90 et al., Report and
Order, Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Order on
Reconsideration, 33 FCC Rcd 11893 (2018) (2018 Rate-of-Return Reform
Order). See also 47 CFR 54.313(f)(5).
The Commission therefore proposes to revise this information
collection. We also propose to increase the burdens associated with
existing reporting requirements to account for additional carriers that
will be subject to those requirements.
OMB Control Number: 3060-0986.
Title: High-Cost Universal Service Support.
Form Number: FCC Form 481 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.
[[Page 28636]]
Number of Respondents and Responses: 2,034 respondents; 12,729
responses.
Estimated Time per Response: 0.1-15 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: 54,519 hours.
Total Annual Cost: No Cost.
Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: The Commission notes that the
Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) must preserve the
confidentiality of all data obtained from respondents and contributors
to the universal service support program mechanism; must not use the
data except for purposes of administering the universal service
program; must not use the data except for purposes of administering the
universal support program; and must not disclose data in company-
specific form unless directed to do so by the Commission. Parties may
submit confidential information in relation pursuant to a protective
order. Also, respondents may request materials or information submitted
to the Commission or to the Administrator believed confidential to be
withheld from public inspection under 47 CFR 0.459 of the FCC's rules.
Needs and Uses: The Commission is requesting the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) approval for this revised information
collection. 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;
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); 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); Connect America Fund; ETC Annual Reports and Certifications, WC
Docket Nos. 10-90, 14-58, Report and Order, 32 FCC Rcd 5944 (2017). The
Commission has received OMB approval for most of the information
collections required by these orders.
More recently, through several orders, the Commission has changed
or modified reporting obligations for high-cost support. In the CAF
Phase II Auction Order, the Commission adopted rules requiring Connect
America Phase II auction support recipients to certify the networks
they operated in the prior year meet the Commission's performance
requirements, to identify the total amount of support, if any, that was
used for capital expenditures in the previous calendar year, and to
certify they have available funds for all project costs that will
exceed the amount of support to be received from the authorization
stemming from the Phase II auction for the next calendar year. Connect
America Fund, et al., WC Docket No. 10-90, et al., Report and Order and
Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 31 FCC Rcd 5949 (2016) (CAF
Phase II Auction Order).
In the New York Waiver Order, the Commission extended to New York
carriers who receive Connect America Phase II support in conjunction
with the state's New NY Broadband Program the same annual reporting
requirements adopted for Phase II auction recipients, as well as the
requirement for the state public service commission to certify annually
that those carriers' high cost support ``was used in the preceding
calendar year and will be used in the coming calendar year only for the
provision, maintenance, and upgrading of facilities and services for
which the support is intended.'' Connect America Fund; ETC Annual
Reports and Certifications, WC Docket Nos. 10-90, 14-58, Order, 32 FCC
Rcd 968 (2017) (New York Waiver Order).
In the December 2018 Rate-of-Return Order, the Commission modified
the reasonable request certification rule applicable to rate-of-return
ETCs to (1) require Connect America Fund-Alternative Connect America
Cost Model (CAF-ACAM) support recipients to certify that they are
meeting the relevant reasonable request standard and (2) require rate-
of-return ETCs receiving legacy high-cost support to certify that they
are meeting a 25 Mbps/3 Mbps reasonable request standard. 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, at 19-20, para. 17 (Dec. 13, 2018) (December 2018 Rate-of-
Return Order). See also 47 CFR 54.313(f)(1)(i).
In the CAF Phase II Transitions Order, the Commission adopted rules
requiring price cap or fixed competitive eligible communications
carriers receiving phase-down support to certify that the phase-down
support they received in the previous year was used to provide voice
service to high-cost and extremely high-cost census blocks where they
continue to have federal obligation to provide such services. Connect
America Fund, WC Docket 10-90, Report and Order, FCC 19-8, at 11, para.
25 (Feb. 15, 2019).
The Commission therefore proposes to revise this information
collection, as well as Form 481 and its accompanying instructions, to
reflect these new and revised requirements. We also propose to increase
the burdens associated with existing reporting requirements to account
for additional carriers that will be subject to those requirements.
Federal Communications Commission.
Cecilia Sigmund,
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020-10160 Filed 5-12-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
