Information Collection Being Submitted for Review and Approval to Office of Management and Budget, 72399-72401 [2024-19911]

Download as PDF khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 172 / Thursday, September 5, 2024 / Notices Form Number: Not applicable. Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection. Respondents: Business or other forprofit entities and Individuals or households. Number of Respondents and Responses: 52,760 respondents, 1,939,422 responses. Estimated Time per Response: 0.0011 hour–2.166 hours. Frequency of Response: Recordkeeping requirement; Third party disclosure requirement; On occasion reporting requirement. Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The statutory authority for this collection of information is contained in 47 U.S.C. 151, 152, 154(i), 154(j), 303(r), 307, 317, and 325(c) of the Communications Act, as amended. Total Annual Burden: 332,922 hours. Total Annual Cost: $2,010,723. Needs and Uses: The Commission, in the Second Report and Order, FCC 24– 61, takes steps to ensure clear and reasonable foreign sponsorship identification rules. Section 73.1212(j) of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR 73.1212(j), requires radio and television broadcast stations to disclose to their audiences, at the time of broadcast, when material aired pursuant to the lease of time on the station has been sponsored, paid for, or furnished by a foreign governmental entity. Section 73.1212(k) of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR 73.1212(k), imposes corresponding obligations on stations with section 325(c) permits. The Commission’s authority to impose these regulations stems from section 317 of the Communications Act, which requires broadcast licensees to inform their audiences when the station has been paid to air a particular program, in furtherance of the longstanding broadcasting tenet that the public has a right to know the identity of those that solicit its support. The foreign sponsorship identification rules require broadcast licensees, at the time of entering or renewing a lease agreement (unless a once-a-year exception applies), to exercise reasonable diligence to ascertain whether a programming disclosure is required. To ensure that licensees are complying with their reasonable diligence and disclosure obligations, the foreign sponsorship identification rules require licensees to memorialize their required inquiries of lessees and to maintain records of their programming disclosures and their reasonable diligence efforts. In the Second Report and Order, the Commission modified the rule’s VerDate Sep<11>2014 22:19 Sep 04, 2024 Jkt 262001 information collection requirements by adopting an approach that provides licensees with two options for demonstrating that they have met their duty of inquiry in seeking to obtain the information needed to determine whether the programming provided by a lessee is sponsored by a foreign governmental entity. The Commission designed this approach to provide licensees with as much flexibility as possible and to minimize their paperwork costs and burdens while still ensuring compliance with the reasonable diligence requirements. One option available to licensees is the use of certifications, where both the licensee and the lessee complete a certification reflecting the communications and inquiries required under the existing rules. Licensees and lessees have the option either to use sample certification language set forth in simple, one-page, ‘‘check-box’’ templates appended to the Second Report and Order or to use language of the parties’ own choosing. Most licensee and lessee employees should be able to complete the forms quickly and readily, based upon their existing knowledge and understanding. It is highly unlikely that either the licensee or the lessee would need to engage in any type of research to respond to the queries contained in the certifications. Notably, these are the same inquiries the Commission adopted in the First Report and Order, only formatted now as a certification. If licensees and lessees prefer not to use the Commission’s templates, they may use their own certification language, provided that language addresses the points listed in § 73.1212(j)(3)(i) through (iii) of the rules, which were adopted in the First Report and Order. The Commission granted this flexibility to alleviate or minimize costs for licensees that already had developed their own certifications based on the existing foreign sponsorship identification rules. A lessee’s certification should convey the information needed to determine whether a disclosure is required and the information needed for a broadcast disclosure if one is required. As an alternative to the certification option, licensees may choose to ask their lessees for screenshots of lessees’ search results of two federal government websites (the Department of Justice’s FARA database and the Commission’s U.S.-based foreign media outlet report). Licensees choosing this option must still comply with all other aspects of the current rules, as they have been required to do since the compliance date of the First Report and Order. Licensees are encouraged to include in PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 72399 their lease agreements a requirement for lessees to provide notice of any change in status so as to trigger the need for a foreign sponsorship disclosure. Federal Communications Commission. Marlene Dortch, Secretary, Office of the Secretary. [FR Doc. 2024–19910 Filed 9–4–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6712–01–P FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION [OMB 3060–0233; FR ID 242032] Information Collection 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 October 7, 2024. 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 SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\05SEN1.SGM 05SEN1 khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES 72400 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 172 / Thursday, September 5, 2024 / Notices 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/ 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; Waiver of Local Exchange Carrier Study Area Boundary Changes. Form Number: FCC Form 507, FCC Form 508 and FCC Form 509. Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection. VerDate Sep<11>2014 22:19 Sep 04, 2024 Jkt 262001 Respondents: Business or other forprofit. Number of Respondents and Responses: 1,098 respondents; 3,627 responses. Estimated Time per Response: 1–22 hours. Frequency of Response: 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: 34,404 hours. Total Annual Cost: No Cost. 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, 54.5. The loop cost and loop count information is to be filed annually with NECA by July 31st of each year. See 47 CFR 54.1305. 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. Connect America Fund et al., Report and Order et al., 31 FCC Rcd 3087 (2016) (Rate-ofReturn Reform Order). The Rate-ofReturn Reform Order replaced the Interstate Common Line Support (ICLS) mechanism with the Connect America Fund—Broadband Loop Support (CAF– BLS) mechanism. Id. at 3117–57, paras. 80–187. 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. Id. at 3157–62, paras. 188–204. 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 PO 00000 Frm 00037 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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. 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). Historically, all rate-of-return carriers that received CAF–BLS or, prior to that, ICLS, were required to file line count data on FCC Form 507 as a condition of that support but Rate-ofreturn carriers that had elected to receive A–CAM I, A–CAM II, or Alaska Plan instead were not. Id. at 11937, para. 148. In order to restore a data set that the Commission relied on to evaluate the effectiveness of its highcost universal service programs, the Commission revised its rules in that Order to require all rate-of-return carriers to file that data. See id. at 11937, para. 51. 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. 47 CFR 54.903(a)(1), 54.313(f)(5). On October 20, 2023, the Commission made changes to rate-of-return reporting rules by eliminating optional unseparated loop cost data quarterly updates. Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket No. 10–90 et al. WT Docket No. 10–208, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Report and Order, FCC 23–87 at 79–80, paras. 181–82 (Oct. 20, 2023). In addition, the Commission amended section 36.4 of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR 36.4, to require local exchange carriers seeking a change in study area boundaries to submit a petition for waiver of these boundary changes notwithstanding any prior exemptions from such waiver requests including, but not limited to, when a company is combining previously unserved territory with one of its study areas or a holding company is consolidating existing study areas within the same state. See id. at 176– 180, paras. 77–79. The Commission therefore proposes to revise this information collection. E:\FR\FM\05SEN1.SGM 05SEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 172 / Thursday, September 5, 2024 / Notices Federal Communications Commission. Marlene Dortch, Secretary, Office of the Secretary. [FR Doc. 2024–19911 Filed 9–4–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6712–01–P FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION Sunshine Act Meetings Tuesday, September 17, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. and its continuation at the conclusion of the open meeting on September 19, 2024. PLACE: 1050 First Street NE, Washington, DC and virtual (this meeting will be a hybrid meeting). STATUS: This meeting will be closed to the public. MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: Compliance matters pursuant to 52 U.S.C. 30109. Matters concerning participation in civil actions or proceedings or arbitration. * * * * * CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION: Judith Ingram, Press Officer Telephone: (202) 694–1220. TIME AND DATE: (Authority: Government in the Sunshine Act, 5 U.S.C. 552b) Vicktoria J. Allen, Deputy Secretary of the Commission. [FR Doc. 2024–20161 Filed 9–3–24; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 6715–01–P [Document Identifiers: CMS–10280] Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Health and Human Services (HHS). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is announcing an opportunity for the public to comment on CMS’ intention to collect information from the public. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension or reinstatement of an existing collection of information, and to allow a second opportunity for public comment on the notice. Interested khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES 22:19 Sep 04, 2024 Jkt 262001 William Parham at (410) 786–4669. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501–3520), Federal agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. The term ‘‘collection of information’’ is defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR 1320.3(c) and includes agency requests or requirements that members of the public submit reports, keep records, or provide information to a third party. Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)) requires Federal agencies to publish a 30-day notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension or reinstatement of an existing collection of information, before submitting the collection to OMB for approval. To comply with this requirement, CMS is publishing this notice that summarizes the following proposed collection(s) of information for public comment: 1. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services VerDate Sep<11>2014 Comments on the collection(s) of information must be received by the OMB desk officer by October 7, 2024. ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice 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. To obtain copies of a supporting statement and any related forms for the proposed collection(s) summarized in this notice, please access the CMS PRA website by copying and pasting the following web address into your web browser: https://www.cms.gov/ Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/ PaperworkReductionActof1995/PRAListing. DATES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SUMMARY: persons are invited to send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including the necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency’s functions, the accuracy of the estimated burden, ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected, and the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology to minimize the information collection burden. PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 72401 approved collection; Titles of Information Collection: Home Health Change of Care Notice; Use: The purpose of the Home Health Change of Care Notice (HHCCN) is to notify original Medicare beneficiaries receiving home health care benefits of plan of care changes. Consistent with the Medicare Conditions of Participation (COPs) for home health agencies (HHAs) and the decision of the US Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit decision in Lutwin v. Thompson, HHAs must provide the HHCCN to a beneficiary whenever they reduce or terminate that beneficiary’s home health services due to physician/provider orders or limitation of the HHA in providing the specific service. Notification is required for covered and non-covered services listed in the plan of care (POC). Implementing regulations are found at 42 CFR 484.10(c). These requirements are fulfilled by the HHCCN. Home health agencies (HHAs) are required to provide written notice to Original Medicare beneficiaries under various circumstances involving the reduction or termination of items and/ or services consistent with Home Health Agencies Conditions of Participation (COPs). The beneficiary will use the information provided to decide whether or not to pursue alternative options to continue receiving the care noted on the HHCCN. Form Numbers: CMS–10280 (OMB control number: 0938–1196); Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public: Private Sector—Business or other forprofit and Not-for-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 11,353; Total Annual Responses: 19,004,850; Total Annual Hours: 1,265,723. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact, Jennifer Mccormick at 410– 786–2852.) William N. Parham, III, Director, Division of Information Collections and Regulatory Impacts, Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs. [FR Doc. 2024–19863 Filed 9–4–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4120–01–P E:\FR\FM\05SEN1.SGM 05SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 172 (Thursday, September 5, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72399-72401]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-19911]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[OMB 3060-0233; FR ID 242032]


Information Collection 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 October 7, 
2024.

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

[[Page 72400]]

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/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; Waiver of Local Exchange Carrier Study Area Boundary 
Changes.
    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: 1,098 respondents; 3,627 
responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 1-22 hours.
    Frequency of Response: 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: 34,404 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: No Cost.
    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, 54.5. The loop cost and loop count 
information is to be filed annually with NECA by July 31st of each 
year. See 47 CFR 54.1305. 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. Connect America Fund et al., Report and 
Order et al., 31 FCC Rcd 3087 (2016) (Rate-of-Return Reform Order). 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. Id. at 3117-57, paras. 80-187. 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. Id. at 3157-62, paras. 188-204. 
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. 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). Historically, all rate-of-return carriers that received CAF-BLS 
or, prior to that, ICLS, were required to file line count data on FCC 
Form 507 as a condition of that support but Rate-of-return carriers 
that had elected to receive A-CAM I, A-CAM II, or Alaska Plan instead 
were not. Id. at 11937, para. 148. 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. See id. 
at 11937, para. 51. 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. 47 CFR 54.903(a)(1), 54.313(f)(5).
    On October 20, 2023, the Commission made changes to rate-of-return 
reporting rules by eliminating optional unseparated loop cost data 
quarterly updates. Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket No. 10-90 et 
al. WT Docket No. 10-208, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Report and 
Order, FCC 23-87 at 79-80, paras. 181-82 (Oct. 20, 2023). In addition, 
the Commission amended section 36.4 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 
36.4, to require local exchange carriers seeking a change in study area 
boundaries to submit a petition for waiver of these boundary changes 
notwithstanding any prior exemptions from such waiver requests 
including, but not limited to, when a company is combining previously 
unserved territory with one of its study areas or a holding company is 
consolidating existing study areas within the same state. See id. at 
176-180, paras. 77-79. The Commission therefore proposes to revise this 
information collection.


[[Page 72401]]


Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-19911 Filed 9-4-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
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