Notice2024-29297
Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission Under Delegated Authority
Primary source
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Published
December 12, 2024
Issuing agencies
Federal Communications Commission
Abstract
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 FCC may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid 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 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 239 (Thursday, December 12, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 239 (Thursday, December 12, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 100489-100490]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-29297]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
[OMB 3060-1219; FR ID 267681]
Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal
Communications Commission Under Delegated Authority
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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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
[[Page 100490]]
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 FCC may not conduct
or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently
valid 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 Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
control number.
DATES: Written PRA comments should be submitted on or before February
10, 2025. 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 contact listed below as soon as possible.
ADDRESSES: Direct all PRA comments to Nicole Ongele, FCC, via email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#dd8d8f9c9dbbbebef3bab2ab"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="92c2c0d3d2f4f1f1bcf5fde4">[email protected]</span></a> and to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#37595e54585b5219585950525b527751545419505841"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d6b8bfb5b9bab3f8b9b8b1b3bab396b0b5b5f8b1b9a0">[email protected]</span></a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information about the
information collection, contact Nicole Ongele, (202) 418-2991.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
OMB Control Number: 3060-1219.
Title: Connect America Fund-Alternative Connect America Cost Model
Support.
Form Number: N/A.
Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents and Responses: 1,100 unique respondents;
1,100 responses.
Estimated Time per Response: 0.5 hours-2 hours.
Frequency of Response: On occasion and one-time reporting
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: 700 hours.
Total Annual Cost: No Cost.
Needs and Uses: The Commission is requesting approval for the
extension of this collection. In March 2016, the Commission adopted
significant reforms to place the universal service support program on
solid footing for the next decade to preserve and advance voice and
broadband service in areas served by rate-of-return carriers. Connect
America Fund; ETC Annual Reports and Certifications; Establishing Just
and Reasonable Rates for Local Exchange Carriers; Developing a Unified
Intercarrier Compensation Regime, WC Docket Nos. 10-90, 14-58, 07-135,
05-337, 03-109; CC Docket Nos. 01-92, Report and Order, Order and Order
on Reconsideration, and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 16-
33 (2016 Rate-of-Return Reform Order).
As part of the Rate-of-Return Reform Order, the Commission adopted
a voluntary path for rate-of-return carriers to receive model-based
support in exchange for making a commitment to deploy broadband-capable
networks meeting certain service obligations to a pre-determined number
of eligible locations in a state. By creating a voluntary pathway to
model-based support, the Commission will spur new broadband deployment
in rural areas. In several subsequent orders and public notices, the
Commission has further refined this voluntary pathway, and in the
December 2018 Rate-of-Return Reform Order, the Commission adopted a
second pathway for carriers that did not elect the first pathway.
Connect America Fund; ETC Annual Reports and Certifications;
Establishing Just and Reasonable Rates for Local Exchange Carriers;
Developing a Unified Intercarrier Compensation Regime, WC Docket Nos.
10-90, 14-58, 07-135, 05-337, 03-109; CC Docket Nos. 01-92, Report and
Order, Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, and Order on
Reconsideration, FCC 18-176 (December 2018 Rate-of-Return Reform
Order).
This information collection addresses the requirement that carriers
electing model-based support must notify the Commission of that
election and their commitment to satisfy the specific service
obligations associated with the amount of model support.
In the 2016 Rate-of-Return Reform Order, the Commission also
adopted reforms to the universal service mechanisms used to determine
support for rate-of-return carriers not electing model-based support.
Among other such reforms, the Commission adopted an operating expense
limitation to improve carriers' incentives to be prudent and efficient
in their expenditures, a capital investment allowance to better target
support to those areas with less broadband deployment, and broadband
deployment obligations to promote ``accountability from companies
receiving support to ensure that public investment are used wisely to
deliver intended results.'' In the December 2018 Rate-of-Return Order,
the Commission further modified or, in the case of the capital
investment allowance, eliminated these requirements. Other requirements
adopted in the Rate-of-Return Reform Order have been addressed under
other Office of Management and Budget control numbers. We therefore
propose to extend this information collection.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-29297 Filed 12-11-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
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