Notice2026-01105
Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
January 22, 2026
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.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 14 (Thursday, January 22, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 14 (Thursday, January 22, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 2778]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-01105]
[[Page 2778]]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
[OMB 3060-1274; FR ID 326905]
Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal
Communications Commission
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 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.
DATES: Written PRA comments should be submitted on or before March 23,
2026. 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#b7e7e5f6f7d1d4d499d0d8c1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7d2d2f3c3d1b1e1e531a120b">[email protected]</span></a> and to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0e60676d61626b206160696b626b4e686d6d20696178"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="89e7e0eae6e5eca7e6e7eeece5ecc9efeaeaa7eee6ff">[email protected]</span></a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information about the
information collection, contact Nicole Ongele, (202) 418-2991.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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.
OMB Control Number: 3060-1274.
Title: Uniendo a Puerto Rico Fund and the Connect USVI Fund Stage 2
Fixed Support.
Form Number: N/A.
Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities, Not-for-profit
institutions, and State, Local or Tribal governments.
Number of Respondents and Responses: 3 respondents; 6 responses.
Estimated Time per Response: 2-10 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, and 254.
Total Annual Burden: 36 hours.
Total Annual Cost: No Cost.
Needs and Uses: On September 30, 2019, the Commission released the
Uniendo a Puerto Rico Fund and Connect USVI Fund Order, WC Docket No.
18-143 et al., FCC 19-95, which comprehensively reformed the universal
service high-cost program to focus support on networks capable of
providing advanced, hardened voice and broadband services in Puerto
Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (collectively, the Territories). As
part of the PR-USVI Order, the Commission adopted a single-round
competitive proposal process to award Stage 2 support for fixed
telecommunications networks in the Territories (Stage 2 Competition).
For the Stage 2 Competition, service providers competed to receive
high-cost support of up to $504.7 million in Puerto Rico and $186.5
million in the U.S. Virgin Islands over 10 years to offer fixed voice
and broadband services to all locations in the Territories in
accordance with the framework adopted in the PR-USVI Order. The
information collection requirements reported under this collection are
the result of the competitive proposal process adopted by the PR-USVI
Order to award support to winning applicants. The Commission adopted
various rules regarding the eligibility of service providers and the
term of support. In addition, the Commission adopted rules to govern
the competitive proposal process, which includes information to be
submitted by parties as part of their competitive proposals and
information that must be submitted by winning bidders seeking to become
authorized to receive Stage 2 fixed support. The Commission concluded,
based on its experience with awarding high-cost support and consistent
with the record, that this single-stage competitive proposal process
balances the need to collect information essential to awarding support
and authorizing Stage 2 fixed support with administrative efficiency.
On September 30, 2025, the Commission adopted an order that
conducted a comprehensive review of legacy requirements and determined
that certain high-cost program rules no longer serve any operational
purpose. Delete, Delete Delete; Removal of Obsolete Regulations; GN
Docket No. 25-133, FCC 25-68 (rel. September 30, 2025) (Delete, Delete,
Delete). This requested change results from the Commission's decision
in that proceeding. The Commission determined that 47 CFR 54.1505 is
outdated and obsolete, and unnecessary because all associated proposals
using FCC Form 5634 have concluded.
Therefore, the Commission removes the application requirement and
retains only the limited ongoing requirements related to the annual
maintenance of letters of credit under 47 CFR 54.804(c), 54.1508 and
the disaster preparation and response plan under Sec. 54.1515. This
information collection addresses the burdens associated with these
requirements.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2026-01105 Filed 1-21-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
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