Notice2026-01830
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 30, 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. 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 91 Issue 20 (Friday, January 30, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 20 (Friday, January 30, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4081-4082]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-01830]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
[OMB 3060-1256; FR ID 327952]
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.
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 March 31,
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#7e2e2c3f3e181d1d50191108"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="98c8cad9d8fefbfbb6fff7ee">[email protected]</span></a> and to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a3cdcac0cccfc68dcccdc4c6cfc6e3c5c0c08dc4ccd5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b0ded9d3dfdcd59edfded7d5dcd5f0d6d3d39ed7dfc6">[email protected]</span></a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information about the
information collection, contact Nicole Ongele, (202) 418-2991.
OMB Control Number: 3060-1256.
Title: Connect America Fund Phase II and Rural Digital Opportunity
Fund Auction 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: 530 respondents and 530
responses.
Estimated Time per Response: 2 hours.
Frequency of Response: Annual reporting requirements.
Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits.
Statutory authority for this information collection 47 U.S.C. 154, 214,
254 and 303(r) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.
Total Annual Burden: 1,060 hours.
Total Annual Cost: No Cost.
Needs and Uses:
Connect America Fund Phase II Auction
The Commission is requesting the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) approval for this revised information collection. On November 18,
2011, the Commission released the USF/ICC Transformation Order and
Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, WC Docket No. 10-90 et al., FCC
11-161 (USF/ICC Transformation Order and/or FNPRM), which
comprehensively reformed and modernized the high-cost program within
the universal service fund to focus support on networks capable of
providing voice and broadband services. Among other things, the
Commission created the CAF and concluded that support in price cap
areas would be provided through a combination of ``a new forward-
looking model of the cost of constructing modern multi-purpose
networks'' and a competitive bidding process (CAF Phase II auction or
Auction 903). The Commission also sought comment in the accompanying
USF/ICC Transformation FNPRM on proposed rules governing the CAF Phase
II auction, including basic auction design and the application process.
In the CAF Phase II auction, service providers competed to receive
support of up to $1.98 billion over 10 years to offer voice and
broadband service in unserved high-cost areas. The information
collection requirements reported under this collection are the result
of several Commission decisions to implement the reform adopted in the
USF/ICC Transformation Order and move forward with conducting the CAF
Phase II auction. In the April 2014 Connect America Order, WC Docket
No. 10-90 et al., FCC 14-54, the
[[Page 4082]]
Commission adopted various rules regarding participation in the CAF
Phase II auction, the term of support, and the eligible
telecommunications carrier (ETC) designation process. In the Phase II
Auction Order, WC Docket No. 10-90 et al., FCC 16-64, the Commission
adopted rules to govern the CAF Phase II auction, including the
adoption of a two-stage application process, which includes a pre-
auction short-form application to be submitted by parties interested in
bidding in the CAF Phase II auction and a post-auction long-form
application that must be submitted by winning bidders seeking to become
authorized to receive CAF Phase II auction support. The Commission
concluded, based on its experience with auctions and consistent with
the record, that this two-stage application process balances the need
to collect information essential to conducting a successful auction and
authorizing CAF Phase II support with administrative efficiency.
On January 30, 2018, the Commission adopted a public notice that
established the final procedures for the CAF Phase II auction,
including the long-form application disclosure and certification
requirements for winning bidders seeking to become authorized to
receive CAF Phase II auction support. See Phase II Auction Procedures
Public Notice, WC Docket No. 17-182 et al., FCC 18-6. The Commission
also adopted the Phase II Auction Order on Reconsideration, WC Docket
No. 10-90 et al., FCC 18-5, which modified the Commission's letter of
credit rules to provide some additional relief for CAF Phase II auction
support recipients by reducing the costs of maintaining a letter of
credit. On January 19, 2023, WCB released a public notice announcing
that the Commission had concluded its review of CAF Phase II auction
long-form applications. See WCB Concludes CAF II Application Review,
Long-Forms Made Public, AU Docket No. 17-182 et al., DA 23-49.
The Commission eliminated the information collection requirements
related to the CAF Phase II auction FCC Form 683 now that its review of
CAF Phase II auction long-form applications has concluded.
Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Auction
On February 7, 2020 the Commission released the Rural Digital
Opportunity Fund Order, WC Docket Nos. 19-126, 10-90, FCC 20-5 which
will commit up to $20.4 billion over the next decade to support up to
gigabit speed broadband networks in rural America. Funding was
allocated through a multi-round, reverse, descending clock auction that
favored faster services with lower latency and encouraged intermodal
competition in order to ensure that the greatest possible number of
Americans will be connected to the best possible networks, all at a
competitive cost.
To implement the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund auction (or Auction
904), the Commission adopted new rules for the Rural Digital
Opportunity Fund auction, including the adoption of a two-stage
application process. Like with the CAF Phase II auction, this process
included a pre-auction short-form application submitted by parties
interested in bidding in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund auction
(FCC Form 183) and a post-auction long-form application that must be
submitted by winning bidders (or their designees) seeking to become
authorized to receive Rural Digital Opportunity Fund support (FCC Form
683). The Commission received approval for the short-form application
(FCC Form 183) in a separate collection under the OMB control number
3060-1252.
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 54.315(a)-(b)
and 47 CFR 54.804(a)-(b) are outdated and obsolete, and unnecessary
because all associated proposals using FCC Form 683 have concluded.
Therefore, the Commission proposes to remove the application
requirement and retains only the limited ongoing requirements related
to the annual maintenance of letters of credit under 47 CFR 54.315(c)
CAF Phase II and 54.804(c) RDOF.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2026-01830 Filed 1-29-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
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