Rule2026-18780
Promoting Fair and Open Competitive Bidding in the E-Rate Program; Schools and Libraries Universal Service Support Mechanism
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
September 14, 2026
Effective
September 14, 2026
Issuing agencies
Federal Communications Commission
Abstract
In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved until November 30, 2027 an information collection associated with the rules for the Universal Service Schools and Libraries program contained in the Commission's Promoting Fair and Open Competitive Bidding in the E-Rate Program; Schools and Libraries Universal Service Support Mechanism Report and Order (Report and Order), WC Docket No. 21-455, CC Docket No. 02-6; FCC 26-30. This document is consistent with the Report and Order, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date of the new information collection requirements.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 176 (Monday, September 14, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 176 (Monday, September 14, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 58027-58028]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-18780]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 54
[WC Docket No. 21-455, CC Docket No. 02-6; FCC 26-30; FR ID 366213]
Promoting Fair and Open Competitive Bidding in the E-Rate
Program; Schools and Libraries Universal Service Support Mechanism
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Final rule; announcement of effective date.
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SUMMARY: In this document, the Federal Communications Commission
(Commission) announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
has approved until November 30, 2027 an information collection
associated with the rules for the Universal Service Schools and
Libraries program contained in the Commission's Promoting Fair and Open
Competitive Bidding in the E-Rate Program; Schools and Libraries
Universal Service Support Mechanism Report and Order (Report and
Order), WC Docket No. 21-455, CC Docket No. 02-6; FCC 26-30. This
document is consistent with the Report and Order, which stated that the
Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing
the effective date of the new information collection requirements.
DATES: The amendatory instructions 4 and 5, published at 91 FR 29051,
on May 19, 2026 are effective September 14, 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Mensah, Wireline Competition
Bureau at (202) 418-1387 or TTY (202) 418-0484 or via email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d09ab5bebeb9b6b5a2fe9db5bea3b1b890b6b3b3feb7bfa6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="175d7279797e717265395a727964767f5771747439707861">[email protected]</span></a>. For additional information concerning the
Paperwork Reduction Act information collection
[[Page 58028]]
requirements contact Nicole Ongele at (202) 418-2991 or via email at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d997b0bab6b5bcf796b7bebcb5bc99bfbabaf7beb6af"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="531d3a303c3f367d1c3d34363f36133530307d343c25">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission made a submission for non-
substantive changes to an existing collection for review and approval
by OMB, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, on
June 25, 2026, which were approved by the OMB on July 7, 2026.
The information collection requirements are contained in the
Commission's Report and Order, WC Docket No. 21-455, CC Docket No. 02-
6; FCC 26-30, published at 91 FR 29051, May 19, 2026. The OMB Control
Number is 3060-0806. The Commission publishes this document as an
announcement of the effective date of the rules published on May 19,
2026. If you have any comments on the burden estimates listed in the
following, or how the Commission can improve the collections and reduce
any burdens caused thereby, please contact Nicole Ongele, Federal
Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554. Please
include the OMB Control Number, 3060-0806, in your correspondence. The
Commission will also accept your comments via email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#25757764654346460b424a53"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8cdcdecdcceaefefa2ebe3fa">[email protected]</span></a>. To
request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities
(Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an email
to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#86e0e5e5b3b6b2c6e0e5e5a8e1e9f0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="fd9b9e9ec8cdc9bd9b9e9ed39a928b">[email protected]</span></a> or call the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau
at (202) 418-0530 (voice).
Synopsis
As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
3507), the Commission is notifying the public that it received OMB
approval on July 7, 2026, for the amendatory instructions 4 and 5,
published at 91 FR 29051, on May 19, 2026.
Under 5 CFR part 1320, an agency may not conduct or sponsor a
collection of information unless it displays a current, valid OMB
Control Number.
No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply
with a collection of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act
that does not display a current, valid OMB Control Number. The OMB
Control Number is 3060-0806.
The foregoing notice is required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995, Public Law 104-13, October 1, 1995, and 44 U.S.C. 3507.
The total annual reporting burdens and costs for the respondents
are as follows:
OMB Control Number: 3060-0806.
OMB Approval Date: July 7, 2026.
OMB Expiration Date: November 30, 2027.
Title: Universal Service--Schools and Libraries Universal Service
Program, FCC Form 470 and 471.
Form Number: FCC Forms 470 and 471.
Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions, and State, Local or
Tribal governments.
Number of Respondents and Responses: 25,000 unique respondents;
83,560 responses.
Estimated Time per Response: 4 hours for FCC Form 470 [3 hours for
response; 1 hour for recordkeeping]; 5 hours for FCC Form 471 [4 hours
for response; 1 hour for recordkeeping].
Frequency of Response: Recordkeeping, on occasion and annually
reporting requirements.
Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits.
Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in
sections 1, 4(i), 4(j), 201-205, 214, 254, and 403 of the
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 151-154, 201-205,
218-220, 254, 303(r), 403 and 405.
Total Annual Burden: 236,890 hours.
Total Annual Cost: No Cost.
Needs and Uses: The requirements are necessary to implement the
congressional mandate for universal service. The information collected
provides the Commission and the Universal Service Administrative
Company with the necessary information to administer the E-Rate
program, determine the amount of support entities seeking funding are
eligible to receive, to determine if entities are complying with the
Commission's rules, and to protect the integrity of the E-Rate program.
The information will also allow the Commission to evaluate the extent
to which the E-Rate program is meeting the statutory objectives
specified in section 254 of the 1996 Act and the Commission's
performance goals set forth in the 2014 First E-Rate Order, and to
evaluate the need for and feasibility of any future revisions to
program rules.
On April 30, 2026, the Commission took action to reinforce the
success and integrity of the E-Rate program by establishing a
competitive bidding portal and document repository to strengthen the E-
Rate program's competitive bidding rules as well as other actions to
simplify and streamline program processes and procedures for E-Rate
participants. In addition, the Commission adopted changes to streamline
and simplify the E-Rate program while maintaining the integrity of the
program. Those actions provided greater transparency into the
applicants' competitive bidding and bid evaluation and selection
processes, and protect the program against waste, fraud, and abuse.
The submission was made for non-substantive changes to an existing
information collection pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 3507. The submission
sought to alleviate the current 10-year document retention and
production requirement for service providers and applicants of the
schools and libraries universal service support program, commonly known
as the E-Rate program. The submission also sought to add checkboxes
and/or fields applicable to the Schools and Libraries Universal Service
Description of Services Requested and Certification FCC Form 470 and
FCC Form 471.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2026-18780 Filed 9-11-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
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