E9-31156. Notice of Public Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission, Comments Requested

December 28, 2009.

SUMMARY:

The Federal Communications Commission, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection(s), as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520. 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 estimate; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; (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, and (e) ways to further reduce the information collection burden for 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 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 currently valid OMB control number.

DATES:

Persons wishing to comments on this information collection should submit comments on or before March 5, 2010. 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 Nicholas A. Fraser, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), via fax at [phone], or via the Internet at [e-mail] and to Judith B. Herman, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), via the Internet at [e-mail]. To submit your PRA comments by e-mail send them to: [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Judith B. Herman, OMD, 202-418-0214. For additional information about the information collection(s) send an e-mail to [e-mail] or contact Judith B. Herman, 202-418-0214.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control No: 3060-0496.

Title: ARMIS Operating Data Report.

Report No.: FCC Report 43-08.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 55 respondents; 55 responses.

Estimated Time Per Response: 139 hours.

Frequency of Response: Annual reporting requirement.

Obligation to Respond: Mandatory. Statutory authority for this collection of information is contained in 47 U.S.C. sections 11, 219(b) and 220 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

Total Annual Burden: 7,645 hours.

Total Annual Cost: N/A.

Privacy Act Impact Assessment: N/A.

Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: Ordinarily questions of a sensitive nature are not requested in the ARMIS Operating Data Report. The Commission contends that areas in which detailed information is required are fully subject to regulation and the issue of data being regarded as sensitive will arise in special circumstances only. In such circumstances, the respondent is instructed on the appropriate procedures to follow to safeguard sensitive data. Section 0.459 of the Commission's rules contains procedures for requesting confidential treatment of data. See 47 CFR 0.459 of the Commission's rules.

Need and Uses: The Commission is requesting an extension (no change in the annual reporting requirement) for this expiring information collection. The Commission has adjusted the total number of respondents and burden hours to reflect more accurate estimates. The Commission is submitting this extension to the OMB in order to obtain the full three year clearance from them.

Section 220 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, allows the Commission, at its discretion, to prescribe the forms of any and all accounts, records and memoranda to be kept by carriers subject to this Act, including any accounts, records and memoranda of the movement of traffic, as well as the receipts and expenditures of moneys.

The Automated Reporting Management and Information System (ARMIS) was implemented to facilitate the timely and efficient analysis of revenue requirements, rates of return and price caps; to provide an improved basis for audits and other oversight functions; and to enhance the Commission's ability to quantify the effects of alternative policy. The ARMIS Report 43-08 collects network operating data in a consistent format. The ARMIS Report 43-08 monitors network growth, usage and reliability.

In this submission to the OMB, the Commission is adjusting the number of carriers filing this ARMIS report from 56 to 55 to reflect the merger of two holding companies. The Commission, in its ARMIS Forbearance Order, noted that among other things, that the reporting carriers have committed to collecting and retaining all information/data internally that was previously reported but will not be reported during this OMB approval period on the ARMIS Report 43-08, for 24 months.

The information in the ARMIS Report 43-08 provides the necessary detail to enable this Commission to fulfill its regulatory responsibilities. Automated reporting of these data greatly enhances the Commission's ability to receive, process and analyze the extensive amounts of data that are needed to administer the rules. ARMIS facilitates the timely and efficient analysis of revenue requirements, rate of return and price caps, and provides an improved basis for auditing and other oversight functions. It also enhances the Commission's ability to quantify the effects of policy proposals.

Federal Communications Commission.

Alethea Lewis,

Information Specialist, Office of the Secretary, Office of Managing Director.