2023-22942. Information Collections Being Submitted for Review and Approval to Office of Management and Budget

AGENCY:

Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, 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. Pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, the FCC seeks specific comment on how it might “further reduce the information collection burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees.”

DATES:

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be submitted on or before November 17, 2023.

ADDRESSES:

Comments should be sent to www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function. Your comment must be submitted into www.reginfo.gov per the above instructions for it to be considered. In addition to submitting in www.reginfo.gov also send a copy of your comment on the proposed information collection to Cathy Williams, FCC, via email to [e-mail] and to [e-mail]. Include in the comments the OMB control number as shown in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For additional information or copies of the information collection, contact Cathy Williams at (202) 418–2918. To view a copy of this information collection request (ICR) submitted to OMB: (1) go to the web page http://www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain, (2) look for the section of the web page called “Currently Under Review,” (3) click on the downward-pointing arrow in the “Select Agency” box below the “Currently Under Review” heading, (4) select “Federal Communications Commission” from the list of agencies presented in the “Select Agency” box, (5) click the “Submit” button to the right of the “Select Agency” box, (6) when the list of FCC ICRs currently under review appears, look for the Title of this ICR and then click on the ICR Reference Number. A copy of the FCC submission to OMB will be displayed.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Commission may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 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 OMB control number.

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501–3520), the FCC invited the general public and other Federal Agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection. 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 estimates; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (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. Pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, Public Law 107–198, see 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(4), the FCC seeks specific comment on how it might “further reduce the information collection burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees.”

OMB Control Number: 3060–0800.

Title: FCC Application for Assignments of Authorization and Transfers of Control: Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau.

Form Number: FCC Form 603.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities, Individuals or households, not-for-profit institutions, and State, Local or Tribal Governments.

Number of Respondents and Responses: 2,567 respondents; 2,567 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 0.05 hours–1.80 hours.

Frequency of Response: Recordkeeping requirement, on occasion reporting requirement and periodic reporting requirement.

Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The statutory authority for this collection is contained in 47 U.S.C. 154, 155, 158, 161, 301, 303(r), 308, 309, 310 and 332.

Total Annual Burden: 2,957 hours.

Annual Cost Burden: $532,728.

Needs and Uses: On July 18, 2022, the Commission adopted the Partition, Disaggregation and Leasing of Spectrum Report and Order and Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that modifies partitioning, disaggregation, and leasing rules to provide specific incentives for small carriers and Tribal Nations, and entities in rural areas, to voluntarily participate in ECIP (ECIP Report and Order in WT Docket No. 19–38, FCC 22–53). The ECIP proceeding is in response to Congressional direction in the Making Opportunities for Broadband Investment and Limiting Excessive and Needless Obstacles to Wireless Act (MOBILE NOW Act) to consider steps to increase the diversity of spectrum access and the availability of advanced telecommunications services in rural areas. The ECIP will promote greater competition in the provision of wireless services, facilitate increased availability of advanced wireless services in rural areas, facilitate new opportunities for small carriers and Tribal Nations to increase access to spectrum, and bring more advanced wireless service including 5G to underserved communities.

The Commission seeks approval for revisions to its currently approved collection of information under OMB Control Number 3060–0800 to permit the collection of the additional information and changes in connection with assignments of authorizations pursuant to the rules adopted by the Commission's ECIP Report and Order. Specifically, in the ECIP Report and Order, the Commission revised its rules to allow partition and/or disaggregation assignment applications pursuant to § 1.950 or full assignments pursuant to § 1.948, to designate a Qualifying Transaction identified in the application as seeking consideration under the ECIP. Respondents are also required to select the applicable ECIP prong to its Qualifying Transaction, pursuant to either § 1.60003 or § 1.60004.

OMB Control Number: 3060–1070.

Title: Allocation and Service Rules for the 71–76 GHz, 81–86 GHz, and 92–95 GHz Bands.

Form Number: N/A.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities; not-for-profit institutions; and State, local, or Tribal Government.

Number of Respondents: 317 respondents; 8,205 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 1.5 to 5.35 hours.

Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement, recordkeeping requirement, and third-party disclosure 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(i), 303(f) and (r), 309, 316, and 332 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

Total Annual Burden: 5,677 hours.

Total Annual Cost: $200,000.

Needs and Uses: The Commission is seeking an extension of this information collection in order to obtain the full three-year approval from OMB. There are no program changes to the reporting, recordkeeping and/or third-party disclosure requirements, but we are revising estimates based on the reduction of database managers, and the increase of renewals of the nationwide licensees. The recordkeeping, reporting, and third-party disclosure requirements will be used by the Commission to verify licensee compliance with the Commission rules and regulations, and to ensure that licensees continue to fulfill their statutory responsibilities in accordance with the Communications Act of 1934. The Commission's rules promote the private sector development and use of 71–76 GHz, 81–86 GHz, and 92–95 GHz bands (70/80/90 GHz bands). Such information has been used in the past and will continue to be used to minimize interference, verify that applicants are legally and technically qualified to hold license, and to determine compliance with Commission rules.

Federal Communications Commission.

Marlene Dortch,

Secretary, Office of the Secretary.