[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 193 (Monday, October 6, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52102-52105]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-26418]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Public Information Collections Approved by Office of Management
and Budget
September 30, 1997.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has received Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the following public
information collections pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995, Public Law 104-13. An agency may not conduct or sponsor and a
person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless
it displays a currently valid control number. For further information
contact Shoko B. Hair, Federal Communications Commission, (202) 418-
1379.
Federal Communications Commission
OMB Control No.: 3060-0512.
Expiration Date: 09/30/2000.
Title: ARMIS Annual SummaryReport (Formerly titled, ``ARMIS
Quarterly Report'').
Form No.: FCC Report 43-01.
Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
Estimated Annual Burden: 150 respondents; 220 hours per response
(avg.); 33,000 total annual burden hours for all collections.
Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: $0.
Frequency of Response: Annually.
Description: ARMIS was implemented to facilitate the timely and
efficient analysis of revenue requirements and rate of return 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 Annual Summary Report (FCC Report 43-01),
formerly the ARMIS quarterly Report, contains financial and operating
data and is used to monitor the local exchange carrier industry and to
perform routine analyses of costs and revenues. FCC Report 43-01
facilitates the annual collection of the results of accounting, rate
base and cost allocation requirements prescribed in parts 32, 36, 64,
65, and 69. The information contained in the ARMIS Annual Summary
Report provides the necessary detail to enable the Commission to
fulfill its regulatory responsibilities. Automated reporting of these
data greatly enhances the Commission's ability to process and analyze
the extensive amounts of data that are needed to administer its rules.
It facilitates the timely and efficient analyses of revenue
requirements, rates 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.
Section 220 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C.
220, 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 the accounts, records, and memoranda of
the movement of traffic, as well as of the receipts and expenditures of
moneys. Section 219(b) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended,
47 U.S.C. 219(b), authorizes the Commission by general or special
orders to require any carriers subject to this Act to file annual
reports concerning any matters with respect to which the Commission is
authorized or required by law to act. Section 43.21 of the Commission's
rules details that requirement. Obligation to respond: mandatory.
OMB Control No.: 3060-0793.
Expiration Date: 03/31/98.
Title: Procedures for States Regarding Lifeline Consents, Adoption
of Intrastate Discount Matrix for Schools and Libraries, and
Designation of Eligible Telecommunications Carriers.
Form No.: N/A.
Respondents: Business or other for profit; State, Local or Tribal
Government.
Estimated Annual Burden: 890 respondents; 1.25 hours per response
(avg.); 1120 total annual burden hours for all collections.
Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: $0.
Frequency of Response: On occasion; annually.
Description: On May 8, 1997 the Commission released Federal-State
Joint Board on Universal Service, Report and Order, CC Docket No. 96-
45, FCC 97-157 (Order). In that Order, the Commission adopted rules
providing funding for discounts to eligible schools and libraries. The
Commission also adopted rules mandating that state commissions
designate common carriers as eligible telecommunications carriers for
service areas selected by state commissions in accordance with section
214(e). States and carriers are subject to the following requirements
in order to receive universal service support. Section 54.403(a) of the
Federal
[[Page 52103]]
Communications Commission's rules requires states to approve an
additional reduction in the amount paid by any low-income consumer in
order to receive additional federal Lifeline support. 47 CFR 54.403(a).
We request states to send a one-page letter authorizing the reduction
of intrastate rates. (No. of respondents: 50; annual burden per
respondent: .5 hours; total annual burden: 25 hours). Section
54.505(e)(1) of the rules requires states to adopt discounts at least
equal to the discounts established for interstate services. 47 CFR
54.505(e)(1). Each state must adopt an intrastate discount matrix with
entries at least equal to those of the interstate discount matrix and
send a notification letter indicating that it has done so. (No. of
respondents: 50; annual burden per respondent: 2 hours; total annual
burden: 100 hours). Section 54.201(b) requires states to designate
common carriers as eligible telecommunications carriers for service
areas designated by the state commission. 47 CFR 54.201(b). We request
that states submit a list of carriers designated as eligible
telecommunications carriers and the service areas such non-rural
carriers are required to serve. (No. of respondents: 50; annual burden
per respondent: 1 hour; total annual hour burden: 50 hours). Section
153(37) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, requires any
local exchange carrier that seeks to be classified as a rural telephone
company to certify to its status as a rural telephone company. 47
U.S.C. 153(37). Any local exchange carrier that seeks to be classified
as a rural telephone company must file a letter with the Commission by
April 30 of each year notifying the Commission that the LEC certifies
itself to be a rural telephone company and explaining how the carrier
meets at least one of the four criteria. (No. of respondents: 840;
annual burden per respondent: 1 hour; total annual hour burden: 840
hours). If a LEC's status changes so that it becomes ineligible for
certification as a rural carrier, that carrier must inform the
Commission and the Universal Service Administrator within one month of
the change in status. (No. of respondents: 210; annual burden per
respondent: .5 hours; total annual hour burden: 105 hours). All of the
requirements are necessary to implement the congressional mandate for
universal service. These reporting requirements are necessary to verify
that particular carriers and other respondents are eligible to receive
universal service support. Obligation to respond: mandatory.
OMB Control No.: 3060-0756.
Expiration Date: 03/31/98.
Title: Procedural Requirements and Policies for Commission
Processing of InterLATA Services Under Section 271 of the
Communications Act.
Form No.: N/A.
Respondents: Business or other for profit.
Estimated Annual Burden: 75 respondents; 250 hours per response
(avg.); 18,820 total annual burden hours for all collections.
Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: $0.
Frequency of Response: On occasion.
Description: In a Public Notice released 9/19/97, the Commission
revises various procedural requirements and policies relating to the
Commission's processing of Bell Operating Company (BOC) applications to
provide in-region, interLATA services pursuant to section 271 of the
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 271 (Act). These
procedures were originally established in a Public Notice released
December 6, 1996 (FCC 96-469). Section 271 provides for applications on
a state-by-state basis. a. Submission of Applications by the BOCs: BOCs
must file applications which provide information on which the applicant
intends to rely in order to satisfy the requirements of section 271.
The applications will contain two parts, which include: (1) A stand-
alone document entitled Brief in Support of Application by (Bell
company name) for Provision of In-region, InterLATA Services in (State
name) and (2) any supporting documentation. The Brief in Support will
contain a concise summary of substantive arguments presented in the
Brief, a statement identifying all of the agreements that the applicant
has entered into pursuant to negotiations and/or arbitration under
section 252, a statement identifying how the applicant meets the
requirements of section 271(c)(1), a statement summarizing the status
and findings of the relevant State proceedings (if any) examining the
applicant's compliance with section 271, a statement describing the
efforts the applicant has made to meet with likely objectors to narrow
the issues in dispute, and all factual and legal arguments that the
three requirements of section 271(d)(3) have been met. The application
must also contain the name, address and phone number of the person who
will address inquiries relating to access to any confidential
information submitted by the applicant, and must contain an affidavit
by an officer or duly authorized employee that ``all information
supplied in the application is true and accurate to the best of its
information and belief.'' The supporting documentation will contain, at
a minimum, the complete public record of the relevant State proceedings
(if any) examining the applicant's compliance with section 271, records
of interconnection agreements, affidavits, etc. The supporting
documentation shall be provided in appendices, separated by tabs and
divided into volumes as appropriate. Each volume shall contain a table
of contents that lists the subject of each tabbed section of that
volume. The application shall include a list of all affidavits and the
location of and subjects covered by each of those affidavits. The
requirements of section 271(c)(2) will be met with this supporting
documentation. All factual assertions, as well as expert testimony,
must be supported by an affidavit or verified statement. All
substantive arguments must be made in a legal brief (i.e., Brief in
Support, comments, reply, ex parte comments) and not in affidavits or
other supporting documentation. (No. of respondents: 7; annual hour
burden per respondent: 125 hours; total annual burden: 6125 hours). b.
Submission of Written Consultations by the State Regulatory
Commissions: State regulatory commissions will file written
consultations relating to the applications not later than approximately
20 days after the issuance of an Initial Public Notice establishing
specific due dates for various filings. (No. of respondents: 49; annual
hour burden per respondent: 120 hours; total annual burden: 5880
hours). c. Submission of Written Consultations by the U. S. Department
of Justice: The Department of Justice will file written consultations
relating to the applications not later than approximately 35 days after
the issuance of the Initial Public Notice. (No. of respondents: 1;
annual hour burden per respondent: 100 hours; total annual burden: 4900
hours). d. Submission of Written Comments by Interested Third Parties:
Interested third parties may file comments on the applications not
later than approximately 20 days after the issuance of the Initial
Public Notice. All substantive arguments must be made in a legal brief
(i.e., Brief in Support, comments, reply, ex parte comments) and not in
affidavits or other supporting documentation. All parties submitting
confidential information must identify a contact person who will
address inquiries relating to access to that confidential information.
Each volume of supporting documentation submitted by a party shall
contain a table of
[[Page 52104]]
contents that lists the subject of each tabbed section of that volume.
The party shall include a list of all affidavits and the location of
and subjects covered by each of those affidavits. Parties shall not
incorporate by reference, in their comment or replies, entire documents
or significant portion of documents that were filed in other
proceedings, such as comments filed in a previous section 271
proceeding. (No. of respondents: 75; annual hour burden per respondent:
25 hours; total annual burden: 1875 hours). e. Replies: All
participants in the proceeding may file a reply to any comment made by
any other participant. Such replies will be due approximately 45 days
after the Initial Public Notice is issued. (No. of respondents: 10;
annual hour burden per respondent: 2 hours; total annual burden: 20
hours). f. Motions: A dispositive motion filed with the Commission in a
section 271 proceeding will be treated as an early-filed pleading and
will not be subject to a separate pleading cycle, unless the Commission
or Bureau determines otherwise. Non-dispositive motions will be subject
to the default pleading cycle in section 1.45 or our rules, unless the
Commission determines otherwise in a public notice. (No. of
respondents: 10; annual hour burden per respondent: 2 hours; total
annual burden: 20 hours). All of the requirements would be used to
ensure that BOCs have complied with their obligations under the
Communications Act of 1934, as amended before being authorized to
provide in-region, interLATA services pursuant to section 271.
Obligation to comply: mandatory.
OMB Control No.: 3060-0579.
Expiration Date: 09/30/2000.
Title: Expanded Interconnection with Local Telephone Company
Facilities For Interstate Switched Transport Services
Form No.: N/A.
Respondents: Business or other for profit.
Estimated Annual Burden: 16 respondents; 124.7 hours per response
(avg.); 1996 total annual burden hours for all collections.
Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: $10,000.
Frequency of Response: On occasion.
Description: In the Second Report and Order and Third Further
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Expanded Interconnection
proceeding, CC Docket No. 91-141 (Order), the Commission took another
step toward enhancing competition in the access marketplace by
requiring Tier 1 local exchange carriers (LECs), except NECA pool
members, to provide expanded interconnection for interstate switched
transport services. In the Order, the Commission required Tier 1 LECs,
except for NECA pool members, to provide expanded opportunities for
third-party interconnection with their interstate switched transport
facilities. The Commission concluded that expanded interconnection will
likely increase competition, producing significant benefits for
consumers that will outweigh any potential drawbacks. In the Order, the
Commission concluded that the LECs should be required to provide
certain cost support to justify the rate levels for the tariff charges
to be paid by interconnectors for expanded interconnection. The
Commission required the price cap LECs to provide cost support for the
connection charges using the same methodology employed to support new
services under the price cap rules. The Commission required the LECs to
develop and justify consistent methodologies for deriving the direct
cost of providing similar types of offerings, including expanded
interconnection services covered by the connection charge elements. The
Commission also required the LECs to justify any deviations from
uniform overhead loadings that they propose for pricing connection
charges, although it did not specify a particular methodology in
advance. Under this approach, if a LEC proposes to price connection
charges to reflect fully distributed overhead loadings, the Commission
will compare such loadings to the overhead loadings used for other
services and require justification for any differences. Rate of return
LECs must support their rates under traditional cost support
requirements. The Commission believes that this cost information is
necessary to ensure the proper pricing of expanded interconnection
offerings since they will be used by the LECs' competitors. The LECs
may use approved, commonly used public utility ratemaking methodologies
to develop the required cost support, including sampling and averaging
of certain costs, and thereby minimize the burden of this requirement.
Absent these requirements, the Commission is concerned that the LECs
would have a strong incentive to price these services in a manner that
would undermine the growth of competition in interstate access. Unless
the interconnectors can purchase expanded interconnection offerings at
rates that are just, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory, mandating
expanded interconnection will not lead to effective competition and the
anticipated benefits. Tariff filings to implement the density pricing
plans and volume and term discounts generally will be accompanied by
the support required under existing price cap rules. This information
is necessary to ensure that rates for special access services subject
to density zone pricing are just, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory,
and comply with the Commission's rules. The tariffs and cost support
information accompanying them will be used by the FCC staff to ensure
that the tariff rates to be paid for expanded interconnection and
switched transport services are just, reasonable, and
nondiscriminatory, as sections 201 and 202 of the Communications Act
require. Without this information, the FCC would be unable to determine
whether the rates for these services are just, reasonable,
nondiscriminatory, and otherwise in accordance with the law. Tariffs
will also be used by parties using expanded interconnection and
switched transport offerings to ascertain the charges and other terms
and conditions applicable to those offerings. Your obligation to
respond: mandatory.
OMB Control No.: 3060-0774.
Expiration Date: 09/30/2000.
Title: Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service--CC Docket
No. 96-45, 47 CFR 36.611-36.612, and 47 CFR part 54.
Form No.: N/A.
Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities; individuals or
households; not-for-profit institutions; state, local or tribal
government.
Estimated Annual Burden: 5,565,451 respondents; 3.1 hours per
response (avg.); 1,784,220 total annual burden hours for all
collections.
Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: $0.
Frequency of Response: On occasion; annually, one-time
requirements.
Description: Congress directed the Commission to implement a new
set of universal service support mechanisms that are explicit and
sufficient to advance the universal service principles enumerated in
section 254 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and such other
principles as the Commission believes are necessary and appropriate for
the protection of the public interest, convenience and necessity, and
are consistent with the Act. In the Report and Order issued in CC
Docket No. 96-45, the Commission adopts rules that are designed to
implement the universal service provisions of section 254.
Specifically, the Order addresses: (1) Universal service principles;
(2) services eligible for support; (3) affordability; (4) carriers
eligible for universal service support; (5) support mechanisms for
rural, insular,
[[Page 52105]]
and high cost areas; (6) support for low-income consumers; (7) support
for schools, libraries, and health care providers; (8) interstate
subscriber line charge and common line cost recovery; and (9)
administration of support mechanisms. The reporting and recordkeeping
requirements contained in CC Docket No. 96-45 are designed to implement
section 254 follow. The reporting and recordkeeping are necessary to
ensure the integrity of the program. All the collections are necessary
to implement the congressional mandate for universal service. The
reporting and recordkeeping requirements are necessary to verify that
the carriers and other respondents are eligible to receive universal
service support. Obligation to comply: mandatory.
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Total annual
Rule section/title (47 CFR) Hours per response burden
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a. 36.611(a) and 36.612-- 20................... 26,800
Submission and Updating
information to NECA.
b. 54.101(c)--Demonstration of 50................... 100
exceptional circumstances for
toll-limitation grace period.
c. 54.201(b)-(c)--Submission of 1.................... 3,400
eligibility criteria.
d. 54.201(d)(2)--Advertisement of 50................... 65,000
services and charges.
e. 54.205(a)--Advance notice of .5................... 50
relinquishment of universal
service.
f. 54.207(c)(1)--Submission of 125.................. 6,250
proposal for redefining a rural
service area.
g. 54.307(b)--Reporting of 2.5 (avg.)........... 4,100
expenses and number of lines
served.
h. 54.401(b)(1)-(2)--Submission 2.................... 100
of disconnection waiver request.
i. 54.401(d)--Lifeline 1.................... 1,300
certification to the
Administrator.
j. 54.407(c)--Lifeline 80................... 104,000
recordkeeping.
k. 54.409(a)-(b)--Consumer 5 min................ 440,000
qualification for Lifeline.
l. 54.409(b)--Consumer 5 min................ 44,000
notification of Lifeline
discontinuance.
m. 54.418(b)--Link Up 80................... 104,000
recordkeeping.
n. 54.501(d)(4) and 54.516-- 41 (avg.)............ 372,000
Schools and Libraries
recordkeeping.
o. 54.504(b)-(c), 54.507(d) and 2.................... 100,000
54.509(a)--Description of
services requested and
certification.
p. 54.601(b)(4) and 54.609(b)-- 100.................. 340,000
Calculating support for health
care providers.
q. 54.601(b)(3) and 54.619-- 21 (avg.)............ 160,000
Shared facility recordkeeping.
r. 54.607(b)(1)-(2)--Submission 3.................... 150
of proposed rural rate.
s. 54.603(b)(1), 54.615(c)-(d) 1.................... 12,000
and 54.623(d)--Description of
services requested and
certification.
t. 54.619(d)--Submission of rural 40................... 40
health care report.
u. 54.701(f)(1) and (f)(2)-- 40................... 40
Submission of annual report and
CAM.
v. 54.701(g)--Submission of 10................... 40
quarterly report.
w. 54.707--Submission of state .25.................. 850
commission designation.
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Public reporting burden for the collections of information is as
noted above. Send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other
aspect of the collections of information, including suggestions for
reducing the burden to Performance Evaluation and Records Management,
Washington, DC 20554.
Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-26418 Filed 10-3-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-U
