2014-29632. Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission Under Delegated Authority

AGENCY:

Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S. C. 3501-3520), the Federal Communication Commission (FCC or Commission) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collections. 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 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.

DATES:

Written PRA comments should be submitted on or before February 17, 2015. 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 [e-mail] and to [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For additional information about the information collection, contact Nicole Ongele at [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control Number: 3060-1200.

Title: Rural Broadband Experiments and Post-Selection Review of Rural Broadband Experiment Winning Bidders.

Form Number: FCC Form 5610 and FCC Form 5620.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit, and not-for-profit institutions.

Number of Respondents: 500 respondents; 520 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 5-10 hours.

Frequency of Response: One-time and occasional reporting requirements.

Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47 U.S.C. 151-154 and 254.

Total Annual Burden: 2,700 hours.

Total Annual Cost: No cost(s).

Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).

Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: Information collected in FCC Form 5610 will be confidential until provisionally selected bidders are announced. At that time, the proposals submitted by provisionally selected bidders will be made publicly available. All other proposals submitted will remain confidential. Information collected in FCC Form 5620 will be confidential.

Needs and Uses: Under this information collection, the Commission proposes to collect information to determine applicants that will be selected to participate in the rural broadband experiments and whether provisionally selected bidders are technically and financially capable of receiving funding for rural broadband experiment projects. To aid in collecting this information regarding the rural broadband experiments, the Commission has created FCC Form 5610 and FCC Form 5620, which applicants will use to apply to participate in the rural broadband experiments. These forms will be available electronically through the Internet and electronic filing will be required. This information will be used to determine which applicants submit the most-cost effective proposals in each funding category and whether provisionally selected bidders have the technical and financial qualifications to successfully complete the proposed project within the required timeframes. The Communications Act of 1934, as amended requires the “preservation and advancement of universal service.”

The information collection requirements reported under this collection are the result of various Commission actions to promote the Act's universal service goals, while minimizing waste, fraud, and abuse.

Federal Communications Commission.

Marlene H. Dortch,

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