2013-31180. Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission, Comments Requested

AGENCY:

Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION:

Notice; request for comments.

SUMMARY:

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection(s). 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 further ways to reduce the information 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 (PRA) that does not display a valid Control Number.

DATES:

Written Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) comments should be submitted on or before February 28, 2014. 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 FCC contact listed below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your PRA comments to Leslie F. Smith, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), via the Internet at [e-mail]. To submit your PRA comments by email, send them to [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For additional information, contact Leslie F. Smith at [phone], or via the Internet at [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control Number: 3060-0971.

Title: Section 52.15, Request for “For Cause” Audits and State Commission's Access to Numbering Resource Application Information.

Form Number: N/A.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit and state, local or tribal government.

Number of Respondents and Responses: 2,105 respondents; 63,005 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 0.166 hours to 3 hours.

Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting 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. 153, 154, 201-205, 207-209, 218, 225-227, 251-252, 271 and 332.

Total Annual Burden: 10,473 hours.

Total Annual Cost: No cost.

Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).

Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: Carrier numbering resource applications and audits of carrier compliance will be treated as confidential and will be exempt from public disclosure under 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(4).

Needs and Uses: There are two Paperwork Reduction Act related obligations under this OMB Control Number:

1. The North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA), the Pooling Administrator, or a state commission may draft a request to the auditor stating the reason for the request, such as misleading or inaccurate data, and attach supporting documentation; and

2. Requests for copies of carriers' applications for numbering resources may be made directly to carriers.

The information collected will be used by the FCC, state commissions, the NANPA and the Pooling Administrator to verify the validity and accuracy of such data and to assist state commissions in carrying out their numbering responsibilities, such as area code relief.

OMB Control Number: 3060-0972.

Title: Multi-Association Group (MAG) Plan Order, Parts 54 and 69 Filing Requirements for Regulation of Interstate Services of Non-Price Cap Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers (LECs) and Interexchange Carriers (IXCs).

Form Number(s): FCC Forms 507, 508 and 509.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

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

Number of Respondents and Responses: 1,258 respondents; 10,849 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 0.166 hours to 3 hours.

Frequency of Response: On occasion, annual, quarterly, one time and every three years reporting requirements, 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. 1-4, 10, 154(i), 154(j), 201-205, 254, and 403.

Total Annual Burden: 46,885 hours.

Total Annual Cost: $48,900.

Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).

Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: The Commission does not require that respondents submit confidential information to the Commission. If the Commission does request applicants to submit information that the respondents believe is confidential, respondents may do so under 47 CFR 0.459 of the Commission's rules.

Needs and Uses: There are 14 Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) related information collection requirements under this OMB Control Number.

Following the passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the Commission adopted interstate access charge and universal service support reforms. The reforms were designed to establish a “pro-competitive, deregulatory national policy framework” for the United States telecommunications industry, and to carry out the universal service policies embodied in the 1996 Act. Specifically, the Commission aligned the interstate access rate structure more closely with the manner in which costs are incurred, and created a universal service support mechanism for rate-of-return carriers (Interstate Common Line Support (ICLS)) to replace implicit support in interstate access charges with explicit support that is portable to all eligible telecommunications carriers. The Commission's actions were also tailored to the needs of small and mid-sized local telephone companies serving rural and high-cost areas, and help to provide certainty and stability for rate-of-return carriers, encourage investment in rural America, and provide important consumer benefits. To administer the ICLS mechanism, the Administrator must collect certain data. Specifically, the Administrator must collect from each rate-of-return carrier projected cost and revenue data for the July 1-June 30 funding year to accurately distribute prospective ICLS to those carriers. Line count data is reported on FCC Form 507. Projected cost data, including cost and revenue data is filed on FCC Form 508. And, the actual data, including cost and revenue data is reported on FCC Form 509.

Federal Communications Commission.

Gloria J. Miles,

Federal Register Liaison, Office of the Secretary, Office of Managing Director.