2011-2957. Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission, Comments Requested

February 4, 2011.

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 (PRA) 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 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 Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) that does not display a currently valid OMB control number.

DATES:

Written Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) comments should be submitted on or before April 11, 2011. If you anticipate that you will be submitting PRA 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:

Direct all PRA comments to the Federal Communications Commission via e-mail to [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Judith B. Herman, Office of Managing Director, [phone]. For additional information, contact Judith B. Herman, OMD, 202-418-0214 or e-mail [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control Number: 3060-1046.

Title: Part 64, Pay Telephone Reclassification and Compensation Provision of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

Form No.: N/A.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents and Responses: 924 respondents, 8,080 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 19.82 hours (average).

Frequency of Response: Annual and quarterly reporting requirements, recordkeeping requirement and third party disclosure requirement.

Obligation to Respond: Mandatory. Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47 CFR sections 151, 154 and 276.

Total Annual Burden: 160,184 hours.

Total Annual Cost: N/A.

Privacy Act Impact Assessment: N/A.

Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: The Commission is not requesting that the respondents submit confidential information to the FCC. Respondents may request confidential treatment of their information that they believe is confidential under 47 CFR 0.459 of the Commission's rules.

Needs and Uses: The Commission will submit this expiring information collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) after this comment period to obtain the full, three year clearance from them. The Commission is reporting no change in the reporting, recordkeeping and/or third party disclosure requirements. The Commission is reporting an 18,208 hour reduction in the total annual burden. This adjustment is due to fewer respondents and therefore the estimates have been recalculated.

The payphone compensation rules place liability to compensate PSPs for payphone-originated calls on the facilities-based long distance carriers from whose switches such calls are completed.

The payphone compensation rules define these responsible carriers as “completing carriers” and require them to develop their own system of tracking calls to completion, the accuracy of which must be confirmed and attested to by a third-party auditor.

Completing carriers must file with PSPs a quarterly report that must also submit an attestation by the chief financial officer (CFO) that the payment amount for that quarter is accurate and is based on 100% of all completed calls.

The rules also require reporting obligations for other facilities-based long distance carriers in the call path, if any, and define these carriers as “Intermediate Carriers.”

Additionally, the rules give parties flexibility to agree to alternative compensation arrangements (ACA) so that small Completing Carriers may avoid the expense of instituting a tracking system and undergoing an audit.

The payphone compensation rules satisfy section 276 by identifying the party liable for compensation and establishing a mechanism for PSPs to be paid.

Federal Communications Commission.

Bulah P. Wheeler,

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