2012-2631. 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 burden and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), the Federal Communications Commission invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection(s). 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 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 OMB control number.

DATES:

Written Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) comments should be submitted on or before April 6, 2012. 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:

Submit your PRA comments to Nicholas A. Fraser, Office of Management and Budget, via fax at [phone] or via Internet at [e-mail] and to Judith B.Herman, Federal Communications Commission, via the Internet at [e-mail]. To submit your PRA comments by email send them to: [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Judith B. Herman, Office of Managing Director, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control Number: 3060-0512.

Title: ARMIS Annual Summary Report.

Report Number: FCC Report 43-01.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.

Number of Respondents: 45 respondents; 45 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 88 hours.

Frequency of Response: Annual reporting requirement.

Obligation to Respond: Mandatory. Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47 U.S.C. 219 and 220 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

Total Annual Burden: 3,960 hours.

Total Annual Cost: N/A.

Privacy Impact Assessment: N/A.

Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: Ordinarily questions of a sensitive nature are not involved in the ARMIS Report 43-01. The Commission contends that areas in which detailed information is required are fully subject to regulation and the issue of data being regarded as sensitive will arise in special circumstances only. In such circumstances, respondents may request materials or information submitted to the Commission be withheld from public inspection under 47 CFR 0.459 of the Commission's rules.

Needs and Uses: The Commission is seeking an extension of this expiring information collection in order to obtain the full three year approval from OMB. There is no change to the annual reporting requirement. There is no change to the Commission's previous burden estimates.

The information contained in FCC Report 43-01 has helped the Commission fulfill its regulatory responsibilities. Automated reporting of these data greatly enhances the Commission's ability to process and analyze the extensive amounts of data provided in the reports. Automating and organizing data submitted to the Commission facilitate the timely and efficient analysis of revenue requirements, rates of return and price caps, and provide an improved basis for auditing and other oversight functions. Automated reporting also enhances the Commission's ability to quantify the effects of policy proposals.

The Commission has granted AT&T, Verizon, legacy Qwest, and other similarly situated carriers conditional forbearance from FCC Report 43-06. See Petition of AT&T Inc. for Forbearance under 47 U.S.C. § 160 from Enforcement of Certain of the Commission's Cost Assignment Rules, WC Docket Nos. 07-21, 05-342, Memorandum Opinion and Order, 23 FCC Rcd 7302 (2008) (AT&T Cost Assignment Forbearance Order), pet. for recon. pending, pet. for review pending, NASUCA v. FCC, Case No. 08-1226 (D.C. Cir. filed June 23, 2008); Service Quality, Customer Satisfaction, Infrastructure and Operating Data Gathering, WC Docket Nos. 08-190, 07-139, 07-204, 07-273, 07-21, Memorandum Opinion and Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 23 FCC Rcd 13647 (2008) (Verizon/Qwest Cost Assignment Forbearance Order), pet. for recon. pending, pet. for review pending, NASUCA v. FCC, Case No. 08-1353 (D.C. Cir. filed Nov. 4, 2008). Despite this forbearance, the Commission seeks OMB approval the renewal of this information collection because petitions for reconsideration and review of those forbearance decisions are currently pending before the Commission and the court, respectively.

Federal Communications Commission.

Marlene H. Dortch,

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