2011-11377. Information Collection Being Submitted for Review and Approval to the Office of Management and Budget

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 comment on the following information collection. 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 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 June 9, 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 Nicholas A. Fraser, Office of Management and Budget, via fax at 202-395-5167 or the Internet at [e-mail]; and to the Federal Communications Commission's PRA mailbox (e-mail address: [e-mail]). Include in the e-mail the OMB control number of the collection as shown in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below, or if there is no OMB control number, include the Title as shown in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section. If you are unable to submit your comments by e-mail, contact the person listed below to make alternate arrangements.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For additional information, contact Paul Laurenzano at 202-418-1359 or via the Internet at [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control Number: 3060-0774.

Title: Part 36 and 54, Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service.

Form No.: N/A.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit, not-for-profit institutions, and state, local or tribal government.

Number of Respondents: 7,570,974 respondents; 7,577,634 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: .084 hours—125 hours (average).

Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting, quarterly, annual, and once every 5 years reporting requirements, recordkeeping 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. sections 151-154, 201-205, 218-220, 214, 254, 303(r), 403 and 410.

Total Annual Burden: 1,152,255 hours.

Total Annual Cost: N/A.

Privacy Act Impact Assessment: N/A.

Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: There is no need for confidentiality. However, 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 will submit this expiring information collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) during this comment period in order to obtain the full three year clearance from them. The Commission is requesting OMB approval for a revision.

The Commission conducted an extensive clean-up of this information collection. There were mathematical corrections necessary, rule part consolidations, and one item was eliminated to avoid duplicity (information is being reported on the same rule part under a different OMB control number in a different information collection). Redundant or unnecessary information was removed. Therefore, the Commission is reporting a 127.200 hour burden reduction adjustment for which we seek OMB approval.

In the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (1996 Act), 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 47 U.S.C. section 254 and other such principles as the Commission believes are necessary and appropriate for the protection of the public interest, convenience and necessity, and are consistent with the 1996 Act. Parts 36 and 54 promulgate the rules and requirements to preserve and advance universal service.

Federal Communications Commission.

Gloria Miles,

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