2023-09774. Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission

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, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or the Commission) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection. 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 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 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number.

DATES:

Written PRA comments should be submitted on or before July 10, 2023. 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, (202) 418–2991.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control Number: 3060–0589.

Title: FCC Remittance Advice Forms, FCC Form 159/159–C, 159–B, 159–E, and 159–W.

Form Number(s): FCC Form 159 Remittance Advice, 159–C Remittance Advice Continuation Sheet, 159–B Remittance Advice Bill for Collection, 159–E Remittance Voucher, and 159–W Interstate Telephone Service Provider Worksheet.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Businesses or other for-profit entities; individuals or households; not-for-profit institutions; and State, local, or Tribal governments.

Number of Respondent and Responses: 180,000 respondents; 180,000 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 15 minutes (0.25 hours).

Frequency of Response: On occasion and annual reporting requirements; third party disclosure requirement.

Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. Statutory Authority for this information collection is contained in the Communications Act of 1934, as amended; section 8 (47 U.S.C. 158) for Application Fees; section 9 (47 U.S.C. 159) for Regulatory Fees; section 309(j) for Auction Fees; and the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, Public Law 104–134, chapter 10, section 31001.

Total Annual Burden: 45,000 hours.

Total Annual Cost: None.

Needs and Uses: The FCC supports a series of remittance advice forms and a remittance voucher form that may be submitted in lieu of a remittance advice form when entities or individuals electronically submit a payment. A remittance advice form (or a remittance voucher form in lieu of an advice form) must accompany any payment to the Federal Communications Commission ( e.g., payments for regulatory fees, application filing fees, auctions, fines, forfeitures, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) billings, or any other debt due to the FCC. Information is collected on these forms to ensure credit for full payment, to ensure entities and individuals receive any refunds due, to service public inquiries, and to comply with the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996. On August 12, 2013, the Commission released a Report and Order (R&O), In the Matter Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fee for fiscal year 2013 and Procedures for Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees, MD Docket Nos. 13–140 and 12–201, FCC 13–110. In this R&O, the Commission requires that beginning in FY 2014, all regulatory fee payments be made electronically and that the Commission will no longer mail out initial regulatory fee assessments to CMRS providers.

Federal Communications Commission.

Marlene Dortch,

Secretary, Office of the Secretary.