2023-12869. 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 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 August 15, 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: 3060–0791.

Title: Section 32.7300, Accounting for Judgments and Other Costs Associated With Litigation.

Form Number: N/A.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents and Responses: 2 respondents; 2 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 4–36 hours.

Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement and recordkeeping requirement.

Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. Statutory authority for this collection of information is contained in 47 U.S.C. 151, 152, 154, 161, 201–205 and 218–220;47 CFR 1, 2, 4, 11, 201–205, and 218–220 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

Total Annual Burden: 40 hours.

Total Annual Cost: No cost.

Needs and Uses: The Commission is seeking Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for an extension of this information collection (no change in the reporting and/or recordkeeping requirements). The Commission will submit this information collection after this 60-day comment period to the OMB.

The Commission adopted accounting rules that require carriers to account for adverse federal antitrust judgments and post-judgment special charges. With regard to settlements of such lawsuits, there will be a presumption that carriers can recover the portion of the settlement that represents the avoidable costs of litigation; provided that the carrier makes a required showing. To receive recognition of its avoided cost of litigation a carrier must demonstrate, in a request for special relief, the avoided costs of litigation by showing the amount corresponding to the additional litigation expenses discounted to present value, that the carrier reasonably estimates it would have paid if it had not settled. Settlement costs in excess of the avoided costs of litigation are presumed not recoverable unless a carrier rebuts that presumption by showing the basic factors that enticed the carrier to settle and demonstrating that ratepayers benefited from the settlement.

Federal Communications Commission.

Marlene Dortch,

Secretary, Office of the Secretary.