2016-14794. 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 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collections. 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 OMB 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 OMB control number.

DATES:

Written PRA comments should be submitted on or before August 22, 2016. 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 to [e-mail] and to [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For additional information about the information collection, contact Nicole Ongele at [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control Number: 3060-1192.

Title: Survey of Urban Rates, DA 13-598.

Form Number: N/A.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Providers of fixed voice and fixed broadband residential services.

Number of Respondents and Responses: 1,000 respondents; 1,000 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 3.5 hours.

Frequency of Response: Annual reporting requirement and recordkeeping requirement.

Obligation To Respond: Mandatory. Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47 U.S.C. 254(b).

Total Annual Burden: 3,500 hours.

Total Annual Cost: No cost.

Privacy Impact Assessment: No impact(s).

Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: The Commission is not requesting that respondents submit confidential information to the Commission. Also, 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: In April 2013, the Wireline Competition Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission adopted an Order (Order), in WC Docket No. 10-90; DA 13-598, 78 FR 29063, Connect America Fund. The Order adopted the form and content for a survey of urban rates for fixed voice and fixed broadband residential services for purposes of implementing various reforms adopted as part of the USF/ICC Transformation Order, 76 FR 73830, November 29, 2011. The information collected in this survey will be used to establish a rate floor that eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) receiving high-cost loop support (HCLS) or frozen high-cost support must meet to receive their full support amounts and to help ensure that universal service support recipients offering fixed voice and broadband services do so at reasonably comparable rates to those in urban areas. The rate floor and comparability requirements are important components of the Commission's overall effort to improve accountability for the use of universal service funding. The rate floor will prevent the use of universal service subsidizes to support artificially low local rates in rural areas. The comparability requirements will ensure that rates are reasonably comparable for voice as well as broadband service, between urban and rural, insular, and high cost areas. Rates must be reasonably comparable so that consumers in rural, insular, and high cost areas have meaningful access to these services. This Order required a statistically valid sample of urban providers to complete a survey with information regarding the types and prices of their offerings. The Commission conducts this survey through an online reporting form accessible to those urban providers of fixed voice and broadband services that are chosen to participate.

Marlene H. Dortch,

Secretary, Office of the Secretary.