2013-15581. Information Collection(s) Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission, Comments Requested

AGENCY:

Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION:

Notice; 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: 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 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 August 30, 2013. 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 questions to Judith B. Herman, Federal Communications Commission. 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: 3060-0865.

Title: Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Universal Licensing System Recordkeeping and Third Party Disclosure Requirements.

Form Number: N/A.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Individuals or households; business or other for-profit entities, not-for-profit institutions and state, local or tribal government.

Number of Respondents: 62,500 respondents; 62,500 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: .166 hours to 5 hours.

Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement, 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 154(i) and 309(j) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

Total Annual Burden: 88,940 hours.

Total Annual Cost: N/A.

Privacy Impact Assessment: N/A.

Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: There is a need for confidentiality with respect to all Private Land Mobile Radio service filers in this collection. Pursuant to section 208(b) of the E-Government Act of 2002, 44 U.S.C. section 3501, in conformance with the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. 552(a), the Commission's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau instructs licensees to use the FCC's Universal Licensing System (ULS), Antenna Structure Registration (ASR), Commission Registration System (CORES) and related systems and subsystems to submit information.

Information on the private land mobile radio licensees is maintained in the Commission's system of records, FCC/WTB-1, “Wireless Services Licensing Records.” The licensee records will be publicly available and routinely used in accordance with subsection b of the Privacy Act. TIN numbers and materials which is afforded confidential treatment pursuant to a request made under 47 CFR 0.459 of the Commission's rules will not be available for public inspection. Any personally identifiable information (PII) that individual applicants provide is covered by a system of records, and these and all other records may be disclosed pursuant to the Routine Uses as stated in this system of records notice (SORN).

Needs and Uses: The Commission will submit this expiring information collection after this comment period to obtain the full, three year clearance from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The Commission is reporting no change in the recordkeeping, reporting and/or third party disclosure requirements. There is a change in the Commission's previous (2010) burdens. We are now reporting a 177 hour burden reduction adjustment. This reduction is due to an adjustment in the number of responses by licensees who operate within the various service categories of this information collection gathered from our ULS and CORES databases.

The purpose of this information collection is to continue to streamline and simplify processes for wireless applicants and licensees, who previously used a myriad of forms for various wireless services and type of requests, in order to provide the Commission, information that has been collected in separate databases, each for a different group of services. Such processes have resulted in unreliable reporting, duplicate filings for the same licensees/applicants, and high cost burdens to licensees/applicants. By streamlining the ULS, the Commission eliminates the filing of duplicative applications for wireless carriers; increases the accuracy and reliability of licensing information; and enables all wireless applicants and licensees to file all licensing-related applications and other filings electronically, thus increasing the speed and efficiency of the application process.

The ULS also benefits wireless applicants/licensees by reducing the cost of preparing applications, and speeds up the licensing process in that the Commission can introduce new entrants more quickly into this already competitive industry. Finally, ULS enhances the availability of licensing information to the public which has access to all publicly available wireless information on-line, including maps depicting a licensee's geographic service area.

Federal Communications Commission.

Marlene H. Dortch,

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