2023-14012. 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 September 1, 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: 3060–0057.

Title: Application for Equipment Authorization, FCC Form 731.

Form Number: FCC Form 731.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents and Responses: 11,305 respondents; 24,873 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 0.1–40 hours.

Frequency of Response: On occasion and other ongoing reporting requirements.

Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47 U.S.C. 154(i), 301, 302a, 303, 309(j), 312, 316, and the Secure Equipment Act of 2021, Public Law 117–55, 135 Stat. 423.

Total Annual Burden: 206,863 hours.

Total Annual Cost: $50,155,140.

Needs and Uses: The Commission will submit this information collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) after this 60-day comment period to obtain the three-year clearance. The information will be used by the Commission to fulfill its statutory mandate under the Secure Equipment Act of 2021, Public Law 117–55, 135 Stat. 423 (2021) to implement prohibitions in its equipment authorization program that will protect the nation's telecommunications systems from equipment that has been determined to pose an unacceptable risk to national security or the safety of U.S. persons.

Federal Communications Commission.

Marlene Dortch,

Secretary, Office of the Secretary.