2016-18079. 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 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), 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 llected; 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 30, 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 [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: 3060-0853.

Title: Certification by Administrative Authority to Billed Entity Compliance with the Children's Internet Protection Act Form, FCC Form 479; Receipt of Service Confirmation and Certification of Compliance with the Children's Internet Protection Act Form, FCC Form 486; and Funding Commitment Adjustment Request Form, FCC Form 500.

Form Numbers: FCC Forms 479, 486 and 500.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit, not-for-profit institutions, and state, local or tribal government.

Number of Respondents and Responses: 63,700 respondents, 58,575 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 1 hour for FCC Form 479, 1 hour for FCC Form 486, 1 hour for FCC Form 500, and .75 hours for maintaining and updating the Internet Safety Policy.

Frequency of Response: On occasion and annual reporting requirements.

Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47 U.S.C. 151-154, 201-205, 218-220, 254, 303(r), 403, and 405.

Total Annual Burden: 58,575 hours.

Total Annual Cost: No cost.

Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).

Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: There is no assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents concerning this information collection. However, respondents may request materials or information submitted to the Commission or to the Administrator be withheld from public inspection under 47 C.F.R 0.459 of the FCC's rules.

Needs and Uses: The Commission seeks to revise OMB 3060-0853 to conform the FCC Forms 479, 486 and 500 to changes implemented in the Order and FNPRM (E-rate Modernization Order) (WC Docket No. 13-184, FCC 14-99; 79 FR 49160, August 19, 2014). The FCC Form 486 is being transitioned to an online platform for applicants that seek universal service support for funding year 2016 and later. Applicants needing to file a FCC Form 486 for a funding year earlier than funding year 2016 will need to use the current FCC Form 486 which is an electronic or paper filing. The FCC Form 500 will also be transitioned to an online platform.

The Commission will submit this information collection to OMB during this comment period to obtain the full three-year clearance from them. The purpose of this information is to ensure that schools and libraries that are eligible to receive discounted Internet Access services (Category One), and Broadband Internal Connections, Managed Internal Broadband Services, and Basic Maintenance of Broadband Internal Connections (Basic Maintenance) (known together as Category Two Services) have in place Internet safety policies. Schools and libraries receiving these services must certify, by completing a FCC Form 486 (Receipt of Service Confirmation and Certification of Compliance with the Children's Internet Protection Act), that respondents are enforcing a policy of Internet safety and enforcing the operation of a technology prevention measure. Also, respondents who received a Funding Commitment Decision Letter indicating services eligible for universal service funding must file FCC Form 486 to indicate their service start date and to start the payment process. In addition, all members of a consortium must submit signed certifications to the Billed Entity of their consortium using a FCC Form 479; Certification by Administrative Authority to Billed Entity of Compliance with Children's Internet Protection Act, in language consistent with the certifications adopted for the FCC Form 486. Consortia must, in turn, certify collection of the FCC Forms 479 on the FCC Form 486. FCC Form 500 is used by E-rate participants to make adjustments to previously filed forms, such as changing the contract expiration date filed with the FCC Form 471, changing the funding year service start date filed with the FCC Form 486, cancelling or reducing the amount of funding commitments, requesting extensions of the deadline for non-recurring services, and notifying USAC of equipment transfers. All of the requirements contained herein are necessary to implement the congressional mandate for universal service.

Federal Communications Commission.

Gloria J. Miles,

Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of Secretary.