05-15434. Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Being Submitted for Review to the Office of Management and Budget

July 28, 2005.

SUMMARY:

The Federal Communications Commission, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection(s), as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Public Law 104-13. An agency 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 Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) that does not display a valid control number. Comments are requested concerning (a) 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; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (d) 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.

DATES:

Written Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) comments should be submitted on or before September 9, 2005. 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 contact listed below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) comments to Judith B. Herman, Federal Communications Commission, Room 1-C804, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554 or via the Internet to [e-mail]. If you would like to obtain or view a copy of this new or revised information collection, you may do so by visiting the FCC PRA Web page at: http://www.fcc.gov/​omd/​pra.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For additional information or copies of the information collection(s), contact Judith B. Herman at 202-418-0214 or via the Internet at [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control No.: 3060-1081.

Title: Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service, CC Docket No. 96-45.

Form No.: N/A.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 22.

Estimated Time Per Response: .25-3 hours.

Frequency of Response: Annual reporting requirement and recordkeeping requirement.

Total Annual Burden: 242 hours.

Total Annual Cost: N/A.

Privacy Act Impact Assessment: N/A.

Needs and Uses: The Commission adopted additional mandatory reporting requirements for this information collection in CC Docket No. 96-45, CC 05-46. These requirements will ensure that eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) continue to comply with the conditions of the ETC designation and that universal service funds are used for their intended purposes. Specifically, each ETC must submit, on an annual basis the following information: (1) Progress reports on the ETC's five-year service quality improvement plan; (2) detailed information on any outage lasting at least 30 minutes; (3) the number of unfulfilled requests for service from potential customers within its service areas; (4) the number of complaints per 1,000 handsets or lines; (5) certification that the ETC is complying with applicable service quality standards and consumer protection rules; (6) certification that the ETC is able to function in emergency situations; (7) certification that the ETC is offering a local usage plan comparable to that offered by the incumbent LEC in the relevant service areas; and (8) certification that the carrier acknowledges that the Commission may require it to provide equal access to long distance carriers in the event that no other ETC is providing equal access within the service area.

Federal Communications Commission.

Marlene H. Dortch,

Secretary.