2019-17805. Information Collections Being Submitted for Review and Approval to the Office of Management and Budget  

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    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 Commission may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (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 comments should be submitted on or before September 19, 2019. 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 contacts listed below as soon as possible.

    ADDRESSES:

    Direct all PRA comments to Nicholas A. Fraser, OMB, via email Nicholas_A._Fraser@omb.eop.gov; and to Nicole Ongele, FCC, via email PRA@fcc.gov and to Nicole.Ongele@fcc.gov. Include in the comments the OMB control number as shown in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below.

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    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

    For additional information or copies of the information collection, contact Nicole Ongele at (202) 418-2991. To view a copy of this information collection request (ICR) submitted to OMB: (1) Go to the web page http://www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain, (2) look for the section of the web page called “Currently Under Review,” (3) click on the downward-pointing arrow in the “Select Agency” box below the “Currently Under Review” heading, (4) select “Federal Communications Commission” from the list of agencies presented in the “Select Agency” box, (5) click the “Submit” button to the right of the “Select Agency” box, (6) when the list of FCC ICRs currently under review appears, look for the OMB control number of this ICR and then click on the ICR Reference Number. A copy of the FCC submission to OMB will be displayed.

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    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    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 collected; ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, Start Printed Page 43131including 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.

    OMB Control Number: 3060-XXXX.

    Title: Connect America Fund—Performance Testing Measures.

    Form Number: N/A.

    Type of Review: New information collection.

    Respondents: Business or other for-profit.

    Number of Respondents and Responses: 1,277 unique respondents; 3,195 responses.

    Estimated Time per Response: 16 hours-60 hours.

    Frequency of Response: Biennial reporting requirements, quarterly reporting requirements 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, 155, 201-206, 214, 218-220, 251, 252, 254, 256, 303(r), 332, 403, 405, 410, and 1302.

    Total Annual Burden: 120,518 hours.

    Total Annual Cost: No Cost.

    Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).

    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: We note that the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) must preserve the confidentiality of certain data obtained from respondents; must not use the data except for purposes of administering the universal service programs or other purposes specified by the Commission; and must not disclose data in company-specific form unless directed to do so by the Commission. Materials or information submitted to the Commission or the Administrator will be confidential and not be available to the public.

    Needs and Uses: In the USF/ICC Transformation Order, the Commission laid the groundwork for today's universal service programs providing $4.5 billion in support for broadband internet deployment in high-cost areas. Connect America Fund et al., Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, WC Docket No. 10-90 et al., 26 FCC Rcd 17663 (2011) (USF/ICC Transformation Order). The USF/ICC Transformation Order required, among other things, that high-cost universal service recipients “test their broadband networks for compliance with speed and latency metrics and certify to and report the results to the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) on an annual basis.” Id. at 17705, para. 109. Pursuant to the Commission's direction in that Order, the Wireline Competition Bureau, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, and the Office of Engineering and Technology adopted more specific methodologies for such testing in the Performance Measures Order. See Connect America Fund, Order, WC Docket No. 10-90, 33 FCC Rcd 6509 (WCB/WTB/OET 2018) (Performance Measures Order). See also 47 CFR 54.313(a)(6) (requiring that recipients of high-cost support provide “[t]he results of network performance tests pursuant to the methodology and in the format determined by the Wireline Competition Bureau, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, and Office of Engineering and Technology”).

    This collection includes requirements for testing speed and latency to ensure that carriers are meeting the public interest obligations associated with their receipt of high-cost universal service support. Carriers will identify, from among the locations they have already submitted and certified in USAC's High Cost Universal Broadband (HUBB) portal, the locations where they have an active subscriber. From those subscriber locations, USAC will then select a random sample from which the carrier will be required to perform testing for speed and latency. Carriers that do not provide location information in the HUBB will use a randomization tool provided by USAC to select a random sample of locations for testing. The carrier will then be required to submit to USAC the results of the testing on an annual basis. These filings will include the testing results for each quarter from the prior year. The carrier's sample for each service tier (e.g. 10 Mbps/1 Mbps, 25 Mbps/1 Mbps) shall be regenerated every two years. During the two-year cycle, carriers will have the ability to add and remove subscriber locations if necessary, e.g., as subscribership changes. This information collection addresses the burdens associated with these requirements.

    OMB Control Number: 3060-1228.

    Title: Connect America Fund—High Cost Portal Filing.

    Form Number: N/A.

    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

    Respondents: Business or other for-profit, Not-for-profit institutions.

    Number of Respondents and Responses: 1,599 unique respondents; 3,730 responses.

    Estimated Time per Response: 8 hours-60 hours.

    Frequency of Response: On occasion, quarterly reporting requirements, annual reporting requirements, one-time reporting requirement and recordkeeping requirement.

    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47 U.S.C. 151-154, 155, 201-206, 214, 218-220, 251, 252, 254, 256, 303(r), 332, 403, 405, 410, and 1302.

    Total Annual Burden: 68,607 hours.

    Total Annual Cost: No Cost.

    Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).

    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: We note that USAC must preserve the confidentiality of certain data obtained from respondents; must not use the data except for purposes of administering the universal service programs or other purposes specified by the Commission; and must not disclose data in company-specific form unless directed to do so by the Commission. Respondents may request materials or information submitted to the Commission or the Administrator believed confidential to be withheld from public inspection under 47 CFR 0.459 of the FCC's rules.

    Needs and Uses: The Commission is requesting approval for this revised information collection. In March 2016, the Commission adopted an order reforming its universal service support program in areas served by rate-of-return carriers. Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket Nos. 10-90 et al., Report and Order, Order and Order on Reconsideration, and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 16-33 (2016 Rate-of-Return Order). In May 2016, the Commission adopted rules to implement a competitive bidding process for Phase II of the Connect America Fund. Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket Nos. 10-90 et al., Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 16-64 (Phase II Auction Order). In August 2016, the Commission adopted a plan tailored to certain carriers, both fixed and mobile, serving Alaska. Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket No. 10-90 et al., Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 16-115 (Alaska Plan Order). In January 2017 the Commission adopted an order which granted New York State waiver of the Connect America Phase II auction program rules, subject to certain conditions. Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket Nos. 10-90 et al., FCC 17-2 (New York Auction Order). Also, in December 2018, the Commission adopted reforms that included additional offers of model-based support and increased broadband deployment obligations. Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket No. 10-90 et al., Report Start Printed Page 43132and Order, Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Order on Reconsideration, FCC 18-176 (2018 Rate-of-Return Order).

    This information collection addresses the requirement that certain carriers with high-cost reporting obligations must file information about their locations which meet their broadband deployment public interest obligations via an electronic portal (“portal”). The 2016 Rate-of-Return Order required that the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) establish the portal so that carriers could file their location data with the portal starting in 2017. The 2016 Rate-of-Return Order required all recipients of Phase II model-based support and rate-of-return carriers to submit geocoded location data and related certifications to the portal. Recipients of Phase II model-based support had been required to file such information in their annual reports due by July 1. The Phase II Auction Order, Alaska Plan Order, and New York Auction Order require carriers to build-out networks capable of meeting their public interest obligations and report, to an online portal, locations to which auction winners had deployed such networks. The Alaska Plan Order also made portal reporting requirements for carriers to submit fiber/microwave middle-mile network maps. This information collection also addresses the new additional offers of model-based support and increased broadband deployment obligations, and other improvements to the portal. With the new additional offers, there will be more carriers subject to the model-based deployment milestones and fewer carriers remaining on legacy support.

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    Federal Communications Commission.

    Marlene Dortch,

    Secretary, Office of the Secretary.

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    [FR Doc. 2019-17805 Filed 8-19-19; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 6712-01-P

Document Information

Published:
08/20/2019
Department:
Federal Communications Commission
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice and request for comments.
Document Number:
2019-17805
Dates:
Written comments should be submitted on or before September 19, 2019. 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 contacts listed below as soon as possible.
Pages:
43130-43132 (3 pages)
Docket Numbers:
OMB 3060-XXXX, OMB 3060-1228
PDF File:
2019-17805.Pdf