2022-18865. Information Collections Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission Under Delegated Authority

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 of 1995 (PRA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or 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 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 PRA comments should be submitted on or before October 31, 2022. 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 Cathy Williams, FCC, via email to [e-mail] and to [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For additional information about the information collection, contact Cathy Williams at [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control Number: 3060-0944.

Title: Cable Landing License Act—47 CFR 1.767; 1.768; Executive Order 10530.

Form Number: Submarine Cable Landing License Application.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business and other for-profit entities.

Number of Respondents and Responses: 58 respondents; 99 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 0.50 hour to 17 hours.

Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement, Quarterly reporting requirement, Recordkeeping requirement and third-party disclosure requirement.

Obligation To Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The statutory authority for this collection is contained in the Submarine Cable Landing License Act of 1921, 47 U.S.C. 34-39, Executive Order 10530, section 5(a), and the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 151, 152, 154(i)-(j), 155, 303(r), 309, 403.

Total Annual Burden: 413 hours.

Total Annual Cost: $106,860.

Needs and Uses: The Federal Communications Commission (Commission) is requesting that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approve a three-year extension of OMB Control No. 3060-0944.

The information will be used by the Commission staff in carrying out its duties under the Submarine Cable Landing License Act of 1921, 47 U.S.C. 34-39, Executive Order 10530, section 5(a), and the Communications Act of 1934, as amended. The information collections are necessary largely to determine whether and under what conditions the Commission should grant a license for proposed submarine cables landing in the United States, including applicants that are, or are affiliated with, foreign carriers in the destination market of the proposed submarine cable. Pursuant to Executive Order No. 10530, the Commission has been delegated the President's authority under the Cable Landing License Act to grant cable landing licenses, provided that the Commission must obtain the approval of the State Department and seek advice from other government agencies as appropriate. If the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently, applicants will not obtain the authorizations necessary to provide telecommunications services and facilities, and the Commission will be unable to carry out its mandate under the Cable Landing License Act and Executive Order 10530. In addition, without the collection, the United States would jeopardize its ability to fulfill the U.S. obligations as negotiated under the World Trade Organization (WTO) Basic Telecom Agreement because certain of these information collection requirements are imperative to detecting and deterring anticompetitive conduct. They are also necessary to preserve the Executive Branch agencies' and the Commission's ability to review foreign investments for national security, law enforcement, foreign policy, and trade concerns.

OMB Control Number: 3060-1163.

Title: Regulations Applicable to Broadcast, Common Carrier, and Aeronautical Radio Licensees Under Section 310(b) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

Form Number: N/A.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.

Number of Respondents and Responses: 26 respondents; 26 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 2 hours-46 hours.

Frequency of Response: On-occasion reporting requirement.

Obligation To Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The statutory authority for this collection is contained in 47 U.S.C. 151, 152, 154(i), 154(j), 160, 303(r), 309, 310 and 403.

Total Annual Burden: 712 hours.

Total Annual Cost: $251,210.

Needs and Uses: The Federal Communications Commission (“Commission”) is requesting a three-year extension of OMB Control No. 3060-1163 titled, Regulations Applicable to Broadcast, Common Carrier and Aeronautical Radio Licensees Under Section 310(b)(4) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

Section 310(b)(4) of the Act requires that the Commission pass upon the propriety of foreign ownership of U.S. parent companies that control common carrier and aeronautical radio licensees before such ownership exceeds 25 percent. The Commission's section 310(b)(3) forbearance approach (applicable to common carrier licensees only) requires that the Commission pass upon the propriety of foreign ownership of common carrier radio licensees before such ownership exceeds 20 percent. The information collection will preserve the Commission's ability to disallow foreign investment that may pose a risk of harm to competition or national security, law enforcement, foreign policy, or trade policy.

If the information collection were not conducted or were conducted less frequently than proposed, the Commission would not be able to carry out its statutory mandate under section 310(b) of the Act, and its section 310(b)(3) forbearance policy, to disallow foreign investment that the Commission finds would be contrary to the U.S. public interest. In particular, the Commission would lack the information it needs to determine whether proposed foreign investment in U.S. broadcast, common carrier, and aeronautical radio licensees may pose a risk of harm to competition or national security, law enforcement, foreign policy, or trade policy.

Federal Communications Commission.

Sheryl Todd,

Deputy Secretary, Office of the Secretary.