03-23314. Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission for Extension Under Delegated Authority

September 5, 2003.

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 of 1995, Pub. L. No. 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:

Persons wishing to comment on this information collection should submit comments by November 12, 2003. 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 Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) comments to Judith B. Herman, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW, Room 1-C804, Washington, DC 20554 or via the Internet to [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For additional information or copies of the information collections contact Judith B. Herman at 202-418-0214 or via the Internet at [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control No.: 3060-0790.

Title: Section 68.110(c), Availability of Inside Wiring Information.

Form No.: N/A.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for profit.

Number of Respondents: 1,200.

Estimated Time Per Response: 1 hour.

Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement and third party disclosure requirement.

Total Annual Burden: 1,200 hours.

Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: N/A.

Needs and Uses: Section 68.110(c) requires telephone companies to provide building owners with all available information regarding carrier-installed wiring on the customer's side of the demarcation point, including copies of existing schematic diagrams and service records. The information must be provided to the telephone company upon request of the building owner or agent thereof. The information is needed so that building owners may be able to contract with an installer of their choice for maintenance and installation service, or elect to contract with the telephone company to modify existing wiring or assist with the installation of additional inside wiring.

OMB Control No.: 3060-0791.

Title: Accounting for Judgments and Other Costs Associated with Litigation, CC Docket No. 93-240.

Form No.: N/A.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.

Number of Respondents: 1.

Estimated Time Per Response: 36 hours.

Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement and recordkeeping requirement.

Total Annual Burden: 36 hours.

Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: N/A.

Needs and Uses: In CC Docket No. 93-240, the Commission considered the issue of the accounting rules and ratemaking policies that should apply to litigation costs incurred by carriers subject to Part 32 of its rules and regulations. The Commission concluded that there should be special rules to govern the accounting treatment of federal antitrust judgments and settlements, in excess of the avoided costs of litigation, but not for litigation expenses. The Commission further concluded that these special rules should not apply to costs arising in other kinds of litigation. A carrier must make a showing to receive recognition of its avoided costs of litigation. This provision safeguards consumers against rates that are unreasonably high and guarantees carriers that they will not be required to charge rates that are so low as to be confiscatory. Carriers under the Commission's jurisdiction must be allowed to recover the reasonable costs of providing service to ratepayers, including reasonable and prudent expenses and a fair return on investment. This fundamental requirement is unchanged by the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

OMB Control No.: 3060-0933.

Title: Community Broadband Deployment Database Reporting Form.

Form No.: FCC Form 460.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions, federal government, state, local, or tribal government.

Number of Respondents: 150.

Estimated Time Per Response: .25 hours.

Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement.

Total Annual Burden: 37 hours.

Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: N/A.

Needs and Uses: Pursuant to Section 410(b) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, the FCC convened a Federal-State Joint Conference on Advanced Telecommunications Services to provide a forum for cooperative dialogue and information exchange between and among state and federal jurisdictions regarding the deployment of advanced telecommunications services. As part of this ongoing effort, a searchable on-line database of community broadband demand aggregation and deployment efforts has been established. The information will be used by the Commission to prepare reports that help inform consumers and policy makers at the state and federal levels of the status of deployment of broadband services. We will use this information to better inform our understanding of broadband deployment in conjunction with our congressionally required Section 706 reports. Absent this information, the Commission would lack an essential tool for assisting it in determining the effectiveness of its policies and fulfilling its statutory responsibilities in accordance with the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

Federal Communications Commission.

Marlene H. Dortch,

Secretary.