2014-30774. Information Collection Being Submitted for Review and Approval to the Office of Management and Budget

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 Commission) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collections. 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 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 February 4, 2015. 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 below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all PRA comments to Nicholas A. Fraser, OMB, via email [e-mail]; and to Cathy Williams, FCC, via email [e-mail] and to [e-mail]. Include in the comments the OMB control number as shown in the “Supplementary Information” section below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For additional information or copies of the information collection, contact Cathy Williams at [phone]. 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control No.: 3060-1156.

Title: 47 CFR 43.62, Annual Reporting Requirements for U.S. Providers of International Services and Circuits.

Form No.: N/A.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved information collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 2,328 respondents; 14,606 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 1-150 hours.

Frequency of Response: Annual reporting requirement.

Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The statutory authority for this information collection is contained under Sections 1, 4(i)-4(j), 11, 201-205, 211, 214, 219, 220, 303(r), 309 and 403 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 151, 154(i)-154(j), 161, 201-205, 211, 214, 219-220, 303(r), 309, 403.

Total Annual Burden: 14,606 hours.

Annual Cost Burden: $2,400.

Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).

Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: In general, there is no need for confidentiality with this collection of information. The Commission, however, will allow filing entities to seek confidential treatment of their data.

Needs and Uses: The Federal Communications Commission (Commission) is requesting that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approve a revision of OMB Control No. 3060-1156. The purpose of the revision is to obtain OMB approval of the annual reporting requirements stipulated under 47 CFR 43.62 which requires that entities providing international services file annual circuit capacity reports and annual traffic and revenue reports, in a format set out in a Filing Manual.

Upon the OMB's approval of the proposed changes in this information collection, the Commission plans to eliminate two existing information collections from the Commission's inventory, OMB Control Number 3060-0106 (47 CFR 43.61 annual traffic and revenue reports) and OMB Control Number 3060-0572 (47 CFR 43.82 annual circuit-status reports).

In order for carriers to comply with annual reporting requirements stipulated in 47 CFR 43.62, the Commission is developing a web-based system for filers to submit their reports. Filers will access the filing system via a portal on the FCC Web site, www.FCC.gov The software for the web-based system is now under development and the Commission is seeking final OMB approval for the new requirements in 47 CFR 43.62, the new consolidated Filing Manual and the electronic filing of the data.

Without this collection of information, the Commission would not be able to ensure compliance with its international rules and policies. Furthermore, the Commission would not have sufficient information to take measures to prevent anticompetitive conduct in the provision of international communications services. The Commission would not have adequate information to respond to failures in the U.S.-international market. The Commission would not be able to promote effective competition in the global market for communications services. The lack of effective competition would adversely affect the U.S. revenues in the telecommunications industry. The agency would not be able to comply with the international regulations stated in the World Trade Organization (WTO) Basic Telecom Agreement. Carriers and other entities outside the Commission, such as other government agencies, international organizations, and academia, use the information to analyze industry trends. Other government agencies use the information in merger analyses and negotiations with foreign countries. If the information collection was not conducted, carriers, government agencies and other entities would not have accurate industry data available in order to conduct analyses.

Federal Communications Commission.

Marlene H. Dortch,

Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Office of the Managing Director.