2015-32230. Information Collection 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 (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 PRA comments should be submitted on or before February 22, 2016. 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 Nicole Ongele, FCC, via email to [e-mail] and to [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For additional information about the information collection, contact Nicole Ongele at [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control Number: 3060-0355.

Title: Rate-of-Return Monitoring Reports.

Form Numbers: FCC Forms 492 and 492-A.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.

Number of Respondents: 137 respondents; 137 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 8 hours.

Frequency of Response: Annual 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. 160, 161, 209(b) and 220 as amended by the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

Total Annual Burden: 1,096 hours.

Total Annual Cost: No cost.

Privacy Impact Assessment: No impact(s).

Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: In most cases, the rate-of-return reports do not require submission of any confidential or commercially-sensitive data. The areas in which detailed information is required are fully subject to regulation. If a respondent finds it necessary to submit confidential or commercially-sensitive data, they may do so under 47 CFR 0.459 of the Commission's rules.

Needs and Uses: The filing of FCC Forms 492 and 492-A is required by 47 CFR 65.600 of the Commission's rules. FCC Form 492 is filed by each local exchange carrier (LEC) or groups of carriers who file individual access tariffs or who are not subject to sections 61.41 through 61.49 of the Commission's rules. Each LEC, or group of affiliated carriers, subject to the previously stated sections, file FCC Form 492-A. These data provide the necessary detail to enable the Commission to fulfill its regulatory responsibilities. The Commission has granted AT&T, Verizon, legacy Qwest, and other similarly-situated carriers forbearance from FCC Form 492-A. See Petition of AT&T Inc. for Forbearance under 47 U.S.C. 160 from Enforcement of Certain of the Commission's Cost Assignment Rules, WC Docket Nos. 07-21, 05-342, Memorandum Opinion and Order, 23 FCC Rcd 7302 (2008) (AT&T Cost Assignment Forbearance Order). However, one reporting company purchased a substantial number of smaller entities and converted them to rate-of-return carriers while a second company made several acquisitions.

Federal Communications Commission.

Marlene H. Dortch,

Secretary.