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Please note that the OMB number and expiration date may not have been determined when this Information Collection Request and associated Information Collection forms were submitted to OMB. The approved OMB number and expiration date may be found by clicking on the Notice of Action link below.
View ICR - OIRA Conclusion
OMB Control No:
3060-0986
ICR Reference No:
202103-3060-002
Status:
Historical Active
Previous ICR Reference No:
202004-3060-037
Agency/Subagency:
FCC
Agency Tracking No:
WCB
Title:
High-Cost Universal Service Support
Type of Information Collection:
Revision of a currently approved collection
Common Form ICR:
No
Type of Review Request:
Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action:
Approved without change
Conclusion Date:
05/10/2021
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)
Date Received in OIRA:
03/08/2021
Terms of Clearance:
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
Expiration Date
05/31/2024
36 Months From Approved
06/30/2023
Responses
14,358
0
12,729
Time Burden (Hours)
53,955
0
54,519
Cost Burden (Dollars)
0
0
0
Abstract:
The subject information collection is used to determine the amount of, and eligibility for, high-cost universal service support received by incumbent and competitive ETCs. The Commission is proposing to update and modify certain rules, requirements and reporting obligations. The Commission is also proposing to use support for territories damaged due to Hurricanes Irma and Maria and has adopted accountability measures so that the support is used in which it is intended. The Commission has further adopted a rule prohibiting the use of USF support to purchase or obtain any equipment or services produced or provided by a covered company posing a national security threat to the integrity of communications networks or the communications supply chain. We are proposing USF recipients must certify that they are in compliance with this requirement. This collection is also being submitted to seek approval of certain changes to Form 481 and its instructions.
Authorizing Statute(s):
US Code:
47 USC 218 - 220
Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as amended
US Code:
47 USC 254
Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as amended
US Code:
47 USC 214
Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as amended
US Code:
47 USC 410
Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as amended
US Code:
47 USC 303(r)
Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as amended
US Code:
47 USC 151 - 154
Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as amended
US Code:
47 USC 201 - 205
Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as amended
US Code:
47 USC 403
Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as amended
US Code:
47 USC 405
Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as amended
Citations for New Statutory Requirements:
None
Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:
Stage of Rulemaking:
Federal Register Citation:
Date:
3060-AK57
Final or interim final rulemaking
81 FR 44413
07/06/2016
Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:
Federal Register Citation:
Citation Date:
85 FR 85636
12/29/2020
30-day Notice:
Federal Register Citation:
Citation Date:
86 FR 13375
03/08/2021
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR?
No
Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR:
2
IC Title
Form No.
Form Name
Business or other for-profit
State, Local or Tribal Government
FCC Form 525
UNBUNDLED NETWORK ELEMENTS REPORTING
ICR Summary of Burden
Total Approved
Previously Approved
Change Due to New Statute
Change Due to Agency Discretion
Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate
Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses
14,358
12,729
0
1,599
30
0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)
53,955
54,519
0
-669
105
0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)
0
0
0
0
0
0
Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion:
No
Burden Increase Due to:
Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion:
Yes
Burden Reduction Due to:
Changing Regulations
Short Statement:
The Commission is reporting program changes and adjustments to this information collection as a result of new or revised requirements associated with the new Uniendo a Puerto Rico and Connect USVI Funds and the existing Connect America Phase II Auction program. Recipients of high-cost support through these programs will be required to make certifications and report information regarding their use of support, including the amount of support used for capital expenditures in the previous calendar year, and information on the community anchor institutions to which the carrier began providing access to broadband service in the preceding calendar year. All support recipients will also need to begin certifying their compliance with the Commission’s prohibition on using universal service support for Huawei or ZTE equipment or services. These program changes resulted in an increase in the number of respondents and annual responses. However, because rate-of-return carriers participating in the CAF-BLS program will no longer need to report progress on their deployment of 10/1 Mbps or better broadband locations as part of this collection, the program changes resulted in a decrease of total annual burden hours overall. The number of respondents increased from 2,034 to 2,049 (+15); the annual responses increased from 12,729 to 14,328 (+1,599); and the annual burden hours decreased from 54,519 to 53,850 (-669). In addition to program changes, the Commission is reporting adjustments to the information collection. Specifically, since more carriers will begin to have reporting obligations as a condition of receiving Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands Stage 2 support, there are additional respondents, responses, and burden hours for certain general requirements in this information collection. This adjustment increases the number of annual responses from 14,328 to 14,358 (+30) and the burden hours from 53,850 to 53,955 (+105). In sum, the estimated total number of respondents and total annual responses have increased under this OMB control number, while the overall number of annual burden hours has decreased. The total number of respondents increased from 2,034 to 2,049 (+15); the total annual responses increased from 12,729 to 14,358 (+1,629); and the total annual burden hours decreased from 54,519 to 53,955 (-564).
Annual Cost to Federal Government:
$0
Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods?
No
Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see
OMB Circular No. A-130
for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.
No
Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see
5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3)
)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.
No
Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]?
No
Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]?
No
Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)?
No
Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response?
No
Agency Contact:
Alexander Minard 202 418-0428
Common Form ICR:
No
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;
(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;
(c) It reduces burden on small entities;
(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;
(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;
(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;
(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.
(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and
(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Certification Date:
03/08/2021
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