Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission, Comments Requested

AGENCY:

Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION:

Notice; request for comments.

SUMMARY:

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection(s). 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 further ways to reduce the information burden for 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 Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) that does not display a valid Control Number.

DATES:

Written Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) comments should be submitted on or before May 27, 2014. 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 FCC contact listed below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your PRA comments to Leslie F. Smith, Office of Managing Director (OMD), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), via the Internet at Leslie.Smith@fcc.gov. To submit your PRA comments by email, send them to PRA@fcc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For additional information, contact Leslie F. Smith at (202) 418-0217, or via the Internet at PRA@fcc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control Number: 3060-1081.

Title: Telecommunications Carriers Eligible to Receive Universal Service Support.

Form Number: N/A.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents and Responses: 20 respondents; 20 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 40 hours.

Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits, 47 CFR 54.202, 54.209.

Frequency of Response: Annually.

Total Annual Burden: 800 hours.

Total Annual Cost: No cost.

Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).

Nature of Extent of Confidentiality: If respondents submit information which respondents believe is confidential, respondents may request confidential treatment of such information pursuant to section 0.459 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 0.459.

Needs and Uses: Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (ETC) makes a telecommunications carrier eligible to participate in the Universal Service Fund's high-cost and low-income programs, which support the extension of telecommunications services to underserved rural and low-income communities. In the absence of this information collection, the Commission's ability to oversee the use of Federal universal service funds and to combat waste, fraud, and abuse in the use of Federal funds would be compromised. Section 54.202 of the Commission's rules requires carriers seeking designation from the Commission to submit an application that certifies that the carrier will comply with the service requirement applicable to the support that it receives, 47 CFR 54.202(a)(1)(i), applicants must submit a five year plan that describes with specificity proposed improvements or upgrades to the applicant's network throughout its proposed service area, with estimates of the area and population that will be served as a result of the improvements, § 54.202(a)(1)(ii), an applicant must demonstrate its ability to remain functional in emergency situations, including a demonstration that it has a reasonable amount of back-up power to ensure functionality without an external power source, is able to reroute traffic around damaged facilities, and is capable of managing traffic spikes resulting from emergency situations, § 54.202(a)(2), demonstrate that it will satisfy applicable consumer protection and service quality standards, § 54.202(a)(3), A common carrier seeking designation as an ETC for purposes of receiving support only under subpart E of Part 54 of the Commission's rules (Universal Service Support for Low-Income Consumers) must demonstrate that it is financially and technically capable of providing the Lifeline service in compliance with subpart E, § 54.202(a)(4), applicants must submit information describing the terms and conditions of any voice telephony service plans offered to Lifeline subscribers, including details on the number of minutes provided as part of the plan, additional charges, if any, for toll calls, and rates for each such plan, § 54.202(a)(5). If the common carrier is seeking designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier under section 214(e)(6) for any part of Tribal lands shall provide a copy of its petition to the affected tribal government and tribal regulatory authority, as applicable, at the time it files its petition with the Federal Communications Commission. In addition, the Commission shall send any public notice seeking comment on any petition for designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier on Tribal lands, at the time it is released, the affected tribal government and tribal regulatory authority, as applicable, by the most expeditious means available, § 54.202(c).