Rules and Regulations. Final rule; announcement of effective date
1,181 words·~5 min read·
/register/2019/11/14/2019-24658A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
BILLING CODE 4310-10-P FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 47 CFR Part 54 [WC Docket No. 10-90; FCC 18-176] Connect America Fund AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission. ACTION: Final rule; announcement of effective date. SUMMARY: In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) announces that the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB)has approved, for a period of three years, an information collection associated with the rules for the Connect America Fund contained in the Commission's *Connect America Fund Order,* FCC 18-176. This document is consistent with the *Connect America Fund Order,* which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the **Federal Register** announcing the effective date of the revised information collection requirement. DATES: The amendment to § 54.316 published at 84 FR 4711, February 19, 2019, is effective November 14, 2019. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alexander Minard, Wireline Competition Bureau at
(202)418-7400 or TTY
(202)418-0484. For additional information concerning the Paperwork Reduction Act information collection requirements contact Nicole Ongele at
(202)418-2991 or via email at *Nicole.Ongele@fcc.gov* . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission submitted revised information collection requirements for review and approval by OMB, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act
(PRA)of 1995, on August 20, 2019. OMB approved the revised information collection requirements on November 5, 2019. The information collection requirements are contained in the Commission's *Connect America Fund Order,* FCC 18-176, published at 84 FR 4711, February 19, 2019. The OMB Control Number is 3060-1228. The Commission publishes this document as an announcement of the effective date of the rules published on February 19, 2019. If you have any comments on the burden estimates listed in the following, or how the Commission can improve the collections and reduce any burdens caused thereby, please contact Nicole Ongele, Federal Communications Commission, Room 1-A620, 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554. Please include the OMB Control Number, 3060-1228, in your correspondence. The Commission will also accept your comments via email at *PRA@fcc.gov* . To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an email to *fcc504@fcc.gov* or call the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at
(202)418-0530 (voice),
(202)418-0432 (TTY). Synopsis As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507), the Commission is notifying the public that it received OMB approval on November 5, 2019, for the amendment to 47 CFR 54.316 published at 84 FR 4711, February 19, 2019. Under 5 CFR part 1320, an agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a current, 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 that does not display a current, valid OMB Control Number. The OMB Control Number is 3060-1228. The foregoing notice is required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13, October 1, 1995, and 44 U.S.C. 3507. The total annual reporting burdens and costs for the respondents are as follows: *OMB Control Number:* 3060-1228. *OMB Approval Date:* November 5, 2019. *OMB Expiration Date:* November 30, 2022. *Title:* Connect America Fund—High Cost Portal Filing. *Form Number:* N/A. *Type of Review:* Revision of a currently approved collection. *Respondents* : Business or other for-profit entities, not-for-profit institutions. *Number of Respondents and Responses:* 1,599 unique respondents; 3,730 responses. *Estimated Time per Response:* 8 hours-60 hours. *Frequency of Response:* On occasion, quarterly reporting requirements, annual reporting requirements, one-time 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. 151-154, 155, 201-206, 214, 218-220, 251, 252, 254, 256, 303(r), 332, 403, 405, 410, and 1302. *Total Annual Burden:* 68,607 hours. *Total Annual Cost(s):* No Cost. *Nature and Extent of Confidentiality:* We note that USAC must preserve the confidentiality of certain data obtained from respondents; must not use the data except for purposes of administering the universal service programs or other purposes specified by the Commission; and must not disclose data in company-specific form unless directed to do so by the Commission. Respondents may request materials or information submitted to the Commission or the Administrator believed confidential to be withheld from public inspection under 47 CFR 0.459 of the FCC's rules. *Privacy Act Impact Assessment:* No impact(s). *Needs and Uses:* The Commission will use the information collected under this information collection to address the requirement that certain carriers now have increased broadband deployment reporting obligations about their locations which meet their broadband deployment public interest obligations via an electronic portal (“portal”). This collection also addresses additional offers of model-based support. With the new additional offers, there will be more carriers subject to the model-based deployment milestones and fewer carriers remaining on legacy support. In March 2016, the Commission adopted an order reforming its universal service support program in areas served by rate-of-return carriers. Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket Nos. 10-90 et al., Report and Order, Order and Order on Reconsideration, and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 16-33 ( *2016 Rate-of-Return Order* ). In May 2016, the Commission adopted rules to implement a competitive bidding process for Phase II of the Connect America Fund. Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket Nos. 10-90 et al., Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 16-64 ( *Phase II Auction Order* ). In August 2016, the Commission adopted a plan tailored to certain carriers, both fixed and mobile, serving Alaska. Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket No. 10-90 et al., Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 16-115 ( *Alaska Plan Order* ). In January 2017 the Commission adopted an order which granted New York State waiver of the Connect America Phase II auction program rules, subject to certain conditions. Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket Nos. 10-90 et al., FCC 17-2 ( *New York Auction Order* ). Also, in December 2018, the Commission adopted reforms that included additional offers of model-based support and increased broadband deployment obligations. Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket No. 10-90 et al., Report and Order, Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Order on Reconsideration, FCC 18-176 ( *2018 Rate-of-Return Order* ). The *2016 Rate-of-Return Order* required that the Universal Service Administrative Company
(USAC)establish the portal so that carriers could file their location data with the portal starting in 2017. The *2016 Rate-of-Return Order* required all recipients of Phase II model-based support and rate-of-return carriers to submit geocoded location data and related certifications to the portal. Recipients of Phase II model-based support had been required to file such information in their annual reports due by July 1. The *Phase II Auction Order, Alaska Plan Order,* and *New York Auction Order* require carriers to build-out networks capable of meeting their public interest obligations and report, to an online portal, locations to which auction winners had deployed such networks. The *Alaska Plan Order* also made portal reporting requirements for carriers to submit fiber/microwave middle-mile network maps. Federal Communications Commission. Marlene Dortch, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2019-24658 Filed 11-13-19; 8:45 am]
Connectionstraces to 1
Traces to 1 document
6 references not yet in our index
- 47 CFR 54
- 47 CFR 54.316
- 5 CFR 1320
- Pub. L. 104-13
- 47 USC 151-154
- 47 CFR 0.459
Citation graph
cites case law
Rules and Regulations
Final rule; announcement of effective date
Cite47 CFR 54
Cite47 CFR 54.316
Cite5 CFR 1320
Pub. L.Pub. L. 104-13
Cite47 USC 151-154
Cites 7 · showing 6Cited by 0 across 0 sources