Information Collection Being Submitted for Review and Approval to the Office of Management and Budget

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 191 (Friday, October 2, 2015)

Federal Register Volume 80, Number 191 (Friday, October 2, 2015)

Notices

Pages 59777-59778

From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov

FR Doc No: 2015-25000

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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

3060-0824

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.

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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 November 2, 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 Nicholas_A._Fraser@omb.eop.gov; and to Nicole Ongele, FCC, via email PRA@fcc.gov and to Nicole.Ongele@fcc.gov. 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 Nicole Ongele at (202) 418-2991.

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 Number: 3060-0824.

Title: Service Provider and Billed Entity Identification Number and Contact Information Form.

Form Number: FCC Form 498.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit and not-for-profit institutions.

Number of Respondents: 26,000 respondents; 26,000 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 0.75 hours.

Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirements and third party disclosure requirements.

Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47 U.S.C. 151-154 and 254 the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

Total Annual Burden: 19,500 hours.

Total Annual Cost: No cost.

Privacy Impact Assessment: No impact(s).

Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: The Commission notes that the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) who administers the universal service program must preserve the confidentiality of all data obtained from respondents and contributors to the universal service programs, must not use the data except for purposes of administering the universal service programs, and must not disclose data in company-

specific form unless directed to do so by the Commission. With respect to the FCC Form 498, USAC shall publish each participant's name, SPIN, and contact information via USAC's Web site. All other information, including financial institution account numbers or routing information, shall remain confidential.

Page 59778

Needs and Uses: One of the functions of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) is to provide a means for the billing, collection and disbursement of funds for the universal service support mechanisms. On October 1998, the OMB approved FCC Form 498, the ``Service Provider Information Form'' to enable USAC to collect service provider name and address, telephone number, Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN), contact names, contact telephone numbers, and remittance information. FCC Form 498 enables participants to request a Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN) and provides the official record for participation in the universal service support mechanisms. The remittance information provided by participants on FCC Form 498 enables USAC to make payments to participants in the universal service support mechanisms.

The following proposed revisions have been made to the FCC Form 498 for which we seek OMB approval:

Form name changed to ``Service Provider and Billed Entity Identification Number and Contact Information Form'';

Added an additional field in block 3 for a company's Federal Registration Number (FRN);

Added a column for the Study Area Code Company Name in block 8;

Added the ability for a carrier to designate an alternate bank account for the payment of BEAR funds in block 11;

Added a box in block 1 and a supplemental information sheet to allow respondents to include information about affiliates;

Updated the Principal Communications Types in block 14 to include additional business types as listed on the FCC Form 499-A; and

Added a box after every program on the form that will allow service providers to cease participation in the associated program without having to deactivate their entire SPIN.

Corresponding adjustments were made to the instructions to reflect the proposed changes to the FCC Form 498. The information collected on the FCC Form 498 is used by USAC to disburse federal universal service support consistent with the specifications of eligible participants in the universal service programs. FCC Form 498 submissions also provide USAC with updated contact information so that USAC can contact universal service fund participants when necessary. Without such information, USAC would not be able to distribute support to the proper entities and this would prevent the Commission from fulfilling its statutory responsibilities under the Act to preserve and advance universal service.

Federal Communications Commission.

Marlene H. Dortch,

Secretary.

FR Doc. 2015-25000 Filed 10-1-15; 8:45 am

BILLING CODE 6712-01-P