Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals

Federal Register: June 23, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 121)

Notices

Page 35387-35388

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

DOCID:fr23jn08-40

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Being Submitted for

Review to the Office of Management and Budget, Comments Requested

June 16, 2008.

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 invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on the following information collection(s). Comments are requested concerning (a) 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; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (d) 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. An agency 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 that does not display a valid OMB control number.

DATES: Written PRA comments should be submitted on or before July 23, 2008. If you anticipate that you will be submitting PRA 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 comments to Nicholas A. Fraser, Office of

Management and Budget (e-mail address: nfraser@omb.eop.gov), and to the

Federal Communications Commission's PRA mailbox (e-mail address:

PRA@fcc.gov). Include in the e-mails the OMB control number of the collection as shown in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below or, if there is no OMB control number, the Title as shown in the

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section. If you are unable to submit your comments by e-mail contact the person listed below to make alternate arrangements.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information contact

Leslie F. Smith via e-mail at PRA@fcc.gov or at

Page 35388

(202) 418-0217. To view or obtain a copy of an information collection request (ICR) submitted to OMB: (1) Go to this OMB/GSA 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, and

(6) when the list of FCC ICRs currently under review appears, look for the OMB control number of the ICR you want to view (or its title if there is no OMB control number) and then click on the ICR Reference

Number. A copy of the FCC submission to OMB will be displayed.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control Number: 3060-0734.

Title: Sections 53.209, 53.211 and 53.213--Accounting Safeguards; and Sections 260 and 271-276 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

Form Number: N/A.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Businesses or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents and Responses: 3 respondents; 1,551 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 0.5--4,593 hours.

Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain a benefit. See

Section 272(f)(1) Sunset of the BOC Separate Affiliate and Related

Requirements, et al., WC Docket No. 02-112, 22 FCC Rcd 16440 (2007).

Frequency of Response: On occasion and biennial reporting requirements; third party disclosure requirement; and recordkeeping requirement.

Total Annual Burden: 72,495 hours.

Total Annual Cost: $1,500,000.

Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impacts.

Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: The Commission is not requesting that the respondents submit confidential information to the

FCC. Respondents may, however, request confidential treatment for information they believe to be confidential under 47 CFR Section 0.459 of the Commission's rules.

Needs and Uses: A Bell Operating Company (BOC) may choose from among three regulatory regimes in its provision of in-region, interstate, interLATA (Local Access and Transport Area) telecommunications services. One of these regimes is the regime set forth in section 272 of the Communications Act and the Commission's implementing rules, 47 CFR section 272. Under this regime, a BOC and its section 272 affiliate may not jointly own transmission and switching equipment. The separate section 272 affiliate must maintain separate books of account and have separate officers and directors. The separate section 272 affiliate may not obtain credit under arrangements that would permit the creditor to look to the assets of the BOC. The section 272 affiliate must conduct all transactions with the BOC on an arm's length basis, pursuant to the Commission's affiliate transaction rules, with the terms and conditions of such transactions reduced to writing and available for public inspection on the Internet. Section 272(d) states that companies required to maintain a separate affiliate

``shall obtain and pay for a Federal/State audit every two years conducted by an independent auditor to determine whether such company has complied with this section and the regulations promulgated under this section, and particularly whether such company has complied with the separate accounting requirements under [section 272(b)].'' These information collection requirements are intended to prevent discrimination, cost misallocation and other anti-competitive conduct by the BOCs.

Federal Communications Commission.

Marlene H. Dortch,

Secretary.

FR Doc. E8-14023 Filed 6-20-08; 8:45 am

BILLING CODE 6712-01-P