Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission

Published date16 July 2021
Citation86 FR 37751
Record Number2021-15183
SectionNotices
CourtFederal Communications Commission
Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 134 (Friday, July 16, 2021)
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 134 (Friday, July 16, 2021)]
                [Notices]
                [Pages 37751-37752]
                From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
                [FR Doc No: 2021-15183]
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                FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
                [OMB 3060-0149; FR ID 38144]
                Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal
                Communications Commission
                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 of 1995 (PRA), 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 Office of Management
                and Budget (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 PRA comments should be submitted on or before September
                14, 2021. 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 contact listed below as soon as possible.
                ADDRESSES: Direct all PRA comments to Nicole Ongele, FCC, via email
                [email protected] and to [email protected].
                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information about the
                information collection, contact Nicole Ongele, (202) 418-2991.
                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                 OMB Control Number: 3060-0149.
                 Title: Part 63, Accelerating Wireline Broadband Deployment by
                Removing Barriers to Infrastructure Investment, WC Docket No. 17-84,
                FCC 18-74.
                 Form Number(s): N/A.
                 Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
                 Respondents: Business or other for profit.
                 Number of Respondents and Responses: 80 respondents; 88 responses.
                 Estimated Time per Response: 6-62 hours per response.
                 Frequency of Response: One-time reporting requirement and third-
                party disclosure requirements.
                 Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits.
                Statutory authority for this collection of information is contained in
                47 U.S.C. 214 and 402 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.
                 Total Annual Burden: 1,096 hours.
                 Total Annual Cost: $27,900.
                 Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).
                 Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: Information filed in section
                214 applications has generally been nonconfidential. Requests from
                parties seeking confidential treatment are considered by Commission
                staff pursuant to 47 CFR 0.459 of the Commission's rules.
                 Needs and Uses: The Commission is seeking the Office of Management
                and Budget (OMB) approval for an extension of a currently approved
                collection to OMB. The Commission will submit this information
                collection to OMB after this 60-day comment period. Section 214 of the
                Communications Act of 1934, as amended, requires that a carrier must
                first obtain FCC authorization either to
                [[Page 37752]]
                (1) construct, operate, or engage in transmission over a line of
                communications; or (2) discontinue, reduce or impair service over a
                line of communications. Part 63 of Title 47 of the Code of Federal
                Regulations (CFR) implements Section 214. Part 63 also implements
                provisions of the Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984 pertaining to
                video which was approved under this OMB Control Number 3060- 0149. In
                2009, the Commission modified Part 63 to extend to providers of
                interconnected Voice of internet Protocol (VoIP) service the
                discontinuance obligations that apply to domestic non-dominant
                telecommunications carriers under Section 214 of the Communications Act
                of 1934, as amended. In 2014, the Commission adopted improved
                administrative filing procedures for domestic transfers of control,
                domestic discontinuances and notices of network changes, and among
                other adjustments, modified Part 63 to require electronic filing for
                applications for authorization to discontinue, reduce, or impair
                service under section 214(a) of the Act.
                 In July 2016, the Commission concluded that applicants seeking to
                discontinue a legacy time division multiplexing (TDM)-based voice
                service as part of a transition to a new technology, whether internet
                Protocol (IP), wireless, or another type (technology transition
                discontinuance application) must demonstrate that an adequate
                replacement for the legacy service exists in order to be eligible for
                streamlined treatment and revised part 63 accordingly. The Commission
                concluded that an applicant for a technology transition discontinuance
                may demonstrate that a service is an adequate replacement for a legacy
                voice service by certifying or showing that one or more replacement
                service(s) offers all of the following: (i) Substantially similar
                levels of network infrastructure and service quality as the applicant
                service; (ii) compliance with existing federal and/or industry
                standards required to ensure that critical applications such as 911,
                network security, and applications for individuals with disabilities
                remain available; and (iii) interoperability and compatibility with an
                enumerated list of applications and functionalities determined to be
                key to consumers and competitors (the ``adequate replacement test'').
                In June 2018, the Commission further modified the rules applicable to
                section 214(a) discontinuance applications. First, all carriers,
                whether dominant or non-dominant, that seek approval to grandfather
                data services below speeds of 25 Mbps download speed and 3 Mbps upload
                speed are now subject to a uniform reduced public comment period of 10
                days and an automatic grant period of 25 days. Second, all carriers,
                whether dominant or nondominant, seeking authorization to discontinue
                data services below speeds of 25 Mbps download speed and 3 Mbps upload
                speed that have previously been grandfathered for a period of at least
                180 days are subject to a uniform reduced public comment period of 10
                days and an automatic grant period of 31 days, provided they submit a
                statement as part of their discontinuance application that they have
                received Commission authority to grandfather the services at issue at
                least 180 days prior to the filing of the discontinuance application.
                This statement must reference the file number of the prior Commission
                authorization to grandfather the services the carrier now seeks to
                permanently discontinue. Third, carriers are no longer required to file
                an application to discontinue, reduce, or impair any service for which
                it has had no customers and no request for service for at least a 30-
                day period immediately preceding the discontinuance. Fourth, all
                carriers, whether dominant or nondominant, that seek approval to
                discontinue legacy voice service can obtain further streamlined
                processing with a public comment period of 15 days and an automatic
                grant period of 31 days, provided (1) they offer a standalone
                interconnected VoIP service throughout the service area, and (2) at
                least one alternative stand-alone, facilities-based voice service is
                available from an unaffiliated provider throughout the affected service
                area (the ``alternative options test''). Finally, all carriers, whether
                dominant or nondominant, that seek approval to grandfather legacy voice
                service are now subject to a uniform reduced public comment period of
                10 days and an automatic grant period of 25 days.
                Federal Communications Commission.
                Marlene Dortch,
                Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
                [FR Doc. 2021-15183 Filed 7-15-21; 8:45 am]
                BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
                

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