Agency information collection activities: Reporting and recordkeeping requirements,
[Federal Register: August 21, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 162)]
[Notices]
[Page 44862-44863]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21au98-59]
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Public Information Collections Approved by Office of Management and Budget
August 17, 1998.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has received Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the following public information collections pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. An agency may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. For further information contact Shoko B. Hair, Federal Communications Commission, (202) 418- 1379.
Federal Communications Commission
OMB Control No.: 3060-0785.
Expiration Date: 01/31/1999.
Title: Universal Service Worksheet.
Form No.: FCC Form 457.
Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
Estimated Annual Burden: 5000 respondents; 13.69 hours per response (avg.); 68,450 total annual burden hours for all collections.
Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: $4,903.
Frequency of Response: On occasion.
[[Page 44863]]
Description: The Telecommunications Act of 1996 (1996 Act) directed the Commission to initiate a rulemaking to reform our system of universal service so that universal service is preserved and advanced as markets move toward competition. To fulfill that mandate, on March 8, 1996, the Commission adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in CC Docket No. 96-45 to implement the congressional directives set forth in section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended by the 1996 Act. Pursuant to section 254(a)(1), the NPRM also referred numerous issues related to universal service to a Federal-State Joint Board for recommended decision. On November 8, 1996, the Joint Board released a Recommended Decision in which it made recommendations to assist and counsel the Commission in the creation of effective universal service support mechanisms that would ensure that the goals of affordable, quality service and access to advanced services are met by means that enhance competition. On November 18, 1996, the Commission's Common Carrier Bureau released a Public Notice (DA 96- 1891) seeking public comment on the issues addressed and recommendations made by the Joint Board in the Recommended Decision. On May 8, 1997, the Commission released the Report and Order on Universal Service (Universal Service Order) in CC Docket 96-45 that established new federal universal service support mechanisms consistent with the universal service provisions of section 254. On July 31, 1997, OMB approved the Universal Service Worksheet, FCC Form 457. On March 3, 1998, OMB approved a Universal Service Worksheet revised pursuant to the Second Order on Reconsideration and Fourth Order on Reconsideration. OMB recently approved the July 1998 edition of the Universal Service Worksheet. In the July 1998 worksheet we added to the Worksheet a new Line 48, where contributors shall report the revenues derived from charges assessed on end-users to recover contributions to state or federal universal service support mechanisms. We also revised Lines 22 and 35 of the Worksheet to require contributors to include on those lines, respectively, revenues derived from presubscribed interexchange carrier changes (PICCs) levied on carriers and PICCs levied on end users. We direct contributors to begin reporting at this time the revenues derived from such changes, because contributors began assessing these charges on January 1, 1998, the first day of the revenue-reporting period for the Worksheet. Section 254(d) provides that telecommunications carriers that provide interstate telecommunications services shall contribute to the universal service support mechanisms. Accordingly, we clarified the paragraph on pages 3- 4 of the revised instructions that carriers that use switches or lines that are used to provide interstate services, but that do not themselves provide interstate telecommunications services are not required to contribute to the universal service support mechanisms. We also emphasized in the instructions to the Worksheet that the Commission may make publicly available a list of the entities that file the Worksheet. Note that a contributor that provides interstate telecommunications will be exempt from universal service contribution and filing requirements if that contributor's contribution for the next four quarters is expected to be less than $100. This determination is made by using the worksheet. Contributors exempt from filing and contributing because of de minimis revenues must retain the worksheet and make it available to the Commission or to the Universal Service Administrator upon request. FCC Form 457 is used by the Commission and the Administrator to calculate contributions to the universal service support mechanisms. Without such information the Commission could not determine contributions to the support mechanisms and, therefore, could not fulfill its statutory responsibilities in accordance with the Communications Act of 1934, as amended. Copies of the revised Universal Service Worksheet and instructions may be downloaded from the Commission's Forms Web Page, 222.fcc.gov/formpage.html. Copies also may be obtained by calling the fax-on-demand line at (202) 418-2830 and selecting document number 000457. Finally, copies may be obtained from USAC at (973) 560-4400. Obligation to respond: Mandatory. Public reporting burden for the collections of information is as noted above. Send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of the collections of information, including suggestions for reducing the burden to Performance Evaluation and Records Management, Washington, D.C. 20554.
Federal Communications Commission. Magalie Roman Salas, Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-22515Filed8-20-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
