Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission Under Delegated Authority
Federal Register, Volume 78 Issue 126 (Monday, July 1, 2013)
Federal Register Volume 78, Number 126 (Monday, July 1, 2013)
Notices
Pages 39285-39286
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office www.gpo.gov
FR Doc No: 2013-15583
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission Under Delegated Authority
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
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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 take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection(s). 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 burden for 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
Page 39286
any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) that does not display a valid OMB control number.
DATES: Written Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) comments should be submitted on or before August 30, 2013. 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 PRA comments to Nicholas A. Fraser, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), via fax at 202-395-5167 or via Internet at Nicholas_A._Fraser@omb.eop.gov. To submit your PRA comments to the FCC by email send them to: PRA@fcc.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Judith B. Herman, FCC, Office of Managing Director, (202) 418-0214.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
OMB Control Number: 3060-0384.
Title: Sections 64.901, 64.904 and 64.905, Auditor's Attestation and Certification.
Form Number: N/A.
Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.
Number of Respondents: 1 respondent; 1 response.
Estimated Time per Response: 35 hours to 250 hours.
Frequency of Response: On occasion, biennial and annual reporting 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, 201-205, 215 and 218-220 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.
Total Annual Burden: 250 hours per audit requirement and 5 hours for the annual certification = 255 total annual hours.
Total Annual Cost: $1,200,000.
Privacy Impact Assessment: N/A.
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: No assurances of confidentiality have been provided to respondents. If confidentiality is requested, such requests will be processed in accordance with 47 CFR 0.459 of the Commission's rules.
Needs and Uses: The Commission will be submitting this expiring information collection after this comment period to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval of an extension request (no change in the reporting requirements). There is no change in the Commission's previous burden estimates.
Section 64.904(a) requires each incumbent LEC required to file a cost allocation manual is to either have an attest engagement performed by an independent auditor every two years, covering the prior two year period, or have a financial audit performed by an independent auditor biennially. In either case, the initial engagement shall be performed in the calendar year after the carrier is first required to file a cost allocation manual. See section 904(a)-(c). Instead of requiring mid-
sized carriers to incur the expense of a biennial attestation engagement, they now file a certification with the Commission stating that they are in compliance with 47 CFR 64.901 of the Commission's rules. The certification must be signed, under oath, by an officer of the incumbent LEC, and filed with the Commission on an annual basis. Such certifications of compliance represent a less costly means of enforcing compliance with our cost allocation rules. See 47 CFR 64.905 of the Commission's rules. The requirements are imposed to ensure that the carriers are properly complying with Commission rules. They serve as an important aid in the Commission's monitoring program.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Office of Managing Director.
FR Doc. 2013-15583 Filed 6-28-13; 8:45 am
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