Agency information collection activities: Submission for OMB review; comment request,

[Federal Register: December 6, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 233)]

[Notices]

[Page 68099]

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

[DOCID:fr06de99-61]

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Submitted to OMB for Review and Approval

November 26, 1999. SUMMARY: The Federal Communications Commission, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection(s), as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid 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 (PRA) that does not display a valid control number. 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.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted on or before January 5, 2000. 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 comments to Judy Boley, Federal Communications Commission, Room 1-C804, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554 or via the Internet to jboley@fcc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or copies of the information collection(s), contact Judy Boley at 202-418-0214 or via the Internet at jboley@fcc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control No.: 3060-0106.

Title: Section 43.61--Reports of Overseas Telecommunications Traffic.

Form No.: N/A.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 400 respondents; 440 total annual responses.

Estimated Time Per Response: 48 hours.

Frequency of Response: Quarterly and annual reporting requirements.

Total Annual Burden: 21,070 hours.

Total Annual Cost: $377,000.

Needs and Uses: The telecommunications traffic data report is an annual reporting requirement imposed on common carriers engaged in the provision of overseas telecommunications services. The reported data is useful for international planning, facility authorization, monitoring emerging developments in communications services, analyzing market structures, tracking the balance of payments in international communications services, and market analysis purposes. Subject carriers are required to submit their annual reports no later than July 31 of each year for the preceding period of January through December. A revised report must be submitted for inaccuracies exceeding five percent of the reported figure by October 31 pursuant to Section 43.61(a)(2).

The Commission and industry members use the data in the facilities planning and facilities authorization process to estimate traffic and market trends in various regions of the world. Also, the data is used to monitor the development and competitiveness of U.S. international product and geographic markets and to gauge the competitive impact of Commission decisions on these markets. Additionally, the data assists the Commission in tracking the growth in net settlement payments to foreign carriers. It also provides the Commission with information necessary to identify those routes for which settlement rates are at a level low enough to permit relief from certain regulatory requirements, including the prohibition of the use of private lines for the provision of switched, basic services (also referred to as ``ISR''). The Commission additionally relies on the annual and quarterly reports to monitor for traffic and revenue distortions on particular routes. These distortions may result from one-way bypass of the Commission's international settlement policy on these routes, which can increase U.S. carrier net settlement payments to their foreign correspondents. Federal Communications Commission. Magalie Roman Salas, Secretary.

[FR Doc. 99-31450Filed12-3-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6712-01-U