80 FR 79895 - Proposed Changes to the FCC Form 499-A, FCC Form 499-Q, and Accompanying Instructions

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 246 (December 23, 2015)

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) seeks comment on proposed revisions to the annual Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet, FCC Form 499-A (FCC Form 499-A) and accompanying instructions (FCC Form 499-A Instructions) to be used in 2016 to report 2015 revenues, and (2) quarterly Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet, FCC Form 499-Q (FCC Form 499-Q) and accompanying instructions (FCC Form 499-Q Instructions) to be used in 2016 to report projected collected revenues on a quarterly basis.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 246 (Wednesday, December 23, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79895-79897]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-32002]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[WC Docket No. 06-122; DA 15-1361]


Proposed Changes to the FCC Form 499-A, FCC Form 499-Q, and 
Accompanying Instructions

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice; Solicitation of comments.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Federal Communications Commission's 
Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) seeks comment on proposed 
revisions to the annual Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet, FCC 
Form 499-A (FCC Form 499-A) and accompanying instructions (FCC Form 
499-A Instructions) to be used in 2016 to report 2015 revenues, and (2) 
quarterly Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet, FCC Form 499-Q (FCC 
Form 499-Q) and accompanying instructions (FCC Form 499-Q Instructions) 
to be used in 2016 to report projected collected revenues on a 
quarterly basis.

DATES: Comments are due on or before December 24, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties may file comments on or before December 
24, 2015. All pleadings are to reference WC Docket No. 06-122. Comments 
may be filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System 
(ECFS) or by filing paper copies, by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically 
using the Internet by accessing the ECFS: http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs2/.
     Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must 
file an original and one copy of each filing.
     People with Disabilities: To request materials in 
accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, 
electronic files, audio format), send an email to [email protected] or 
call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 
(voice), (202) 418-0432 (tty).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Regina Brown, Wireline Competition 
Bureau at (202) 418-7400 or TTY (202) 418-0484.
    For detailed instructions for submitting comments and additional 
information on the rulemaking process, see the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section of this document.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a synopsis of the Bureau's Public 
Notice in WC Docket No. 06-122; DA 15-1361, released November 24, 2015. 
The complete text of this document is available for inspection and 
copying during normal business hours in the FCC Reference Information 
Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street SW., Room CY-A257, Washington, DC 
20554.

I. Synopsis

    1. In order to promote clarity, transparency and predictability, 
the Bureau seeks comment on proposed revisions to (1) the 2016 annual 
Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet, FCC Form 499-A, and the FCC 
Form 499-A Instructions to be used in 2016 to report 2015 revenues, and 
(2) the 2016 quarterly Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet, FCC Form 
499-Q, and the FCC Form 499-Q Instructions to

[[Page 79896]]

be used in 2016 to report projected collected revenues on a quarterly 
basis. The revisions to the 2016 FCC Forms and instructions are 
attached to the Public Notice in redline format, showing proposed 
changes from the forms and instructions currently in effect. The 
redlines (and clean versions) may be viewed on the Commission's Web 
site, as follows: FCC Form 499-A, available at http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-15-1361A2.pdf; FCC Form 
499-A Instructions, available at http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-15-1361A3.pdf; FCC Form 499-Q, available at http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-15-1361A4.pdf; and FCC 
Form 499-Q Instructions available at http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-15-1361A5.pdf.

II. Discussion

    The proposed revisions include the following modifications:

2. 2016 FCC Form 499-A Instructions

    A. DC Agent Service of Process Change. Filers are now required to 
submit updates to their registration information, including their DC 
Agent for Service of Process, to only the Universal Service 
Administrative Company (USAC), the universal service Administrator 
(page 12).
    B. Corporate Contract Information. Line 207 of the FCC Form 499-A 
and the accompanying instructions (page 17) were revised slightly to 
reflect the fact that USAC does not send Worksheets to filers.
    C. Language Conforming to the TRS Order. The language of the FCC 
Form 499-A Instructions (page 18) was revised slightly to conform to 
the Commission's decision in the TRS Order (FCC 11-150; rel October 7, 
2011) to require non-interconnected VoIP providers to register with the 
Commission.
    D. Language Conforming the Open Internet Order. The language of the 
FCC Form 499-A instructions (page 26 and footnote 50) was revised 
slightly to conform to the Commission's decision regarding broadband 
Internet access service in the 2015 Open Internet Order (FCC 15-24; rel 
March 12, 2015).
    E. International Service Provider Reporting Changes. Changed 
references to section 43.61 to 43.62 throughout the FCC Form 499-A 
Instructions to conform to Commission rule changes.
    F. Changes to Reflect Electronic Filing. Minor wording in the FCC 
Form 499-A instructions was revised to reflect the fact that the FCC 
Forms are filed electronically (e.g., references to ``paper'' filings).

3. Changes to the 2016 FCC Form 499-Q Instructions

    Revision to the FCC Form 499-Q Instructions. The description of 
what to include on Line 117 on page 17 of the FCC Form 499-Q 
instructions was revised to include the term ``cable service'' to be 
consistent with the FCC Form 499-A instructions.

4. Changes to Both the 2016 FCC Form 499-A and FCC Form 499-Q and 
Instructions

    A. Traffic Studies Filing Change. Removed the requirement for 
filers to send a copy of their traffic studies to the Commission. 
Filers must now only submit one copy to USAC at the address provided in 
the instructions.
    B. Date Changes. Dates were updated throughout the FCC Forms and 
instructions. References to ``2015'' were changed to ``2016'' and 
references to ``2014'' were changed to ``2015.''
    C. Circularity Factor Update. The circularity factor was adjusted 
and updated in the FCC Form 499-A and the FCC Form 499-Q instructions 
based upon the quarterly contribution factors.
    D. Stylistic Changes. In a number of instances, minor wording in 
the FCC Forms 499-A and 499-Q and accompanying instructions was revised 
for clarification purposes, without changing the substance. Citations 
were also added in several instances in the FCC Form 499-A for 
clarification purposes and section number references were updated 
throughout the FCC Form 499-A instructions to accurately reference the 
sections. Additionally, the FCC Form 499-A instructions were 
reformatted to make them more reader-friendly.
    5. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This document does not contain 
new or modified information collection(s) subject to the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Public Law 104-13. In addition, therefore, 
it does not contain any new or modified information burden for small 
business concerns with fewer than 25 employees, pursuant to the Small 
Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, Public Law 107-198, see 44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(4).
    6. Pursuant to Sec. Sec.  1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's 
rules, 47 CFR 1.415, 1.419, interested parties may file comments on or 
before the dates indicated on the first page of this document. All 
pleadings are to reference WC Docket No. 06-122. Comments may be filed 
using: (1) The Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), or 
(2) by filing paper copies. All filings must be addressed to the 
Commission's Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications 
Commission.
    7. Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using 
the Internet by accessing the ECFS: http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/. Filers 
should follow the instructions provided on the Web site for submitting 
comments.
    8. Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file an 
original and one copy of each filing. Filings can be sent by hand or 
messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class 
or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail. All filings must be addressed to 
the Commission's Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal 
Communications Commission.
     All hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings 
for the Commission's Secretary must be delivered to FCC Headquarters at 
445 12th Street SW., Room TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554. The filing 
hours are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held 
together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes must be disposed 
of before entering the building.
     Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service 
Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton 
Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743.
     U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority 
mail must be addressed to 445 12th Street SW., Washington DC 20554.
    9. Additional copies. We request that parties send one copy of each 
filing to each of the following:
     Regina Brown, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, 
Wireline Competition Bureau, 445 12th Street SW., Room 5-A333, 
Washington, DC 20554; email: [email protected]; and
     Charles Tyler, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, 
Wireline Competition Bureau, 445 12th Street SW., Room 5-A452, 
Washington, DC 20554; email: [email protected].
    10. People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible 
formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic 
files, audio format), send an email to [email protected] or call the 
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 
418-0432
    11. Filings and comments are also available for public inspection 
and copying during regular business hours at the FCC Reference 
Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street SW., Room CY-A257, 
Washington, DC 20554.

[[Page 79897]]

    12. The proceeding this Notice initiates shall be treated as a 
``permit-but-disclose'' proceeding in accordance with the Commission's 
ex parte rules. Persons making ex parte presentations must file a copy 
of any written presentation or a memorandum summarizing any oral 
presentation within two business days after the presentation (unless a 
different deadline applicable to the Sunshine period applies). Persons 
making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda 
summarizing the presentation must (1) list all persons attending or 
otherwise participating in the meeting at which the ex parte 
presentation was made, and (2) summarize all data presented and 
arguments made during the presentation. If the presentation consisted 
in whole or in part of the presentation of data or arguments already 
reflected in the presenter's written comments, memoranda or other 
filings in the proceeding, the presenter may provide citations to such 
data or arguments in his or her prior comments, memoranda, or other 
filings (specifying the relevant page and/or paragraph numbers where 
such data or arguments can be found) in lieu of summarizing them in the 
memorandum. Documents shown or given to Commission staff during ex 
parte meetings are deemed to be written ex parte presentations and must 
be filed consistent with rule 1.1206(b). In proceedings governed by 
rule 1.49(f) or for which the Commission has made available a method of 
electronic filing, written ex parte presentations and memoranda 
summarizing oral ex parte presentations, and all attachments thereto, 
must be filed through the electronic comment filing system available 
for that proceeding, and must be filed in their native format (e.g., 
.doc, .xml, .ppt, searchable .pdf). Participants in this proceeding 
should familiarize themselves with the Commission's ex parte rules.

Federal Communications Commission.
Ryan Palmer,
Division Chief, Telecommunications Access Policy Division Wireline 
Competition Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2015-32002 Filed 12-22-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P