82 FR 31969 - Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 131 (July 11, 2017)

Page Range		31969-31970
FR Document		2017-14459

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or the Commission) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection. 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 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 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 131 (Tuesday, July 11, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 11, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31969-31970]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-14459]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[OMB 3060-XXXX]


Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal 
Communications Commission

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, 
and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the 
Federal Communications Commission (FCC or the Commission) invites the 
general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to 
comment on the following information collection. 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 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 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number.

DATES: Written PRA comments should be submitted on or before September 
11, 2017. 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 at (202) 418-2991.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As part of its continuing effort to reduce 
paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) 
of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), 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.
    OMB Control Number: 3060-XXXX.
    Title: Part 32 Uniform System of Accounts.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: New collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.
    Number of Respondents: 1,176 respondents; 2,458 responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 20-40 hours.
    Frequency of Response: One-time, on occasion, and annual reporting 
requirements; recordkeeping requirements.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. 
Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47 
U.S.C. 10, 201, 219-220, 224, 254(k), 272(e)(3), and 403 of the 
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 160, 201, 219-220, 
224, 254(k), 272(e)(3), and 403.
    Total Annual Burden: 103,240 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: No cost.
    Privacy Impact Assessment: No impact(s).
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: Respondents are not being 
asked to submit confidential information to the Commission. If the 
Commission requests respondents to submit information which respondents 
believe is confidential, respondents may request confidential treatment 
of such information under 47 CFR 0.459 of the Commission's rules.
    Needs and Uses: On February 24, 2017, the Commission released the 
Part 32 Order, WC Docket No. 14-130, CC Docket No. 80-286, FCC 17-15, 
which minimized the compliance burdens imposed by the Uniform System of 
Accounts (USOA) on price cap and rate-of-return telephone companies, 
while

[[Page 31970]]

ensuring that the Commission retains access to the information it needs 
to fulfill its regulatory duties.
    The Commission consolidated Class A and Class B accounts by 
eliminating the current classification of carriers, which divides 
incumbent LECS into two classes for accounting purposes based on annual 
revenues. Carriers subject to Part 32's USOA will now only be required 
to keep Class B accounts.
    Pursuant to the Part 32 Order, price cap carriers may elect to use 
generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for all regulatory 
accounting purposes if they: (1) Establish an ``Implementation Rate 
Difference'' (IRD) which is the difference between pole attachment 
rates calculated under Part 32 and under GAAP as of the last full year 
preceding the carrier's initial opting out of Part 32 accounting 
requirements; and (2) adjust their annually-computed GAAP-based pole 
attachment rates by the IRD for a period of 12 years after the 
election. Alternatively, price cap carriers may elect to use GAAP 
accounting for all purposes other than those associated with pole 
attachment rates and continue to use the Part 32 accounts and 
procedures applicable to pole attachment rates for up to 12 years.
    A price cap carrier may be required to submit pole attachment 
accounting data to the Commission for three years following the 
effective date of the rule permitting a price cap carrier to elect GAAP 
accounting. If a pole attacher informs the Commission of a suspected 
problem with pole attachment rates, the Commission will require the 
price cap carrier to file its pole attachment data for the state in 
question. This requirement may be extended for an additional three 
years, if necessary.
    The Commission reduced the accounting requirements for telephone 
companies with a continuing obligation to comply with Part 32 in a 
number of areas. Telephone companies may: (1) Carry an asset at its 
purchase price when it was acquired, even if its value has increased or 
declined when it goes into regulated service; (2) reprice an asset at 
market value after a merger or acquisition consistent with GAAP; (3) 
use GAAP principles to determine Allowance-for-Funds-Used-During 
Construction; and (4) employ the GAAP standard of materiality. Rate-of-
return carriers receiving cost-based support must determine materiality 
consistent with the general materiality guidelines promulgated by the 
Auditing Standards Board.
    Price cap carriers with a continuing Part 32 accounting obligation 
must maintain continuing property records necessary to track 
substantial assets and investments in an accurate, auditable manner. 
The carriers must make such property information available to the 
Commission upon request. Carriers subject to Part 32 must continue to 
comply with the USOA's depreciation procedures and its rules for cost 
of removal-and-salvage accounting.

Federal Communications Commission.
Katura Jackson,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-14459 Filed 7-10-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6712-01-P

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 131 / Tuesday, July 11, 2017 / Notices 31969

between stations and to ensure proper FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501–3520), the Federal
operation of antennas. COMMISSION Communications Commission (FCC or
OMB Control Number: 3060–0685. Commission) invites the general public
[OMB 3060–XXXX]
and other Federal agencies to take this
Title: Updating Maximum Permitted opportunity to comment on the
Rates for Regulated Services and Information Collection Being Reviewed
by the Federal Communications following information collections.
Equipment, FCC Form 1210; Annual Comments are requested concerning:
Updating of Maximum Permitted Rates Commission
Whether the proposed collection of
for Regulated Cable Services, FCC Form AGENCY: Federal Communications information is necessary for the proper
1240. Commission. performance of the functions of the
Form Number: FCC Form 1210 and ACTION: Notice and request for Commission, including whether the
FCC Form 1240. comments. information shall have practical utility;
the accuracy of the Commission’s
Type of Review: Extension of a SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort burden estimate; ways to enhance the
currently approved collection. to reduce paperwork burdens, and as quality, utility, and clarity of the
Respondents: Business or other for- required by the Paperwork Reduction information collected; ways to minimize
profit entities; State, Local or Tribal Act (PRA) of 1995, the Federal the burden of the collection of
Government. Communications Commission (FCC or information on the respondents,
the Commission) invites the general including the use of automated
Number of Respondents and public and other Federal agencies to
Responses: 3,400 respondents; 5,350 collection techniques or other forms of
take this opportunity to comment on the information technology; and ways to
responses. following information collection. further reduce the information
Estimated Time per Response: 1 hour Comments are requested concerning: collection burden on small business
to 15 hours. Whether the proposed collection of concerns with fewer than 25 employees.
Frequency of Response: Annual information is necessary for the proper OMB Control Number: 3060–XXXX.
reporting requirement; Quarterly performance of the functions of the Title: Part 32 Uniform System of
reporting requirement; Third party Commission, including whether the Accounts.
disclosure requirement. information shall have practical utility; Form Number: N/A.
the accuracy of the Commission’s Type of Review: New collection.
Obligation To Respond: Required to burden estimate; ways to enhance the Respondents: Business or other for-
obtain or retain benefits. The statutory quality, utility, and clarity of the profit entities.
authority for this collection is contained information collected; ways to minimize Number of Respondents: 1,176
in 4(i) and 623 of Communications Act the burden of the collection of respondents; 2,458 responses.
of 1934, as amended. information on the respondents, Estimated Time per Response: 20–40
Total Annual Burden: 44,800 hours. including the use of automated hours.
collection techniques or other forms of Frequency of Response: One-time, on
Total Annual Cost: $3,196,875. occasion, and annual reporting
information technology; and ways to
Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No further reduce the information requirements; recordkeeping
impact(s). collection burden on small business requirements.
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: concerns with fewer than 25 employees. Obligation to Respond: Required to
There is no need for confidentiality with The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a obtain or retain benefits. Statutory
this collection of information. collection of information unless it authority for this information collection
displays a currently valid control is contained in 47 U.S.C. 10, 201, 219–
Needs and Uses: Cable operators use 220, 224, 254(k), 272(e)(3), and 403 of
number. No person shall be subject to
FCC Form 1210 to file for adjustments the Communications Act of 1934, as
any penalty for failing to comply with
in maximum permitted rates for a collection of information subject to the amended, 47 U.S.C. 160, 201, 219–220,
regulated services to reflect external PRA that does not display a valid Office 224, 254(k), 272(e)(3), and 403.
costs. Regulated cable operators submit of Management and Budget (OMB) Total Annual Burden: 103,240 hours.
this form to local franchising control number. Total Annual Cost: No cost.
authorities. Privacy Impact Assessment: No
DATES: Written PRA comments should
FCC Form 1240 is filed by cable impact(s).
be submitted on or before September 11,
operators seeking to adjust maximum Nature and Extent of Confidentiality:
2017. If you anticipate that you will be
Respondents are not being asked to
permitted rates for regulated cable submitting comments, but find it
submit confidential information to the
services to reflect changes in external difficult to do so within the period of
Commission. If the Commission
costs. time allowed by this notice, you should
requests respondents to submit
Cable operators submit Form 1240 to advise the contact listed below as soon
information which respondents believe
their respective local franchising as possible.
is confidential, respondents may request
authorities (‘‘LFAs’’) to justify rates for ADDRESSES: Direct all PRA comments to confidential treatment of such
the basic service tier and related Nicole Ongele, FCC, via email PRA@ information under 47 CFR 0.459 of the
equipment or with the Commission (in fcc.gov and to Nicole.Ongele@fcc.gov. Commission’s rules.
situations where the Commission has FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For Needs and Uses: On February 24,
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES

assumed jurisdiction). additional information about the 2017, the Commission released the Part
information collection, contact Nicole 32 Order, WC Docket No. 14–130, CC
Federal Communications Commission.
Ongele at (202) 418–2991. Docket No. 80–286, FCC 17–15, which
Katura Jackson,
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As part of minimized the compliance burdens
Federal Register Liaison Officer. its continuing effort to reduce imposed by the Uniform System of
[FR Doc. 2017–14463 Filed 7–10–17; 8:45 am] paperwork burdens, and as required by Accounts (USOA) on price cap and rate-
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of of-return telephone companies, while

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31970 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 131 / Tuesday, July 11, 2017 / Notices

ensuring that the Commission retains investments in an accurate, auditable 2017. If you anticipate that you will be
access to the information it needs to manner. The carriers must make such submitting comments, but find it
fulfill its regulatory duties. property information available to the difficult to do so within the period of
The Commission consolidated Class A Commission upon request. Carriers time allowed by this notice, you should
and Class B accounts by eliminating the subject to Part 32 must continue to advise the contact listed below as soon
current classification of carriers, which comply with the USOA’s depreciation as possible.
divides incumbent LECS into two procedures and its rules for cost of ADDRESSES: Direct all PRA comments to
classes for accounting purposes based removal-and-salvage accounting. Nicole Ongele, FCC, via email PRA@
on annual revenues. Carriers subject to fcc.gov and to Nicole.Ongele@fcc.gov.
Federal Communications Commission.
Part 32’s USOA will now only be FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
Katura Jackson,
required to keep Class B accounts. additional information about the
Pursuant to the Part 32 Order, price Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the
Secretary. information collection, contact Nicole
cap carriers may elect to use generally Ongele at (202) 418–2991.
accepted accounting principles (GAAP) [FR Doc. 2017–14459 Filed 7–10–17; 8:45 am]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As part of
for all regulatory accounting purposes if BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
its continuing effort to reduce
they: (1) Establish an ‘‘Implementation
paperwork burdens, and as required by
Rate Difference’’ (IRD) which is the
difference between pole attachment FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of
rates calculated under Part 32 and under COMMISSION 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501–3520), the Federal
GAAP as of the last full year preceding Communications Commission (FCC or
[OMB 3060–1142] Commission) invites the general public
the carrier’s initial opting out of Part 32
accounting requirements; and (2) adjust Information Collection Being Reviewed and other Federal agencies to take this
their annually-computed GAAP-based by the Federal Communications opportunity to comment on the
pole attachment rates by the IRD for a Commission Under Delegated following information collections.
period of 12 years after the election. Authority Comments are requested concerning:
Alternatively, price cap carriers may Whether the proposed collection of
elect to use GAAP accounting for all AGENCY: Federal Communications information is necessary for the proper
purposes other than those associated Commission. performance of the functions of the
with pole attachment rates and continue ACTION: Notice and request for Commission, including whether the
to use the Part 32 accounts and comments. information shall have practical utility;
procedures applicable to pole the accuracy of the Commission’s
SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort burden estimate; ways to enhance the
attachment rates for up to 12 years.
A price cap carrier may be required to to reduce paperwork burdens, and as quality, utility, and clarity of the
submit pole attachment accounting data required by the Paperwork Reduction information collected; ways to minimize
to the Commission for three years Act (PRA) of 1995, the Federal the burden of the collection of
following the effective date of the rule Communications Commission (FCC or information on the respondents,
permitting a price cap carrier to elect the Commission) invites the general including the use of automated
GAAP accounting. If a pole attacher public and other Federal agencies to collection techniques or other forms of
informs the Commission of a suspected take this opportunity to comment on the information technology; and ways to
problem with pole attachment rates, the following information collection. further reduce the information
Commission will require the price cap Comments are requested concerning: collection burden on small business
carrier to file its pole attachment data Whether the proposed collection of concerns with fewer than 25 employees.
for the state in question. This information is necessary for the proper OMB Control Number: 3060–1142.
requirement may be extended for an performance of the functions of the Title: Electronic Tariff Filing System
additional three years, if necessary. Commission, including whether the (ETFS), WC Docket No. 10–141.
The Commission reduced the information shall have practical utility; Form Number: N/A.
accounting requirements for telephone the accuracy of the Commission’s Type of Review: Extension of a
companies with a continuing obligation burden estimate; ways to enhance the currently approved collection.
to comply with Part 32 in a number of quality, utility, and clarity of the Respondents: Business or other for-
areas. Telephone companies may: (1) information collected; ways to minimize profit entities.
the burden of the collection of Number of Respondents and
Carry an asset at its purchase price
information on the respondents, Responses: 1,307 respondents; 1,307
when it was acquired, even if its value
including the use of automated responses.
has increased or declined when it goes Estimated Time per Response: 1 hour.
into regulated service; (2) reprice an collection techniques or other forms of
Frequency of Response: On occasion
asset at market value after a merger or information technology; and ways to
and annual reporting requirements.
acquisition consistent with GAAP; (3) further reduce the information
Obligation to Respond: Required to
use GAAP principles to determine collection burden on small business
obtain or retain benefits. Statutory
Allowance-for-Funds-Used-During concerns with fewer than 25 employees.
authority for this information collection
Construction; and (4) employ the GAAP The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a
is contained in Sections 1, 2, 4(i), 201–
standard of materiality. Rate-of-return collection of information unless it
205 and 226(h)(1)(A) of the
carriers receiving cost-based support displays a currently valid control
Communications Act of 1934, as
must determine materiality consistent number. No person shall be subject to
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES

amended, 47 U.S.C. 151, 152, 154(i),
with the general materiality guidelines any penalty for failing to comply with
201–205 and 226(h)(1)(A).
promulgated by the Auditing Standards a collection of information subject to the Total Annual Burden: 1,307 hours.
Board. PRA that does not display a valid Office Total Annual Cost: $1,208,975.
Price cap carriers with a continuing of Management and Budget (OMB) Privacy Impact Assessment: No
Part 32 accounting obligation must control number. impact(s).
maintain continuing property records DATES: Written PRA comments should Nature and Extent of Confidentiality:
necessary to track substantial assets and be submitted on or before September 11, The Commission does not anticipate

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Document Created: 2018-11-14 10:21:31
Document Modified: 2018-11-14 10:21:31

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice and request for comments.
Dates		Written PRA comments should be submitted on or before September 11, 2017. 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.
Contact		For additional information about the information collection, contact Nicole Ongele at (202) 418-2991.
FR Citation		82 FR 31969