82_FR_36082 82 FR 35935 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

82 FR 35935 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Telecommunications and Information Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 147 (August 2, 2017)

Page Range35935-35936
FR Document2017-16255

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 147 (Wednesday, August 2, 2017) 
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 147 (Wednesday, August 2, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35935-35936]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-16255]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Telecommunications and Information Administration


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of 
information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35).
    Agency: National Telecommunications and Information Administration 
(NTIA).
    Title: Submission of proposed information collection; Computer and 
Internet Use Supplement to the Census Bureau's Current Population 
Survey (CPS).
    OMB Control Number: 0660-0021.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Request: Regular submission (Revision of a currently 
approved collection).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 54,000 households.
    Estimated Time per Response: 10 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 9,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.
    Needs and Uses: As the next installment of a decades-long series of 
data collections, NTIA proposes to add 66 questions to the U.S. Census 
Bureau's (``Bureau'') November 2017 CPS to gather reliable data on 
computer and broadband (also known as high-speed Internet) use by U.S. 
households. President Trump has expressed support for broadband 
expansion in the United States, particularly in rural communities, 
stating an intention to include broadband in the $1 trillion 
infrastructure plan the Administration is developing.\1\ In addition, 
Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross has noted broadband's importance to 
the nation's future and its economic policy, including at his 
confirmation hearing in January 2017.\2\
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    \1\ See Remarks by President Trump on Agricultural Innovation in 
Cedar Rapids, IA (June 21, 2017) at https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/06/22/remarks-president-trump-agricultural-innovation-cedar-rapids-ia. See also Remarks by President Trump in 
Listening Session with Members of Congress (Feb. 16, 2017) at 
https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/02/16/remarks-president-trump-listening-session-members-congress.
    \2\ See Amir Nasr, Here's What Ross Said About Tech Policy 
During His Confirmation Hearing, Morning Consult (Jan. 18, 2017) at 
https://morningconsult.com/2017/01/18/heres-ross-said-tech-policy-confirmation-hearing/.
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    To aid the Administration's plan to incorporate broadband in the 
upcoming infrastructure initiative and ensure the digital preparedness 
of the nation's current and future workforce, NTIA data will reveal 
consumers' changing demand for broadband, as well as their online 
activities. The information may inform decisions about the scope and 
scale of the needed infrastructure, particularly in remote and sparsely 
populated areas where broadband deployment may be difficult and costly. 
It may also shed light on opportunities to increase digital literacy 
and use among Americans who currently use the Internet sparingly, if at 
all. NTIA works with Congress, the Federal Communications Commission 
(FCC), and other stakeholders to develop and advance economic and 
regulatory policies that foster broadband deployment and adoption. 
Current, systematic, and comprehensive data on broadband use and non-
use by U.S. households are critical to allow policymakers not only to 
gauge progress made to date, but also to identify problem areas with a 
specificity that

[[Page 35936]]

permits carefully targeted and cost effective responses.
    The U.S. government's critical need for comprehensive broadband 
data continues to increase as high-speed Internet access and the skills 
to use the technology are becoming essential to Americans' daily lives 
and to the nation's economy. The U.S. Government Accountability Office, 
NTIA, and the FCC have all issued reports noting the importance of 
useful broadband adoption data for policymakers. Congress sought to 
address the paucity of such information in the Broadband Data 
Improvement Act in 2008 and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 
in 2009, and recent congressional action has highlighted the need for 
more accurate broadband data.\3\ Modifying the November 2017 CPS to 
include NTIA's requested information collection will enable the 
Commerce Department and NTIA to advance the Administration's 
infrastructure initiative, as well as to respond to congressional 
concerns and directives.
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    \3\ See e.g., Dean Heller, U.S. Senator for Nevada, Heller, 
Manchin Introduce Bill to Expand Access to Rural Broadband (June 15, 
2017) at https://www.heller.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=D1AC86C9-DAC4-43F1-B72D-E6CE577C3925; U.S. House 
Energy and Commerce Committee, #SubCommTech Examines Further 
Challenges and Opportunities to Achieve Nationwide Broadband 
Coverage (June 21, 2017) at https://energycommerce.house.gov/news-center/press-releases/subcommtech-examines-further-challenges-and-opportunities-achieve.
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    Since 1994, NTIA has sponsored 13 supplements to the CPS on the 
Internet and the shifting technologies consumers use for online access. 
The Census Bureau enjoys an outstanding reputation for data gathering 
and analysis based on its centuries of experience and its scientific 
methods. Coordinating NTIA's requested information collection on 
broadband usage with the Bureau's scheduled November 2017 CPS will 
significantly reduce the potential burdens on that agency and on 
surveyed households. The 66 questions to be added to the November 2017 
CPS are comparable to the 61 questions that NTIA added to the July 2015 
CPS.
    Affected Public: Individuals and households.
    Frequency: Once.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    This information collection request may be viewed at reginfo.gov. 
Follow the instructions to view Department of Commerce collections 
currently under review by OMB.
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice 
to OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov or faxed to (202) 395-5806.

Sheleen Dumas,
Department al PRA Lead, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-16255 Filed 8-1-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-60-P

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 147 / Wednesday, August 2, 2017 / Notices 35935 Affected Public: Business or other for Burden Hours: 485. Estimated Time per Response: 10 profit organizations, individuals or Needs and Uses: The objective of the minutes. households. web-based focus groups, phone Estimated Total Annual Burden Estimated Number of Respondents: interviews, and online survey is to Hours: 9,000. 715. collect information on the current use of Estimated Total Annual Cost to Estimated Time per Response: 4 NOAA’s National Weather Service Public: $0. minutes per fishing trip. (NWS) Weather Prediction Center Needs and Uses: As the next Estimated Total Annual Burden (WPC) products, including probabilistic installment of a decades-long series of Hours: 30,980. forecasts focusing on the 8 to 10 day data collections, NTIA proposes to add Estimated Total Annual Cost to timeframe, as well as forecast needs. 66 questions to the U.S. Census Public: $23,235 in recordkeeping/ The web-based focus groups and phone Bureau’s (‘‘Bureau’’) November 2017 reporting costs. interviews will ask participants to CPS to gather reliable data on computer IV. Request for Comments explain their survey responses. This and broadband (also known as high- information will help create better 8 to speed Internet) use by U.S. households. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether 10 day weather forecast products used the proposed collection of information President Trump has expressed support by the National Weather Service (NWS) for broadband expansion in the United is necessary for the proper performance to protect lives and property. of the functions of the agency, including States, particularly in rural Affected Public: Individuals or communities, stating an intention to whether the information shall have households; business or other for-profit practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the include broadband in the $1 trillion organizations. infrastructure plan the Administration agency’s estimate of the burden Frequency: One time. (including hours and cost) of the is developing.1 In addition, Secretary of Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary. proposed collection of information; (c) This information collection request Commerce Wilbur Ross has noted ways to enhance the quality, utility, and may be viewed at reginfo.gov. Follow broadband’s importance to the nation’s clarity of the information to be the instructions to view Department of future and its economic policy, collected; and (d) ways to minimize the Commerce collections currently under including at his confirmation hearing in burden of the collection of information review by OMB. January 2017.2 on respondents, including through the Written comments and To aid the Administration’s plan to use of automated collection techniques recommendations for the proposed incorporate broadband in the upcoming or other forms of information information collection should be sent infrastructure initiative and ensure the technology. within 30 days of publication of this digital preparedness of the nation’s Comments submitted in response to notice to OIRA_Submission@ current and future workforce, NTIA data this notice will be summarized and/or omb.eop.gov or fax to (202) 395–5806. will reveal consumers’ changing included in the request for OMB demand for broadband, as well as their Dated: July 27, 2017. approval of this information collection; online activities. The information may Sarah Brabson, inform decisions about the scope and they also will become a matter of public NOAA PRA Clearance Officer. scale of the needed infrastructure, record. [FR Doc. 2017–16189 Filed 8–1–17; 8:45 am] particularly in remote and sparsely Dated: July 27, 2017. BILLING CODE 3510–KE–P populated areas where broadband Sarah Brabson, deployment may be difficult and costly. NOAA PRA Clearance Officer. It may also shed light on opportunities [FR Doc. 2017–16194 Filed 8–1–17; 8:45 am] DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE to increase digital literacy and use BILLING CODE 3510–22–P among Americans who currently use the National Telecommunications and Internet sparingly, if at all. NTIA works Information Administration with Congress, the Federal DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Communications Commission (FCC), Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request and other stakeholders to develop and National Oceanic and Atmospheric advance economic and regulatory Administration The Department of Commerce will policies that foster broadband submit to the Office of Management and deployment and adoption. Current, Submission for OMB Review; Budget (OMB) for clearance the systematic, and comprehensive data on Comment Request following proposal for collection of broadband use and non-use by U.S. The Department of Commerce will information under the provisions of the households are critical to allow submit to the Office of Management and Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. policymakers not only to gauge progress Budget (OMB) for clearance the Chapter 35). made to date, but also to identify following proposal for collection of Agency: National problem areas with a specificity that information under the provisions of the Telecommunications and Information Paperwork Reduction Act. Administration (NTIA). 1 See Remarks by President Trump on Agency: National Oceanic and Title: Submission of proposed Agricultural Innovation in Cedar Rapids, IA (June Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). information collection; Computer and 21, 2017) at https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press- Title: Day 8 to 10 Forecast Focus Internet Use Supplement to the Census office/2017/06/22/remarks-president-trump- agricultural-innovation-cedar-rapids-ia. See also Groups, Interviews and Survey. Bureau’s Current Population Survey Remarks by President Trump in Listening Session sradovich on DSKBCFCHB2PROD with NOTICES OMB Control Number: 0648–xxxx. (CPS). with Members of Congress (Feb. 16, 2017) at https:// Form Number(s): None. OMB Control Number: 0660–0021. www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/02/16/ Type of Request: Regular (request for Form Number(s): None. remarks-president-trump-listening-session- a new information collection). Type of Request: Regular submission members-congress. 2 See Amir Nasr, Here’s What Ross Said About Number of Respondents: 775. (Revision of a currently approved Tech Policy During His Confirmation Hearing, Average Hours per Response: Focus collection). Morning Consult (Jan. 18, 2017) at https:// groups, 2 hours; interviews, 1 hour; Estimated Number of Respondents: morningconsult.com/2017/01/18/heres-ross-said- survey, 30 minutes. 54,000 households. tech-policy-confirmation-hearing/. VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:43 Aug 01, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\02AUN1.SGM 02AUN1

35936 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 147 / Wednesday, August 2, 2017 / Notices permits carefully targeted and cost notice to OIRA_Submission@ provide consumers the option to make effective responses. omb.eop.gov or faxed to (202) 395–5806. phone payments by using a credit card, The U.S. government’s critical need debit card, or electronic check, or to Sheleen Dumas, for comprehensive broadband data have their payment expedited. A Department al PRA Lead, Office of the Chief number of entities also use third-party continues to increase as high-speed Information Officer. Internet access and the skills to use the service providers to handle and process [FR Doc. 2017–16255 Filed 8–1–17; 8:45 am] the payments. State and Federal laws technology are becoming essential to Americans’ daily lives and to the BILLING CODE 3510–60–P may restrict fees related to phone nation’s economy. The U.S. Government payments.1 Entities are advised to Accountability Office, NTIA, and the review applicable laws to determine FCC have all issued reports noting the BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL whether they may charge phone pay importance of useful broadband PROTECTION fees. In the course of its Supervision and adoption data for policymakers. Enforcement activities, the Bureau has Compliance Bulletin 2017–01: Phone identified conduct that may violate or Congress sought to address the paucity Pay Fees risks violating Federal consumer of such information in the Broadband Data Improvement Act in 2008 and the AGENCY: Bureau of Consumer Financial financial laws relating to phone pay fee American Recovery and Reinvestment Protection. practices. Act in 2009, and recent congressional ACTION: Compliance bulletin. Report of Supervisory or Enforcement action has highlighted the need for more Findings accurate broadband data.3 Modifying SUMMARY: The Consumer Financial the November 2017 CPS to include Protection Bureau (CFPB or Bureau) Examples of Conduct That May Violate NTIA’s requested information collection issues this Compliance Bulletin to or Risk Violating the Prohibition on will enable the Commerce Department provide guidance to covered persons UDAAPs and NTIA to advance the and service providers regarding fee Under the Dodd-Frank Act, all Administration’s infrastructure assessments for pay-by-phone services covered persons or service providers are initiative, as well as to respond to (phone pay fees) and the potential for legally required to refrain from congressional concerns and directives. violations of sections 1031 and 1036 of committing unfair, deceptive, or abusive Since 1994, NTIA has sponsored 13 the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and acts or practices in violation of the Act. supplements to the CPS on the Internet Consumer Protection Act’s (Dodd-Frank An act or practice is unfair when (i) it and the shifting technologies consumers Act) prohibition on engaging in unfair, causes or is likely to cause substantial use for online access. The Census deceptive, or abusive acts or practices injury to consumers; (ii) the injury is not Bureau enjoys an outstanding reputation (collectively, UDAAPs) when assessing reasonably avoidable by consumers; and for data gathering and analysis based on phone pay fees. This Bulletin also (iii) the injury is not outweighed by its centuries of experience and its provides guidance to debt collectors countervailing benefits to consumers or scientific methods. Coordinating NTIA’s about compliance with the Fair Debt to competition.2 An act or practice is requested information collection on Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) when deceptive when (i) the act or practice broadband usage with the Bureau’s assessing phone pay fees. misleads or is likely to mislead the scheduled November 2017 CPS will This Bulletin summarizes the current consumer; (ii) the consumer’s significantly reduce the potential law, highlighting relevant examples of interpretation is reasonable under the burdens on that agency and on surveyed conduct observed during supervisory circumstances; and (iii) the misleading households. The 66 questions to be examinations and enforcement act or practice is material.3 added to the November 2017 CPS are investigations that may violate Federal Depending on the facts and comparable to the 61 questions that consumer financial law. Whether circumstances, the following non- NTIA added to the July 2015 CPS. conduct similar to the conduct exhaustive list of examples of conduct Affected Public: Individuals and described in this Bulletin violates these related to phone pay fees may constitute households. laws may depend on additional facts UDAAPs or contribute to the risk of Frequency: Once. and analysis. The Bureau will closely committing UDAAPs.4 Accordingly, the Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary. review conduct related to phone pay 1 For example, as implemented by Regulation Z, This information collection request fees for potential violations of Federal a Credit CARD Act amendment to the Truth In may be viewed at reginfo.gov. Follow consumer financial laws. Lending Act provides that for credit card accounts the instructions to view Department of DATES: The Bureau released this under an open-end consumer credit plan, a creditor Compliance Bulletin on its Web site on (including a third party that collects, receives, or Commerce collections currently under processes payments on behalf of a creditor) may not review by OMB. July 27, 2017. impose a separate fee to allow consumers to make Written comments and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: a payment by any method (including telephone recommendations for the proposed Chantal Hernandez, Attorney-Advisor, payments) unless the payment method involves an Office of Supervision Policy, 1700 G expedited service by a service representative of the information collection should be sent creditor. See 15 U.S.C. 1637(l); 12 CFR 1026.10(e). within 30 days of publication of this Street NW., 20552, (202) 435–7084. 2 Dodd-Frank Act §§ 1031, 1036, 12 U.S.C. 5531, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 5536. 3 See e.g., Dean Heller, U.S. Senator for Nevada, 3 See CFPB Exam Manual at UDAAP 5 (noting Heller, Manchin Introduce Bill to Expand Access to [1]. Compliance Bulletin that the standard for ‘‘deceptive’’ practices in the Rural Broadband (June 15, 2017) at https:// Across various consumer financial Dodd-Frank Act is informed by the standards for sradovich on DSKBCFCHB2PROD with NOTICES www.heller.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/ the same terms under Section 5 of the FTC Act). pressreleases?ID=D1AC86C9-DAC4-43F1-B72D- products and services, many entities 4 The Bureau will also review whether phone pay E6CE577C3925; U.S. House Energy and Commerce provide consumers multiple payment fee conduct may violate the Dodd-Frank Act’s Committee, #SubCommTech Examines Further options. For instance, many provide prohibition on abusive acts or practices. An act or Challenges and Opportunities to Achieve consumers the option of making practice is abusive when it materially interferes Nationwide Broadband Coverage (June 21, 2017) at with the ability of a consumer to understand a term https://energycommerce.house.gov/news-center/ payments over the phone by using an or condition of a consumer financial product or press-releases/subcommtech-examines-further- automated system or speaking with a service; or takes unreasonable advantage of (i) a challenges-and-opportunities-achieve. live representative. Many entities also consumer’s lack of understanding of the material VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:43 Aug 01, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\02AUN1.SGM 02AUN1


Document Created: 2017-08-02 07:09:19
Document Modified: 2017-08-02 07:09:19
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
FR Citation82 FR 35935 
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