82 FR 57161 - Rate-of-Return Reform

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 231 (December 4, 2017)

In this document, the Commission announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved, for a period of three years, the information collection requirements associated with the Commission's Rate-of Return Reform Order. The reforms adopted in this Order require rate-of-return LECs to make tariff filings with the necessary tariff materials outside of the normal tariff filing period. This document is consistent with the Order, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date of the rules.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 231 (Monday, December 4, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 57161-57162]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-25949]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Parts 51 and 69

[WC Docket Nos. 10-90, 14-58; CC Docket No. 01-92; FCC 16-33]


Rate-of-Return Reform

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule; announcement of effective date.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Commission announces that the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) has approved, for a period of three years, 
the information collection requirements associated with the 
Commission's Rate-of Return Reform Order. The reforms adopted in this 
Order require rate-of-return LECs to make tariff filings with the 
necessary tariff materials outside of the normal tariff filing period. 
This document is consistent with the Order, which stated that the 
Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing 
the effective date of the rules.

DATES: The amendments to 47 CFR 51.917(f)(4), 69.4(k), 69.132, 69.311, 
and 69.416, published at 81 FR 24281, April 25, 2016, are effective 
December 4, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Goodman, Pricing Policy Division, 
Wireline Competition Bureau, at (202) 418-1549, or email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document announces that, on September 
20, 2016, OMB approved, for a period of three years, the information 
collection requirements relating to Sec. Sec.  51.917(f)(4), 69.4(k), 
69.132, 69.311, and 69.416 of the Commission's rules as a revision to 
OMB Control Number 3060-0298 (Part 61, Tariffs (Other than the Tariff 
Review Plan)). Also on September 20, 2016, OMB approved, for a period 
of three years, the information requirements relating to Sec. Sec.  
51.917(f)(4), 69.4(k), 69.132, 69.311, and 69.416 of the Commission's 
rules as a revision to 3060-0400 (Part 61, Tariff Review Plan (TRP)). 
The Commission publishes this document as an announcement of the 
effective date of the rules. If you have any comments on the burden 
estimates listed below, or how the Commission can improve the 
collections and reduce any burdens caused thereby, please contact 
Nicole Ongele, Federal Communications Commission, Room 1-A620, 445 12th 
Street SW., Washington, DC 20554. Please include the OMB Control 
Number, 3060-0400, in your correspondence. The Commission will also 
accept your comments via email at [email protected].
    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 and Governmental 
Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-0432 (TTY).

Synopsis

    As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3507), the FCC is notifying the public that it received final OMB 
approval on September 20, 2016, for the information collection 
requirements contained in Sec. Sec.  51.917(f)(4), 69.4(k), 69.132, 
69.311, and 69.416 of the Commission's rules. Under 5 CFR part 1320, an 
agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it 
displays a current, valid OMB 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 
that does not display a current, valid OMB Control Number. The OMB 
Control Numbers are 3060-0298 and 3060-0400.
    The foregoing notice is required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995,

[[Page 57162]]

Public Law 104-13, October 1, 1995, and 44 U.S.C. 3507.
    The total annual reporting burdens and costs for the respondents 
are as follows:

    OMB Control Number: 3060-0298.
    OMB Approval Date: September 20, 2016.
    OMB Expiration Date: September 30, 2019.
    Title: Part 61, Tariffs (Other than Tariff Review Plan) (TRP).
    Form Number: N/A.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 2,840 respondents; 4,277 
responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 30 hours-50 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion, annual, biennial, and one-time 
reporting requirements.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. 
Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47 
U.S.C. 151-155, 201-203, 208, 251-271, 403, 502, and 503 of the 
Communications Act of 1934, as amended.
    Total Annual Burden: 156,080 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: $1,307,670.
    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 March 23, 2016 the Commission released the Rate 
of Return Order, FCC 16-33, which reformed universal service for rate-
of-return local exchange carriers (LECs). These reforms require 
approximately 95 rate-of-return LECs to make one-time tariff filings 
and NECA to make two tariff filings with the necessary support 
materials outside the normal tariff filing period.
    Part 61 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR part 61, prescribes the 
framework for the initial establishment of and subsequent revisions to 
tariffs. The information collected through the carriers' tariffs and 
supporting documentation is used by the Commission and state 
commissions to determine whether the services are offered in a just and 
reasonable manner.

    OMB Control Number: 3060-0400.
    OMB Approval Date: September 20, 2016.
    OMB Expiration Date: September 30, 2019.
    Title: Part 61, Tariff Review Plan (TRP).
    Form Number: N/A.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 2,840 respondents; 5,437 
responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 0.5 hours-53 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion, annual, biennial, and one-time 
reporting requirements.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. 
Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47 
U.S.C. 201, 202, 203, and 251(b)(5) of the Communications Act of 1934, 
as amended.
    Total Annual Burden: 66,000 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 March 23, 2016 the Commission released the Rate 
of Return Order, FCC 16-33, which reformed universal service for rate-
of-return local exchange carriers (LECs). These reforms require rate-
of-return LECs to make tariff filings with the necessary support 
materials outside the normal tariff filing period.
    Sections 201, 202, and 203 of the Communications Act of 1934, as 
amended, require common carriers to establish just and reasonable 
charges, practices, and regulations for their interstate 
telecommunications services. For services that are still covered under 
section 203, tariff schedules containing charges, rates, rules, and 
regulations must be filed with the Commission. Part 61 of the 
Commission's rules, 47 CFR part 61, prescribes the framework for the 
establishment of and subsequent revisions to tariffs. Certain LECs are 
required to submit a biennial or annual Tariff Review Plan (TRP) in 
partial fulfillment of cost support material required by part 61. The 
Commission developed the TRP to minimize reporting burdens on reporting 
incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs). TRPs set forth the summary 
material ILECs file to support revisions to their interstate access 
service tariffs. For those services still requiring cost support, TRPs 
assist the Commission in determining whether ILEC access charges are 
just and reasonable as required under the Act.

Federal Communications Commission.
Katura Jackson,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-25949 Filed 12-1-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P