83_FR_52143 83 FR 51944 - Information Collections Being Submitted for Review and Approval to the Office of Management and Budget

83 FR 51944 - Information Collections Being Submitted for Review and Approval to the Office of Management and Budget

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 199 (October 15, 2018)

Page Range51944-51946
FR Document2018-22387

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 Commission may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 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 OMB control number.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 199 (Monday, October 15, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 199 (Monday, October 15, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51944-51946]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-22387]



[[Page 51944]]

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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[OMB 3060-0149, OMB 3060-0741]


Information Collections Being Submitted for Review and Approval 
to the Office of Management and Budget

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 Commission may not conduct or sponsor a collection of 
information unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) 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 OMB control number.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted on or before November 14, 
2018. 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 contacts listed below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Direct all PRA comments to Nicholas A. Fraser, OMB, via 
email [email protected]; and to Nicole Ongele, FCC, via 
email [email protected] and to [email protected]. Include in the comments 
the OMB control number as shown in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or copies 
of the information collection, contact Nicole Ongele at (202) 418-2991. 
To view a copy of this information collection request (ICR) submitted 
to OMB: (1) Go to the webpage <http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain>, (2) look for the section of the webpage called ``Currently 
Under Review,'' (3) click on the downward-pointing arrow in the 
``Select Agency'' box below the ``Currently Under Review'' heading, (4) 
select ``Federal Communications Commission'' from the list of agencies 
presented in the ``Select Agency'' box, (5) click the ``Submit'' button 
to the right of the ``Select Agency'' box, (6) when the list of FCC 
ICRs currently under review appears, look for the OMB control number of 
this ICR and then click on the ICR Reference Number. A copy of the FCC 
submission to OMB will be displayed.

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 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.
    OMB Control Number: 3060-0149.
    Title: Part 63, Accelerating Wireline Broadband Deployment by 
Removing Barriers to Infrastructure Investment, WC Docket No. 17-84, 
FCC 18-74.
    Form Number(s): N/A.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 80 respondents; 88 responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 6-62 hours per response.
    Frequency of Response: One-time reporting requirement and third-
party disclosure requirements.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. 
Statutory authority for this collection of information is contained in 
47 U.S.C. 214 and 402 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.
    Total Annual Burden: 1,086 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: $27,900.
    Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: Information filed in section 
214 applications has generally been non-confidential. Requests from 
parties seeking confidential treatment are considered by Commission 
staff pursuant to 47 CFR 0.459 of the Commission's rules.
    Needs and Uses: The Commission is seeking Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) approval for a revision of a currently approved collection 
to OMB. The Commission will submit this information collection to OMB 
after this 60-day comment period. Section 214 of the Communications Act 
of 1934, as amended, requires that a carrier must first obtain FCC 
authorization either to (1) construct, operate, or engage in 
transmission over a line of communications; or (2) discontinue, reduce 
or impair service over a line of communications. Part 63 of Title 47 of 
the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) implements Section 214. Part 63 
also implements provisions of the Cable Communications Policy Act of 
1984 pertaining to video which was approved under this OMB Control 
Number 3060-0149. In 2009, the Commission modified Part 63 to extend to 
providers of interconnected Voice of internet Protocol (VoIP) service 
the discontinuance obligations that apply to domestic non-dominant 
telecommunications carriers under Section 214 of the Communications Act 
of 1934, as amended. In 2014, the Commission adopted improved 
administrative filing procedures for domestic transfers of control, 
domestic discontinuances and notices of network changes, and among 
other adjustments, modified Part 63 to require electronic filing for 
applications for authorization to discontinue, reduce, or impair 
service under section 214(a) of the Act. In July 2016, the Commission 
concluded that applicants seeking to discontinue a legacy time division 
multiplexing (TDM)-based voice service as part of a transition to a new 
technology, whether internet Protocol (IP), wireless, or another type 
(technology transition discontinuance application) must demonstrate 
that an adequate replacement for the legacy service exists in order to 
be eligible for streamlined treatment and revised part 63 accordingly. 
The Commission concluded that an applicant for a

[[Page 51945]]

technology transition discontinuance may demonstrate that a service is 
an adequate replacement for a legacy voice service by certifying or 
showing that one or more replacement service(s) offers all of the 
following: (i) Substantially similar levels of network infrastructure 
and service quality as the applicant service; (ii) compliance with 
existing federal and/or industry standards required to ensure that 
critical applications such as 911, network security, and applications 
for individuals with disabilities remain available; and (iii) 
interoperability and compatibility with an enumerated list of 
applications and functionalities determined to be key to consumers and 
competitors (the ``adequate replacement test'').
    In June 2018, the Commission further modified the rules applicable 
to section 214(a) discontinuance applications. First, all carriers, 
whether dominant or non-dominant, that seek approval to grandfather 
data services below speeds of 25 Mbps download speed and 3 Mbps upload 
speed are now subject to a uniform reduced public comment period of 10 
days and an automatic grant period of 25 days. Second, all carriers, 
whether dominant or non-dominant, seeking authorization to discontinue 
data services below speeds of 25 Mbps download speed and 3 Mbps upload 
speed that have previously been grandfathered for a period of at least 
180 days are subject to a uniform reduced public comment period of 10 
days and an automatic grant period of 31 days, provided they submit a 
statement as part of their discontinuance application that they have 
received Commission authority to grandfather the services at issue at 
least 180 days prior to the filing of the discontinuance application. 
This statement must reference the file number of the prior Commission 
authorization to grandfather the services the carrier now seeks to 
permanently discontinue. Third, carriers are no longer required to file 
an application to discontinue, reduce, or impair any service for which 
it has had no customers and no request for service for at least a 30-
day period immediately preceding the discontinuance. Fourth, all 
carriers, whether dominant or non-dominant, that seek approval to 
discontinue legacy voice service can obtain further streamlined 
processing with a public comment period of 15 days and an automatic 
grant period of 31 days, provided (1) they offer a stand-alone 
interconnected VoIP service throughout the service area, and (2) at 
least one alternative stand-alone, facilities-based voice service is 
available from an unaffiliated provider throughout the affected service 
area (the ``alternative options test''). Finally, all carriers, whether 
dominant or non-dominant, that seek approval to grandfather legacy 
voice service are now subject to a uniform reduced public comment 
period of 10 days and an automatic grant period of 25 days. The 
Commission estimates that it will receive three fewer section 214(a) 
discontinuance applications annually in light of the Commission's 
forbearance from applying its section 214(a) discontinuance 
requirements to services for which the carrier has had no customers and 
no reasonable requests for service during the preceding 30-day period. 
The Commission also anticipates that the number of respondents and 
responses under the adequate replacement test will likely decrease from 
5 and 25, respectively, to 2 and 10, respectively. The remaining 15 
responses previously attributable to the adequate replacement test will 
likely proceed pursuant to the less rigorous alternative options test. 
The Commission estimates that the total annual burden of the entire 
collection, as revised, is reduced from 1,923 hours to 1,086 hours.
    OMB Control Number: 3060-0741.
    Title: Accelerating Wireline Broadband Deployment by Removing 
Barriers to Infrastructure Investment, GN Docket No. 17-84.
    Form Number(s): N/A.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 5,357 respondents; 573,928 
responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 0.5-4.5 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirements; 
recordkeeping and third-party disclosure requirements.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. 
Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47 
U.S.C. 222 and 251.
    Total Annual Burden: 575,448 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: No cost.
    Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: The Commission is not 
requesting that the respondents submit confidential information to the 
FCC. Respondents may, however, request confidential treatment for 
information they believe to be confidential under 47 CFR 0.459 of the 
Commission's rules.
    Needs and Uses: Section 251 of the Communications Act of 1934, as 
amended, 47 U.S.C. 251, is designed to accelerate private sector 
development and deployment of telecommunications technologies and 
services by spurring competition. Section 222(e) is also designed to 
spur competition by prescribing requirements for the sharing of 
subscriber list information. These information collection requirements 
are designed to help implement certain provisions of sections 222(e) 
and 251, and to eliminate operational barriers to competition in the 
telecommunications services market. Specifically, these information 
collection requirements will be used to implement (1) local exchange 
carriers' (``LECs'') obligations to provide their competitors with 
dialing parity and non-discriminatory access to certain services and 
functionalities; (2) incumbent local exchange carriers' (``ILECs'') 
duty to make network information disclosures; and (3) numbering 
administration. The revisions to this collection relate to changes in 
one of many components of the currently approved collection--
specifically, certain reporting, recordkeeping and/or third-party 
disclosure requirements under section 251(c)(5). In November 2017, the 
Commission adopted new rules concerning certain information collection 
requirements implemented under section 251(c)(5) of the Act, pertaining 
to network change disclosures. Most of the changes to those rules 
applied specifically to a certain subset of network change disclosures, 
namely notices of planned copper retirements. In addition, the changes 
removed a rule that prohibits incumbent LECs from engaging in useful 
advanced coordination with entities affected by network changes. In 
June 2018, the Commission revised its network change disclosure rules 
to (1) revise the types of network changes that trigger an incumbent 
LEC's public notice obligation, and (2) extend the force majeure 
provisions applicable to copper retirements to all types of network 
changes. The changes are aimed at removing unnecessary regulatory 
barriers to the deployment of high-speed broadband networks. The 
Commission estimates that these revisions do not result in any change 
to the total annual burden hours or any additional outlays of funds for 
hiring outside contractors or procuring equipment as the changes 
eliminate notices that are subsumed by notice obligations that remain 
in force or simply codify procedures available to a small number of 
incumbent LECs by waiver orders.


[[Page 51946]]


Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-22387 Filed 10-12-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P



                                               51944                        Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 199 / Monday, October 15, 2018 / Notices

                                               FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS                                  Ongele at (202) 418–2991. To view a                   authority for this collection of
                                               COMMISSION                                              copy of this information collection                   information is contained in 47 U.S.C.
                                                                                                       request (ICR) submitted to OMB: (1) Go                214 and 402 of the Communications Act
                                               [OMB 3060–0149, OMB 3060–0741]
                                                                                                       to the webpage <http://                               of 1934, as amended.
                                                                                                       www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain>,                      Total Annual Burden: 1,086 hours.
                                               Information Collections Being
                                                                                                       (2) look for the section of the webpage                  Total Annual Cost: $27,900.
                                               Submitted for Review and Approval to                                                                             Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No
                                               the Office of Management and Budget                     called ‘‘Currently Under Review,’’ (3)
                                                                                                       click on the downward-pointing arrow                  impact(s).
                                               AGENCY: Federal Communications                          in the ‘‘Select Agency’’ box below the                   Nature and Extent of Confidentiality:
                                               Commission.                                             ‘‘Currently Under Review’’ heading, (4)               Information filed in section 214
                                               ACTION: Notice and request for                          select ‘‘Federal Communications                       applications has generally been non-
                                                                                                       Commission’’ from the list of agencies                confidential. Requests from parties
                                               comments.
                                                                                                       presented in the ‘‘Select Agency’’ box,               seeking confidential treatment are
                                               SUMMARY:    As part of its continuing effort            (5) click the ‘‘Submit’’ button to the                considered by Commission staff
                                               to reduce paperwork burdens, and as                     right of the ‘‘Select Agency’’ box, (6)               pursuant to 47 CFR 0.459 of the
                                               required by the Paperwork Reduction                     when the list of FCC ICRs currently                   Commission’s rules.
                                               Act (PRA) of 1995, the Federal                          under review appears, look for the OMB                   Needs and Uses: The Commission is
                                               Communications Commission (FCC or                       control number of this ICR and then                   seeking Office of Management and
                                               the Commission) invites the general                     click on the ICR Reference Number. A                  Budget (OMB) approval for a revision of
                                               public and other Federal agencies to                    copy of the FCC submission to OMB                     a currently approved collection to OMB.
                                               take this opportunity to comment on the                 will be displayed.                                    The Commission will submit this
                                               following information collection.                                                                             information collection to OMB after this
                                                                                                       SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As part of
                                               Comments are requested concerning:                                                                            60-day comment period. Section 214 of
                                                                                                       its continuing effort to reduce
                                               Whether the proposed collection of                                                                            the Communications Act of 1934, as
                                                                                                       paperwork burdens, and as required by
                                               information is necessary for the proper                                                                       amended, requires that a carrier must
                                                                                                       the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of
                                               performance of the functions of the                                                                           first obtain FCC authorization either to
                                                                                                       1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501–3520), the Federal
                                               Commission, including whether the                                                                             (1) construct, operate, or engage in
                                                                                                       Communications Commission (FCC or
                                               information shall have practical utility;                                                                     transmission over a line of
                                                                                                       the Commission) invites the general                   communications; or (2) discontinue,
                                               the accuracy of the Commission’s                        public and other Federal agencies to
                                               burden estimate; ways to enhance the                                                                          reduce or impair service over a line of
                                                                                                       take this opportunity to comment on the               communications. Part 63 of Title 47 of
                                               quality, utility, and clarity of the                    following information collection.
                                               information collected; ways to minimize                                                                       the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
                                                                                                       Comments are requested concerning:                    implements Section 214. Part 63 also
                                               the burden of the collection of                         whether the proposed collection of
                                               information on the respondents,                                                                               implements provisions of the Cable
                                                                                                       information is necessary for the proper               Communications Policy Act of 1984
                                               including the use of automated                          performance of the functions of the                   pertaining to video which was approved
                                               collection techniques or other forms of                 Commission, including whether the                     under this OMB Control Number 3060–
                                               information technology; and ways to                     information shall have practical utility;             0149. In 2009, the Commission modified
                                               further reduce the information                          the accuracy of the Commission’s                      Part 63 to extend to providers of
                                               collection burden on small business                     burden estimate; ways to enhance the                  interconnected Voice of internet
                                               concerns with fewer than 25 employees.                  quality, utility, and clarity of the                  Protocol (VoIP) service the
                                                 The Commission may not conduct or                     information collected; ways to minimize               discontinuance obligations that apply to
                                               sponsor a collection of information                     the burden of the collection of                       domestic non-dominant
                                               unless it displays a currently valid                    information on the respondents,                       telecommunications carriers under
                                               Office of Management and Budget                         including the use of automated                        Section 214 of the Communications Act
                                               (OMB) control number. No person shall                   collection techniques or other forms of               of 1934, as amended. In 2014, the
                                               be subject to any penalty for failing to                information technology; and ways to                   Commission adopted improved
                                               comply with a collection of information                 further reduce the information                        administrative filing procedures for
                                               subject to the PRA that does not display                collection burden on small business                   domestic transfers of control, domestic
                                               a valid OMB control number.                             concerns with fewer than 25 employees.                discontinuances and notices of network
                                               DATES: Written comments should be                          OMB Control Number: 3060–0149.                     changes, and among other adjustments,
                                               submitted on or before November 14,                        Title: Part 63, Accelerating Wireline              modified Part 63 to require electronic
                                               2018. If you anticipate that you will be                Broadband Deployment by Removing                      filing for applications for authorization
                                               submitting comments, but find it                        Barriers to Infrastructure Investment,                to discontinue, reduce, or impair service
                                               difficult to do so within the period of                 WC Docket No. 17–84, FCC 18–74.                       under section 214(a) of the Act. In July
                                               time allowed by this notice, you should                    Form Number(s): N/A.
                                                                                                          Type of Review: Revision of a                      2016, the Commission concluded that
                                               advise the contacts listed below as soon                                                                      applicants seeking to discontinue a
                                               as possible.                                            currently approved collection.
                                                                                                          Respondents: Business or other for-                legacy time division multiplexing
                                               ADDRESSES: Direct all PRA comments to                                                                         (TDM)-based voice service as part of a
                                                                                                       profit.
                                               Nicholas A. Fraser, OMB, via email                         Number of Respondents and                          transition to a new technology, whether
                                               Nicholas_A._Fraser@omb.eop.gov; and                     Responses: 80 respondents; 88                         internet Protocol (IP), wireless, or
                                               to Nicole Ongele, FCC, via email PRA@                                                                         another type (technology transition
khammond on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                       responses.
                                               fcc.gov and to Nicole.Ongele@fcc.gov.                      Estimated Time per Response: 6–62                  discontinuance application) must
                                               Include in the comments the OMB                         hours per response.                                   demonstrate that an adequate
                                               control number as shown in the                             Frequency of Response: One-time                    replacement for the legacy service exists
                                               SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below.                        reporting requirement and third-party                 in order to be eligible for streamlined
                                               FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For                    disclosure requirements.                              treatment and revised part 63
                                               additional information or copies of the                    Obligation to Respond: Required to                 accordingly. The Commission
                                               information collection, contact Nicole                  obtain or retain benefits. Statutory                  concluded that an applicant for a


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                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 199 / Monday, October 15, 2018 / Notices                                          51945

                                               technology transition discontinuance                    throughout the affected service area (the             and deployment of telecommunications
                                               may demonstrate that a service is an                    ‘‘alternative options test’’). Finally, all           technologies and services by spurring
                                               adequate replacement for a legacy voice                 carriers, whether dominant or non-                    competition. Section 222(e) is also
                                               service by certifying or showing that one               dominant, that seek approval to                       designed to spur competition by
                                               or more replacement service(s) offers all               grandfather legacy voice service are now              prescribing requirements for the sharing
                                               of the following: (i) Substantially similar             subject to a uniform reduced public                   of subscriber list information. These
                                               levels of network infrastructure and                    comment period of 10 days and an                      information collection requirements are
                                               service quality as the applicant service;               automatic grant period of 25 days. The                designed to help implement certain
                                               (ii) compliance with existing federal                   Commission estimates that it will                     provisions of sections 222(e) and 251,
                                               and/or industry standards required to                   receive three fewer section 214(a)                    and to eliminate operational barriers to
                                               ensure that critical applications such as               discontinuance applications annually in               competition in the telecommunications
                                               911, network security, and applications                 light of the Commission’s forbearance                 services market. Specifically, these
                                               for individuals with disabilities remain                from applying its section 214(a)
                                                                                                                                                             information collection requirements
                                               available; and (iii) interoperability and               discontinuance requirements to services
                                                                                                                                                             will be used to implement (1) local
                                               compatibility with an enumerated list of                for which the carrier has had no
                                               applications and functionalities                        customers and no reasonable requests                  exchange carriers’ (‘‘LECs’’) obligations
                                               determined to be key to consumers and                   for service during the preceding 30-day               to provide their competitors with
                                               competitors (the ‘‘adequate replacement                 period. The Commission also                           dialing parity and non-discriminatory
                                               test’’).                                                anticipates that the number of                        access to certain services and
                                                                                                       respondents and responses under the                   functionalities; (2) incumbent local
                                                  In June 2018, the Commission further
                                               modified the rules applicable to section                adequate replacement test will likely                 exchange carriers’ (‘‘ILECs’’) duty to
                                               214(a) discontinuance applications.                     decrease from 5 and 25, respectively, to              make network information disclosures;
                                               First, all carriers, whether dominant or                2 and 10, respectively. The remaining                 and (3) numbering administration. The
                                               non-dominant, that seek approval to                     15 responses previously attributable to               revisions to this collection relate to
                                               grandfather data services below speeds                  the adequate replacement test will likely             changes in one of many components of
                                               of 25 Mbps download speed and 3 Mbps                    proceed pursuant to the less rigorous                 the currently approved collection—
                                               upload speed are now subject to a                       alternative options test. The                         specifically, certain reporting,
                                               uniform reduced public comment                          Commission estimates that the total                   recordkeeping and/or third-party
                                               period of 10 days and an automatic                      annual burden of the entire collection,               disclosure requirements under section
                                               grant period of 25 days. Second, all                    as revised, is reduced from 1,923 hours               251(c)(5). In November 2017, the
                                               carriers, whether dominant or non-                      to 1,086 hours.                                       Commission adopted new rules
                                               dominant, seeking authorization to                         OMB Control Number: 3060–0741.                     concerning certain information
                                               discontinue data services below speeds                     Title: Accelerating Wireline                       collection requirements implemented
                                               of 25 Mbps download speed and 3 Mbps                    Broadband Deployment by Removing                      under section 251(c)(5) of the Act,
                                               upload speed that have previously been                  Barriers to Infrastructure Investment,                pertaining to network change
                                               grandfathered for a period of at least 180              GN Docket No. 17–84.
                                                                                                                                                             disclosures. Most of the changes to
                                               days are subject to a uniform reduced                      Form Number(s): N/A.
                                                                                                          Type of Review: Revision of a                      those rules applied specifically to a
                                               public comment period of 10 days and                                                                          certain subset of network change
                                               an automatic grant period of 31 days,                   currently approved collection.
                                                                                                          Respondents: Business or other for-                disclosures, namely notices of planned
                                               provided they submit a statement as                                                                           copper retirements. In addition, the
                                                                                                       profit entities.
                                               part of their discontinuance application                   Number of Respondents and                          changes removed a rule that prohibits
                                               that they have received Commission                      Responses: 5,357 respondents; 573,928                 incumbent LECs from engaging in useful
                                               authority to grandfather the services at                responses.                                            advanced coordination with entities
                                               issue at least 180 days prior to the filing                Estimated Time per Response: 0.5–4.5               affected by network changes. In June
                                               of the discontinuance application. This                 hours.                                                2018, the Commission revised its
                                               statement must reference the file                          Frequency of Response: On occasion
                                               number of the prior Commission                                                                                network change disclosure rules to (1)
                                                                                                       reporting requirements; recordkeeping                 revise the types of network changes that
                                               authorization to grandfather the services               and third-party disclosure requirements.
                                               the carrier now seeks to permanently                                                                          trigger an incumbent LEC’s public
                                                                                                          Obligation to Respond: Required to                 notice obligation, and (2) extend the
                                               discontinue. Third, carriers are no                     obtain or retain benefits. Statutory
                                               longer required to file an application to                                                                     force majeure provisions applicable to
                                                                                                       authority for this information collection
                                               discontinue, reduce, or impair any                                                                            copper retirements to all types of
                                                                                                       is contained in 47 U.S.C. 222 and 251.
                                               service for which it has had no                            Total Annual Burden: 575,448 hours.                network changes. The changes are
                                               customers and no request for service for                   Total Annual Cost: No cost.                        aimed at removing unnecessary
                                               at least a 30-day period immediately                       Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No                  regulatory barriers to the deployment of
                                               preceding the discontinuance. Fourth,                   impact(s).                                            high-speed broadband networks. The
                                               all carriers, whether dominant or non-                     Nature and Extent of Confidentiality:              Commission estimates that these
                                               dominant, that seek approval to                         The Commission is not requesting that                 revisions do not result in any change to
                                               discontinue legacy voice service can                    the respondents submit confidential                   the total annual burden hours or any
                                               obtain further streamlined processing                   information to the FCC. Respondents                   additional outlays of funds for hiring
                                               with a public comment period of 15                      may, however, request confidential
khammond on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                                                                             outside contractors or procuring
                                               days and an automatic grant period of                   treatment for information they believe to             equipment as the changes eliminate
                                               31 days, provided (1) they offer a stand-               be confidential under 47 CFR 0.459 of                 notices that are subsumed by notice
                                               alone interconnected VoIP service                       the Commission’s rules.                               obligations that remain in force or
                                               throughout the service area, and (2) at                    Needs and Uses: Section 251 of the                 simply codify procedures available to a
                                               least one alternative stand-alone,                      Communications Act of 1934, as                        small number of incumbent LECs by
                                               facilities-based voice service is available             amended, 47 U.S.C. 251, is designed to                waiver orders.
                                               from an unaffiliated provider                           accelerate private sector development


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                                               51946                        Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 199 / Monday, October 15, 2018 / Notices

                                               Federal Communications Commission.                      31, 2016, the Commission ordered                      enable another individual in their
                                               Marlene Dortch,                                         USAC to create a National Lifeline                    household to qualify for Lifeline
                                               Secretary, Office of the Secretary.                     Eligibility Verifier (‘‘National Verifier’’),         benefits; are minors whose status
                                               [FR Doc. 2018–22387 Filed 10–12–18; 8:45 am]            including the National Lifeline                       qualifies a parent or guardian for
                                               BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
                                                                                                       Eligibility Database (LED), that would                Lifeline benefits; are individuals who
                                                                                                       match data about Lifeline applicants                  have received Lifeline benefits; or are
                                                                                                       and subscribers with other data sources               individuals acting on behalf of an
                                               FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS                                  to verify the eligibility of an applicant             eligible telecommunications carrier
                                               COMMISSION                                              or subscriber. The Commission found                   (ETC) who have enrolled individuals in
                                                                                                       that the National Verifier would reduce               the Lifeline program.
                                               Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program                   compliance costs for Lifeline service
                                                                                                                                                             Categories of Records
                                                                                                       providers, improve service for Lifeline
                                               AGENCY: Federal Communications                                                                         The categories of records involved in
                                                                                                       subscribers, and reduce waste, fraud,
                                               Commission.                                                                                         the matching program include, but are
                                                                                                       and abuse in the program.
                                               ACTION: Notice of a new matching                                                                    not limited to, a Lifeline applicant or
                                               program.                                                Participating Agencies                      subscriber’s full name; physical and
                                                                                                          • Missouri Department of Social          mailing addresses; partial Social
                                               SUMMARY:    In accordance with the
                                                                                                       Services;                                   Security number or Tribal ID number;
                                               Privacy Act of 1974, as amended                            • North Carolina Department of
                                               (‘‘Privacy Act’’), this notice announces                                                            date of birth; qualifying person’s full
                                                                                                       Health and Human Services;                  name (if qualifying person is different
                                               the establishment of a computer                            • Pennsylvania Department of Human from subscriber); qualifying person’s
                                               matching program the Federal                            Services; and
                                               Communications Commission (‘‘FCC’’                                                                  physical and mailing addresses;
                                                                                                          • Tennessee Department of Human          qualifying person’s partial Social
                                               or ‘‘Commission’’ or ‘‘Agency’’) and the                Services.
                                               Universal Service Administrative                                                                    Security number or Tribal ID number,
                                               Company (USAC) will conduct with                        Authority for Conducting the Matching       and qualifying person’s date of birth.
                                               four non-Federal agencies. The purpose                  Program                                     The National Verifier will transfer these
                                               of this matching program is to verify the                                                           data elements to the source agencies,
                                                                                                          47 U.S.C. 254; 47 CFR 54.400 et seq.;    which will respond either ‘‘yes’’ or ‘‘no’’
                                               eligibility of applicants to and                        Lifeline and Link Up Reform and
                                               subscribers of the Universal Service                                                                that the individual is enrolled in a
                                                                                                       Modernization, et al., Third Report and     Lifeline-qualifying assistance program.
                                               Fund (USF) Lifeline program, which is                   Order, Further Report and Order, and
                                               administered by USAC under the                          Order on Reconsideration, 31 FCC Rcd        System(s) of Records
                                               direction of the FCC. More information                  3962, 4006–21, paras. 126–66 (2016)            The USAC records shared as part of
                                               about this program is provided in the                   (2016 Lifeline Modernization Order).        this matching program reside in the
                                               SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section
                                                                                                       Purpose(s)                                  Lifeline system of records, FCC/WCB–1,
                                               below.
                                                                                                                                                   Lifeline Program, a notice of which the
                                               DATES:  Written comments are due on or                     In the 2016 Lifeline Modernization       FCC published at 82 FR 38686 (Aug. 15,
                                               before November 14, 2018. This                          Order, the FCC required USAC to             2017) and became effective on
                                               computer matching program will                          develop and operate a National Lifeline     September 14, 2017.
                                               commence on November 14, 2018,                          Eligibility Verifier (National Verifier) to
                                                                                                       improve efficiency and reduce waste,        Federal  Communications Commission.
                                               unless comments are received that
                                                                                                       fraud, and abuse in the Lifeline            Marlene Dortch,
                                               require a contrary determination, and
                                               will conclude on April 15, 2020.                        program. The stated purpose of the          Secretary.
                                                                                                       National Verifier is ‘‘to increase the      [FR Doc. 2018–22380 Filed 10–12–18; 8:45 am]
                                               ADDRESSES: Send comments to Mr.
                                                                                                       integrity and improve the performance       BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
                                               Leslie F. Smith, Privacy Manager,
                                                                                                       of the Lifeline program for the benefit of
                                               Information Technology (IT), Room 1–
                                                                                                       a variety of Lifeline participants,
                                               C216, FCC, 445 12th Street SW,
                                                                                                       including Lifeline providers,               FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
                                               Washington, DC 20554, or to
                                                                                                       subscribers, states, community-based        COMMISSION
                                               Leslie.Smith@fcc.gov.
                                                                                                       organizations, USAC, and the
                                               FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.                                                                [OMB 3060–0625]
                                                                                                       Commission.’’ 31 FCC Rcd 3962, 4006,
                                               Leslie F. Smith, (202) 418–0217, or                     para. 126. To help determine whether
                                               Leslie.Smith@fcc.gov.                                                                               Information Collection Being Reviewed
                                                                                                       Lifeline applicants and subscribers are     by the Federal Communications
                                               SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The                          eligible for Lifeline benefits, the Order   Commission Under Delegated
                                               Lifeline program provides support for                   contemplates that a USAC-operated           Authority
                                               discounted broadband and voice                          Lifeline Eligibility Database (LED) will
                                               services to low-income consumers.                       communicate with information systems AGENCY: Federal Communications
                                               Lifeline is administered by the                         and databases operated by other Federal Commission.
                                               Universal Service Administrative                        and State agencies. Id. at 4011–2, paras. ACTION: Notice and request for
                                               Company (USAC) under FCC direction.                     135–7.                                      comments.
                                               Consumers qualify for Lifeline through
                                               proof of income or participation in a                   Categories of Individuals                             SUMMARY:  As part of its continuing effort
khammond on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES




                                               qualifying program, such as Medicaid,                     The categories of individuals whose                 to reduce paperwork burdens, and as
                                               the Supplemental Nutritional                            information is involved in this matching              required by the Paperwork Reduction
                                               Assistance Program (SNAP), Federal                      program include, but are not limited to,              Act (PRA) of 1995, the Federal
                                               Public Housing Assistance,                              those individuals (residing in a single               Communications Commission (FCC or
                                               Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or                  household) who have applied for                       Commission) invites the general public
                                               Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit.                 Lifeline benefits; are currently receiving            and other Federal agencies to take this
                                               In a Report and Order adopted on March                  Lifeline benefits; are individuals who                opportunity to comment on the


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Document Created: 2018-10-13 10:03:43
Document Modified: 2018-10-13 10:03:43
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
ActionNotice and request for comments.
DatesWritten comments should be submitted on or before November 14, 2018. 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 contacts listed below as soon as possible.
ContactFor additional information or copies of the information collection, contact Nicole Ongele at (202) 418-2991. To view a copy of this information collection request (ICR) submitted to OMB: (1) Go to the webpage <http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/ PRAMain>, (2) look for the section of the webpage called ``Currently Under Review,'' (3) click on the downward-pointing arrow in the ``Select Agency'' box below the ``Currently Under Review'' heading, (4) select ``Federal Communications Commission'' from the list of agencies presented in the ``Select Agency'' box, (5) click the ``Submit'' button to the right of the ``Select Agency'' box, (6) when the list of FCC ICRs currently under review appears, look for the OMB control number of this ICR and then click on the ICR Reference Number. A copy of the FCC submission to OMB will be displayed.
FR Citation83 FR 51944 

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