Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Being Submitted for Review and Approval to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Comments Requested

SUMMARY:

The Federal Communications Commission, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection(s), as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520. Comments are requested concerning: (a) 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; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; (d) 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 (e) ways to further reduce the information collection burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees.

The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid 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 (PRA) that does not display a currently valid OMB control number.

DATES:

Written Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) comments should be submitted on or before March 7, 2011. If you anticipate that you will be submitting PRA comments, but find it difficult to do so within the period of time allowed by this notice, you should advise the FCC contact listed below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all PRA comments to Nicholas A. Fraser, Office of Management and Budget, via fax at 202-395-5167 or via the Internet at Nicholas_A._Fraser@omb.eop.gov and to the Federal Communications Commission via e-mail to PRA@fcc.gov. To view a copy of this information collection request (ICR) submitted to OMB: (1) Go to the Web page http://reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain,, (2) look for the section of the Web page 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, and (6) when the list of FCC ICRs currently under review appears, look for the title of this ICR (or its OMB Control Number, if there is one) and then click on the ICR Reference Number to view detailed information about this ICR.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Judith B. Herman, Office of Managing Director, (202) 418-0214. For additional information or copies of the information collection(s), contact Judith B. Herman, OMD, 202-418-0214 or e-mail judith-b.herman@fcc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control Number: 3060-0819.

Title: Sections 54.400 through 54.417, Lifeline Assistance (Lifeline) Connection Assistance (Link-Up) Reporting Worksheet and Instructions.

Form Number: FCC Form 497.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents and Responses: 251,400 respondents; 251,400 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: .084-1.5 hours.

Frequency of Response: On occasion, monthly, annual, and one-time reporting requirements, third party disclosure requirement and recordkeeping requirement.

Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47 U.S.C. sections 1, 4(i), 201-205, 214, 254 and 403.

Total Annual Burden: 49,386 hours.

Total Annual Cost: N/A.

Privacy Act Impact Assessment: N/A.

Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: The Commission is not requesting the respondents to submit confidential information to the FCC. If the Commission requests information that the respondent believes is confidential, they may request materials or information submitted to the Commission be withheld from public inspection under 47 CFR 0.459 of the Commission's rules.

Needs and Uses: The Commission will submit this information collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) during this comment period to obtain the three year clearance for a revision. The Commission is seeking OMB approval because the Commission revised the Annual Certification and Verification Letter used by Eligible Telecommunications Carriers (ETCs). The Commission is also merging the requirements of OMB Control Number 3060-1112 into this information collection (OMB Control Number 3060-0819). Upon OMB approval the Commission will retain this control number as the active collection in OMB's system. The low-income requirements are applicable to, and consistent with, this collection.

For background information, ETCs are permitted to receive universal service support reimbursement for offering certain services to qualifying low-income customers. The ETCs must file FCC Form 497 to solicit reimbursement. The Commission's rules also require collection of certain information to certify and subsequently verify that the beneficiary of low-income support is qualified to receive such support, and these rules contain recordkeeping requirements as well. Collection of this data is necessary for the administrator to accurately provide settlements for the low-income programs according to Commission rules.