Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission

AGENCY:

Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collections. Comments are requested concerning: Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and ways to further reduce the information collection burden on small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees. The FCC 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 PRA comments should be submitted on or before August 2, 2021. If you anticipate that you will be submitting comments, but find it difficult to do so within the period of time allowed by this notice, you should advise the contact listed below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all PRA comments to Nicole Ongele, FCC, via email PRA@fcc.gov and to Nicole.Ongele@fcc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For additional information about the information collection, contact Nicole Ongele, (202) 418-2991.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control Number: 3060-0824.

Title: Service Provider and Billed Entity Identification Number and Contact Information Form.

Form Number: FCC Form 498.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit and Not-for-profit institutions.

Number of Respondents and Responses: 26,000 respondents; 26,000 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 0.75 hours.

Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirements.

Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47 U.S.C. 151-154 and 254 the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

Total Annual Burden: 19,500 hours.

Total Annual Cost: No cost.

Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).

Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: The Commission notes that the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) who administers the universal service program must preserve the confidentiality of all data obtained from respondents and contributors to the universal service programs, must not use the data except for purposes of administering the universal service programs, and must not disclose data in company-specific form unless directed to do so by the Commission. With respect to the FCC Form 498, USAC shall publish each participant's name, SPIN, and contact information via USAC's website. All other information, including financial institution account numbers or routing information, shall remain confidential.

Needs and Uses: One of the functions of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) is to provide a means for the billing, collection and disbursement of funds for the universal service support mechanisms. On October 1998, the OMB approved FCC Form 498, the “Service Provider Information Form” to enable USAC to collect service provider name and address, telephone number, Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN), contact names, contact telephone numbers, and remittance information. FCC Form 498 enables participants to request a Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN) and provides the official record for participation in the universal service support mechanisms. The remittance information provided by participants on FCC Form 498 enables USAC to make payments to participants in the universal service support mechanisms.

Pursuant to 47 CFR 54.202, 54.301, 54.303, 54.307, 54.309, 54.311, 54.504, 54.407, 54.422, 54.514, 54.515, 54.679, 54.702, 54.802, and 54.902, USAC collects service provider name, phone numbers, other contact information, and remittance information for all four of the universal service support mechanisms—Schools and Libraries, Rural Health Care, High-Cost and Low-Income (commonly referred to as Lifeline). On July 23, 2014, the Commission released an Order and FNPRM (WC Docket No. 13-184, FCC 14-99; 79 FR 49160, August 19, 2014) (E-rate Modernization Order) modernizing the E-rate program. Specifically, the E-rate Modernization Order revised the Commission rules to allow an applicant that pays the full cost of the Schools and Libraries (E-rate) supported services to a service provider to receive direct reimbursement from USAC.

The Digital Accountability and Transparency Act (DATA Act) directs Federal agencies to report financial obligations and standardize the information that recipients of federal funds report to government agencies. To comply with the DATA Act, the DATA Act Business Type is reported on FCC Form 498. When completing or updating this form, service providers and billed entities are required to select up to three business types that best describes the organization.