Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission Under Delegated Authority

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

DATES:

Written PRA comments should be submitted on or before November 8, 2019. 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 at (202) 418-2991.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control Number: 3060-0809.

Title: Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA).

Form Number: N/A.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.

Number of Respondents and Responses: 200 respondents; 285 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 12 hours average (range of 7.5 to 80 hours).

Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirements, recordkeeping and third-party disclosure requirements.

Obligation to Respond: Mandatory and Voluntary. Statutory authority is contained in sections 105, 107(c), 109(b) and 301 of the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA), 47 U.S.C. 1004, 1006(c), 1008(b), and 229; Public Law 103-414, 108 Stat. 4279 (1994).

Total Annual Burden: 3,475 hours.

Total Annual Cost: No Cost.

Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).

Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: CALEA records submitted pursuant to this information collection are not made available routinely for public inspection.

Needs and Uses: The Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA) requires the Commission to create rules that regulate the conduct and recordkeeping of lawful electronic surveillance. CALEA was enacted in October 1994 to respond to rapid advances in telecommunications technology and eliminates obstacles faced by law enforcement personnel in conducting electronic surveillance. Section 105 of CALEA requires telecommunications carriers to protect against the unlawful interception of communications passing through their systems. Law enforcement officials use the information maintained by telecommunications carriers to determine the accountability and accuracy of telecommunications carriers' compliance with lawful electronic surveillance orders.

On May 12, 2006, the Commission released a Second Report and Order and Memorandum Opinion and Order in ET Docket No. 04-195, FCC 06-56, which became effective August 4, 2006, except for §§ 1.20004 and 1.2005 of the Commission's rules, which became effective on February 12, 2007. The Second Report and Order established new guidelines for filing section 107(c) petitions, section 109(b) petitions, and monitoring reports (FCC Form 445). CALEA section 107(c)(1) permits a petitioner to apply for an extension of time, up to two years from the date that the petition is filed, and to come into compliance with a particular CALEA section 103 capability requirement. CALEA section 109(b) permits a telecommunication carrier covered by CALEA to file a petition with the FCC and an application with the Department of Justice (DOJ) to request that DOJ pay the costs of the carrier's CALEA compliance (cost-shifting relief) with respect to any equipment, facility or service installed or deployed after January 1, 1995. The Second Report and Order required several different collections of information:

(a) Within 90 days of the effective date of the Second Report and Order, facilities based broadband internet access and interconnected Voice over Interconnected Protocol (VOIP) providers newly identified in the First Report and Order in this proceeding were required to file system security statements under the Commission's rules. (Security systems are currently approved under the existing OMB Control No. 3060-0809 information collection).

(b) All telecommunications carriers, including broadband internet access and interconnected VoIP providers, must file updates to their systems security statements on file with the Commission as their information changes.

(c) Petitions filed under Section 107(c), request for additional time to comply with CALEA; these provisions apply to all carriers subject to CALEA and are voluntary filings.

(d) Section 109(b), request for reimbursement of CALEA; these provisions apply to all carriers subject to CALEA and are voluntary filings.