Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission

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 of 1995, Public Law 104-13. An agency 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 Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) that does not display a valid control number. 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; and (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.

DATES:

Written comments should be submitted on or before January 8, 2001. 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 comments to Judy Boley, Federal Communications Commission, Room 1-C804, 445 12th Street, SW, DC 20554 or via the Internet to jboley@fcc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For additional information or copies of the information collection(s), contact Judy Boley at 202-418-0214 or via the Internet at jboley@fcc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control No.: 3060-0933.

Title: Community Broadband Deployment Database Reporting Form.

Form No.: FCC Form 460.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions, federal government, state, local or tribal government.

Number of Respondents: 150 respondents.

Estimated Time Per Response: .25 hours.

Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement.

Total Annual Burden: 37 hours.

Total Annual Cost: N/A.

Needs and Uses: Pursuant to section 410(b) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, on October 8, 1999, the Commission convened a Federal-State Joint Conference on Advanced Telecommunications Services to provide a forum for cooperative dialogue and information exchange between and among state and federal jurisdictions regarding the deployment of advanced telecommunications services. As part of this ongoing effort, a searchable on-line database of community broadband demand aggregation and deployment efforts is being established. The collection of information from respondents is entirely voluntary. The information will be used by the Commission to prepare reports that help inform consumers and policy makers at the state and federal levels of the status of deployment of broadband services. The Commission will use this information to better inform our understanding of broadband deployment in conjunction with our Congressionally required Section 706 reports. Absent this information collection, the Commission will lack an essential tool for assisting it in determining the effectiveness of its policies and fulfilling its statutory responsibilities in accordance with the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.