Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission, 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 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 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 May 31, 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 the Federal Communications Commission via e-mail to PRA@fcc.gov and Cathy.Williams@fcc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For additional information, contact Cathy Williams on (202) 418-2918.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control Number: 3060-0787.

Title: Implementation of the Subscriber Carrier Selection Changes Provisions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Policies and Rules Concerning Unauthorized Changes of Consumers' Long Distance Carriers, CC Docket No. 94-129, FCC 07-223.

Form Number: N/A.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Individuals or household; business or other for-profit; State, Local or Tribal Government.

Number of Respondents and Responses: 6,454 respondents; 25,041 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 30 minutes (.50 hours) to 10 hours.

Frequency of Response: Recordkeeping requirement; biennial and on occasion reporting requirements; third party disclosure requirement.

Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefit. The statutory authority for the information collection requirements is found at Section 258 [47 U.S.C. 258] Illegal Changes in Subscriber Carrier Selections, Public Law 104-104, 110 Stat. 56.

Total Annual Burden: 105,901 hours.

Total Annual Cost: 51,285,000.

Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: Confidentiality is an issue to the extent that individuals and households provide personally identifiable information, which is covered under the FCC's system of records notice (SORN), FCC/CGB-1, “Informal Complaints and Inquiries.” As required by the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. 552a, the Commission also published a SORN, FCC/CGB-1 “Informal Complaints and Inquiries”, in the Federal Register on December 15, 2009 (74 FR 66356) which became effective on January 25, 2010. Privacy Impact Assessment: Yes. The Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) was completed on June 28, 2007. It may be reviewed at: http://www.fcc.gov/omd/privacyact/Privacy_Impact_Assessment.html. The Commission is in the process of updating the PIA to incorporate various revisions made to the SORN.

Needs and Uses: Section 258 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 directed the Commission to prescribe rules to prevent the unauthorized change by telecommunications carriers of consumers' selections of telecommunications service providers (slamming). On March 17, 2003, the FCC released the Third Order on Reconsideration and Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, CC Docket No. 94-129, FCC 03-42 (Third Order on Reconsideration), in which the Commission revised and clarified certain rules to implement section 258 of the 1996 Act. On May 23, 2003, the Commission released an Order (CC Docket No. 94-129, FCC 03-116) clarifying certain aspects of the Third Order on Reconsideration. On January 9, 2008, the Commission released the Fourth Report and Order, CC Docket No. 94-129, FCC 07-223, revising its requirements concerning verification of a consumer's intent to switch carriers. The Fourth Report and Order modified the information collection requirements contained in 64.1120(c)(3)(iii) to provide for verifications to elicit “confirmation that the person on the call understands that a carrier change, not an upgrade to existing service, bill consolidation, or any other misleading description of the transaction, is being authorized.”