0681_ss_100606

3060-0681

October 2006

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

This collection is being submitted to extend an existing collection.

A. Justification:

1. This information collection requires RespOrgs requesting that specific toll free numbers be placed in unavailable status to submit written requests, with appropriate documentation, to the toll free database administrator, Database Services Management, Inc. (DSMI). This requirement will hold those RespOrgs more accountable and will decrease abuses of lag time process. It will prevent numbers from being held in an unavailable status without demonstrated reasons, and will make more numbers available for subscribers who need and want them. If DSMI is uncertain whether a number should be placed in unavailable status, it should seek guidance from the Commission’s Wireline Competition Bureau.

Statutory authority for this collection of information is: 47 USC 1, 4(i), 201-205, 218 and 251.

As noted on the OMB Form 83i, this information collection does not affect individuals or households; thus, there are no impacts under the Privacy Act.

2. Current industry guidelines already require that RespOrgs requesting to place a toll free number in unavailable status submit written requests to DSMI with appropriate documentation. This collection requirement simply codifies the existing industry guidelines. DSMI (and, if necessary, the Wireline Competition Bureau) will continue to use the information collected to determine if a particular toll free number appropriately can be placed in “unavailable” status. This will prevent the fraudulent use of toll free numbers.

3. RespOrgs can submit requests electronically to DSMI if they have the capability and if they determine that doing so will reduce their burden, however, they will not be required to submit requests electronically. The use of facsimile machines should also minimize the burden on RespOrgs wishing to request that particular numbers be placed in unavailable status.

4. As stated, industry guidelines require that RespOrgs requesting that a toll free number be made unavailable submit written requests to DSMI with appropriate documentation. The information is already being collected by DSMI and will continue to be used for the same purpose. There is no duplication of information filed. The information sought is unique to each RespOrg and the toll free subscriber seeking to have a number placed in “unavailable” status.

5. The information collection requirement affects all RespOrgs, including those that are small businesses. No burdens will be increased because the rule codifies a requirement already in place under industry guidelines. The information sought is modest, and we do not believe the requirements will severely impact small businesses or other small entities.

6. The FCC’s objectives of having toll free numbers available on a fair, efficient, and equitable basis and of preventing fraudulent use of toll free numbers will be undermined if the information collection is not conducted. Codifying the requirement that RespOrgs wishing to have a specific number placed in “unavailable” status submit written requests to DSMI will make more numbers available to subscribers who need and want them.

7. The Commission does not specify a reporting frequency. RespOrgs will need to submit a written request each time they want a number placed in unavailable status. Therefore, it is possible that an information collection could be conducted more often than quarterly for some RespOrgs. Otherwise, there are no special circumstances.

8. A 60 day notice was published in the Federal Register soliciting public comments on the proposals. See 71 FR 31188, dated June 1, 2006 (copy attached). No comments were received.

9. The Commission does not anticipate providing any payment or gift to respondents.

10. Information of a proprietary nature submitted to DSMI will not be disclosed, pursuant to DSMI’s policy. The Commission, however, is granted access to information pertinent to determining that RespOrgs are abiding by Commission rules.

11. There are not questions of a sensitive nature with respect to the information being collected.

12. The following represents the estimates of hour burden of the collection of information:

a. Written Request for Unavailable Status:

(1) Number of respondents: 300.

(2) Frequency of response: On occasion reporting and third party disclosure.

(3) Annual burden per response: 15 hours per RespOrg each year. Total annual burden: 4,500 hours.

(4) How the burden was estimated: It is not possible to estimate with specificity how many times per year each RespOrg will make a written request to have a number placed in “unavailable” status. We estimate that the amount of requests will vary among RespOrgs, and may be anywhere from 1 – 30 requests per year, per RespOrg. Taking an average of 15 requests per RespOrg, which we estimate will take one hour to prepare, and multiplying by 300 RespOrgs, results in a figure of 4,500 hours total per year.

(5) Estimates of annualized cost to respondents for the hour burdens for collection of information: (4,500 hrs)($40/hr) = $180,000.

13. The following represents the Commission’s estimate of the annual cost burden to respondents or record keepers resulting form the collection of information:

(1) Total capital and start-up component: $0

(2) Total operation and maintenance and purchase of services: $0

14. There will be no annualized cost to the federal government as a result of this requirement.

15. The total annual burden for this collection continues to be 4,500 burden hours.

16. The Commission does not anticipate publishing any of the information proposed to be collected as result of this requirement.

17. The Commission does not intend to seek approval not to display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection.

18. Not applicable. There are no exceptions to the certification statement.

B. Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods:

The Commission does not anticipate that the collection of information will employ statistical methods.