Residential Fixed Broadband Services Testing and Measurement

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
1139_PartB_ss_090210.doc Supporting Statement B	2010-09-02
1139_SignedOMBletter_090210.pdf Supplementary Document	2010-09-02
1139_Exparteletter2_090110.pdf Supplementary Document	2010-09-01
1139_PartA_ss_090110_FINAL.docx Supporting Statement A	2010-09-01
1139_Exparteletter1_090110.pdf Supplementary Document	2010-09-01
NEW_BB_3rdparymeasurement_Sign Up Page_042810.docx Supplementary Document	2010-04-29
NEW_BB_3rd party measurement_Online FAQ_042810.doc Supplementary Document	2010-04-29
NEW_3rdPartymeasurement_PN_042810.doc Supplementary Document	2010-04-29

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
194475	Residential Fixed Broadband Services Testing and Measurement Other-Code of Conduct	New
192400	Residential Fixed Broadband Services Testing and Measurement Other-Hardware Instructions	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 3060-1139	ICR Reference No: 201005-3060-014
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201003-3060-026
Agency/Subagency: FCC	Agency Tracking No: OET/CGB
Title: Residential Fixed Broadband Services Testing and Measurement
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Emergency	Approval Requested By: 09/30/2010
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved with change	Conclusion Date: 10/04/2010
	Date Received in OIRA: 09/02/2010
Terms of Clearance: Updated information collection list.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	04/30/2011	6 Months From Approved	10/31/2010
Responses	11,016	0	11,000
Time Burden (Hours)	14,200	0	11,000
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: Accurate and clear information is crucial to a well-functioning market. Today, broadband consumers in the U.S. have little information about the actual speed and performance of the broadband services available to them. Consumers lack clarity on: 1) actual speed and performance of the services they are receiving; 2) gap between actual and advertised speeds and the implications of that difference; and 3) speeds and performance of alternative providers in their areas. The FCC seeks to contract with a 3rd party measurement company to measure the speeds and performance of a representative, cost-effective, statistically relevant sample of U.S. fixed broadband households across geographies, technologies and providers. This measurement will occur on an opt-in, voluntary basis. This representative sample will be used to create a baseline level of performance and measurements for the FCC. The 3rd party measurement contractor will deploy testing devices to begin measurement, and these results will then be used to inform measurement standards for performance of broadband services, in support of the FCC-led National Broadband Plan.

Emergency Justfication: New requirements that were originally unforeseen in the SamKnows Residential Fixed Broadband Services Testing and Measurement program. Recent surveys demonstrate a majority of consumers are not able to accurately report the broadband service information approved in the emergency request approved by OMB in April 2010. Furthermore, in recent discussions as part of this data collection effort, broadband Internet service providers (ISPs) have indicated that certain technical characteristics of consumer broadband service may vary region to region and such details may not be fully known to the consumer. ISPs have offered to partner with the FCC in the testing and measurement trial by verifying certain customer information (ISP Partners) collected by SamKnows and by providing associated data not directly obtainable from the consumer. This data is crucial for good sample selection and analysis of results. OMB approval of the revised IC request will facilitating ISP Partners' participation will ensure that the information collected is accurate, address serious data quality concern and otherwise contribute to the success of the program.

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Authorizing Statute(s): PL: Pub.L. 111 - 5 123 Name of Law: American Reinvestment and Recovery Act
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: PL: Pub.L. 111 - 5 123 Name of Law: American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009
PL: Pub.L. 110 - 385 103(c)(1) Name of Law: Broadband Data Improvement Act of 2008

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments

Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 2

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Residential Fixed Broadband Services Testing and Measurement
Residential Fixed Broadband Services Testing and Measurement

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	11,016	11,000	0	16	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	14,200	11,000	0	3,200	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: Recent surveys demonstrate a majority of consumers are not able to accurately report the broadband service information approved in the emergency request approved by OMB in April 2010. Furthermore, in recent discussions as part of this data collection effort, broadband Internet service providers (ISPs) have indicated that certain technical characteristics of consumer broadband service may vary from region to region and such details may not be fully known to the consumer. ISPs have offered to partner with the FCC in the testing and measurement trial by verifying certain customer information (ISP Partners) collected by SamKnows and by providing associated data not directly obtainable from the consumer. The additional ISP respondents and requirements for them resulted in a 3,200 hour increase in burden and 16 additional respondents.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $1,048,260

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? Yes Part B of Supporting Statement

Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002? No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? Yes

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

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Common Form ICR:  No

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On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).

The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(i) Why the information is being collected;

(ii) Use of information;

(iii) Burden estimate;

(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);

(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and

(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.

Certification Date: 09/02/2010

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