Supporting Statement OMB 3060-0944 (2013)

Supporting Statement OMB 3060-0944 (2013).doc

Cable Landing License Act - 47 CFR 1.767; 1.768; Executive Order 10530

OMB: 3060-0944

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OMB Control No. 3060-0944

Cable Landing License Act

47 CFR 1.767; 1.768

Executive Order 10530

September 2013


SUPPORTING STATEMENT


A. Justification

1. The Federal Communications Commission (“Commission”) is requesting that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approve a three-year extension of an information collection under OMB Control No. 3060-0944 titled, “Cable Landing License Act – 47 CFR 1.767; 1.768; Executive Order 10530.


Background Information


In order to land a submarine cable on U.S. shores, a carrier must generally obtain cable landing license from the U.S. government. The Cable Landing License Act, gives the President of the United States broad discretion to grant, withhold, condition or revoke cable landing licenses under certain conditions. By Executive Order 10530, the Commission has been delegated the responsibility for issuing cable landing licenses.


Current Cable Landing License Application


We are requesting continued OMB approval of the Submarine Cable Landing License Application (FCC Form 220) referenced under 47 CFR 1.767 and Executive Order 10530.

The purpose of this application is to request authorization from the Commission to land one or both ends of a cable in the territorial waters of the U.S.


Cable Landing License Application Forms Pending Development by the Commission


The Commission plans to develop eight new cable landing license application forms that impact this information collection. We do not know the specific time frame for the development of each application form. However, we estimate that the new projected completion date for all cable landing license application forms is December 30, 2018. The development of the application forms is contingent upon the availability of budget funds, human resources and other factors.


In March 2006, the Commission received blanket approval of all eight applications listed below with the following terms of clearance: OMB approves this information collection. However, as applications contained within the supporting statement are developed, a change worksheet should be submitted to OMB. The change worksheet should include the information elements that are to be collected, as well as a copy of the proposed form. This should be submitted before the application goes “live” and OMB reserves the right to make modifications to the forms and information collected as necessary.


Currently, applicants file pleadings with the Commission for amendments, modifications and other filings for which there is no existing application form.1 These information collections are approved under OMB Control No. 3060-0944. On September 30, 2008, the Commission’s International Bureau launched an e-filing module in IBFS to provide the option of electronic filing for certain filings in lieu of filing through the Commission’s Office of the Secretary. Interested parties have the option to file their applications, pleadings and other filings through the IBFS module or submit their filings to the Office of the Secretary. (Please reference Public Notice DA 08-2173 for additional information).

A complete list of cable landing license applications pending development is as follows:


Name

of Form

Brief

Description

Rule

Section

1. Submarine Cable Landing License Amendment

Amendment of an application to correct information required for the processing of the original application.

§1.767(m)(1)

2. Submarine Cable Landing License Assignment

Application to assign a license, or a portion of it, from one entity to another. Following an assignment, the license will usually be held by an entity other than the one to which it was originally granted.

§1.767(a)(11)

3. Submarine Cable Landing License Landing Point Notification

Notification of specific description of the landing stations in the U.S. and the foreign countries where the cable will land.

§1.767(a)(5)

§1.767(g)(8)


4. Submarine Cable Landing License Modification

Modification application requesting authority to modify the terms or conditions of a license, such as adding a new licensee or relinquishing an interest in a license; also may be used to update information required to maintain accuracy of the certifications made in the original application.

§1.767(m)(1)



Name

of Form

Brief

Description

Rule

Section

5. Submarine Cable Landing License Special Temporary Authority

Application requesting immediate authority for temporary service or for emergency service (Special Temporary Authority).

§1.767(a)

6. Submarine Cable Landing License Transfer of Control of License

Application to transfer control of a license. Following the transfer of control, the license remains held by the same entity or entities, but there is a change in the entity or entities that control a license holder.

§1.767(a)(11)

7. Submarine Cable Landing License Other Filings

Notification of miscellaneous items such as name changes, notification of consummation of transfers of control and assignments.

§1.767(a)(11)(iii)

8. Submarine Cable Landing License Notification of Operation


Notifications of the commencement of service and/or termination of service.

§1.767(g)(14)


This information collection does not affect individuals or households; thus, there are no impacts under the Privacy Act.

The statutory authority for this information collection is contained in the Submarine Cable Landing License Act of 1921, Executive Order 10530, 47 U.S.C. 34-39, 151, 154(i), 154(j), 155, 225, 303(r), 309 and 325(e).


2. The information will be used by the Commission staff in carrying out its duties under the Cable Landing License Act. The information collections pertaining to Part 1 of the rules are necessary to determine whether the Commission should grant a license for proposed submarine cables landing in the United States. Pursuant to Executive Order No. 10530, the Commission has been delegated the President's authority under the Cable Landing License Act to grant cable landing licenses, provided that the Commission must obtain the approval of the State Department and seek advice from other government agencies as appropriate.


3. It is estimated that 95 percent of submarine cable landing license applications and pleadings are submitted to the Commission electronically through the International Bureau Filing System (IBFS), including the IBFS module. It is estimated that 5 percent of interested parties file pleadings in paper form through the Commission’s Office of the Secretary.


4. An applicant for a common carrier subcable must file two electronic applications: (1) a cable landing license application and (2) an international section 214 application for overseas cable construction. While the applicant may be able to use some of the same information in both applications, the applicant must file two separate applications through the IBFS.


5. The Commission has considered the impact of our information collection requirements on small businesses and other small entities, and it believes that the public interest requires the Commission not to adopt an exemption for these entities. In order to fulfill its statutory obligations under the Cable Landing License Act, the Commission must analyze the impact of foreign carrier investment in submarine cables landing in the United States. The rules and regulations will benefit all entities by expediting the processing of applications. Also, the Commission has developed procedures that permit a large number of small entities to be exempt from the requirements contained in the Order.


6. The frequency of filing applications under the Cable Landing License Act will be determined largely by the applicants seeking to construct and operate a submarine cable. If the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently, applicants will not obtain the authorizations necessary to provide telecommunications services, and the Commission will be unable to carry out its mandate under the Cable Landing License Act and Executive Order 10530. In addition, without the collection, the United States would jeopardize its ability to fulfill the U.S. obligations as negotiated under the World Trade Organization (WTO) Basic Telecom Agreement because these information collection requirements are imperative to detecting and deterring anticompetitive conduct. They are also necessary to preserve the Executive Branch agencies and the Commission's ability to review foreign investments for national security, law enforcement, foreign policy, and trade concerns.

  1. There are no other special circumstances associated with this collection of information.


8. On September 25, 2013, the Commission published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register (78 FR 59026) seeking comments on the information collection requirements contained in this Supporting Statement. No comments were received from the public.

9. Respondents will not receive any payments or gifts.


10. The Commission has not granted assurances of confidentiality to those parties submitting the information. In those cases where a respondent believes information requires confidentiality, the respondent can request confidential treatment and submit a protective order requesting confidential treatment. Commission staff will make a determination pursuant to agency rules.


11. The collection of information does not include any questions of a sensitive nature.


12. There are 255 applicants/licensees who will comply with the information collection requirements contained in this supporting statement. The estimated total annual number of responses and annual burden hours are listed below.


Chart of Respondents, Responses and Annual Burden Hours





Rule Section

 

Time

 

and Explanation

Number

Per

Total

of Burden Estimate 1\

of Responses

Response

Annual Burden Hours2

47 CFR 1.767(a); EXECUTIVE ORDER 10530

6

2 hours

12 hours

CABLE LANDING LICENSE

 

(On occasion)

 

APPLICATION (FCC FORM 220)

 

 

 

The specific contents of the

 

 

 

application are included in

 

 

 

47 CFR 1.767(a)(1) through (a)(10).

 

 

 

47 CFR 1.767(a)

3

2 hours

6 hours

SUBMARINE CABLE LANDING LICENSE


(On occasion)


SPECIAL TEMPORARY AUTHORITY




Application requesting immediate authority




For temporary service or for emergency




Service.




47 CFR 1.767(a)(5)

6

4 hours

24 hours

SUBMARINE CABLE LANDING LICENSE

 

(On occasion)

 

LANDING POINT NOTIFICATION




Map providing a specific description

 

 

 

of the cable landing stations on the

 

 

 

shore of the U.S. and in foreign

 

 

 

countries where the cable will land

 

 

 

and must specify the coordinates of

 

 

 

any beach joint where those coordinates

 

 

 

differ from the coordinates of the cable

 

 

 

station. This information must be filed

 

 

 

with the Commission at least 90 days

 

 

 

prior to construction.

 

 

 

47 CFR 1.767(a)(7)

6

4 hours

24 hours

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

 

(On occasion)

 

A list of the proposed owners of the

 

 

 

cable system, including each U.S. cable

 

 

 

landing station, their respective voting

 

 

 

and ownership interests in each U.S.

 

 

 

cable landing station, their respective

 

 

 

voting interests in the wet link portion

 

 

 

of the cable system, and their

 

 

 

respective ownership interests by

 

 

 

segment in the cable.

 

 

 

47 CFR 1.767(a)(8)

6

2 hours

12 hours

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

 

(On occasion)

 

For each applicants of the cable system,

 

 

 

a certification as to whether the

 

 

 

applicant is, or is affiliated with, a foreign

 

 

 

carrier, including an entity that owns or

 

 

 

controls a foreign cable landing station

 

 

 

in any of the cable's destination markets.

 

 

 

Include the citizenship of each applicant

 

 

 

and information and certifications required

 

 

 

in Sections 63.18(h) through (k) and in

 

 

 

Section 63.18(o) of this chapter.

 

 

 

47 CFR 1.767(a)(9)

6

1 hour

6 hours

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

 

(On occasion)

 

A certification that the applicant accepts

 

 

 

and will abide by the routine conditions

 

 

 

specified in paragraph (g) of this section

 

 

 

47 CFR 1.767; 47 CFR 63.18




INTERNATIONAL SECTION 214 APPLICATION FOR OVERSEAS CABLE CONSTRUCTION

6

2 hours

12 hours

(FCC FORM 214)


(On occasion)


47 CFR 1.767(a)(11)(i)

ASSIGNMENTS AND TRANSFERS OF

CONTROL

Applicants should include a narrative of the means by which the transfer or assignment will take place and specify, on a segment specific basis, the percentage of voting and ownership interests being transferred or assigned in the cable system, including in a U.S. cable landing station.

12

1 hour

(On occasion)

12 hours

47 CFR 1.767(a)(11)(ii)

12

1 hour

12 hours

ASSIGNMENTS AND TRANSFERS

 

(On occasion)

 

OF CONTROL

 

 

 

If the filing of a foreign carrier notification

 

 

 

pursuant to 1.768 is required, the applicant

 

 

 

shall reference in the application the foreign

 

 

 

carrier affiliation notification and the date of

 

 

 

its filing.

 

 

 

47 CFR 1.767(a)(11)(iii)

12

1 hour

12 hours

Post-transaction notification of pro forma

 

(On occasion)

 

assignments and transfers of control

 

 

 

are required pursuant to 47 CFR 1.768(g)(7).

 

 

 

47 CFR 1.767(a)(11)(iii)

6

1 hour

6 hours

OTHER FILINGS




An assignee or transferee must notify the

 

(On occasion)

 

Commission no later than 30 days after

 

 

 

either consummation of the assignment

 

 

 

or transfer or a decision not to

 

 

 

consummate the assignment or transfer.

 

 

 

47 CFR 1.767(f)

6

2 hours

12 hours

THIRD PARTY DISCLOSURE

 

(On occasion)

 

Applicants shall disclose to any interested

 

 (Third Party

 

member of the public, upon written request,

 

 Disclosure)

 

accurate information concerning the location

 

 

 

and timing for the construction of a submarine

 

 

 

cable system authorized under this section.

 

 

 

The disclosure shall be made within

 

 

 

30 days of receipt of the request.

 

 

 



47 CFR 1.767(g)



6



2 hours



12 hours

Applicant must comply with the routine

 

(On occasion)

 

conditions as noted under Sections

 

 

 

47 CFR 1.767(11)(g)(1) through (14).

 

 

 

47 CFR 1.767(g)(7)

6

4 hours

24 hours

A pro forma assignee or person or company

 

(On occasion)

 

that is the subject of a pro forma transfer

 

 

 

of control must notify the Commission

 

 

 

no later than 30 days after the assignment

 

 

 

or transfer of control is consummated.

 

 

 

The notification must certify that the assign-

 

 

 

ment or transfer of control was pro forma, as

 

 

 

defined in Section 63.24 of this chapter,

 

 

 

and together with all previous pro forma

 

 

 

transactions, does not result in a change of

 

 

 

the licensee's ultimate control. The licensee

 

 

 

may file a single notification for an assignment

 

 

 

or transfer of control of multiple licenses

 

 

 

issued in the name of the licensee if each

 

 

 

license is identified by the file number

 

 

 

under which it was granted.

 

 

 

47 CFR 1.767(g)(8)

0

0

0

Unless the licensee has notified the Commission

See 1.767(a)(5)3

 

 

in the application of the precise locations at

 

 

which the cable will land, as required by

 

 

 

paragraph (a)(5) of this section, the licensee

 

 

 

shall notify the Commission no later than

 

 

 

90 days prior to commencing construction

 

 

 

at that landing location.

 

 

 

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

47 CFR 1.767(g)(9)



6



8 hours



48 hours

The Commission may require that the licensee

 

(On occasion)

 

file an environmental assessment should it

 

 

 

determine that the landing of the cable

 

 

 

at the specific locations and construction

 

 

 

of necessary cable landing stations may

 

 

 

significantly affect the environment within the

 

 

 

meaning of Section 1.1307 implementing the

 

 

 

National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.

 

 

 


47 CFR 1.767(g)(14)



6



1 hour



6 hours

SUBMARINE CABLE LANDING LICENSE


(On occasion)


NOTIFICATION OF OPERATION




The licensee must notify the Commission

 


 

within 30 days of the date the cable is placed

 

 

 

into service. The cable landing license shall

 

 

 

expire 25 years from the in-service date,

 

 

 

unless renewed or extended upon proper

 

 

 

application. Upon expiration, all rights

 

 

 

granted under the license shall be terminated.

 

 

 

47 CFR 1.767(j)

6

2 hours

12 hours

APPLICATIONS FOR STREAMLINING

 

(On occasion)

 

THIRD PARTY DISCLOSURE

 

 

 

Applicants must request streamlined processing

 

 

 

in its application and must provide a copy

 

 

 

of the application to the Department of State

 

 

 

to initiate approval of the application by the

 

 

 

Department of State.

 

 

 

47 CFR 1.767(k)(1)

6

1 hour

6 hours

Each applicant must demonstrate eligibility

 

(On occasion)

 

for streamlining by certifying that it is not a

 

 

 

foreign carrier and it is not affiliated with a

 

 

 

foreign carrier in any of the cable's

 

 

 

destination markets.

 

 

 

47 CFR 1.767(k)(2)

6

2 hours

12 hours

Each applicant for streamlining must demonstrate pursuant so Section 63.12(l)(i)

 

(On occasion)

 

through (iii) of this chapter that any such

 

 

 

foreign carrier or affiliated foreign carrier

 

 

 

lacks market power or meet requirements

 

 

 

in 47 CFR 1.767(14)(k)(3).

 

 

 


47 CFR 1.767(k)(3)


6



1 hour



6 hours

Each applicant may certify that the destination

 

(On occasion)

 

market where the applicant is, or has an

 

 

 

affiliation with, a foreign carrier is a World

 

 

 

Trade Organization (WTO) member and the

 

 

 

applicant agrees to accept and abide by the

 

 

 

reporting requirements set out in para (l)

 

 

 

of this section. An applicant that includes

 

 

 

an applicant that is, or is affiliated with,

 

 

 

a carrier with market power in a cable's

 

 

 

non-WTO Member destination country is not

 

 

 

eligible for streamlining.

 

 

 

47 CFR 1.767(k)(4)

9

2 hour

18 hours

CERTIFCATIONS TO THE COMMISSION


(On occasion)


Cable Landing Licensees are required to file




with the Commission a certification that the




applicant is not required to submit a




Consistency certification with any state




Pursuant to the Coastal Zone Management




Act.





47 CFR 1.767(l)


24 filings (6 filings


4 hours


96 hours

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE

 per Quarter)

(1hour/quarter)

 

TO LICENSEES AFFILIATED WITH A CARRIER WITH MARKET POWER IN A

 

 

 

CABLE'S WTO DESTINATION MARKET

 

 

 

AND REQUESTS STREAMLINED

 

 

 

PROCESSING OF ITS APPLICATION

 

 

 

Licensees must file quarterly

 

 

 

reports summarizing the provisioning

 

 

 

and maintenance of all network facilities

 

 

 

and services procured from the licensee’s

 

 

 

affiliate in that destination market,

 

 

 

within 90 days from the end of each calendar

 

 

 

quarter that contain the types of facilities and

 

 

 

services provided and other information stated in

 

 

 

47 CFR 1.767(l)(i) through (iii).

 

 

 

47 CFR 1.767(m)(1)

3

2 hours

6 hours

SUBMARINE CABLE LANDING LICENSE


(On occasion)


AMENDMENTS AND MODIFICATIONS




47 CFR 1.767(m)(2)

24 filings (6

2 hours

48 hours

Any licensee that seeks to relinquish its interest

filings/quarter)

(0.5 hours/quarter)

 

in a cable landing license shall file an application

 

 

 

to modify the license. Such application must

 

 

 

include a demonstration that the applicant is not

 

 

 

required to be a licensee under paragraph (h)

 

 

 

of this section and that the remaining licensee(s)

 

 

 

will retain collectively de jure and de facto

 

 

 

control of the U.S. portion of the cable system

 

 

 

sufficient to comply with the requirements of the

 

 

 

Commission's rules and any specific conditions

 

 

 

of the license, and must be served on each other

 

 

 

licensee of the cable system.

 

 

 

47 CFR 1.767(n)

0

0

0

All applications and notifications must be filed

See R&O

 

 

electronically through the International Bureau

(FCC 05-91)

 

 

Filing System (IBFS) subject to the availability

 

 

 

of electronic forms.

 

 

 

47 CFR 1.768

6

1 hour

6 hours

Cable landing applicant/licensee that becomes,

 

(On occasion)

 

or seeks to become, affiliated with a foreign

 

 

 

carrier that is authorized to operate in that

 

 

 

market, must notify the Commission of

 

 

 

that affiliation.

 

 

 

47 CFR 1.768(a)

6

1 hour

6 hours

The licensee must notify the Commission

 

(On occasion)

 

45 days before consummation of a transaction

 

 

 

involving an acquisition as stated under

 

 

 

47 CFR 1.767(a)(1) and (2).

 

 

 

47 CFR 1.768(2)

6

1 hour

6 hours

The licensee may certify that the destination

 

(On occasion)

 

market where the cable lands is a WTO

 

 

 

Member and provides certification to satisfy

 

 

 

the conditions stated in 47 CFR 1.768(2)(i) and (iii).

 

 

 


47 CFR 1.768(c)

6

1 hour

6 hours

NOTIFICATION AFTER CONSUMMATION

 

 (On occasion)

 

Any licensee that becomes affiliated with a

 

 

 

foreign carrier and has not previously notified

 

 

 

the Commission pursuant to the requirements

 

 

 

of this section shall notify the Commission

 

 

 

within 30 days after consummation of the

 

 

 

acquisition.

 

 

 


47 CFR 1.768(d)


12


1 hour


12 hours

If the transaction also involves a transfer of control or assignment application pursuant

 

(On occasion)

 

to 1.767, the foreign carrier notification shall

 

 

 

reference in the notification of the transfer

 

 

 

of control or assignment application and the

 

 

 

date of its filing.

 

 

 

47 CFR 1.768(e)

12

2 hours

24 hours

The notification related to an assignment or

 

(On occasion)

 

transfer of control must include the certifications

 

 

 

as stated in 1.768(e)(1) through (7).

 

 

 

47 CFR 1.768(f)

6

3 hours

18 hours

If the licensee seeks to be excepted from the

 

(On occasion)

 

reporting requirements contained in 1.767(l),

 

 

 

the licensee should demonstrate that each

 

 

 

foreign carrier affiliate names in the notification

 

 

 

lacks market power pursuant to Section 63.10.

 

 

 

47 CFR 1.768(h)

2

2 hours

4 hours

For a period of 45 days after filing, applicants

 

(On occasion)

 

must file a corrected notification referencing

 

 

 

FCC filing numbers under which the original

 

 

 

notification was provided if the information

 

 

 

furnished is no longer accurate.

 

 

 

47 CFR 1.768(i)

4

2 hours

8 hours

A licensee that files a prior notification pursuant

 

(On occasion)

 

to paragraph (a) of this section may request

 

 

 

confidential treatment of its filing, pursuant to

 

 

 

Section 0.459 of this chapter, for the first 20

 

 

 

days after filing.

 

 

 


47 CFR 1.768(j)

0

0

0

All notifications described in Section 1.768

See R&O

 

 

must be filed electronically through the

(FCC 05-91)

 

 

International Bureau Filing System (IBFS).

 

 

 

Totals:

255

1 - 16

534

 

Number

Hours

Total

 

of Responses

 

Annual Burden Hours






In-House Costs – We estimate that in-house staff is paid at an estimated rate of $40 per hour.


534 hours X $40 per hour = $21,360 Total In-House Costs to Respondents


13. Annual Burden Cost:


(a) Capital and Start-up Costs: 0


(b) Operation and Maintenance Costs


Outside Legal/Engineering Assistance: We estimate that the respondent will require outside legal assistance for 50% (128) of the responses after the respondent has completed his/her part.4 The cost of outside legal assistance is estimated at $300 per hour. The figure is based on a small survey of local firms in the D.C. area and is considered a conservative estimate.


128 responses X $300 per hour X 2 hours per submission = $76,800 Total Outside Legal/Engineering Costs


Application Filing Fees:


As shown on the chart below, the total of application filing fees is $198,405.


Cable Landing License Application

Number

Application

Total

Filing Fees

of Applicants

Fees

Costs

Cable Landing License (Common Carrier)

1

$1,760

$1,760

Cable Landing License (Non-common Carrier)

5

$17,405

$87,025

Overseas Cable Construction

6

$15,645

$93,870

Special Temporary Authority

3

$1,050

$3,150

Assignments and Transfers of Control

12

$1,050

$12,600

Totals:

27

$198,405


(c). Total Annual Cost Burden



Description of Estimated Costs

to Respondents


Total Costs

Outside Legal/Engineering Assistance


$76,800

Application Filing Fees


$198,405

Total Cost to Respondents


$275,205




14. Estimates of Annualized Cost to the Federal Government:


The estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government are summarized in the chart below. As shown in the chart, the annualized costs to the Federal government are $346,976.





Annual


Federal Government

Number

Salary

Burden

Annualized

Staff

of Staff

Per Hour

Hours

Costs

GS-15/Step 5 Attorney

6

$67.21

500

$201,630

GS-14/Step 5 Attorney

4

$57.13

500

$114,260

GS-15/Step 5 Engineers

1

$67.21

250

$16,803

GS-14/Step 5 Engineers

1

$57.13

250

$14,283


12



$346,976


15. This collection reflects an adjustment of +$6,600. This adjustment is due to an increase in annual application filing fees. There are no program changes to this collection.


16. The Commission does not plan to publish the information for statistical use.


17. No waiver of the OMB expiration date is necessary.


18. There are no exceptions to the certification statement.


Part B. Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods:


This collection of information does not anticipate the use of statistical methods.


1 The Commission expects the burden for the existing requirements to be reduced for the respondent once the Cable Landing License Application Forms are developed.

2 All of the information collection requirements contained in this chart including waivers have true burden impacts.

3 The burden is accounted for the requirement under Section 1.767(a)(5).

4 See question 12 of this supporting statement for the respondent’s burden for the information collection requirements.



16


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File TitleSUPPORTING STATEMENT
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