The Commission requires all incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) to file shapfile maps of their service territories in a state (study area). State commissions can also submit these data voluntarily for ILECs in their state. Shapefiles are a commonly used, digitized, geographic information system (GIS) format. Accurate and accessible maps are essential to the legitmate distribution of universal service support to rural, high cost carriers. After the shapefiles are uploaded into a web interface provided by the Commission, each ILEC (or state) must certify the accuracy of its study area maps. Filers must also submit updated shapefile maps if their study area boundaries change, and must recertify the accuracy of the map every two years.
US Code:
47 USC 254(b)
Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as amended
The Commission is reporting adjustments/decreases to this information collection. Since the last submission to OMB, the total number of respondents decreased from 1,443 to 747 (-696), the total annual responses decreased from 1,443 to 757 (-686), the total annual burden hours decreased from 7,924 to 171
(-7,753), and the total annual costs decreased from $705,935 to $3,977.00 (-$701,958). These adjustments/decreases are due to most of the ILECs fulfilling the initial requirements of creating and submitting GIS esri shapefiles of their study area boundaries. The remaining annual costs associated with this information collection will be incurred by the small number of ILECs that have study area boundary changes and hire contractors to modify their study area boundary GIS data. All ILECs are required to recertify their study area boundaries every two years, but we have determined that this task to be a normal business activity and of negligible burden.
$1,296
No
No
No
No
No
Uncollected
S. Steckler 202 634-1861
No
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:
(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;
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.