Justification for Non Substantive Change Request (0855)

Federal Communications Commission

Explanation of Non-Substantive Changes to OMB Control Number: 3060-0855:

• FCC Form 499-A

• FCC Form 499-Q

• Instructions to FCC Form 499-A

• Instructions to FCC Form 499-Q

Purpose of this Submission: This submission is to make a non-substantive change request to an existing information collection pursuant to 44 U.S.C. § 3507. This submission seeks to modify: (i) the FCC Form 499-A; (ii) the accompanying instructions to the FCC Form 499-A; (iii) the FCC Form 499-Q; and (iv) the accompanying instructions to the FCC Form 499-Q. On November 24, 2015, the Commission issued a Public Notice seeking comment on the proposed changes (DA 15-1361).

Summary of Proposed Changes to the FCC Form 499-A and Instructions:

• DC Agent Service of Process Change: Filers are now required to submit updates to their registration information, including their DC Agent for Service of Process, to only the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), the universal service Administrator (page 12).

• Corporate Contact Information: Line 207 of the FCC Form 499-A and the accompanying instructions (pages 17-18) were modified to reflect the fact that USAC does not send Worksheets to filers.

• Language Conforming to the TRS Order: The language of the FCC Form 499-A Instructions (page 18) was changed to conform to the Commission’s decision in the TRS Order to require non-interconnected VoIP providers to register with the Commission.¹

• Language Conforming to the Open Internet Order: The language of the FCC Form 499-A instructions (page 26 and footnote 50) was modified to conform to the Commission’s decision regarding broadband Internet access service in the 2015 Open Internet Order.

• International Service Provider Reporting Changes: Changed references to section 43.61 to 43.62 throughout the FCC Form 499-A Instructions to conform to Commission rule changes.

• Changes to Reflect Electronic Filing: Minor wording in the FCC Form 499-A instructions was changed to reflect the fact that the FCC Forms are filed electronically (e.g., deleting references to “paper” filings).

Summary of Proposed Changes to the FCC Form 499-Q Instructions:

• Modifications to the FCC Form 499-Q instructions: The description of what to include on Line 117 on page 17 of the FCC Form 499-Q instructions was modified to include the term “cable service” to be consistent with the FCC Form 499-A instructions.

Summary of Proposed Changes to Both the FCC Form 499-A and FCC Form 499-Q and Instructions:

• Traffic Studies Filing Change: Removed the requirement for filers to send a copy of their traffic studies to the Commission. Filers must now only submit one copy to USAC at the address provided in the instructions.

• Date Changes: Dates were updated throughout the FCC Forms and instructions. References to “2015” were changed to “2016” and references to “2014” were changed to “2015.”

• Circularity Factor Update: The circularity factor was adjusted and updated in the FCC Form 499-A and the FCC Form 499-Q instructions based upon the quarterly contribution factors.

• Stylistic Changes: In a number of instances, minor wording in the FCC Forms 499-A and 499-Q and accompanying instructions was modified for clarification purposes, without changing the substance. Citations were also added in several instances in the FCC Form 499-A for clarification purposes and section number references were updated throughout the FCC Form 499-A instructions to accurately reference the sections. Additionally, the FCC Form 499-A instructions were reformatted with visual headers for each section to make them more reader-friendly.

1 See Contributions to the Telecommunications Relay Services Fund, CG Docket No. 11-47, Report and Order, 26 FCC Rcd 14532, 14542, para. 21 (2011) (TRS Order).

2