Updated
supporting statement to respond to public comment.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
08/31/2020
6 Months From Approved
2,257
0
0
6,771
0
0
0
0
0
The Commission initiates this
collection to gather information from affected carriers as to
whether they own equipment or services from Huawei or ZTE, the cost
to purchase and/or install such equipment or services, and the cost
to remove and replace such equipment or services. In addition,
respondents must demonstrate how they arrived at any cost estimates
they provide in response to this information collection.
The Federal
Communications Commission (Commission) requests OMB approval to
submit the information collection described herein under the
“emergency processing” provision of the Paperwork Reduction Act
(PRA) of 1995 (5 C.F.R. § 1320.13). The Commission is requesting
clearance for a new information collection entitled: Protecting
Against National Security Threats to the Communications Supply
Chain Through FCC Programs. We respectfully request OMB approval
for this collection by January 31, 2020. On November 22, 2019, the
Commission adopted a Report and Order, Further Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking and Order, WC Docket No. 18-89, FCC 19-121 (Protecting
Against National Security Threats to the Communications Supply
Chain Through FCC Programs). The Report and Order prohibits future
use of Universal Service Fund (USF) funds to purchase equipment or
services from any communications equipment or service providers
identified as posing a national security risk to communications
networks or the communications supply chain. It also initially
designates two entities – Huawei Technologies Company (Huawei) and
ZTE Corporation (ZTE), along with their affiliates, subsidiaries,
and parents – as covered companies posing such a national security
threat. In the Further Notice, the Commission proposes to require
eligible telecommunications carriers receiving USF support to
remove and replace covered equipment and services from carriers’
networks. The Further Notice proposes to make the requirement to
remove and replace covered equipment and services contingent on the
availability of a funded reimbursement program, in an effort to
mitigate the impact on affected entities. Thus, in the accompanying
Information Collection Order, the Commission proposes to establish
an information collection to determine the extent to which
prohibited equipment exists in current networks, and the costs
associated with removing such equipment and replacing it with
equivalent equipment. The Commission proposes to initiate this
collection to gather information from eligible telecommunications
carriers as to whether they own equipment or services from Huawei
or ZTE, the cost to purchase and/or install such equipment or
services, and the cost to remove and replace such equipment or
services. In addition, respondents must demonstrate how they
arrived at any cost estimates they provide in response to this
information collection. Requiring the Commission to seek OMB’s
approval for this new collection under the regular PRA processing
procedures would significantly delay the Commission’s efforts to
address the serious and immediate risk to national security posed
by Huawei and ZTE. The rules and related requirements adopted in
the Report and Order are intended to promote expeditious removal of
existing national security vulnerabilities in communications
networks and their supply chains. The Commission also has a
responsibility to ensure that the public funds in the USF are not
spent on equipment or services from companies that present a risk
to the communications supply chain. In order to promptly address
these national security concerns and fulfill its statutory
obligations, the Commission must determine the extent to which
prohibited equipment exists in current networks, and the
feasibility of a funded reimbursement program to mitigate the cost
of removing existing covered equipment and services from carriers’
networks. Due to the emergency nature of this request, the
Commission is requesting a waiver of the requirement to publish a
60-day notice in the Federal Register. However, the Commission will
publish a 30-day notice in the Federal Register concerning this new
information collection under the emergency processing procedures to
give the public an opportunity to comment on this emergency
submission. The Commission will conduct all the necessary regular
submission requirements under the PRA after approval of this
emergency request.
The Commission is reporting
program changes/increases to this new information collection. These
increases to the total number of respondents of +2,257, total
annual responses of +2,257 and total annual burden hours of +6,771
will be added to OMB’s Active Inventory.
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.
Binder3.pdf
FCC Revisions to Protecting Nat Security Thru FCC Prgms Supporting Statement 2.7.20.docx
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