On August 1, 2019, the Commission
adopted a Report and Order, FCC 19-79, in WC Docket Nos. 19-195 and
11-10. The Order makes targeted changes to the existing Form 477
data collection to reduce reporting burdens for all filers and
incorporate new technologies. The Order adopts the 5G-NR (New
Radio) technology standards developed by the 3rd Generation
Partnership Project (3GPP) with Release 15 and requires providers
to submit 5G deployment data that meet the specifications of
Release 15 (or any successor release that may be adopted by the
Commission’s Bureaus). The Order also requires mobile providers to
submit broadband and voice subscriber data at the census-tract
level based on the subscriber’s place of primary use for postpaid
subscribers and based on the subscriber’s telephone number for
prepaid and resold subscribers. These changes are necessary because
the deployment data collected on Form 477 are no longer sufficient
for targeting universal service funds. The actions to improve the
Form 477 data collection will also increase the usefulness of the
information to the Commission, Congress, the industry, and the
public. The Order reduces the burden on broadband providers by
removing the requirement that facilities-based providers submit
separate coverage maps depicting their broadband network coverage
areas for each transmission technology and each frequency band. It
also modifies the requirement that mobile broadband providers
report coverage information for each technology deployed in their
networks by reducing the number of categories from nine to four.
The Order also eliminates the requirement that facilities-based
providers submit a list of census tracts in which the provider
advertises its mobile wireless broadband service and in which the
service is available to actual and potential subscribers. Finally,
the Order removes the requirement that fixed providers offering
business/enterprise/government services to report the maximum
downstream and upstream contractual or guaranteed data throughput
rate (committed information rate) available in each reported census
block.
US Code:
47
USC 201 Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as amended
US Code: 47
USC 218-220 Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as
amended
US Code: 47
USC 251-252 Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as
amended
US Code: 47
USC 271 Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as amended
US Code: 47
USC 303(r) Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as
amended
US Code: 47
USC 706 Name of Law: Telecommunications Act of 1996
US Code: 47
USC 403 Name of Law: Communicatioins Act of 1934, as amende
US Code: 47
USC 332 Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as amended
US Code: 47
USC 4(i) Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as
amended
The public burden for the
information collection requirements contained herein will increase
by approximately 291,600 burden hours per year, 184 to the number
respondents and 368 to the annual number of responses. The increase
in burden hours is due to the following changes: (1) Requiring
providers to submit 5G deployment data that meet the specifications
of the 5G-NR (New Radio) technology standards developed by the 3rd
Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) with Release 15; (2)
Requiring providers to submit broadband and voice subscriber data
at the census-tract level based on the subscriber’s place of
primary use for postpaid subscribers and based on the subscriber’s
telephone number for prepaid and resold subscribers; (3)
Eliminating the requirement that facilities-based providers submit
separate coverage maps depicting their broadband network coverage
areas for each transmission technology and each frequency band; (4)
Modifying the requirement that mobile broadband providers report
coverage information for each technology deployed in their networks
by reducing the number of categories from nine to four; (5)
Eliminating the requirement that facilities-based providers submit
a list of census tracts in which the provider advertises its mobile
wireless broadband service and in which the service is available to
actual and potential subscribers; and (6) Eliminating the
requirement that fixed providers offering
business/enterprise/government services to report the maximum
downstream and upstream contractual or guaranteed data throughput
rate (committed information rate) available in each reported census
block. Some of these changes will increase burden hours while
others will reduce burden hours. However, we expect a net increase
in burden hours as a result of the time it will take for
respondents to familiarize themselves with the new filing
requirements. As noted in the answer to 12(4), we assume that the
average hour burden for the average respondent for the first
response will be 628 hours, but we expect this number will decrease
to 406 hours for the second response and 355 for the third response
and each response thereafter. Once respondents become familiar with
the new filing requirements, we expect the annual burden hours will
return to current levels because the burdens eliminated by the
Order are proportional to the burdens imposed by the Order.
$298,000
No
No
No
No
No
No
Uncollected
Erin Boone 202 418-0736
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.
Supporting statement OMB 3060-0816 (2019)(FCC 19-79).docx
Local telephone Competition and Broadband Reporting, FCC Form 477