High-Cost Universal Service Support

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
3060-0986 SS 5.4.20.docx Supporting Statement A	2020-05-12

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
31529	Business or other for-profit Instruction	Modified
185391	State, Local or Tribal Government Instruction	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 3060-0986	ICR Reference No: 202004-3060-037
Status: Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201903-3060-009
Agency/Subagency: FCC	Agency Tracking No: WCB
Title: High-Cost Universal Service Support
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 06/15/2020
	Date Received in OIRA: 05/13/2020
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	06/30/2023	36 Months From Approved	06/30/2022
Responses	12,729	0	11,977
Time Burden (Hours)	54,519	0	51,080
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

---

Abstract: The subject information collection is used to determine the amount of, and eligibility for, high-cost universal service support received by incumbent and competitive ETCs. The Commission is proposing to update and modify certain rules, requirements and reporting obligations. The Commission is also proposing to add a requirement for CAF Phase II auction support recipients to certify networks they operated in the prior year meet certain performance requirements, as well as extend the same annual reporting requirements adopted for Phase II auction recipients to New York carriers who receive CAF Phase II support. The Commission is further proposing to modify the reasonable request certification rule to rate-of return ETCs and proposing to adopt a rule requiring price cap or fixed competitive eligible communications carriers receiving phase-down support to certify specific high-cost information. This collection is also being submitted to seek approval of certain changes to Form 481 and its instructions.

---

Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 47 USC 218 - 220 Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as amended
   US Code: 47 USC 254 Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as amended
   US Code: 47 USC 410 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 151 - 154 Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as amended
   US Code: 47 USC 201 - 205 Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as amended
   US Code: 47 USC 403 Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as amended
   US Code: 47 USC 405 Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as amended
   US Code: 47 USC 214 Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as amended
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

---

Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
3060-AK57	Final or interim final rulemaking	84 FR 8619	03/11/2019

---

Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	85 FR 12554	03/03/2020
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	85 FR 28634	05/13/2020
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

---

Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 2

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
State, Local or Tribal Government	FCC Form 525	Competitive Carrier Line Count Report
Business or other for-profit

---

ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	12,729	11,977	0	752	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	54,519	51,080	0	3,439	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Changing Regulations

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: The Commission is reporting program changes to this information collection as a result of new or revised requirements associated with the CAF Phase II Auction Order, New York Waiver Order, 2018 Rate-of-Return Order, and CAF Phase II Transitions Order. Because a number of carriers have begun receiving high-cost support through the CAF Phase II auction, there are also a number of additional respondents for certain general requirements in this information collection. The estimated total number of respondents, total annual responses and annual burden hours have therefore increased under this OMB control number. The total number of respondents increased from 1,877 to 2,034 (+157); the total annual responses increased from 11,977 to 12,729 (+752); and the total annual burden hours increased from 51,080 to 54,519 (+3,439).

---

Annual Cost to Federal Government: $0

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

---

Common Form ICR:  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:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(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;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

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.

Certification Date: 05/13/2020

---