The Uniform System of Accounts (USOA)
is an historical financial accounting system that, among other
things, prescribes a chart of accounts and directs telephone
companies how to record certain transactions in their books of
account. In 2017, the Commission released the Part 32 Order, which
minimized the compliance burdens imposed by the USOA on price cap
and rate-of-return companies, while ensuring that the Commission
retains access to the information it needs to fulfill its
regulatory duties.
The Commission is reporting
program changes to this information collection. First, we have
removed the one-time recordkeeping requirements for price cap LECs
electing GAAP with an Incremental Rate Difference, as those
requirements have been fulfilled. Second, the number of ILECs
required to respond to information requirements 12(C) and (D) has
decreased by 227, from 1,164 to 937. There are 227 rate-of-return
study areas that have elected incentive regulation and/or GAAP, and
thus, pursuant to the Rate-of-Return Business Data Services Report
and Order, the carriers are relieved of virtually all of the
recordkeeping requirements of the USOA, including those set forth
in 12(C) and (D). As a result of these changes, the total number of
respondents has decreased from 1,176 to 949 (-227). The total
number of responses decreased from 2,458 to 1,944 (-514) and the
total annual burden hours decreased from 103,240 hours to 69,820
hours (-33,420).
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No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Amy Goodman 202
418-1549
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.