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 use support for territories damaged due to
Hurricanes Irma and Maria and has adopted accountability measures
so that the support is used in which it is intended. The Commission
has further adopted a rule prohibiting the use of USF support to
purchase or obtain any equipment or services produced or provided
by a covered company posing a national security threat to the
integrity of communications networks or the communications supply
chain. We are proposing USF recipients must certify that they are
in compliance with this requirement. This collection is also being
submitted to seek approval of certain changes to Form 481 and its
instructions.
US Code:
47
USC 214 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 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
The Commission is reporting
program changes and adjustments to this information collection as a
result of new or revised requirements associated with the new
Uniendo a Puerto Rico and Connect USVI Funds and the existing
Connect America Phase II Auction program. Recipients of high-cost
support through these programs will be required to make
certifications and report information regarding their use of
support, including the amount of support used for capital
expenditures in the previous calendar year, and information on the
community anchor institutions to which the carrier began providing
access to broadband service in the preceding calendar year. All
support recipients will also need to begin certifying their
compliance with the Commission’s prohibition on using universal
service support for Huawei or ZTE equipment or services. These
program changes resulted in an increase in the number of
respondents and annual responses. However, because rate-of-return
carriers participating in the CAF-BLS program will no longer need
to report progress on their deployment of 10/1 Mbps or better
broadband locations as part of this collection, the program changes
resulted in a decrease of total annual burden hours overall. The
number of respondents increased from 2,034 to 2,049 (+15); the
annual responses increased from 12,729 to 14,328 (+1,599); and the
annual burden hours decreased from 54,519 to 53,850 (-669). In
addition to program changes, the Commission is reporting
adjustments to the information collection. Specifically, since more
carriers will begin to have reporting obligations as a condition of
receiving Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands Stage 2 support, there
are additional respondents, responses, and burden hours for certain
general requirements in this information collection. This
adjustment increases the number of annual responses from 14,328 to
14,358 (+30) and the burden hours from 53,850 to 53,955 (+105). In
sum, the estimated total number of respondents and total annual
responses have increased under this OMB control number, while the
overall number of annual burden hours has decreased. The total
number of respondents increased from 2,034 to 2,049 (+15); the
total annual responses increased from 12,729 to 14,358 (+1,629);
and the total annual burden hours decreased from 54,519 to 53,955
(-564).
$0
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Alexander Minard 202
418-0428
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.
Form FCC Form 525 State, Local or Tribal Government
3060-0986_SS 12.10.2020_final version .docx
Business or other for-profit