Establishing the Emergency Connectivity Fund Program
No material or nonsubstantive change to a currently approved collection
No
Emergency
05/20/2021
05/21/2021
Requested
Previously Approved
11/30/2021
11/30/2021
132,100
132,100
315,450
315,450
0
0
The Commission is submitting a non-substantive change request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval to make sure the form numbers are present. We previously submitted them as screenshots which did not indicate the corresponding form numbers to each information collection.
This collection establishes the collection requirements for the Emergency Connectivity Fund Program, as established by Congress in the American Rescue Plan and implemented in the Commissionâs Report and Order, in order to obtain information from applicants that will be used to reimburse schools and libraries for the purchase of eligible equipment and/or advanced telecommunications and information services for use by students, school, staff, and library patrons who would otherwise lack the connected devices and broadband connections necessary to fully engage in remote learning during the COVID-19 emergency period.
The Federal Communications Commission (Commission) requests Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to submit the information collection described herein under the âemergency processingâ provision of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (5 CFR § 1320.13). The Commission is requesting clearance for a new information collection entitled: Establishing the Emergency Connectivity Fund Program to Close the Homework Gap. We respectfully request OMB approval for this collection by May 20, 2021.
On May 10, 2020, the Commission adopted a Report and Order entitled Establishing the Emergency Connectivity Fund to Close the Homework Gap, WC Docket No. 21-93, Report and Order, FCC 21-58 (2021). The Commission established the Emergency Connectivity Fund Program funded through a $7.171 billion Congressional appropriation under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, to provide support to eligible schools and libraries for the purchases of eligible equipment, including laptop and tablet computers, Wi-Fi hotspots, modems, and routers, as well as broadband Internet access services, to meet the remote learning needs of students, school staff, and library patrons who lack sufficient access to connectivity and/or devices to fully engage in remote learning during this unprecedented time. Funding will be available until the funds are expended, but not later than September 30, 2030, pursuant to section 7402 of the American Rescue Plan Act.
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.