High-Cost Universal Service Support

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
3060-0986 SS_final version_6.2022.docx Supporting Statement A	2022-06-01

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: 202205-3060-014
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202103-3060-002
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	Date Submitted to OIRA: 06/01/2022

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	05/31/2024
Responses	13,804	14,358
Time Burden (Hours)	50,857	53,955
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

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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 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. The Commission further adopted reporting requirements in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. This collection is being submitted to seek approval of certain changes to Form 481 and its instructions.

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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 214 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
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
3060-AK57	Final or interim final rulemaking	85 FR 13773	03/10/2020

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	87 FR 16731	03/24/2022
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	87 FR 33154	06/01/2022
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Business or other for-profit	FCC Form 481	Annual Reporting for High-Cost & Low-Income Universal Service Support Recipients(Template)
State, Local or Tribal Government	FCC Form 525	COMPETITIVE CARRIERS HIGH COST DATA SUBMISSION

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	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	13,804	14,358	0	-277	-277	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	50,857	53,955	0	1,260	-4,358	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 an adjustment to this information collection as a result of the new Rural Digital Opportunity Fund program. More carriers will begin to have reporting obligations and recordkeeping requirements applicable to all recipients of high-cost universal service support as a condition of receiving Rural Digital Opportunity Fund support. This adjustment is associated with an increase in respondents from 2,049 to 2,229 (+180), an increase in responses from 14,358 to 14,718 (+360), and an increase in annual burden hours from 53,955 to 55,215 (+1,260). The Commission is also reporting program changes as a result of revised requirements associated with the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. Several requirements already applicable to recipients of CAF Phase II auction, Uniendo a Puerto Rico Stage 2, Connect USVI Fund Stage 2 support have increased in scope to include the new RDOF support recipients. Additionally, pursuant to the 2020 Supply Chain Order, all support recipients will need to begin certifying their compliance with the Commission’s prohibition on using universal service support for equipment and services on the Covered List, in addition to their existing certifications regarding compliance with the Commission’s prohibition on using universal service support for Huawei or ZTE equipment or services. However, the removal of the rate floor reporting obligations greatly decreases the overall number of responses and burden hours in this collection. These program changes thus decrease the number of responses from 14,718 to 13,804 (-914) and annual burden hours from 55,215 to 50,857 (-4,358). Together, the adjustments and program changes resulted in an increase in the number of respondents but a decrease in annual responses and total annual burden hours. The number of respondents increased from 2,049 to 2,229 (+180); the annual responses decreased from 14,358 to 13,804 (-554); and the annual burden hours decreased from 53,955 to 50,857 (-3,098).

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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

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Common Form ICR:  No

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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: 06/01/2022

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