High-Cost Universal Service Support

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
3060-0986 SS_final version 2025.docx Supporting Statement A	2025-05-14

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: 202504-3060-004
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202205-3060-014
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: 05/28/2025

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	07/31/2025
Responses	14,172	13,804
Time Burden (Hours)	51,573	50,857
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 including new requirements under the Enhanced A-CAM program. 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	89 FR 25147	04/10/2024

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	90 FR 11316	03/05/2025
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	90 FR 22477	05/28/2025
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 and Low-Income Universal Service Support Recipients
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	14,172	13,804	0	368	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	51,573	50,857	0	716	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 as a result of new and revised requirements. First, RBE support recipients’ obligation to file location information is now being collected under information collection 3060-1228, resulting in a decrease in the number of annual burden hours from 60 to 40 (-20). Second, rate-of-return carriers that have elected to receive Enhanced A-CAM support will be required to submit certifications specific to the Enhanced A-CAM program, resulting in a new increases of responses (+368) and burden hours (+736). Other revisions to requirements discussed in this supporting statement do not result in any changes to the number of respondents, annual responses, or burden hours. Together, the program changes resulted in an increase in the number of annual responses and total annual burden hours. The number of annual responses increased from 13,804 to 14,172 (+368), and the annual burden hours increased from 50,857 to 51,573 (+716). There is no change in the number of respondents.

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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: 05/28/2025

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