Bridging the Digital Divide for Low-Income Consumers, Lifeline and Link Up Reform and Modernization, Telecommunications Carriers Eligible for Universal Service Support
Bridging the Digital Divide
for Low-Income Consumers, Lifeline and Link Up Reform and
Modernization, Telecommunications Carriers Eligible for Universal
Service Support
No
material or nonsubstantive change to a currently approved
collection
No
Regular
02/02/2026
Requested
Previously Approved
03/31/2028
03/31/2028
26,878,712
26,878,712
6,534,599
6,534,599
937,500
937,500
This submission is being made for
proposed non-substantive changes to the existing information
collection 3060-0819 pursuant to 44 U.S.C. § 3507. This submission
seeks to change FCC Forms 5629 and 5630 (in English and Spanish) to
reflect updated information on the Federal Poverty Guidelines,
allowing for income qualification based on the new poverty
thresholds standards for 2026. This submission is being made for
proposed non-substantive changes to the existing information
collection 3060-0819 pursuant to 44 U.S.C. § 3507. This submission
seeks to change FCC Forms 5629 and 5630 to reflect updated
information on the Federal Poverty Guidelines, allowing for income
qualification based on the new poverty thresholds standards for
2025. This information collection covers the Commission’s Lifeline
program. The Lifeline program is part of the Commission’s universal
service efforts and provides qualifying low-income subscribers
subsidies to support connectivity services. This collection allows
the Commission to collect information necessary for program
enrollment, program evaluation, and to conduct oversight of the
program’s participating eligible telecommunications
carriers.
The Commission is reporting
program changes to this information collection to reflect the
revision to require providers of services to survivors provide
responses to the Safe Connections Act Survey. The total number of
respondents increased by 1,300 (from 25,110,068 to 25,111,368
respondents), the total number of annual responses increased by
1,300 (from 26,877,412 to 26,878,712 responses), and the total
annual burden hours increased by 217 (from 6,534,382 to 6,534,599
hours). No adjustments are being reported to this information
collection.
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.