[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 98 (Wednesday, May 20, 2020)] [Notices] [Pages 30702-30703] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2020-10531] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION [OMB 3060-XXXX, FRS 16764] Information Collection Being Submitted for Review and Approval to Office of Management and Budget AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or the Commission) invites the general public and other Federal Agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection. Pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, the FCC seeks specific comment on how it can further reduce the information collection burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees. DATES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be submitted on or before June 19, 2020. ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function. Your comment must be submitted into www.reginfo.gov per the above instructions for it to be considered. In addition to submitting in www.reginfo.gov also send a copy of your comment on the proposed information collection to Nicole Ongele, FCC, via email to [email protected] and to [email protected]. Include in the comments the OMB control number as shown in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or copies of the information collection, contact Nicole Ongele at (202) 418-2991. To view a copy of this information collection request (ICR) submitted to OMB: (1) Go to the web page http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain, (2) look for the section of the web page called ``Currently Under Review,'' (3) click on the downward-pointing arrow in the ``Select Agency'' box below the ``Currently Under Review'' heading, (4) select ``Federal Communications Commission'' from the list of agencies presented in the ``Select Agency'' box, (5) click the ``Submit'' button to the right of the ``Select Agency'' box, (6) when the list of FCC ICRs currently under review appears, look for the Title of this ICR and then click on the ICR Reference Number. A copy of the FCC submission to OMB will be displayed. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the PRA that does not display a valid OMB control number. As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501- 3520), the FCC invited the general public and other Federal Agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection. Comments are requested concerning: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimates; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, Public Law 107-198, see 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(4), the FCC seeks specific comment on how it might ``further reduce the information collection burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees.'' OMB Control Number: 3060-XXXX. Title: Application for the Uniendo a Puerto Rico Fund and the Connect USVI Fund Stage 2 Fixed Support. Form Number: FCC Form 5634. Type of Review: New information collection. Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities. Number of Respondents and Responses: 20 unique respondents; 30 responses. Estimated Time per Response: 2-80 hours. Frequency of Response: One-time and annual reporting requirements. Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47 U.S.C. 151-154, 214, and 254. Total Annual Burden: 1,620 hours. Total Annual Cost: No Cost. Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s). Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: Although some information collected in FCC Form 5634 will be made available for routine public inspection, the Commission will withhold certain information collected in FCC Form 5634 from routine public inspection. Specifically, the Commission will treat certain financial and technical information submitted in FCC Form 5634 as confidential. However, if a request for public inspection for this technical or financial information is made under 47 CFR 0.461, and the applicant has any objections to disclosure, the applicant will be notified and will be required to justify continued confidential treatment. To the extent that an applicant seeks to have other information collected in FCC Form 5634 or during the post-selection review process withheld from public inspection, the applicant may request confidential treatment pursuant to 47 CFR 0.459. [[Page 30703]] Needs and Uses: The Commission is requesting the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for this new information collection. In the Uniendo a Puerto Rico Fund and Connect USVI Fund Order, the Commission comprehensively reformed the high-cost program within the universal service fund to focus support on networks capable of providing advanced, hardened voice and broadband services in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (collectively, the Territories). Uniendo a Puerto Rico Fund and the Connect USVI Fund, WC Dockets Nos. 18-143 et al., Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration, 34 FCC Rcd 9109 (PR-USVI Order). As part of the PR-USVI Order, the Commission adopted a single-round competitive proposal process to award Stage 2 support for fixed telecommunications networks in the Territories (Stage 2 Competition). For the Stage 2 Competition, service providers will compete to receive high-cost support of up to $504.7 million in Puerto Rico and $186.5 million in the U.S. Virgin Islands over 10 years to offer fixed voice and broadband services to all locations in the Territories in accordance with the framework adopted in the PR-USVI Order. The information collection requirements reported under this new collection are the result of the competitive proposal process adopted by the PR- USVI Order to award support to winning applicants. The Commission adopted various rules regarding the eligibility of service providers and the term of support. In addition, the Commission adopted rules to govern the competitive proposal process, which includes information to be submitted by parties as part of their competitive proposals and information that must be submitted by winning bidders seeking to become authorized to receive Stage 2 fixed support. The Commission concluded, based on its experience with awarding high-cost support and consistent with the record, that this single-stage competitive proposal process balances the need to collect information essential to awarding support and authorizing Stage 2 fixed support with administrative efficiency. The Commission estimates that approximately 20 parties will apply and approximately 10 will be selected as winning applicants. The Commission is therefore seeking approval from the OMB for the collection on FCC Form 5634 of the information, disclosures, and certifications adopted by the Commission. This information collection addresses the burdens associated with these requirements. Federal Communications Commission. Marlene Dortch, Secretary, Office of the Secretary. [FR Doc. 2020-10531 Filed 5-19-20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6712-01-P