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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 215 (Wednesday, November 8, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 77091]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-24645]

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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[OMB 3060-1166; FR ID 183018]

Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal 
Communications Commission Under Delegated Authority

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, 
and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the 
Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) invites the 
general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to 
comment on the following information collections. Comments are 
requested concerning: 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; the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; 
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; and ways to further reduce the 
information collection burden on small business concerns with fewer 
than 25 employees.

DATES: Written PRA comments should be submitted on or before January 8, 
2024. If you anticipate that you will be submitting comments but find 
it difficult to do so within the period of time allowed by this notice, 
you should advise the contact listed below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Direct all PRA comments to Cathy Williams, FCC, via email to 
[email protected] and to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information about the 
information collection, contact Cathy Williams at (202) 418-2918.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FCC 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.
    OMB Control Number: 3060-1166.
    Title: Section 1.21001, Participation in Competitive Bidding for 
Support; Section 1.21002, Prohibition of Certain Communications During 
the Competitive Bidding Process.
    Form Number: N/A
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities, not-for-profit 
institutions, and State, local or Tribal governments.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 750 respondents and 750 
responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 1.5 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. 
Statutory authority for this information collection 47 U.S.C. 154, 254 
and 303(r).
    Total Annual Burden: 1,125 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: No cost.
    Needs and Uses: The information required by section 1.21001 of the 
Commission's rules that is collected under this information collection 
is used by the Commission to determine whether applicants are eligible 
to participate in auctions for Universal Service Fund support. The 
reports of prohibited communications made or received by an auction 
applicant required by section 1.21002 of the Commission's rules that 
are collected under this information collection enable the Commission 
to ensure that no bidder gains an unfair advantage over other bidders 
in its auctions for universal service support and thus enhance the 
competitiveness and fairness of Commission's auctions for universal 
service support.
    On November 18, 2011, the Commission released an order in which it 
comprehensively reformed and modernized the universal service and 
intercarrier compensation systems to ensure that robust, affordable 
voice and broadband service, both fixed and mobile, are available to 
Americans throughout the nation. Connect America Fund et al., Order and 
Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 11-161 (USF/ICC 
Transformation Order). In the USF/ICC Transformation Order, the 
Commission, among other things, adopted rules to implement these 
reforms, including rules in part 1, subpart AA of the Commission's 
rules governing competitive bidding for universal service support 
generally. See 47 CFR 1.21001-1.21004.
    On October 27, 2020, the Commission adopted a Report and Order in 
which it, among other things, amended sections 1.21001 and 1.21002 of 
its existing part 1, subpart AA general universal service competitive 
bidding rules to codify policies and procedures applicable to the 
universal service auction application process that have been adopted in 
its recent universal service auctions, better align provisions in the 
universal service competitive bidding rules with like provisions in the 
Commission's spectrum auction rules, and make other updates for 
consistency, clarification, and other purposes that would apply in all 
universal service auctions. Establishing a 5G Fund for Rural America, 
Report and Order, FCC 20-150 (5G Fund Report and Order). Sections 
1.21001 and 1.21002 in the Commission's Part 1, Subpart AA rules, as 
amended in the 5G Fund Report and Order, apply to applicants seeking to 
participate in Commission auctions for universal service support.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-24645 Filed 11-7-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
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