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###### Federal Communications Commission

          - [OMB 3060-0233]

# AGENCY:

Federal Communications Commission.

# ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

# SUMMARY:

                        As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and 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                               ( print page 44051)                            take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection. 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.                    

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.

# DATES:

Written comments should be submitted on or before September 28, 2018. 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 contacts listed below as soon as possible.

# ADDRESSES:

                        Direct all PRA comments to Nicholas A. Fraser, OMB, via email                         *Nicholas_A._Fraser@omb.eop.gov;*                         and to Nicole Ongele, FCC, via email                         *PRA@fcc.gov*                         and to                         *Nicole.Ongele@fcc.gov.*                         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 OMB control number of this ICR and then click on the ICR Reference Number. A copy of the FCC submission to OMB will be displayed.                    

# SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), 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. 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.

*OMB Control Number:*                     3060-0233.                 

*Title:*                     Part 54—High-Cost Loop Support Reporting to National Exchange Carrier Association (NECA).                 

*Form Number(s):*                     FCC Form 507, FCC Form 508 and FCC Form 509.                 

*Type of Review:*                     Revision of a currently approved collection.                 

*Respondents:*                     Business or other for-profit.                 

*Number of Respondents and Responses:*                     1,095 respondents; 3,616 responses.                 

*Estimated Time per Response:*                     1-22 hours.                 

*Frequency of Response:*                     On occasion and annual reporting requirements, recordkeeping requirement.                 

*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, 218-220, 221(c), 254, and 303(r).                 

*Total Annual Burden:*                     41,070 hours.  Total Annual Cost: No Cost.  Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).                

*Nature and Extent of Confidentiality:*                     No assurance of confidentiality has been given regarding the information. However, respondents may request materials or information submitted to the Commission be withheld from public inspection under 47 CFR 0.459 of the FCC's rules.                

*Needs and Uses:*                     In order to determine which carriers are entitled to universal service support, all rate-of-return regulated (rate-of-return) incumbent local exchange carriers (LECs) must provide the National Exchange Carrier Association (NECA) with the loop cost and loop count data required by section 54.1305 for each of its study areas and, if applicable, for each wire center as that term is defined in 47 CFR part 54. See 47 CFR 54.1305 and 54.5. The loop cost and loop count information is to be filed annually with NECA by July 31st of each year, and may be updated occasionally pursuant to section 54.1306. See 47 CFR 54.1306. Pursuant to section 54.1307, the information filed on July 31st of each year will be used to calculate universal service support for each study area and is filed by NECA with the Commission on October 1 of each year. See 47 CFR 54.1307. An incumbent LEC is defined as a carrier that meets the definition of “incumbent local exchange carrier” in section 51.5 of the Commission's rules. See 47 CFR 51.5.                

                    In March 2016, the Commission adopted the                     *Rate-of-Return Reform Order*                     to continue modernizing the universal service support mechanisms for rate-of-return carriers.                     *Connect America Fund et al.,*                     WC Docket No. 10-90 et al., Report and Order, Order and Order on Reconsideration and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 31 FCC Rcd 3087 (2016) (                    *Rate-of-Return Reform Order and Further Notice*). The                     *Rate-of-Return Reform Order*                     replaces the Interstate Common Line Support (ICLS) mechanism with the Connect America Fund—Broadband Loop Support (CAF-BLS) mechanism. While ICLS supported only lines used to provide traditional voice service (including voice service bundled with broadband service), CAF-BLS also supports consumer broadband-only loops. FCC Forms 507, 508, and 509 include additional line counts, forecasted cost and revenues, and actual cost and revenue data associated with consumer broadband-only loops necessary for the calculation of CAF-BLS. We propose to move the requirements associated with FCC Form 507, FCC Form 508, FCC Form 509 under OMB Control Number 3060-0986 into this collection.                

The Commission therefore proposes to revise this information collection. Any increased burdens are associated with the moving of these requirements and forms into this information collection.

Federal Communications Commission.

Marlene Dortch,

Secretary, Office of the Secretary.

[FR Doc. 2018-18693 Filed 8-28-18; 8:45 am]

 BILLING CODE 6712-01-P