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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 233 (Wednesday, December 4, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 96249-96250]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-28384]

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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[OMB 3060-0853; FR ID 265528]

Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal 
Communications Commission

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 (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. 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 February 
3, 2025. 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 Nicole Ongele, FCC, via email 
[email protected] and to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information about the 
information collection, contact Nicole Ongele, (202) 418-2991.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a 
collection of information unless it displays a currently valid 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 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number.
    OMB Control Number: 3060-0853.
    Title: Certification by Administrative Authority to Billed Entity 
Compliance with the Children's internet Protection Act Form, FCC Form 
479; Receipt of Service Confirmation and Certification of Compliance 
with the Children's internet Protection Act Form, FCC Form 486; and 
Funding Commitment and Adjustment Request Form, FCC Form 500.
    Form Numbers: FCC Forms 479, 486 and 500.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit, not-for-profit 
institutions, and state, local or tribal government.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 84,010 respondents, 94,203 
responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 1 hour for FCC Form 479, 1 hour for 
FCC Form 486, 1 hour for FCC Form 500, 0.75 hours for maintaining and 
updating the Internet Safety Policy, and 0.50 hours for recordkeeping 
requirements.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion and annual reporting 
requirements and 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(i), 155, 201, 205, 214, 219, 220, 254, 303(r), 403, and 
1302.
    Total Annual Burden: 78,319 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: No cost.
    Needs and Uses: The Commission will submit this information 
collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), which is a 
revision of a currently approved collection, to obtain a full three-
year clearance from OMB. The requirements contained herein are 
necessary to implement the Congressional mandate for universal service. 
It provides the Commission and USAC with the necessary information to 
administer the E-Rate program, determine the amount of support entities 
seeking funding are eligible to receive, to determine if entities are 
complying with the Commission's rules, and to prevent waste, fraud, and 
abuse. The information will also allow the Commission to evaluate the 
extent to which the E-Rate program is meeting the statutory objectives 
specified in section 254 of the 1996 Act, the Commission's performance 
goals established in the 2014 First and Second E-Rate Orders, and to 
evaluate the need and feasibility for any future revisions to program 
rules.
    FCC Form 486 was revised. On July 29, 2024 the Commission released 
a Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (WC Docket 
No. 21-31, FCC 24-76) (Report and Order); finding that the off-premises 
use of wireless internet services and the Wi-Fi hotspot devices needed 
to deliver the services; serves an educational purpose and are eligible 
for E-Rate support. The Report and Order, 89 FR 67303, August 20, 2024, 
adds certifications to the FCC Form 486. Applicants that receive 
support for Wi-Fi hotspots and service for off-premises use uses the 
FCC Form 486 to certify that they have updated and publicly posted 
their ``acceptable use policy (AUP)'' consistent with the requirements 
in 47 CFR 54.516(f); the Wi-Fi hotspots and/or services the school, 
library, or consortium purchased using E-Rate support for off-premises 
use have been activated and made available to students, school staff, 
and/or library patrons; public notice of their availability has been 
provided; and the authorized person is not requesting reimbursement for 
Wi-Fi hotspots and/or services that have not been made available for 
distribution.
    The hourly burden will increase by 10,044 hours for FCC Forms 479, 
486, and 500. The public burden for the collection contained herein 
will increase to 78,319 burden hours.
    FCC Form 486 ``Receipt of Service Confirmation and Certification of 
Compliance with the Children's Internet Protection Act.'' After the 
Administrator reviews the funding request and commits to fund the 
eligible equipment and/or services requested, applicants use the FCC 
Form 486 to notify USAC of their service start dates for their funding 
requests. Universal service support will not be paid on an approved 
funding commitment prior to receipt of the FCC Form 486.
    Billed entities also use the FCC Form 486 to certify compliance 
with the Children's internet Protection Act (CIPA), see 47 U.S.C. 254 
(h)-(l), or qualification for a CIPA exemption when they seek discounts 
for category one services (i.e., internet access) and category two 
services (i.e., internal connections, managed internal broadband 
services, or basic maintenance of internal connections). When the 
billed entities are members of a larger consortia, they individually 
certify CIPA compliance by submitting the FCC Form 479 ``Certification 
by Administrative Authority to Billed Entity of Compliance with 
Children's internet Protection Act'' to the consortium leader. The 
consortium leader can then file the FCC Form 486 certifying CIPA 
compliance on behalf of

[[Page 96250]]

the consortia. CIPA requires schools and libraries that have computers 
with internet access to certify that they have in place certain 
internet safety policies and technology protection measures to be 
eligible to receive program services under section 254(h) of the Act. 
See also 47 CFR 54.520. The FCC Form 486 is also a necessary 
prerequisite for invoicing and payment.
    FCC Form 500 ``Funding Commitment Adjustment Request.'' The FCC 
Form 500 is used by E-Rate participants to make adjustments to 
previously filed forms, such as changing the contract expiration date 
noted on the FCC Form 471, changing the funding year service start date 
listed on the FCC Form 486, cancelling or reducing the amount of a 
funding request, and extending the service delivery deadline for non-
recurring services.
    All of the requirements contained in this information collection 
are necessary to implement the Congressional mandate for the E-Rate 
program and reimbursement process.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-28384 Filed 12-3-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
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