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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 233 (Wednesday, December 4, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 96245-96246]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-28383]

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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[OMB 3060-0856; FR ID 265502]

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: 3060-0856.
    Title: Universal Service--Schools and Libraries Universal Service 
Support Program Reimbursement Forms.
    Form Numbers: FCC Forms 472, 473, and 474.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Businesses or other for-profit institutions, Not-for-
profit institutions, and State, Local or Tribal government.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 27,953 respondents; 133,214 
responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: Form 472--1.5 hours; Form 473--2 
hours; Form 474--1.5 hours, and 0.5 hours for recordkeeping 
requirements.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion and annual reporting 
requirements, recordkeeping and third-party disclosure requirements.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The 
Commission's statutory authority to collect this information is 
contained in sections 1, 4(i), 4(j), 201-205, 214, 254, 312(d), 312(f), 
403 and 503(b) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended. 5 U.S.C. 
553(b)(3), 601-612; 15 U.S.C. 1, 632; 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(4); 47 U.S.C. 
1, 4(i), 4(j), 201-205, 214, 254, 312(d), 312(f), 403, 503(b).
    Total Annual Burden: 195,615 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 Forms 472, 473, and 474 were 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 473 for 
participating service providers on the hotspots non-usage notice and 
termination requirement, prohibition against charging the balance for 
terminated services, and certifying that the cost of Wi-Fi hotspots do 
not exceed commercial value. The Report and Order also adds a 
certification to FCC Forms 472 and 474 to certify that there is no 
duplicative funding and funding is not being requested for eligible 
equipment and services that have been funded by other sources. The 
hourly burden will increase by 50,865 hours for FCC Forms 472, 473, and 
474. The public burden for the collection contained herein will 
increase to 195,615 burden hours.
    FCC Form 472 ``Billed Entity Applicant Reimbursement Form.'' Billed

[[Page 96246]]

entities may pay the full amount for eligible services directly to the 
service providers and then, once services have been received, seek 
reimbursement from USAC to cover the amounts of the discounts for which 
they have qualified. The FCC Form 472 is used by the billed entity to 
request such reimbursement from USAC. USAC disburses payments directly 
to the billed entity to cover services that have been properly 
invoiced. The information on FCC Form 472 enables this direct 
reimbursement process. This information includes the amount paid for 
approved services delivered on or after the actual services start date, 
as reported on the FCC Form 486 (approved under OMB Control No. 3060-
0853).
    FCC Form 473 ``Service Provider Annual Certification Form.'' The 
FCC Form 473 must be filed by service providers to attest that the 
invoices submitted under the E-Rate program comply with the FCC's 
rules. The service provider must annually submit an FCC Form 473 for 
each service provider identification number (SPIN).
    FCC Form 474 ``Service Provider Invoice (SPI) FCC Form 474.'' As an 
alternative to paying in full for eligible services, the billed entity 
can pay only the amounts for eligible services that have been 
discounted already by the service provider. Under this alternative, 
once services have been received, service providers seek payment from 
USAC to cover the amounts of the discounts for which the billed entity 
qualifies. Service providers use the FCC Form 474 to request direct 
payment for invoices submitted for services that comply with the rules 
of the E-Rate program. The information on the FCC Form 474 must be 
received by USAC before a participating service provider can receive 
payment for the discounted portion of its bill for eligible services to 
eligible entities. Subsequent to receipt and review of the FCC Form 
474, USAC will authorize payment based on the invoices.
    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. 2024-28383 Filed 12-3-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
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