Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 239 / Thursday, December 12, 2024 / Notices 100489 

21 ‘‘Causes for suspension and debarment are 

conviction of or civil judgment for attempt or 

commission of criminal fraud, theft, embezzlement, 

forgery, bribery, falsification or destruction of 

records, making false statements, receiving stolen 

property, making false claims, obstruction of justice 

and other fraud or criminal offense arising out of 

activities associated with or related to the schools 

and libraries support mechanism, the high-cost 

support mechanism, the rural healthcare support 

mechanism, and the low-income support 

mechanism.’’ Id. § 54.8(c). Associated activities 

‘‘include the receipt of funds or discounted services 

through [the federal universal service] support 

mechanisms, or consulting with, assisting, or 

advising applicants or service providers regarding 

[the federal universal service] support 

mechanisms.’’ Id. § 54.8(a)(1). 

22 Id. § 54.8(b), (e)(1). 23 Id. § 54.8(e)(3). 24 Id. § 54.8(e)(5). 25 Id. The Commission may reverse a debarment, 

or may limit the scope or period of debarment, 

upon a finding of extraordinary circumstances, 

following the filing of a petition by you or an 

interested party or upon motion by the 

Commission. Id. § 54.8(f). 26 Id. § 54.8(d), (g). We note that under the Plea 

Agreement Q Link shall not participate, directly or 

indirectly, in any program administered by the FCC 

as of the time of sentencing currently scheduled for 

January 15, 2025. Plea Agreement, supra note 1, at 

para. 8 27 47 CFR 54.8(g). 28 Id. § 54.8(e)(4). 

29See 47 U.S.C. § 214(e)(1)(a); see also Lifeline 

and Link Up Reform and Modernization; Lifeline 

and Link Up; Federal-State Joint Board on 

Universal Service; Advancing Broadband 

Availability Through Digital Literacy Training, WC 

Docket Nos. 11–42, 03–109, 96–45, and 12–23, 

Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed 

Rulemaking, 27 FCC Rcd 6656, 6813, para. 368 

(2012) (2012 Lifeline Order) (establishing the 

Lifeline compliance plan requirement as a 

condition to receiving forbearance from the statute’s 

requirement that ETCs offer service at least in part 

over their own facilities). 

30 2012 Lifeline Order, 27 FCC Rcd at 6816, para. 

379. 

31 Id. 

32See Wireline Competition Bureau Approves the 

Compliance Plans for Birch Communications, 

Boomerang Wireless, IM Telecom, Q Link Wireless, 

and TAG Mobile, WC Docket Nos. 09–197 and 11– 

42, Public Notice, 27 FCC Rcd 9184 (WCB 2012). 

33See Wireline Competition Bureau Reminds 

Carriers of Eligible Telecommunications Carrier 

Designation and Compliance Plan Approval 

Requirements for Receipt of Federal Lifeline 

Universal Service Support, WC Docket Nos. 09–197 

and 11–42, Public Notice, 29 FCC Rcd 9144, 9145 

(WCB 2014). 

34See id. 

II. Initiation of Debarment Proceedings 

In addition to Q Link’s immediate 

suspension from all universal service support 

mechanisms as described above, including 

the Lifeline program, its conviction is cause 

for debarment as defined in Section 54.8(c) 

of the Commission’s rules.21 Therefore, 

pursuant to Section 54.8(b) of the 

Commission’s rules, Q Link’s conviction 

requires the Bureau to commence debarment 

proceedings against it.22

As with the suspension process, Q Link 

may contest the proposed debarment or its 

scope by filing arguments and any relevant 

documentation within thirty (30) calendar 

days of receipt of this letter or its publication 

in the Federal Register, whichever occurs 

first.23 The Bureau, in the absence of 

extraordinary circumstances, will notify Q 

Link of its decision to debar within ninety 

(90) calendar days of receiving any 

information it may have filed.24 If the Bureau 

decides to debar the Company, its decision 

will become effective upon either Q Link’s 

receipt of a debarment notice or publication 

of the decision in the Federal Register, 

whichever occurs first.25

If and when Q Link’s debarment becomes 

effective, it will be prohibited from 

participating in activities associated with or 

related to all federal universal service 

support mechanisms, including the Lifeline 

program, for at least three years from the date 

of debarment.26 The Bureau may set a longer 

debarment period or extend an existing 

debarment period if necessary to protect the 

public interest.27 Pursuant to the 

Commission’s rules, should Q Link choose to 

contest the scope or length of any such 

debarment, it must file arguments and any 

relevant documentation within thirty (30) 

calendar days of receipt of notice or 

publication in the Federal Register of such 

debarment, whichever is earlier.28

III. Non-Compliance 

In the 2012 Lifeline Order, the Commission 

implemented a compliance plan requirement 

for any carrier that is seeking to become an 

ETC without offering service, at least in part, 

over its own facilities.29 In its Lifeline 

compliance plan, a carrier must describe and 

adhere to certain protections designed to 

protect consumers and the Universal Service 

Fund.30 The Lifeline compliance plan must: 

(1) outline the measures the carrier will take 

to comply with program rules, including 

requirements related to enrollment, 

submitting claims for reimbursement, 

materials related to certifications, and 

program integrity safeguards, and (2) provide 

a detailed description of how the carrier 

offers service, the geographic areas in which 

it offers service, and a description of the 

carrier’s corporate structure and Lifeline 

service plan offerings.31 Q Link submitted a 

Lifeline compliance plan to receive 

forbearance from the statute’s facilities 

requirement, and that Lifeline compliance 

plan was approved on August 8, 2012.32

Following an investigation led by the 

Department of Justice, on October 14, 2024, 

Q Link pleaded guilty to conspiring to 

defraud and commit related offenses in 

connection with a scheme involving the 

Lifeline program. The Commission is also 

aware that [REDACTED] 

Corporate operations related to the control 

of an ETC are material aspects of a Lifeline 

compliance plan.33 As such, any change to 

the control of a non-facilities-based ETC 

without prior approval from the Wireline 

Competition Bureau is a violation of the 

Lifeline compliance plan requirement.34

Given these concerns and Q Link’s recent 

criminal plea, Q Link is not in compliance 

with the terms of its approved Lifeline 

compliance plan. 

Please direct any response as follows: 

If sent by messenger or hand delivery, or 

by commercial overnight mail (other than 

U.S. Postal Service Priority Mail, Priority 

Mail Express, and Priority Mail), the 

response must be sent to Marlene H. Dortch, 

Secretary, Federal Communications 

Commission, to the attention of Christopher 

J. Sova, Acting Chief, Investigations and 

Hearings Division, Enforcement Bureau, 

Federal Communications Commission, 9050 

Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD, 

20701. Hand-delivered or messengerdelivered paper filings for the Commission’s 

Secretary are accepted between 8:00 a.m. and 

4:00 p.m. by the FCC’s mailing contractor at 

9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, 

MD, 20701. All hand deliveries must be held 

together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any 

envelopes and boxes must be disposed of 

before entering the building. 

If sent by First-Class Mail, Priority Mail 

Express, or Priority Mail, the response must 

be sent to Christopher J. Sova, Acting Chief, 

Investigations and Hearings Division, 

Enforcement Bureau, Federal 

Communications Commission, 45 L Street 

NE, Washington, DC 20554. 

You must also transmit an electronic copy 

of the response and all Documents produced 

with the response via email to IHDTelecom@

fcc.gov. The electronic copy shall be 

produced in a format that allows the 

Commission to access and use it, together 

with instructions and all other materials 

necessary to use or interpret the data, 

including record layouts, data dictionaries, 

and a description of the data’s source. If you 

have any questions, please contact Christina 

Thomas at Christina.Thomas@fcc.gov or 

(202) 418–1879. 

Sincerely, 

Christopher J. Sova, 

Acting Chief, Investigations and Hearings 

Division, Enforcement Bureau. 

cc: Fred Theobald, Universal Service 

Administrative Company (via email) 

Matthew Menchel, Esq., Kobre & Kim LLP 

(via email) 

Michael Sherwin, Esq., Kobre & Kim LLP 

(via email) 

Evelyn Sheehan, Esq., Kobre & Kim LLP 

(via email) 

[FR Doc. 2024–29155 Filed 12–11–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6712–01–P 

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS 

COMMISSION 

[OMB 3060–1219; FR ID 267681] 

Information Collection Being Reviewed 

by the Federal Communications 

Commission Under Delegated 

Authority 

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 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
100490 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 239 / Thursday, December 12, 2024 / Notices 

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 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. 

DATES: Written PRA comments should 

be submitted on or before February 10, 

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 PRA@

fcc.gov and to nicole.ongele@fcc.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

additional information about the 

information collection, contact Nicole 

Ongele, (202) 418–2991. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

OMB Control Number: 3060–1219. 

Title: Connect America FundAlternative Connect America Cost 

Model Support. 

Form Number: N/A. 

Type of Review: Extension of a 

currently approved collection. 

Respondents: Business or other forprofit. 

Number of Respondents and 

Responses: 1,100 unique respondents; 

1,100 responses. 

Estimated Time per Response: 0.5 

hours–2 hours. 

Frequency of Response: On occasion 

and one-time reporting 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, 155, 

201–206, 214, 218–220, 251, 252, 254, 

256, 303(r), 332, 403, 405, 410, and 

1302. 

Total Annual Burden: 700 hours. 

Total Annual Cost: No Cost. 

Needs and Uses: The Commission is 

requesting approval for the extension of 

this collection. In March 2016, the 

Commission adopted significant reforms 

to place the universal service support 

program on solid footing for the next 

decade to preserve and advance voice 

and broadband service in areas served 

by rate-of-return carriers. Connect 

America Fund; ETC Annual Reports and 

Certifications; Establishing Just and 

Reasonable Rates for Local Exchange 

Carriers; Developing a Unified 

Intercarrier Compensation Regime, WC 

Docket Nos. 10–90, 14–58, 07–135, 05– 

337, 03–109; CC Docket Nos. 01–92, 

Report and Order, Order and Order on 

Reconsideration, and Further Notice of 

Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 16–33 (2016 

Rate-of-Return Reform Order). 

As part of the Rate-of-Return Reform 

Order, the Commission adopted a 

voluntary path for rate-of-return carriers 

to receive model-based support in 

exchange for making a commitment to 

deploy broadband-capable networks 

meeting certain service obligations to a 

pre-determined number of eligible 

locations in a state. By creating a 

voluntary pathway to model-based 

support, the Commission will spur new 

broadband deployment in rural areas. In 

several subsequent orders and public 

notices, the Commission has further 

refined this voluntary pathway, and in 

the December 2018 Rate-of-Return 

Reform Order, the Commission adopted 

a second pathway for carriers that did 

not elect the first pathway. Connect 

America Fund; ETC Annual Reports and 

Certifications; Establishing Just and 

Reasonable Rates for Local Exchange 

Carriers; Developing a Unified 

Intercarrier Compensation Regime, WC 

Docket Nos. 10–90, 14–58, 07–135, 05– 

337, 03–109; CC Docket Nos. 01–92, 

Report and Order, Further Notice of 

Proposed Rulemaking, and Order on 

Reconsideration, FCC 18–176 

(December 2018 Rate-of-Return Reform 

Order). 

This information collection addresses 

the requirement that carriers electing 

model-based support must notify the 

Commission of that election and their 

commitment to satisfy the specific 

service obligations associated with the 

amount of model support. 

In the 2016 Rate-of-Return Reform 

Order, the Commission also adopted 

reforms to the universal service 

mechanisms used to determine support 

for rate-of-return carriers not electing 

model-based support. Among other such 

reforms, the Commission adopted an 

operating expense limitation to improve 

carriers’ incentives to be prudent and 

efficient in their expenditures, a capital 

investment allowance to better target 

support to those areas with less 

broadband deployment, and broadband 

deployment obligations to promote 

‘‘accountability from companies 

receiving support to ensure that public 

investment are used wisely to deliver 

intended results.’’ In the December 2018 

Rate-of-Return Order, the Commission 

further modified or, in the case of the 

capital investment allowance, 

eliminated these requirements. Other 

requirements adopted in the Rate-ofReturn Reform Order have been 

addressed under other Office of 

Management and Budget control 

numbers. We therefore propose to 

extend this information collection. 

Federal Communications Commission. 

Marlene Dortch, 

Secretary, Office of the Secretary. 

[FR Doc. 2024–29297 Filed 12–11–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6712–01–P 

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS 

COMMISSION 

[OMB 3060–0995; FR ID 267778] 

Information Collection Being Reviewed 

by the Federal Communications 

Commission Under Delegated 

Authority 

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), 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. 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1