Updated supporting statement to respond to public comment.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
08/31/2020
6 Months From Approved
2,257
0
0
6,771
0
0
0
0
0
The Commission initiates this collection to gather information from affected carriers as to whether they own equipment or services from Huawei or ZTE, the cost to purchase and/or install such equipment or services, and the cost to remove and replace such equipment or services. In addition, respondents must demonstrate how they arrived at any cost estimates they provide in response to this information collection.
The Federal Communications Commission (Commission) requests OMB approval to submit the information collection described herein under the “emergency processing” provision of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (5 C.F.R. § 1320.13). The Commission is requesting clearance for a new information collection entitled: Protecting Against National Security Threats to the Communications Supply Chain Through FCC Programs. We respectfully request OMB approval for this collection by January 31, 2020.
On November 22, 2019, the Commission adopted a Report and Order, Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Order, WC Docket No. 18-89, FCC 19-121 (Protecting Against National Security Threats to the Communications Supply Chain Through FCC Programs). The Report and Order prohibits future use of Universal Service Fund (USF) funds to purchase equipment or services from any communications equipment or service providers identified as posing a national security risk to communications networks or the communications supply chain. It also initially designates two entities – Huawei Technologies Company (Huawei) and ZTE Corporation (ZTE), along with their affiliates, subsidiaries, and parents – as covered companies posing such a national security threat. In the Further Notice, the Commission proposes to require eligible telecommunications carriers receiving USF support to remove and replace covered equipment and services from carriers’ networks. The Further Notice proposes to make the requirement to remove and replace covered equipment and services contingent on the availability of a funded reimbursement program, in an effort to mitigate the impact on affected entities. Thus, in the accompanying Information Collection Order, the Commission proposes to establish an information collection to determine the extent to which prohibited equipment exists in current networks, and the costs associated with removing such equipment and replacing it with equivalent equipment.
The Commission proposes to initiate this collection to gather information from eligible telecommunications carriers as to whether they own equipment or services from Huawei or ZTE, the cost to purchase and/or install such equipment or services, and the cost to remove and replace such equipment or services. In addition, respondents must demonstrate how they arrived at any cost estimates they provide in response to this information collection.
Requiring the Commission to seek OMB’s approval for this new collection under the regular PRA processing procedures would significantly delay the Commission’s efforts to address the serious and immediate risk to national security posed by Huawei and ZTE. The rules and related requirements adopted in the Report and Order are intended to promote expeditious removal of existing national security vulnerabilities in communications networks and their supply chains. The Commission also has a responsibility to ensure that the public funds in the USF are not spent on equipment or services from companies that present a risk to the communications supply chain. In order to promptly address these national security concerns and fulfill its statutory obligations, the Commission must determine the extent to which prohibited equipment exists in current networks, and the feasibility of a funded reimbursement program to mitigate the cost of removing existing covered equipment and services from carriers’ networks.
Due to the emergency nature of this request, the Commission is requesting a waiver of the requirement to publish a 60-day notice in the Federal Register. However, the Commission will publish a 30-day notice in the Federal Register concerning this new information collection under the emergency processing procedures to give the public an opportunity to comment on this emergency submission. The Commission will conduct all the necessary regular submission requirements under the PRA after approval of this emergency request.
The Commission is reporting program changes/increases to this new information collection. These increases to the total number of respondents of +2,257, total annual responses of +2,257 and total annual burden hours of +6,771 will be added to OMB’s Active Inventory.
$0
No
No
No
No
No
No
Uncollected
Aaron Garza 202 418-1175 Aaron.Garza@fcc.gov
No
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Binder3.pdf
FCC Revisions to Protecting Nat Security Thru FCC Prgms Supporting Statement 2.7.20.docx
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