On August 1, 2019, the Commission adopted a Report and Order, FCC 19-79, in WC Docket Nos. 19-195 and 11-10. The Order makes targeted changes to the existing Form 477 data collection to reduce reporting burdens for all filers and incorporate new technologies.
The Order adopts the 5G-NR (New Radio) technology standards developed by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) with Release 15 and requires providers to submit 5G deployment data that meet the specifications of Release 15 (or any successor release that may be adopted by the Commission’s Bureaus). The Order also requires mobile providers to submit broadband and voice subscriber data at the census-tract level based on the subscriber’s place of primary use for postpaid subscribers and based on the subscriber’s telephone number for prepaid and resold subscribers. These changes are necessary because the deployment data collected on Form 477 are no longer sufficient for targeting universal service funds. The actions to improve the Form 477 data collection will also increase the usefulness of the information to the Commission, Congress, the industry, and the public.
The Order reduces the burden on broadband providers by removing the requirement that facilities-based providers submit separate coverage maps depicting their broadband network coverage areas for each transmission technology and each frequency band. It also modifies the requirement that mobile broadband providers report coverage information for each technology deployed in their networks by reducing the number of categories from nine to four. The Order also eliminates the requirement that facilities-based providers submit a list of census tracts in which the provider advertises its mobile wireless broadband service and in which the service is available to actual and potential subscribers. Finally, the Order removes the requirement that fixed providers offering business/enterprise/government services to report the maximum downstream and upstream contractual or guaranteed data throughput rate (committed information rate) available in each reported census block.
US Code:
47 USC 201
Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as amended
US Code:
47 USC 218-220
Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as amended
US Code:
47 USC 251-252
Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as amended
US Code:
47 USC 271
Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as amended
US Code:
47 USC 303(r)
Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as amended
US Code:
47 USC 706
Name of Law: Telecommunications Act of 1996
US Code:
47 USC 403
Name of Law: Communicatioins Act of 1934, as amende
US Code:
47 USC 332
Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as amended
US Code:
47 USC 4(i)
Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as amended
The public burden for the information collection requirements contained herein will increase by approximately 291,600 burden hours per year, 184 to the number respondents and 368 to the annual number of responses. The increase in burden hours is due to the following changes:
(1) Requiring providers to submit 5G deployment data that meet the specifications of the 5G-NR (New Radio) technology standards developed by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) with Release 15;
(2) Requiring providers to submit broadband and voice subscriber data at the census-tract level based on the subscriber’s place of primary use for postpaid subscribers and based on the subscriber’s telephone number for prepaid and resold subscribers;
(3) Eliminating the requirement that facilities-based providers submit separate coverage maps depicting their broadband network coverage areas for each transmission technology and each frequency band;
(4) Modifying the requirement that mobile broadband providers report coverage information for each technology deployed in their networks by reducing the number of categories from nine to four;
(5) Eliminating the requirement that facilities-based providers submit a list of census tracts in which the provider advertises its mobile wireless broadband service and in which the service is available to actual and potential subscribers; and
(6) Eliminating the requirement that fixed providers offering business/enterprise/government services to report the maximum downstream and upstream contractual or guaranteed data throughput rate (committed information rate) available in each reported census block.
Some of these changes will increase burden hours while others will reduce burden hours. However, we expect a net increase in burden hours as a result of the time it will take for respondents to familiarize themselves with the new filing requirements. As noted in the answer to 12(4), we assume that the average hour burden for the average respondent for the first response will be 628 hours, but we expect this number will decrease to 406 hours for the second response and 355 for the third response and each response thereafter. Once respondents become familiar with the new filing requirements, we expect the annual burden hours will return to current levels because the burdens eliminated by the Order are proportional to the burdens imposed by the Order.
$298,000
No
No
No
No
No
No
Uncollected
Erin Boone 202 418-0736
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.
Supporting statement OMB 3060-0816 (2019)(FCC 19-79).docx
Local telephone Competition and Broadband Reporting, FCC Form 477