Rate-of-Return Reports

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Form FCC Form 492 Rate-of-Return Reports Form and Instruction	Modified
Supporting Statement - OMB Control No. 3060-0355 (September 2021).docx Supporting Statement A	2021-09-22

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
29999	Rate-of-Return Reports Form and Instruction	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 3060-0355	ICR Reference No: 202109-3060-003
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202104-3060-005
Agency/Subagency: FCC	Agency Tracking No: OEA/IAD
Title: Rate-of-Return Reports
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 09/23/2021

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	12/31/2021
Responses	35	175
Time Burden (Hours)	350	1,400
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

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Abstract: The annual filing of FCC Form 492 is required from the Nation Exchange Carrier Association (NECA) collectively for carriers that participate in both its tariffs and revenue-sharing pools and each local exchange carrier that is subject to section 61.38 of the Commission’s Rules and which has filed individual access tariffs during the enforcement period, excluding carriers that elected incentive regulation for business data services (BDS). The reports contain rate-of-return information that are needed to enable the Commission to fulfill its regulatory responsibilities.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 47 USC 220 Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as amended
   US Code: 47 USC 161 Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as amended
   US Code: 47 USC 209(b) Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as amended
   US Code: 47 USC 160 Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as amended
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	86 FR 37154	07/14/2021
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	86 FR 52906	09/23/2021
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Rate-of-Return Reports	FCC Form 492	Rate-of-Return Report

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	35	175	0	-140	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	350	1,400	0	-1,050	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Reduction Due to: Changing Regulations

Short Statement: The Commission is reporting program changes/decreases to the number of respondents, responses and burden hours with this collection. The total number of respondents and total annual responses decreased to 35 from 175 (-140) and the total burden hours decreased to 350 from 1,400 (-1,050). These program changes/decreases are due in part to the Commission’s new rules allowing rate-of-return incumbent LECs receiving model-based or other forms of high-cost universal service support to elect incentive regulation effective either July 1, 2019 or July 1, 2020. None of the interstate access rates of carriers that adopted incentive regulation are based on rate-of-return regulation and so none of these carriers are required to file FCC Form 492. Furthermore, FCC Form 492A data are no longer filed given Commission forbearance for price-cap carriers. There are no adjustments to this collection.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $0

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

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Common Form ICR:  No

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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:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(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;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

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.

Certification Date: 09/23/2021

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