Connect America Fund - High Cost Portal Filing

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
3060-1228 SUPPORTING STATEMENT_final version.docx Supporting Statement A	2024-12-04

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
224951	Business or other for-profit Other-HUBB Template 2024	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 3060-1228	ICR Reference No: 202410-3060-017
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202109-3060-011
Agency/Subagency: FCC	Agency Tracking No: WCB
Title: Connect America Fund - High Cost Portal Filing
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 12/04/2024

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	01/31/2025
Responses	4,590	4,644
Time Burden (Hours)	86,263	86,727
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

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Abstract: The Commission requires carriers with high cost reporting obligations to file information about their locations which meet their broadband deployment public interest obligations via an electronic portal. The Commission required that the Universal Service Administrative Company establish the portal so that carriers could file their location data starting in 2017. The Commission also requires mobile carriers receiving Uniendo a Puerto Rico Fund and Connect USVI Fund Stage 2 support to report network coverage meeting their public interest obligations and associated certifications, as well as map and cost data related to their use of support. The Commission further adopted collection requirements associated with Enhanced Alternative Connect America Cost Model (A-CAM).

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 47 USC 218-220, 251, 252, 254, 256
   US Code: 47 USC 303(r), 332, 403, 405, 410
   US Code: 47 USC 1302
   US Code: 47 USC 151-154, 155, 201-206, 214
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
3060-AK57	Final or interim final rulemaking	89 FR 25147	04/10/2024

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	89 FR 78871	09/26/2024
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	89 FR 96246	12/04/2024
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
Business or other for-profit

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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	4,590	4,644	0	-54	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	86,263	86,727	0	-464	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 to this collection. Specifically, the addition of Enhanced A-CAM reporting obligations and deployment milestones increased the number of respondents and responses from 800 to 918 (+118) and annual burden hours from 8,000 to 9,180 (+1,180). The number of CAF BLS reporting obligations decreased the number of respondents and responses from 200 to 82 (-118) and annual burden hours from 2,000 to 820 (-1,180). These program changes are due to some of these carriers electing Enhanced A-CAM in lieu of CAF BLS support. Accordingly, these changes do not affect the total number of respondents, responses or burden hours. Also, participants in the CAF Phase II model-based support program were required to meet all deployment requirements by the end of 2021, at which time the program was complete. With the end of this program, all associated HUBB reporting obligations have ended. Accordingly, the number of respondents decreased from 9-0 (-9), the number of responses is decreased from 601-547 (-54) and the annual burden hours also decreased from 4,840 - 4,192 (-648). There is also an increase in annual burden hours due to certain certifications being fulfilled in 2022 and the totality of the requirement now being filed in 2027 increased from 46 to 230 hours (+184). Overall, the program changes resulted in a decrease in the number of respondents, annual responses and total annual burden hours. The number of respondents decreased from 2,024 to 2,015 (-9), the number of annual responses decreased from 4,644 to 4,590 (-54); and the total annual burden hours decreased from 86,727 to 86,263 (-464). 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: 12/04/2024

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