Incarcerated People’s Communications Services (IPCS) Provider Annual Reporting, Certification, and Other Requirements, WC Docket Nos. 23-62, 12-375
Revision of a currently approved collection
No
Regular
07/25/2025
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
12/31/2026
38
33
9,165
6,690
0
0
In 2015, the Wireline Competition Bureau, pursuant to its delegated authority, created a standardized reporting template, as well as instructions to guide ICS providers through the reporting process. The Commission required an officer of the provider to certify annually as to the accuracy of the data and other information submitted in the provider's annual report. The annual reports were revised in 2020 to improve the type and quality of information collected, and again in 2022. This collection is currently being revised to reflect revisions to the annual reporting instructions, template, and certification form for IPCS providers, as set forth in the January 8, 2025 IPCS Annual Reports Order. These revisions expand the reports to include video IPCS data and otherwise streamline much of the rate reporting and eliminate most reporting of site commissions and ancillary service charges that were prohibited in the 2024 IPCS Order.
The Commission is reporting program changes/increases to this collection given the expansion of the Commission’s jurisdiction under the Martha Wright-Reed Act to include advanced services, such as video IPCS. As a result of this expanded jurisdiction, the Commission’s rules were amended to require that all IPCS providers, including providers of video IPCS and advanced communications services not previously covered, be subject to the annual reporting and certification rule. Since our last submission to OMB in November 2023, the total number of respondents has increased from 30 to 35 (+ 5) and reporting has been expanded to encompass video IPCS, including video visitation. As a result of these expansions, the burden estimate for completion of the Annual Reports has increased from 120 hours to 160 hours per provider (+ 40), and the total annual burden hours have increased from 6,690 hours to 9,165 hours (+ 2,475).
As with the prior submission to OMB, we anticipate that three providers will file waiver requests annually, and we again add three additional responses related to the waiver request reporting requirement. The total number of responses has therefore increased from 35 to 38 (+ 3).
No adjustments are being reported in this submission to OMB.
$0
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
William Kehoe 202 418-1580 william.kehoe@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.