Notice of Public Information Collections Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

Notice of Public Information Collections Being Reviewed by the

Federal Communications Commission

March 24, 1997.

SUMMARY: The Federal Communications Commission, as part of its

continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden invites the general public

and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the

following information collection, as required by the Paperwork

Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. An agency may not conduct or

sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently

valid control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for

failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the

Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) that does not display a valid control

number. Comments are requested concerning: (a) Whether the proposed

collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of

the functions of the Commission, including whether the information

shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's

burden estimate; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity

of the information collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of

the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of

automated collection techniques or other forms of information

technology.

DATES: Persons wishing to comment on this information collection should

submit comments May 27, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Direct all comments to Dorothy Conway, Federal

Communications Commission, room 234, 1919 M St., NW., Washington, DC

20554, or via internet to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or copies

of the information collections contact Dorothy Conway at 202-418-0217

or via internet at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Approval Number: 3060-0106.

Title: Section 43.61 Reports of Overseas Telecommunications

Traffic.

Form No.: N/A.

Type of Review: Extension of an existing collection for which the

Commission received emergency approval.

Respondents: Business or other For-Profit.

Number of Respondents: 40 respondents will file the semi-annual

traffic report however there are a total of 248 respondents for this

entire collection.

Estimated Time Per Response: 80 hours.

Total Annual Burden: 3,200 hours. This estimate is only for the

semi-annual traffic report. The Commission requested comments on the

remainder of the collection in 62 FR 5535 on February 6, 1997. We

estimate that there will be on average, four equivalent countries in

any given six-month reporting period for which carriers engaged in

``facilities resale,'' i.e., private line resellers must report their

U.S. Outbound and inbound traffic originating or terminating over

resold U.S. private lines. We also predict that there will be as many

as ten respondents providing traffic to each of the four equivalent

countries.

Needs and Uses: Two times a year, carriers engaged in ``facilities

resale,'' i.e., private line resellers, must report their U.S. outbound

and inbound traffic originating or terminating over resold U.S. private

lines. This requirement applies for three years following a Commission

(or International Bureau) finding that a particular country offers U.S.

carriers ``equivalent'' opportunities for resale. We impose the

reporting requirement in the Section 214 authorizations granted to

private line resellers.

We must collect traffic reports from private line resellers on a

semi-annual basis in addition to the annual reports required under

Sec. 43.61 of our rules so that the Commission and interested parties,

including U.S. carriers themselves, can closely monitor the equivalency

decision's impact on the U.S. settlements deficit resulting from the

diversion of IMTS traffic to international private lines. If the U.S.

net settlements deficit changes substantially to the detriment of U.S.

consumers, we would have the necessary information to investigate the

situation promptly. Also, the data will enhance the ability of both the

Commission and interested parties to monitor for unauthorized resale of

international private lines that are interconnected to the public

switched network.

An emergency paperwork reduction analysis was submitted to the

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review under Section 3507(d)

of the PRA for: (1) This semi-annual reporting requirement; and (2) for

amending Section 43.61 of the Commission's rules to require that

carriers include the number of minutes of outbound and inbound traffic

settled pursuant to each alternative settlement arrangements entered

under Sec. 64.1002 of the Commission's rules. Comment was requested for

the inbound/outbound traffic data burden in the Federal Register on

February 6, 1997 (62 FR 5535).

Federal Communications Commission.

William F. Caton,

Acting Secretary.

[FR Doc. 97-7909 Filed 3-27-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6712-01-P