Public Information Collection(s) Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

Public Information Collection(s) Being Reviewed by the Federal

Communications Commission

July 16, 1999.

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: Written comments should be submitted on or before September 21,

1999. If you anticipate that you will be submitting comments, but find

it difficult to do so within the period of time allowed by this notice,

you should advise the contact listed below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Direct all comments to Les Smith, Federal Communications

Commissions, 445 12th Street, SW, Room 1-A804, Washington, DC 20554 or

via the Internet to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or copies

of the information collections contact Les Smith at (202) 418-0217 or

via the Internet at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control Number: 3060-0573.

Title: FCC Form 394 Application for Franchise Authority Consent to

Assignment or Transfer of Control of Cable Television Franchise.

Form Number: FCC Form 394.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business and other for-profit entities; State, local

or tribal governments.

Number of Respondents: 2,000.

Estimated Time Per Response: 1-5 hours.

Frequency of Response: On occasion filing requirement.

Total Annual Burden: 7,000 hours.

Total Annual Cost: $377,000.

Needs and Uses: FCC Form 394 is a standardized form that is

completed by cable operators in connection with the transfer of control

of cable television systems. FCC Form 394 is used by cable operators to

apply for local franchise authority (``LFA'') approval to assign or

transfer control of a cable television system. The data are used by the

LFAs to restrict profiteering transactions and other transfers that are

likely to adversely affect cable rates or service in the franchise

area.

OMB Control Number: 3060-0106.

Title: Section 43.61--Reports of Overseas Telecommunications

Traffic.

Form Number: N/A.

Type of Review: Extension.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.

Number of Respondents: 440 respondents.

Estimated Time Per Response: 47.8 hours per response (avg.).

Total Annual Burden: 21,070 hours.

Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: $518,000.

Frequency of Response: Annual, Quarterly, On occasion.

Needs and Uses: The telecommunications traffic data report is an

annual reporting requirement imposed on common carriers engaged in the

provision of overseas telecommunications services. The collection of

Section 43.61 overseas telecommunications traffic data is necessary for

the Commission to fulfill its regulatory responsibilities under the

Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. Sections 151-614

(1996). The collected data are essential to both the Commission and

carriers for international facilities planning, facility authorization,

monitoring emerging developments in communications services, analyzing

market structures, tracking the balance of payments in international

communications services, and market analysis purposes. Subject carriers

are required to submit their annual reports no later than July 31 of

each year for the preceding period of January through December. A

revised report must be submitted for inaccuracies exceeding five

percent of the reported figure by October 31, pursuant to Section

43.61(a)(2).

OMB Control Number: 3060-0817.

Title: Computer III Further Remand Proceedings: BOC Provision of

Enhanced Services (ONA Requirements), CC Docket No. 95-20.

Form Number: N/A.

Type of Review: Extension.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.

Number of Respondents: 500 respondents.

Estimated Time Per Response: 72.5 hours per response (avg.).

Total Annual Burden: 36.250 hours.

Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: $0.

[[Page 39993]]

Frequency of Response: On occasion; third party disclosures.

Needs and Uses: In the Report and Order issued in CC Docket No. 95-

20, released March 10, 1998, the Commission eliminates outdated,

unnecessary regulations, while continuing to protect against potential

anticompetitive behavior by the Bell Operating Companies (BOCs) in the

provision of information services. The Commission established several

collections of information: (1) The Commission no longer requires BOCs

to file their Comparably Efficient Interconnection (CEI) plans with the

Commission and to obtain pre-approval of CEI plans and amendments

before initiating or altering an intraLATA information service.

Instead, we require BOCs to post their CEI plans and plan amendments on

their publicly accessible Internet sites linked to and searchable from

the BOC's main Internet page, and to notify the Common Carrier Bureau

at the time of the posting. The substance of the notification may be

limited to the Internet address and path to the relevant CEI plan or

amended plan; the form may consist of a letter to the Secretary with a

copy to the Bureau. The requirement extends to CEI plans for new or

modified telemessaging or alarm monitoring services, and for new or

amended payphone services. In addition, if the BOC receives a good

faith request for a plan from someone who does not have Internet

access, the BOC must notify that person where a paper copy of the plan

is available for public inspection. (2) The Commission removes the

Computer II network disclosure rules for BOCs providing information

through a Compute II separate subsidiary, the Computer II carrier rule,

and the Computer III network disclosure rules. The Commission extends

the disclosure requirements in Section 51.325(a) of its rules to

require incumbent LECs to provide public notice of any network changes

that will affect the manner in which CPE is attached to the network.

The collections relating to CEI plans will be used to ensure that BOCs

comply with Commission policies and regulations safeguarding against

potential anticompetitive behavior by the BOCs in the provision of

information services. The disclosure of CPE is necessary to encourage

competition in the telecommunications services market by lifting

operations barriers to entry.

Federal Communications Commission.

Magalie Roman Salas,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 99-18763 Filed 7-22-99; 8:45 am]

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