Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Submitted to OMB for Review and Approval

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Submitted to OMB for

Review and Approval

August 18, 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(s), as required by the Paperwork

Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 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 27,

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 Judy Boley, Federal Communications

Commission, Room 1-C804, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554 or

via the Internet to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or copies

of the information collection(s), contact Judy Boley at 202-418-0214 or

via the Internet at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control No.: 3060-0515.

Title: Section 43.21(c), Miscellaneous Common Carrier Annual Letter

Filing Requirement.

Form No.: N/A.

Type of Review: Reinstatement without change, of a previously

approved collection for which approval has expired.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 32.

Estimated Time Per Response: 1 hour.

Frequency of Response: Annual reporting requirement.

Total Annual Burden: 32 hours.

Total Annual Cost: N/A.

Needs and Uses: Pursuant to 47 CFR 43.21(c), each miscellaneous

common carrier with operating revenues in excess of the indexed

threshold as defined in 47 CFR 32.9000 must file a letter showing its

operating revenues for that year and the value of its total

communications plant at the end of that year. The letter must contain

information pertaining to the carrier's revenues, expenses, net income,

assets, liabilities and owners' equity. These

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letters must be filed by no later than April of the following year.

Those miscellaneous common carriers with annual operating revenues that

equal or surpass the indexed revenue threshold for the first time may

file the letter up to one month after publication of the adjusted

revenue threshold in the Federal Register, but in no event shall such

carriers be required to file the letter prior to April 1.

The information is used by FCC staff members to regulate and

monitor the telephone industry and by the public to analyze the

industry. The information on revenue and total plant is compiled and

published in the Commission's annual common carrier statistical

publication and long distance market share report.

OMB Control No.: 3060-0655.

Title: Requests for Waiver of Regulatory Fees Predicated on

Allegations of Financial Hardship (MD Docket No. 94-19).

Form No.: N/A.

Type of Review: Reinstatement without change, of a previously

approved collection for which approval has expired.

Respondents: Individuals or households, businesses or other-for-

profit.

Number of Respondents: 160.

Estimated Time Per Response: 1 hour.

Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement,

recordkeeping requirement.

Total Annual Burden: 160 hours.

Total Annual Cost: N/A.

Needs and Uses: The FCC implemented provisions contained in Section

6003(a) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, P.L. 103-66

and 103-121, which adds Section 9 to the Communications Act. Section 9

authorizes the FCC to assess and collect annual regulatory fees to

recover costs incurred in carrying out its enforcement, policy and

rulemaking activities and its user information services. Licensees and

permittees may request a waiver of those fees. A number of requests for

waiver are based on grounds of financial hardship but lack sufficient

documentation to support a finding that a waiver should be granted. As

a result, the FCC in ruling on Petitions for Reconsideration in the FY

1994 fee proceeding, the FCC set forth the types of documentation it

will rely on to determine if waivers should be granted because of

financial hardship, in order to give guidance to parties requesting

waivers. Where parties have filed insufficient information with their

FY 194 waiver requests, the FCC will afford them an opportunity to

perfect their waiver requests by making the showing. The information

will be used by FCC staff to determine if a party is entitled to a

waiver of its obligation to pay the annual regulatory fee. It will be

filed annually, but only by those parties who request waivers of their

obligations to pay the fee because of financial hardship.

Federal Communications Commission.

Magalie Roman Salas,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 99-22132 Filed 8-25-99; 8:45 am]

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