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

November 26, 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, 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 January 5,

2000. 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.: 3060-0106.

Title: Section 43.61--Reports of Overseas Telecommunications

Traffic.

Form No.: N/A.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 400 respondents; 440 total annual responses.

Estimated Time Per Response: 48 hours.

Frequency of Response: Quarterly and annual reporting requirements.

Total Annual Burden: 21,070 hours.

Total Annual Cost: $377,000.

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 reported data is

useful for international 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).

The Commission and industry members use the data in the facilities

planning and facilities authorization process to estimate traffic and

market trends in various regions of the world. Also, the data is used

to monitor the development and competitiveness of U.S. international

product and geographic markets and to gauge the competitive impact of

Commission decisions on these markets. Additionally, the data assists

the Commission in tracking the growth in net settlement payments to

foreign carriers. It also provides the Commission with information

necessary to identify those routes for which settlement rates are at a

level low enough to permit relief from certain regulatory requirements,

including the prohibition of the use of private lines for the provision

of switched, basic services (also referred to as ``ISR''). The

Commission additionally relies on the annual and quarterly reports to

monitor for traffic and revenue distortions on particular routes. These

distortions may result from one-way bypass of the Commission's

international settlement policy on these routes, which can increase

U.S. carrier net settlement payments to their foreign correspondents.

Federal Communications Commission.

Magalie Roman Salas,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 99-31450 Filed 12-3-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6712-01-U