The Commission requires all incumbent
local exchange carriers (ILECs) to file shapfile maps of their
service territories in a state (study area). State commissions can
also submit these data voluntarily for ILECs in their state.
Shapefiles are a commonly used, digitized, geographic information
system (GIS) format. Accurate and accessible maps are essential to
the legitmate distribution of universal service support to rural,
high cost carriers. After the shapefiles are uploaded into a web
interface provided by the Commission, each ILEC (or state) must
certify the accuracy of its study area maps. Filers must also
submit updated shapefile maps if their study area boundaries
change, and must recertify the accuracy of the map every two
years.
US Code:
47
USC 254(b) Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as
amended
The Commission is reporting
adjustments/decreases to this information collection. Since the
last submission to OMB, the total number of respondents decreased
from 1,443 to 747 (-696), the total annual responses decreased from
1,443 to 757 (-686), the total annual burden hours decreased from
7,924 to 171 (-7,753), and the total annual costs decreased from
$705,935 to $3,977.00 (-$701,958). These adjustments/decreases are
due to most of the ILECs fulfilling the initial requirements of
creating and submitting GIS esri shapefiles of their study area
boundaries. The remaining annual costs associated with this
information collection will be incurred by the small number of
ILECs that have study area boundary changes and hire contractors to
modify their study area boundary GIS data. All ILECs are required
to recertify their study area boundaries every two years, but we
have determined that this task to be a normal business activity and
of negligible burden.
$1,296
No
No
No
No
No
Uncollected
S. Steckler 202
634-1861
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.