3060-1228 High-Cost Portal Supporting Statement 1_30_18 (final version)

Connect America Fund – High Cost Portal Filing 3060-1228 August 2017

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

This revised information collection is being submitted to obtain the Office of Management Budget (OMB) approval for revised information collection requirements as a result of recent Commission orders as explained below.

The collection addresses the requirements for certain high-cost recipients to report location information where they have deployed facilities meeting their public interest obligations, as well as associated certifications and quarterly reports.

The revised collection proposes to add new requirements for eligible telecommunications carriers receiving Alaska Plan support and incorporates Alaska Plan non-compliance obligations into existing non-compliance reporting requirements. See Connect America Fund et al., Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 31 FCC Rcd 10139 (2016) (Alaska Plan Order). Additionally, this collection proposes to revise existing requirements to incorporate obligations for recipients of Phase II support that is awarded in partnership with New York’s New NY Broadband Program into existing Phase II auction reporting and non-compliance reporting requirements. See Connect America Fund et al., Order, 32 FCC Rcd 968 (2017) (New York Auction Order). Finally, the revised collection modifies existing filing submission dates to correct an error in the previous submission and to reflect a rule clarification.

A. Justification:

1. Circumstances that make the collection necessary. The Communications Act of 1934, as amended requires the “preservation and advancement of universal service.” The information collection requirements reported under this collection are the result of Commission actions to promote the Act’s universal service goals.

Pursuant to Connect America Fund et al., Report and Order, Order and Order on Reconsideration, and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 31 FCC Rcd 3087 (2016) (Rate-of-Return Order), Connect America Fund et al., Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 31 FCC Rcd 5949 (Phase II Auction Order), Connect America Fund et al., Order, 31 FCC Rcd 12086 (ACS Phase II Order), Connect America Fund et al., Report and Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 29 FCC Rcd 876 (2014) (Rural Broadband Experiments Order), Connect America Fund et al., Report and Order, 29 FCC Rcd 15644 (2014) (Price Cap Order), Technology Transitions et al., Order et al., 29 FCC Rcd 1433 (2014) (Tech Transitions Order), the Alaska Plan Order, and the New York Auction Order, this collection includes location reporting and related certification requirements for recipients of high cost support.

This information collection addresses the requirement that certain carriers with high cost reporting obligations must file information about their locations that meet their broadband deployment public interest obligations via an electronic portal (“portal”). The Commission required that the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) establish the portal so that carriers could file their location data in the portal.

The portal has three key functions as explained below and in further detail in the attached template. It will permit recipients of high cost support to: (1) submit broadband location data on a rolling basis throughout the year; (2) certify their compliance with their build-out requirements based upon information filed in the portal; (3) file quarterly compliance reports in those cases they have not met their buildout requirements. The filing and certification requirements vary by carrier type (e.g., recipient of Phase II model-based support vs. a rural broadband experiment recipient). Because of these differences, the collections and burden hours associated with each carrier type also differ as described in detail below. Additionally, Alaska Plan carriers will file fiber/microwave middle-mile network maps as required in the portal.

Features of the portal:

• Online Access for Streamlined Filing – Filers submit the geolocation data through an online portal. The online portal asks basic information about the filer (“carrier information data”) such as the carrier name at the study area level, study area code(s) and holding company name and carrier contact information and prepopulate these and other components of information already known about the applicant into the online form. These carrier information data may be auto-generated by applicants’ prior Form 481 filings as well as other information that has been previously stored in USAC’s systems. Each carrier filed geocoded location information for those locations that it has built to meet the Commission’s public interest obligations. Some location data, such as the latitude and longitude of each location, are identical to the information that was previously collected on Form 481 filed by recipients of Phase II model-based support and rural broadband experiment recipients. Other pieces of information, such as the speed available at the location, have not been collected on Form 481. In some circumstances, carriers also have the opportunity to use a USAC verification system to validate their location information prior to the annual filing deadlines. The portal provides error messages, as applicable, when the location data does not meet certain parameters, such as a message indicating that filed location is not within the eligible area for which the carrier is eligible to receive high cost support. Access to the portal and the ability to pre-file expedites the location filing and allow carriers to correct any errors in their data prior to the filing deadline. Once information is filed into the portal, carriers are able to check and provide corrections and updates to the information displayed. Carriers will also be required to file quarterly compliance reports in a similar manner as described below. Carriers can certify their compliance with their reporting obligations and buildout milestones on an annual basis through the portal.

• Customized Applications - The portal has built-in logic that adapts to the type of carrier. For example, if the carrier indicates it is a rate-of-return carrier during the filing process, the portal may provide information about the public interest requirements (e.g., speed and build-out-requirements) particular to rate-of-return carriers.

• Integrated Instructions – Guidance for submitting the information is integrated into the system to provide filers a roadmap for completion. Wherever applicable and possible, filers are provided explanatory text regarding data submission choices and procedures, and additional text to remind them where they may have to provide additional information or meet special requirements.

Currently Approved Requirements

1. Geocoded Information for Phase II Model-Based Support Recipients (no revisions)

Price cap carriers that elected to receive Phase II model-based support are required to deploy service meeting the Commission’s public interest obligations to a set number of locations in each state where they have accepted support by specific build-out milestones. The Commission required that such carriers submit geocoded location information so that the Commission can monitor these carriers’ progress in meeting such milestones. 47 C.F.R. § 54.316. Geocoded locations are necessary for the Commission to verify that carriers have in fact deployed to the number of locations claimed.

For each location to be counted towards satisfaction of a Phase II Model-based support recipient deployment obligation, that carrier must provide, for each location or set of locations, the information noted below in the portal. In some cases, some or all of fields may be auto-generated by the portal based on information previously filed with USAC. See Portal Template for additional details.

1. The carrier’s name

2. Carrier holding company name

3. Contact information for the person who prepared and submitted the data

4. Study Area Code(s)

5. Type of Carrier (e.g., rate-of-return)

6. State(s) for which the carrier is making the filing

7. Location ID

8. Latitude of the location (to 6 decimal places)

9. Longitude of Location (to 6 decimal places)

10. Address of location

11. Number of units at the location

12. The bandwidth/speed available at the location

13. The date of service deployment at the location

14. Officer certification that information is true and correct

15. Certifying Official Contact Information

By March 1, of each year ending March 1, 2021, such carriers are required to report the locations of newly deployed service meeting the Commission’s public interest obligations in the prior calendar year. By March 1, 2021, Phase II recipients of model-based support will also be required to include the total number and geocodes of all the supported locations that they deployed service meeting the Commission’s public interest obligations.

2. Build-Out Certifications for Phase II Model-Based Support Recipients (no revisions)

The Commission adopted build-out milestones for price cap carriers that receive Phase II model-based support and required such ETCs to certify their compliance with these milestones. 47 CFR. §§ 54.310(c), 54.316.

By March 1 of each year, each recipient of Phase II support must submit a certification to the portal that by the end of the prior calendar year, the recipient offered broadband meeting the requisite public interest requirements based on the following percentages in the state:

1. By March 1, 2018, certify to 40 percent.

2. By March 1, 2019, certify to 60 percent.

3. By March 1, 2020, certify to 80 percent.

4. By March 1, 2021, certify to 100 percent.

In addition, by March 1, 2018, recipients of Phase II model-based support must certify, at the holding company level, that by December 31, 2017, at least five percent of the nationwide total of locations meeting its public interest obligations previously lacked 4/1 Mbps service.

By requiring recipients of Phase II model-based support to submit these certifications, the Commission will be able to monitor such carriers’ use of Phase II model-based support as they build out their networks to ensure that the support is being used for its intended purposes.

3. Reporting Requirements and Associated Certifications for Rural Broadband Experiment Support Recipients (no revisions)

Recipients of rural broadband experiment support are required to deploy service meeting the Commission’s public interest obligations to a set number of locations by specific build-out milestones at the end of their third and fifth years following the authorization of support; certain recipients electing to receive some of their support upfront have an additional deployment milestone within 15 months after receiving their first disbursement The Commission also required that rural broadband experiment recipients submit geocoded location information on an annual basis on their FCC Form 481 due July 1 and evidence supporting their build-out. These requirements permit the Commission to monitor rural broadband experiment recipients’ progress in meeting their deployment and provide evidence that the recipients are deploying service that meets the Commission’s public interest obligations. See Rural Broadband Experiments Order.

Starting on March 1, 2018, rural broadband experiment recipients must report the following information to the portal, for each location or set of locations, by the deadline of the recipients’ annual reports and the recipients’ third and fifth year milestone deadlines. In some cases, some or all of fields may be auto-generated by the portal based on information previously filed with USAC. See Portal Template for additional details.

1. The carrier’s name

2. Carrier holding company name

3. Contact information for the person who prepared and submitted the data

4. Study Area Code(s)

5. Type of Carrier (e.g., rate-of-return)

6. State(s) for which the carrier is making the filing

7. Location ID

8. Latitude of the location (to 6 decimal places)

9. Longitude of Location (to 6 decimal places)

10. Address of location

11. Number of units at the location

12. The bandwidth/speed available at the location

13. The date of service deployment at the location

14. Officer certification that information is true and correct

15. Certifying Official Contact Information

Rural broadband experiment recipients must also submit to the portal, at the time of their annual reports, and their milestone deadlines, evidence demonstrating that the recipient is meeting the relevant public service obligations for the identified locations. This evidence must at least detail the pricing, offered broadband speed and data usage allowances available in the relevant geographic area. Parties submitting this information should take steps to ensure that sensitive information is not improperly submitted. Examples of such information are customer proprietary network information (47 U.S.C. § 222; 47 C.F.R. §§ 64.2001-64.2011), records covered by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (18 U.S.C. § 2702(a)(3), (c)), or records otherwise protected by law for purposes of customer privacy (see, e.g., 47 U.S.C. § 551).

Recipients of rural broadband experiment support electing to receive upfront funding must submit by their 15-month build-out milestone to the portal a certification that they offer service to at least 25 percent of their required number of locations with the required level of service. All recipients of rural broadband experiment support must submit to the portal, at their build-out milestones following the end of their third year of support, a certification that they offer service to at least 85 percent of their required number of locations with the required level of service and, by the end of their fifth year of support, a certification that they offer service to 100 percent of their required number of locations with the required level of service.

4. Build-Out Certifications for Rate-of-Return Carriers Electing CAF-ACAM Support (no revisions)

The Commission adopted build-out milestones for rate-of-return carriers that elect CAF-ACAM support and required such ETCs to certify their compliance with these milestones. 47 C.F.R. § 54.311 and 47 C.F.R. § 54.316. Specifically, for each state where a carrier has elected to receive CAF-ACAM support, it must provide to the portal, a certification that by the end of the prior calendar year, the recipient offered broadband meeting the requisite public interest requirements to a percentage of supported locations in the state as follows:

1. By March 1, 2021, certify to 40 percent.

2. By March 1, 2022, certify to 50 percent.

3. By March 1, 2023, certify to 60 percent.

4. By March 1, 2024, certify to 70 percent.

5. By March 1, 2025, certify to 80 percent.

6. By March 1, 2026, certify to 90 percent.

7. By March 1, 2027, certify to 100 percent.

By requiring rate-of-return carriers electing CAF-ACAM support to submit these certifications, the Commission will be able to monitor price cap carriers’ use of CAF-ACAM support as they build out their networks to ensure that the support is being used for its intended purposes.

5. Build-Out Certifications for Rate-of-Return Carriers electing CAF-BLS Support (no revisions)

The Commission adopted build-out milestones for rate-of-return carriers that remain on legacy support (CAF-BLS) and required such ETCs to certify their compliance with these milestones. 47 C.F.R.§ 54.308 and 47 C.F.R. §54.316. Specifically, for each study area where each carrier is receiving CAF-BLS support, it must provide to the portal:

By March 1, 2022 and March 1, 2027, a certification that the recipient offered broadband meeting the requisite public interest obligations to the required percentage of locations by the end of the prior year.

By requiring rate-of-return carriers receiving CAF-BLS support to submit these certifications, the Commission will be able to monitor carriers’ use of CAF-BLS support as they build out their networks to ensure that the support is being used for its intended purposes.

Proposed Revisions

In 2017, the Commission adopted similar portal reporting obligations in two additional orders. The Commission proposes to collect information pursuant to those orders under this collection. On January 26, 2017, the Commission adopted the New York Auction Order which granted New York State (New York) a waiver of the Connect America Phase II auction program rules, subject to certain conditions. Specifically, the Commission made an amount up to the amount of Connect America Phase II model-based support that Verizon declined in New York—$170.4 million—available to applicants selected in New York’s New NY Broadband Program in accordance with the framework adopted in the New York Auction Order. For each New York winning bid that includes Connect America-eligible areas, the Commission will authorize Connect America support up to the total reserve prices of all of the Connect America Phase II auction eligible census blocks that are included in the bid, provided that New York has committed, at a minimum, the same dollar amount of New York support to the Connect America-eligible areas in that bid. Before Connect America Phase II support is authorized, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) will closely review the winning bidders to ensure that they have met the eligibility requirements adopted by the Commission and that they are technically and financially qualified to meet the terms and conditions of Connect America support. Bidders that are ultimately authorized to receive Connect America Phase II support will be subject to the same location reporting, build-out milestone certifications, and non-compliance measures as Connect America Phase II auction recipients. In a separate new information collection, 3060-XXXX Connect America Phase II Auction Waiver Post-Selection Review, the Commission is currently seeking OMB approval for its proposed collection of information related to those requirements not involving the reporting of location information.

On August 23, 2016, the Commission adopted the Alaska Plan Order. The plan in that order applies to both rate-of-return and mobile wireless competitive Eligible Telecommunications Carriers (CETCs). Certain rate-of-return carriers receiving support pursuant to the Alaska Plan committed to newly deploy/upgrade service to a defined number of locations at five and ten year benchmarks. By collecting information on the locations and associated certifications where rate-of-return carriers newly deploy/upgrade service, the Commission will be able to monitor carriers’ deployments and upgrades to ensure they are meeting their specific, individualized commitments by the applicable deadlines. Rate-of-return and mobile wireless CETC Alaska Plan recipients also are required to file quarterly noncompliance reports when applicable, certifications that the carrier has met its five and ten year benchmarks, and fiber/microwave middle-mile network maps. In addition to the aforementioned information, the Alaska Plan also requires collection of other information from support recipients that is not collected under this OMB Control Number, which will be a part of other information requests.

The new requirements and revisions proposed below include: (a) modifying submission dates of geocoded information and milestone certifications for ACS to correct an error in the prior submission; (b) modifying submission dates of geocoded information for ACAM and BLS carriers due to a revised commission rule interpretation; (c) incorporating the obligation for New York recipients to file geocoded information and certify their compliance with build-out obligations into existing Phase II auction reporting requirements; (d) incorporating the obligation for New York and Alaska Plan recipients to submit non-compliance reports, as necessary, into existing non-compliance reporting requirements; (e) adding a new requirement for rate-of-return Alaska Plan recipients to file geocoded information; (f) adding a new requirement for rate-of-return and wireless competitive eligible telecommunications carrier (CETC) Alaska Plan recipients to certify their compliance with build-out obligations; and (g) adding a new requirement for rate-of-return and wireless CETC Alaska Plan recipients to submit and update fiber/microwave network maps.

1. Geocoded Information and Associated Certifications for Alaska Communications Systems (ACS) as a Phase II Frozen Support Recipient (revised to correct errors in reporting and certification dates, no change in burden calculation)

ACS elected to receive Phase II frozen support and is required to deploy service meeting the Commission’s tailored public interest obligations to a set number of locations in Alaska by specific build-out milestones. The Commission required that ACS submit the same geocoded location information as it required for model-based support recipients so that the Commission can monitor ACS’s progress in meeting its milestones. The Commission also required that ACS submit certification that the capital expenditure cost of build-out to any “low-cost” location was $5,000 or more. Geocoded locations are necessary for the Commission to verify that ACS has in fact deployed to the number of locations claimed.

For each location to be counted towards satisfaction of a Phase II frozen support deployment obligation, ACS must provide, for each location or set of locations, the information noted below in the portal. In some cases, some or all of fields may be auto-generated by the portal based on information previously filed with USAC. See Portal Template for additional details.

1. The carrier’s name

2. Carrier holding company name

3. Contact information for the person who prepared and submitted the data

4. Study Area Code(s)

5. Type of Carrier (e.g., rate-of-return)

6. State(s) for which the carrier is making the filing

7. Location ID

8. Whether the location is a substitute location in a partially-served or low-cost census block

9. Latitude of the location (to 6 decimal places)

10. Longitude of Location (to 6 decimal places)

11. Address of location

12. Number of units at the location

13. The bandwidth/speed available at the location

14. The date of service deployment at the location

15. Officer certification that the capital expenditure cost by ACS to build to any low-cost location was $5,000 or more

16. Officer certification that information is true and correct

17. Certifying Official Contact Information

.

Each year, ACS is required to report the locations where it is providing service meeting its public interest obligations as of the end of the prior year. We propose to revise this requirement to correct an error in the date originally provided for the final reporting year from 2025 to 2026. By March 1, 2018 and every year thereafter ending March 1, 2026, ACS will be required to report the locations of newly deployed service meeting the Commission’s tailored public interest obligations in the prior calendar year. By March 1, 2026, ACS will also be required to include the total number and geocodes of all the supported locations that it deployed service meeting the Commission’s tailored public interest obligations.

By October 1, 2018, ACS must complete initial planning and submit a list of geocoded locations in partially served census blocks that it proposes to serve. ACS must submit certification that it does not itself serve any of the proposed locations in such blocks at the time it submits its list.

The Commission adopted build-out milestones for ACS as a recipient of Phase II frozen support and required ACS to certify its compliance with these milestones.

We also propose to correct an error in the date originally provided for the initial milestone certification year from 2018 to 2019 and the final milestone certification year from 2025 to 2026. ACS must submit a certification to the portal that by the end of the prior calendar year, the recipient offered broadband meeting the requisite public interest requirements based on the following percentages in Alaska:

1. By March 1, 2019, certify to 30 percent.

2. By March 1, 2020, certify to 40 percent.

3. By March 1, 2021, certify to 50 percent.

4. By March 1, 2022, certify to 60 percent.

5. By March 1, 2023, certify to 70 percent.

6. By March 1, 2024, certify to 80 percent.

7. By March 1, 2025, certify to 90 percent.

8. By March 1, 2026, certify to 100 percent.

In addition, ACS must certify that any deployment to a non-high-cost census block was, in fact, high cost. We require ACS to certify that the capital expenditure ACS incurred to build to each non-high-cost location within a qualifying “low-cost” census block was at least $5,000 per location.

By requiring ACS to submit these certifications, the Commission will be able to monitor ACS’ use of Phase II frozen support as it builds out its networks to ensure that the support is being used for its intended purposes.

2. Geocoded Information for Rate-of-Return Support Recipients (revised to reflect a rule clarification, no change in burden calculation)

Rate-of-Return carriers are required to deploy service meeting the Commission’s public interest obligations to a set number of locations in each state where they have accepted support by specific build-out milestones. The Commission required that rate-of-return carriers submit geocoded location information so that the Commission can monitor rate-of-return carriers’ progress in meeting such milestones. 47 C.F.R. § 54.316. Geocoded locations are necessary for the Commission to verify that carriers have in fact deployed to the number of locations claimed.

Rate-of-return recipients must report the following information to the portal for each location or set of locations. In some cases, some or all of the fields below may be auto-generated by the portal based on information previously filed with USAC. See Portal Template for additional details.

1. The carrier’s name

2. Carrier holding company name

3. Contact information for the person who prepared and submitted the data

4. Study Area Code(s)

5. Type of Carrier (e.g., rate-of-return)

6. State(s) for which the carrier is making the filing

7. Location ID

8. Latitude of the location (to 6 decimal places)

9. Longitude of Location (to 6 decimal places)

10. Address of location

11. Number of units at the location

12. The bandwidth/speed available at the location

13. The date of service deployment at the location

14. Officer certification that information is true and correct

15. Certifying Official Contact Information

By March 1, 2018, rate-of-return carriers will be required to report the list of geocoded locations built that meet the Commission’s public interest obligations. Rate of return carriers electing ACAM must report locations built in the prior calendar year. Rate of Return carriers remaining on CAF-BLS support must report locations built since the effective date of the Rate of Return Order.

By March 1 of every subsequent year, rate-of-return carriers must report the list of geocoded locations built in the prior calendar year that meet the Commission’s public interest obligations. We are revising this requirement to clarify the initial date for “pre-existing” locations that CAF-ACAM carriers must file in the portal to locations built prior to 2017 from locations built prior to 2016. Specifically, those rate-of-return carriers electing CAF-ACAM support must, by March 1, 2019, report the list of “pre-existing” geocoded locations built prior to 2017 that meet the Commission’s public interest obligations.

3. Geocoded Information for Phase II Auction Winners and Recipients of Phase II Support Allocated in Partnership with New York’s New NY Broadband Program (revised to incorporate New York recipients)

Phase II Auction winners and recipients of Phase II support allocated in partnership with New York’s program (New York recipients) are required to deploy service meeting the Commission’s public interest obligations to a set number of locations in each area by specific buildout milestones. The Commission required that such carriers submit geocoded location information so that the Commission can monitor those carriers’ progress in meeting their deployment milestones. 47 C.F.R. § 54.316; New York Auction Order, FCC 17-2, at 26, para. 69. Geocoded locations are necessary for the Commission to verify that carriers have in fact deployed to the number of locations claimed.

Phase II Auction winners and New York recipients must report the following information to the portal for each location or set of locations. In some cases, some or all of the fields below may be auto-generated by the portal based on information previously filed with USAC. See Portal Template for additional details.

1. The carrier’s name

2. Carrier holding company name

3. Contact information for the person who prepared and submitted the data

4. Study Area Code(s)

5. Type of Carrier (e.g., rate-of-return)

6. State(s) for which the carrier is making the filing

7. Location ID

8. Latitude of the location (to 6 decimal places)

9. Longitude of Location (to 6 decimal places)

10. Address of location

11. Number of units at the location

12. The bandwidth/speed available at the location

13. The date of service deployment at the location

14. Officer certification that information is true and correct

15. Certifying Official Contact Information

In addition, Phase II auction winners and New York recipients must also submit to the portal, for each location, the technology used (e.g., fiber, copper) to provide the service.

The first location list will be due by the last business day of the second calendar month following the one-year anniversary of support authorization and must reflect the number and list of geocoded locations (if any) where the recipient already was offering service meeting the Commission’s requirements and all new locations (if any) where the recipient was offering service meeting the requisite requirements by the end of the first year. For the following five years, by the last business day of the second calendar month following the anniversary of support authorization, auction winners and New York recipients must file a list of geocoded locations newly served during the prior year.

4. Build-Out Certifications for Phase II Auction Winners and Recipients of Phase II Support Allocated in Partnership with New York’s New NY Broadband Program (revised to incorporate New York recipients)

The Commission adopted build-out milestones for Phase II auction winners and New York recipients and required such ETCs to certify their compliance with their buildout milestones. 47 C.F.R. §§ 54.310(c), 54.316; New York Auction Order, FCC 17-2, at 21, 26, paras. 53, 69. For each state where such ETCs are providing service, the ETCs must submit to the portal, by the last business day of the second calendar month following each service milestone specified by the Commission, a certification that they are offering broadband meeting the requisite public interest obligations to the required percentage of their supported locations in the state. Specifically, Phase II auction winners and New York recipients must provide to the portal:

1. By the last business day of the second calendar month following the third year of support, a certification that, by the end of third year of support, the carrier completed deployment to 40 percent of the supported locations.

2. By the last business day of the second calendar month following the fourth year of support, a certification that the carrier completed deployment to 60 percent of the supported locations.

3. By the last business day of the second calendar month following the fifth year of support, a certification that the carrier completed deployment to 80 percent of the supported locations.

4. By the last business day of the second calendar month following the sixth year of support, a certification that the carrier was offering broadband meeting the requisite public interest obligations to 100 percent of supported locations in a state.

By requiring Phase II auction winners and New York recipients to submit these certifications, the Commission will be able to monitor such carriers’ use of support as they build out their networks to ensure that the support is being used for its intended purposes.

5. Non-Compliance Reporting for Phase II Model-Based Support Recipients, ACS as recipient of Phase II Frozen Support, Phase II Auction Winners, Recipients of Phase II Support Allocated in Partnership with New York’s New NY Broadband Program, Rate of Return Carriers, and Alaska Plan Carriers (revised to incorporate New York and Alaska Plan recipients)

Phase II Model-Based Support recipients, ACS as recipient of Phase II Frozen Support, Phase II Auction Winners, New York recipients, certain Rate of Return carriers, and Alaska Plan carriers that do not meet their build-out milestones by a certain specified percentage of locations or population for Alaska Plan mobile carriers may be required to submit quarterly reports that identify the geocoded locations to which the ETC has newly deployed facilities capable of delivering broadband meeting the requisite requirements with Connect America support the previous quarter. 47 C.F.R. § 54.320(d). Such a requirement will be triggered for carriers other than rate of return carriers receiving CAF-BLS support if the ETC has a compliance gap of at least five percent (and in some cases less if the compliance gap has occurred for multiple years). These quarterly reports must be filed once the Bureau issues a letter stating that the ETC has reduced its compliance gap to less than five percent.

The Commission has determined that if such recipients miss their build-out milestones by a certain percentage, they require additional monitoring to ensure that High Cost support is being used for its intended purposes. These quarterly reports will enable the Commission to monitor recipients’ progress in meeting build-out milestones more closely and verify that service is being deployed to the reported locations.

Non-Compliance requirements for CAF-BLS recipients will be determined on a case-by-case basis and are therefore not included in the burden estimates below. This requirement for CAF-BLS recipients is currently approved pursuant to OMB Control No. 3060-0986.

The content of the non-compliance reports carriers filed in the portal will be substantially similar to the content of the geocoded location reporting for each respective carrier type, except that the ETC must indicate when submitting the report that it is a non-compliance report and not geocoded location report.

6. Geocoded Information for Rate-of-Return Alaska Plan Participants (new requirement)

Rate-of-Return Alaska Plan carriers are required to deploy/upgrade service meeting the Commission’s public interest obligations to a specific number of locations in accordance with the carrier’s individualized plan. The Commission required that these carriers submit geocoded location information for newly deployed or upgraded locations so that the Commission can monitor the carriers’ progress in meeting their commitment. See 47 CFR § 54.316. Geocoded locations are necessary for the Commission to verify that carriers have in fact deployed to the number of locations claimed.

Rate-of-return Alaska Plan participants must report the following information to the portal for each location or set of locations. In some cases, some or all of fields below may instead be auto-generated by the portal based on information previously filed with USAC. See Portal Template for additional details.

1. The carrier’s name

2. Carrier holding company name

3. Contact information for the person who prepared and submitted the data

4. Study Area Code(s)

5. Type of Carrier (e.g., rate-of-return, Alaska Plan)

6. State(s) of carrier

7. Location ID

8. Latitude of the location (to 6 decimal places)

9. Longitude of Location (to 6 decimal places)

10. Address of Location

11. Number of units at the location

12. The bandwidth/speed/backhaul available at the location

13. The date of service deployment at the location

14. Officer certification that information is true and correct

15. Certifying Official Contact Information

By March 1, 2018, certain rate-of-return Alaska Plan carriers will be required to report the list of geocoded locations for newly deployed/upgraded locations built to in 2017 that meet the commitments in the carrier’s plan. By March 1 of every subsequent year, certain rate-of-return Alaska Plan carriers must report the list of geocoded locations for newly deployed/upgraded locations built to in the prior calendar year that meet the commitments in the carrier’s plan.

While the reports are due March 1 of each year, we expect that Alaska Plan participants will report the information on a rolling basis, for instance no later than 30 days after service is initially offered to locations in satisfaction of their deployment obligations.

7. Build-Out Certifications for Rate-of-Return and Mobile Wireless CETC Alaska Plan Participants (new requirement)

The Commission adopted five- and ten-year build-out milestones for rate-of-return carriers and mobile wireless CETCs that elect Alaska Plan support. Such carriers are required to certify their compliance with these milestones.

Specifically, pursuant to 47 C.F.R. § 54.316(b)(6) each rate-of-return Alaska Plan participant must provide:

1. No later than March 1, 2022 a certification that it fulfilled the deployment obligations and is offering service meeting the requisite public interest obligations to the required number of locations as of December 31, 2021.

2. No later than March 1, 2027 a certification that it fulfilled the deployment obligations and is offering service meeting the requisite public interest obligations to the required number of locations as of December 31, 2026.

Each mobile wireless CETC must provide no later than 60 days after the end of each participating carrier’s first five-year term of support and second five-year term of support, a certification that it has met the obligations contained in the approved performance plan. See 47 C.F.R. § 54.321.

By requiring rate-of-return and mobile wireless Alaska Plan participants to make these certifications, the Commission will have a mechanism to aid carrier accountability of Alaska Plan carriers to ensure that they are deploying to and covering the reported locations and populations consistent with their obligations and commitments.

8. Fiber/Microwave Network Middle-Mile Maps for Alaska Plan Carriers (new requirement)

The Commission required Alaska Plan participants to submit fiber/microwave network maps covering eligible areas and to update such maps if the recipients have deployed middle-mile facilities in the prior calendar year that are or will be used to support their service in eligible areas. See 47 CFR § 54.316(a)(6). By collecting maps of existing and then newly deployed terrestrial middle-mile facilities, the Commission can monitor those areas with newly deployed middle-mile facilities and ensure that those areas receive adequate broadband access, based on the infrastructure available. Moreover, with the fiber/microwave network maps, the Commission will have data available to guide future decisions regarding universal service support in areas of Alaska served under the Alaska Plan.

In the Alaska Plan Order, the Commission delegated responsibility to the Wireline Competition Bureau and the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau to determine the format of the maps. The Bureaus, working together, reviewed and evaluated the software and systems that the Commission uses or has used to collect maps of middle-mile facilities. As an example, the Bureaus reviewed the Commission’s special access (business data services) proceeding (WC Docket No. 05-250).

Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47 U.S.C. sections 151-154, 155, 201-206, 214, 218-220, 251, 252, 254, 256, 303(r), 332, 403, 405, 410, and 1302.

This information collection does not affect individuals or households; thus, there are no impacts under the Privacy Act

2. Use of information. The Commission will use the information collections to ensure that Connect America funds are spent in accordance with the rules of the program, and to determine whether and to what extent each high-cost support carrier’s deployment obligations are serving Alaskans to the fullest extent.

3. Technology collection techniques. Respondents make submissions through an online interface on the USAC website. The online portal interface differs in non-material respects from the template provided with this submission. The online portal permits applicants to be able to input data in required fields and have data auto-populated where applicable. To reduce carrier confusion, the electronic filing process utilizes progressive disclosure where possible, so that a carrier will be asked to provide only information relevant to its application (e.g., rate-of-return carriers will not be asked to provide information that would only be applicable to the mobile competitive eligible telecommunications carriers). The interface is designed to provide online storage of applications and related materials for carriers, with the potential to ease compliance with recordkeeping requirements and possible audits. Furthermore, where possible, information already provided by carriers can be carried forward to filings in later funding years (i.e. pre-populated data), to further reduce the filing burden.

4. Efforts to identify duplication. In OMB Control Nos. 3060-0986 and 3060-1200, rural broadband experiment recipients are subject to an information collection similar to the collection now in 3060-1228. Specifically, under OMB Control No. 3060-1200, rural broadband experiment recipients are required to submit build-out certifications and associated evidence upon meeting their build-out milestones to USAC and WC Docket No. 14-259. Under OMB Control No. 3060-0986, rural broadband experiment recipients are required to submit in their July 1st FCC Form 481 annual report geocoded information for the locations to which they are offering service meeting their rural broadband experiment obligations. Those similar requirements were also incorporated into this collection and modified on February 27, 2017. By March 1, 2018, rural broadband experiment recipients will begin filing all of the relevant information in the portal pursuant to this collection. See 3060-1228 Approval. Accordingly, at no point will rural broadband experiment recipients be submitting duplicative information under more than one OMB Control No. The Commission will soon eliminate the duplicative FCC Form 481 location filing requirements in OMB Control No. 3060-0986 and revise the associated burden hours. Because there will not be another FCC Form 481 filing until July 1, 2018, the Commission will not collect location information in the FCC Form 481 from rural broadband experiment recipients again. Until March 1, 2018, USAC and the Commission will continue to collect build-out certifications and associated information under OMB Control No. 3060-1200. The Commission anticipates eliminating the duplicative aspects of OMB Control No. 3060-1200 and revising the burden hours associated with that collection after March 1, 2018.

5. Impact on small entities. The collection of information may affect small entities as well as large entities. The process has been designed to limit the burden as much as possible on small entities. Filing guidance and training will be made available to assist small entities in understanding what type of information should be submitted and in what format.

6. Consequences if information is not collected. The information collected is used to determine compliance with the rules and eligibility for high-cost universal service support. These requirements were put in place, in part, as a response to Government Accountability Office recommendations to increase the transparency and accountability of high cost program funding. Without the requested information, USAC will not be able to determine whether a carrier is entitled to all of the support which it seeks or is complying with its service obligations. Failure to file the necessary location information may result in partial or complete denial of high-cost universal service support for the carrier.

7. Special circumstances. We do not foresee any special circumstances with this information collection.

8. Federal Register notice; efforts to consult with persons outside the Commission. A 60-day notice was published in the Federal Register pursuant to 5 C.F.R. § 1320.8(d) on September 26, 2017 (82 FR 44785). We received one comment in response to this notice.  See Comments of the Alaska Telephone Association on Proposed Information Collection Requirements, OMB Control No. 3060-1228 (filed Nov. 27, 2017) (ATA Comments). The commenter argues that the collection of middle mile information, which the Commission described in a Bureau-level Public Notice, see Wireline Competition Bureau and Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Release Instructions for Filing Terrestrial Middle Mile Network Maps, Public Notice, 32 FCC Rcd 6863 (WCB and WTB 2017), is overly broad. With its comments, the Alaska Telephone Association attached its Petition for Reconsideration of the Bureau-level Public Notice. See Petition for Reconsideration of Alaska Telephone Association, WC Docket No. 16-271 (filed Oct. 10, 2017). ATA suggests that the PRA submission be modified by granting its petition. The ATA arguments raised in its Petition for Reconsideration are currently under consideration in the Alaska Plan proceeding, WC Docket No. 16-271. Moreover, ATA’s argument regarding the burden of this collection misconstrues ATA’s members’ compliance obligations. The Commission has met with ATA twice to discuss its concerns, most recently after ATA filed its petition for reconsideration.  See Letter from Christine O’Connor, Executive Director, Alaska Telephone Association, to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, FCC, WC Docket No. 16-271 (filed Nov. 20, 2017).

A 30-day notice was published in the Federal Register pursuant to 5 C.F.R. § 1320.10(a) on December 12, 2017 (82 FR 58392). We received one comment in response to this notice, also from ATA. See Comments of the Alaska Telephone Association on Proposed Information Collection Requirements, OMB Control No. 3060-1228 (filed Jan. 11, 2018) (ATA 30-day Comments). In its 30 day comments, ATA generally reiterates arguments made in its initial comments with the Commission. In addition, it argues that that the Commission’s cost estimate of $2,400 per carrier, per year, is lower than ATA’ estimated initial cost of data gathering, which “is likely to average between $10,000 to $80,000 per provider or more.” ATA argues that its estimate fully factors in the costs of gathering and formatting information for mobile wireless carriers. See ATA 30-day Comments at 20-21. ATA’s assumptions underlying its burden estimate are incorrect for several reasons. For example, ATA’s estimate assumes that carriers must collect all new middle mile data, but its comments acknowledge that it already has some, unquantified amount of information in its possession that meets the required standard. In addition, its estimate assumes that any new information would need to be gathered using professional surveyors, but the Bureau’s requested data accuracy standard (7.6 meters) can be achieved by line-employees using commonly available handheld GPS devices. The Bureau incorporated into its instructions carriers’ request that wireline carriers be permitted to file on behalf of their wireless affiliates to reduce their burden since their middle-mile networks are shared. To the extent they do so, the average per-carrier burden will be lower than the Commission’s estimate. In addition, the Commission’s burden estimate takes into account a higher burden in the first year and a lower burden in subsequent years when carriers need to only gather and file incremental changes to their middle-map data. Finally, we note that the Bureau continues to evaluate ATA’s petition for reconsideration through which the Bureau may provide additional relief.

9. Payments or gifts to respondents. The Commission does not anticipate providing any payment or gifts to respondents.

10. Assurances of confidentiality. The Commission is not requesting respondents to submit confidential information to the Commission. We note that USAC must preserve the confidentiality of all data obtained from respondents and contributors to the universal service support program mechanism; must not use the data except for purposes of administering the universal service support program; and must not disclose data in company-specific form unless directed to do so by the Commission. Also, respondents may request materials or information submitted to the Commission or to the Administrator believed confidential to be withheld from public inspection under 47 C.F.R. § 0.459 of the FCC’s rules.

11. Questions of a sensitive nature. There are no questions of a sensitive nature with respect to the information collection requirements described herein.

12. Estimates of the hour burden of the collection to respondents. The following represents the hour burden on the collections of information:

a. Geocoded Information for Phase II Model-Based Support Recipients (no revisions)

(1) Number of respondents: Approximately 9. Only price cap carriers that elect to receive Phase II model-based support must report this data.

(2) Frequency of response: Annually. Each recipient of Phase II model-based support must file the reports annually after accepting support.

(3) Total number of responses per respondent: Approximately 1.

(4) Estimated time per response: 30 hours.

(5) Total annual hour burden per respondent: 30 hours.

30 hours per respondent for 9 carriers filing on an annual basis. Total annual hour burden is calculated as follows:

9 respondents x 1 report per respondent = 9 responses x 30 hours = 270 total annual hours.

(6) Total estimate of in-house cost to respondents: $10,800. (270 hours x $40/hr.).

(7) Explanation of calculation: We estimate that each Phase II model-based support recipient will take 30 hours to gather and submit the geocoded locations information.

(9 number of responses) x 30 (hours to prepare report) x $40/hr. = $10,800.

b. Build-Out Certifications for Phase II Model-Based Support Recipients (no revisions)

(1) Number of respondents: Approximately 9. Only price cap carriers that elect to receive Phase II model-based support must make this certification.

(2) Frequency of response: Annually. Carriers accepting Phase II model-based support will be required to file this certification annually starting in their reports due in 2018.

(3) Total number of responses per respondent: Approximately 1.

(4) Estimated time per response: 10 hours.

(5) Total annual hour burden per respondent: 10 hours.

10 hours per respondent for 9 carriers filing on an annual basis. Total annual hour burden is calculated as follows:

9 respondents x 1 report per respondent = 9 responses x 10 hours = 90 total annual hours.

(6) Total estimate of in-house cost to respondents: $3,600 (90 hours x $40/hour).

(7) Explanation of calculation: We estimate that each recipient of Phase II Model-based support will take 10 hours to certify their compliance with their build-out requirements.

9 (number of responses) x 10 (hours to prepare report) x $40/hr. = $3,600.

c. Reporting Requirements and Associated Certifications for Rural Broadband Experiment Support (no revisions)

(1) Number of respondents: Approximately 16. Only recipients of rural broadband experiment support must report this data.

(2) Frequency of response: Annually and occasionally. Each rural broadband experiment recipient must file the data every year following the authorization of support as well as at their 3 and 5 year build out milestones. Recipients electing to receive upfront support must also file data within 15 months of their first disbursement. Reporting will continue until the end of the recipient’s project. The average number of certifications the provisionally selected winning bidders will submit each reporting period is two.

(3) Total number of responses per respondent: Approximately 2.

(4) Estimated time per response: 30 hours

(5) Total annual hour burden per respondent: 60 hours.

30 hours per respondent for 16 carriers filing on an annual basis. Total annual hour burden is calculated as follows:

16 respondents x 2 reports per respondent = 32 responses x 30 hours = 960 total annual hours.

(6) Total estimate of in-house cost to respondents: $38,400. (960 hours x $40/hr.).

(7) Explanation of calculation: We estimate that each rural broadband experiment support recipient will take 30 hours to gather and submit the location data and required certifications:

32 (number of responses) x 30 (hours to prepare report) x $40/hr. = $38,400

d. Build-Out Certifications for Rate-of-Return Carriers electing CAF-ACAM Support (no revisions)

(1) Number of respondents: Approximately 274. Estimated that out of approximately 1000 rate-of-return carriers, 274 will elect CAF-ACAM support.

(2) Frequency of response: Annually. Carriers electing will be required to file this certification annually starting in 2021.

(3) Total number of responses per respondent: Approximately 1.

(4) Estimated time per response: 10 hours.

(5) Total annual hour burden per respondent: 10 hours.

10 hours per respondent for 274 carriers filing on an annual basis. Total annual hour burden is calculated as follows:

274 respondents x 1 report per respondent = 274 responses x 10 hours = 2,740 total annual hours.

(6) Total estimate of in-house cost to respondents: $109,600. (2740 hours x $40/hour).

(7) Explanation of calculation: We estimate that each recipient CAF-ACAM support will take 10 hours to certify their compliance with their build-out requirements.

274 (number of responses) x 10 (hours to prepare report) x $40/hr. = $109,600.

e. Build-Out Certifications for Rate-of-Return Carriers Receiving CAF-BLS Support (no revisions)

(1) Number of respondents: Approximately 726. Estimated that out of the approximately 1000 rate-of-return carriers, 726 will not elect CAF-ACAM support and will remain on CAF-BLS support.

(2) Frequency of response: Annually. Carriers on CAF-BLS support will be required to file this certification every five years starting in 2022.

(3) Total number of responses per respondent: Approximately 1.

(4) Estimated time per response: 10 hours.

(5) Total annual hour burden per respondent: 10 hours.

10 hours per respondent for 726 carriers filing on an annual basis. Total annual hour burden is calculated as follows:

726 respondents x 1 report per respondent = 726 responses x 10 hours = 7,260 total annual hours.

(6) Total estimate of in-house cost to respondents: $290,400. (7,260 hours x $40/hour).

(7) Explanation of calculation: We estimate that each recipient CAF-BLS support will take 10 hours to certify their compliance with their build-out requirements.

726 (number of responses) x 10 (hours to prepare report) x $40/hr. = $290,400.

f. Geocoded Information and Associated Certifications for Alaska Communications Systems (ACS) as a Phase II Frozen Support Recipient (no revisions)

(1) Number of respondents: 1. These requirements only apply to ACS.

(2) Frequency of response: Annually. ACS must file the reports annually after accepting support.

(3) Total number of responses per respondent: Approximately 1.

(4) Estimated time per response: 41 hours.

(5) Total annual hour burden per respondent: 41 hours.

(6) Total estimate of in-house cost to respondents: $1,640. (41 hours x $40/hr.).

(7) Explanation of calculation: We estimate that it will take ACS 41 hours to gather and submit the geocoded locations information and make the required certifications.

1 (number of responses) x 41 (hours to prepare certifications) x $40/hr. = $1,640

g. Geocoded Information for Rate-of-Return Carriers (no revisions)

(1) Number of respondents: Approximately 1,000.

(2) Frequency of response: Annually.

(3) Total number of responses per respondent: Approximately 1.

(4) Estimated time per response: 30 hours.

(5) Total annual hour burden per respondent: 30 hours.

30 hours per respondent for 1,000 carriers filing on an annual basis. Total annual hour burden is calculated as follows:

1,000 respondents x 1 report per respondent = 1,000 responses x 30 hours = 30,000 total annual hours.

(6) Total estimate of in-house cost to respondents: $1,200,000. (30,000 hours x $40/hr.).

(7) Explanation of calculation: We estimate that each rate-of-return support recipient will take 30 hours to gather and submit the geocoded location information.

1,000 (number of responses) x 30 (hours to prepare report) x $40/hr. = $1,200,000.

h. Geocoded Information for Phase II Auction Winners and New York Recipients (revised to incorporate New York recipients)

(1) Number of respondents: Approximately 550.

(2) Frequency of response: Annually.

(3) Total number of responses per respondent: Approximately 1.

(4) Estimated time per response: 30 hours.

(5) Total annual hour burden per respondent: 30 hours.

30 hours per respondent for 550 carriers filing on an annual basis. Total annual hour burden is calculated as follows:

550 responses x 1 report per respondent = 550 responses x 30 hours = 16,500 total annual hours.

(6) Total estimate of in-house cost to respondents: $660,000 (16,500 hours x $40/hr.).

(7) Explanation of calculation: We estimate that each Phase II auction support and New York recipient will take 30 hours to gather and submit the geocoded locations information.

550 (number of responses) x 30 (hours to prepare report) x $40/hr. = $660,000.

i. Build-Out Certifications for Phase II Auction Winners and New York Recipients (revised to incorporate New York recipients)

(1) Number of respondents: Approximately 550.

(2) Frequency of response: Annually. Phase II Auction Winners will be required to file this certification annually starting the last business day of the second calendar month following the third year of support.

(3) Total number of responses per respondent: Approximately 1.

(4) Estimated time per response: 10 hours

(5) Total annual hour burden per respondent: 10 hours.

10 hours per respondent for 550 carriers filing on an annual basis. Total annual hour burden is calculated as follows:

500 respondents x 1 report per respondent = 550 responses x 10 hours = 5,500 total annual hours.

(6) Total estimate of in-house cost to respondents: $220,000 (550 hours x $40/hour).

(7) Explanation of calculation: We estimate that each Phase II Auction winner and New York recipient will take 10 hours to certify their compliance with their build-out requirements.

550 (number of responses) x 10 (hours to prepare report) x $40/hr. = $220,000

j. Non-Compliance Reports for Phase II Model-Based Support Recipients, ACS as recipient of Phase II Frozen Support, Phase II Auction Winners, New York Recipients, Rate of Return Recipients, and Alaska Plan Carriers (revised to incorporate New York and Alaska Plan recipients)

(1) Number of respondents: Approximately 140. Only carriers that do not meet build-out milestones by a certain percentage will be required to file these reports.

(2) Frequency of response: Quarterly. Carriers that have failed to meet their build-out milestones by a certain percentage will be required to file quarterly reports.

(3) Total number of responses per respondent: Approximately 4.

(4) Estimated time per response: 8 hours.

(5) Total annual hour burden per respondent: 32 hours.

8 hours per respondent for 140 carriers filing on a quarterly basis. Total annual hour burden is calculated as follows:

140 respondents x 4 reports per respondent = 560 responses x 8 hours = 4,480 total annual hours.

(6) Total estimate of in-house cost to respondents: $179,200 (4,480 hours x $40/hour).

(7) Explanation of calculation: We estimate that each carrier that has failed to meet its build-out milestones will take 8 hours to collect and report location data for each quarter.

560 (number of responses) x 8 (hours to prepare report) x $40/hr. = $179,200.

k. Geocoded Information for Rate-of-Return Alaska Plan Participants (new requirement)

1. Number of respondents: 15.

2. Frequency of response: Annually. Each Rate-of-Return carrier receiving Alaska Plan support must file the reports annually starting on March 1, 2018.

3. Total number of responses per respondent: Approximately 1.

(4) Estimated time per response: 30 hours.

(5) Total annual hour burden per respondent: 30 hours.

30 hours per respondent for 15 carriers filing on an annual basis. Total annual hour burden is calculated as follows:

15 respondents x 1 report per respondent = 15 responses x 30 hours = 450 total annual hours.

(6) Total estimate of in-house cost to respondents: $18,000. (450 hours x $40/hr.).

(7) Explanation of calculation: We estimate that each rate-of return Alaska Plan recipient will take 30 hours to gather and submit the geocoded locations information.

15 (number of responses) x 30 (hours to prepare report) x $40/hr. = $18,000.

l. Build-Out Certifications for Rate-of-Return and Mobile Wireless CETC Alaska Plan Participants (new requirement)

(1) Number of respondents: 23.

(2) Frequency of response: Alaska Plan participants will be required to file this certification twice, once to show the carrier met the 5-year benchmark and once to show the carrier met the 10-year benchmark

(3) Total number of responses per respondent: 2 total responses (one in 2022 and one in 2027). 2 responses over 10-year term of the Alaska Plan

(4) Estimated time per response: 10 hours

(5) Total annual hour burden per respondent: 2 hours

(2 responses x 10 hours per response)/10 years (term of the Alaska Plan)

10 hours per response for 23 carriers filing. Total annual hour burden is calculated as follows:

23 respondents x 2 reports per respondent = 46 responses x 10 hours = 460 total hours. 460 total hours/10 years = 46 total annual hours

(6) Total estimate of in-house cost to respondents: $1,840 (46 hours x $40/hour).

(7) Explanation of calculation: We estimate that each recipient of Alaska Plan support will take 10 hours to certify their compliance with their build-out requirements.

46 (number of responses) x 10 (hours to prepare report) x $40/hr. = $18,400. $18,400/10 years = $1,840

m. Fiber/Microwave Network Middle-Mile Maps for Rate-of-Return and Mobile Wireless CETC Alaska Plan Participants (new requirement)

1. Number of respondents: 15¹

2. Frequency of response: Initially once, then occasionally. All Alaska Plan recipients will submit an initial fiber/microwave network map of their middle-mile facilities. Carriers are then required to update that map as their middle-mile facilities change.

3. Total number of responses per respondent: At least 1 and then once a year but only if there are new middle-mile facilities to report.

4. Estimated time per response: 60 hours

5. Total annual hour burden per respondent: 18 hours

Each carrier will submit an initial map, and we estimate that each carrier will update its map twice over the 10-year term of the Alaska Plan.

60 hours per response for 15 carriers filing 3 times over the 10-year term of the Alaska Plan. Total annual hour burden is calculated as follows:

15 respondents x 3 reports per respondent = 45 responses x 60 hours = 2,700 total hours.

2,700 hours/10 years = 270 total annual hours

6. Total estimate of in-house cost to respondents: $10,800 (270 hours x $40/hr.)

7. Explanation of calculation: We estimate that each Alaska Plan recipient will take 60 hours to prepare its fiber/microwave network map filing and will make one initial filing and two filings updating their maps.

15 respondents x 3 responses per respondent = 45 responses x 60 hours per response = 2,700 total hours. 2,700 hours/10 years = 270 hrs./year. 270 hrs./yr. x $40/hr. = $10,800/yr.

The estimated respondents and responses and burden hours are listed below:

Information Collection Requirements	Number of Respondents	Number of Responses Per Year	Estimated Time per Response (hours)	Total Burden Hours	In-house Cost to Respondents
a. Geocoded Information for Phase II Model-Based Support Recipients	9	9	30	270	$10,800
b. Build-Out Certifications for Phase II Model-Based Support Recipients	9	9	10	90	$3,600
c. Reporting Requirements and Associated Certifications for Rural Broadband Experiment Support	16	32	30	960	$38,400
d. Build-Out Certifications for Rate-of-Return Carriers electing CAF-ACAM Support	274	274	10	2,740	$109,600
e. Build-Out Certifications for Rate-of-return Carriers Receiving CAF-BLS Support	726	726	10	7,260	$290,400
f. Geocoded Information and Associated Certifications for ACS as Phase II Frozen Support Recipient	1	1	41	41	1,640
g. Geocoded Information for Rate-of-return Carriers	1,000	1,000	30	30,000	$1,200,000
h. Geocoded Information for Phase II Auction Winners and New York Recipients	550	550	30	16,500	$660,000
i. Build-Out Certifications for Phase II Auction Winners and New York Recipients	550	550	10	5,500	$220,000
j. Non-Compliance Reports for Phase II Model-Based Support Recipients, ACS, Phase II Auction Winners, New York Recipients, Rate of Return Recipients, and Alaska Plan Recipients	140	560	8	4,480	$179,200
k. Geocoded Information for Rate-of-Return Alaska Plan Recipients	15	15	30	450	$18,000
l. Build-Out Certifications for Rate-of-Return and Mobile Wireless CETC Alaska Plan Recipients	23	2	10	46	$1,840
m. Fiber/Microwave Network Middle-Mile Maps for Rate-of-Return and Mobile Wireless CETC Alaska Plan Recipients	15	3	60	270	$10,800

Total Number of Respondents: 1,599 unique respondents filing multiple times.

Total Number of Responses Annually: 3,731 unique responses.

Total Annual Hourly Burden for requirements (a) – (m): 68,607

Total Annual In-house Costs to respondents: $2,744,280

13. Estimates for the cost burden of the collection to respondents. There are no outside contracting costs for this information collection. See the last column in the chart in item 12 above for the estimated in-house costs.

14. Estimates of the cost burden to the Commission. There will be few, if any, costs to the Commission because ensuring proper use of universal service support is already part of Commission duties. Furthermore, no new systems or programs will be acquired or developed to process the information collection.

15. Program changes or adjustments. The Commission is reporting program changes to this collection as a result of rate-of-return carriers and wireless CETCs receiving Alaska Plan support being subject to certain new requirements being added to this collection. These program changes resulted in an increase in the number of respondents, annual responses and annual burden hours. The number of respondents increased from 1,526 to 1,549 (+23), the annual responses increased from 3,595 to 3,615 (+20); and the annual burden hours increased from 65,713 to 66,479 (+766).

The Commission is also reporting adjustments to this collection as a result of updating the number of respondents subject to certain requirements (recipients of Phase II support awarded in partnership with New York’s New NY Broadband Program and Alaska Plan recipients). This adjustment increases the number of respondents, annual responses and annual burden. The number of respondents increased from 1,549 to 1,599 (+50), the annual responses increased from 3,615 to 3,731 (+116); and the annual burden hours increased from to 66,479 to 68,607 (+2,128).

The total number of respondents increased from 1,526 to 1,599 (+73); the total annual responses increased from 3,595 to 3,731 (+136); and the total annual burden hours increased from 65,713 to 68,607 (+2,894).

16. Collections of information whose results will be published. The Commission plans to make a subset of the information filed by carriers publicly available.

17. Display of expiration date for OMB approval of information collection. There is no paper form associated with this information collection; it is collected electronically through the portal described above. The Commission seeks approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of this information collection. The Commission will use an edition date in lieu of the OMB expiration date. This will prevent the Commission from having to repeatedly update the expiration date on the portal each time this collection is submitted to OMB for review and approval. The Commission publishes a list of all OMB-approved information collections in 47 C.F.R. § 0.408 of the Commission’s rules. The Commission publishes a list of all OMB-approved information collections in 47 C.F.R. § 0.408 of the Commission’s rules.

18. Exceptions to certification statement for Paperwork Reduction Act submissions.

There are no exceptions to the certification statement.

B. Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods:

The Commission does not anticipate that the collection of information will employ statistical methods.

1 There are 8 mobile wireless carriers participating in the Alaska Plan, and each of those carriers is affiliated with a rate-of-return carrier participating in the plan. As the companies are affiliates and serve the same area, they share middle-mile facilities to serve customers in those areas. Accordingly, 15 rate-of-return carriers may file on behalf of the 8 mobile wireless carriers.

1