2022 3060-0710 Supporting Statement_final version

Policy and Rules Concerning the Implementation of the 3060-0710

Local Competition Provisions in the Telecommunications Act June 2022

of 1996, CC Docket No. 96-98

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

A. Justification:

1. The following information collections are implemented pursuant to the First Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration issued in CC Docket No. 96-98 implementing the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

a. Submission of Information Necessary to Reach Agreement. Parties negotiating agreements under section 252 are required to provide each other with information necessary to reach agreement. 47 U.S.C. § 252(b). See also 47 C.F.R. Sections 51.301, 51.100.

b. Submission of Agreements to a State Commission. Carriers must file interconnection agreements negotiated or arbitrated under the 1996 Act with the appropriate state commissions. Once agreements are approved by the state commission, incumbent LECs are also required to make their approved agreements available to all parties. 47 U.S.C. §§ 252(e)(1), 252(i). See also 47 C.F.R. Sections 51.100, 51.3, 51.303, 51.809.

c. Burden of Proof Regarding Interconnection and Access to Unbundled Network Elements. To submit an order to obtain a high-capacity unbundled transmission facility, a requesting carrier must undertake a reasonably diligent inquiry and, based on that inquiry, self-certify that to the best of its knowledge; its request is consistent with the availability thresholds set forth in the Commission's rules. Upon receiving such a request, the incumbent LEC must immediately process it and provision the element and may subsequently bring any dispute regarding access to that UNE before a state commission or other appropriate authority. An incumbent LEC that denies a request to combine network elements must prove by clear and convincing evidence that the requested combination is not technically feasible or that the requested combination would impair the ability of other carriers to interconnect or to access unbundled network elements. 47 U.S.C. §§ 251(c)(2), (c)(3). See also C.F.R. Sections 51.305, 51.323, 51.319.

d. Collocation. When an incumbent LEC alleges that there are space constraints, it must provide the state commission with detailed floor plans or diagrams of those premises. When an incumbent LEC objects to collocation of equipment by a telecommunications carrier, the incumbent LEC bears the burden of demonstrating to the state commission that the equipment will not be actually used for the purpose of obtaining interconnection or gaining access to unbundled network elements. An incumbent LEC shall relinquish any space held for future use before denying a request for virtual collocation on the grounds of space limitations, unless the incumbent LEC proves to the state commission that virtual collocation at that point is not technically feasible. An incumbent LEC may impose reasonable restrictions on the warehousing of unused space by collocating telecommunications carriers, provided, however, that the incumbent LEC shall not set maximum space limitations applicable to such carriers unless the incumbent LEC proves to the state commission that space constraints make such restrictions necessary. An incumbent LEC providing collocation must permit interconnection of copper or coaxial cable if such interconnection is first approved by the state commission. 47 U.S.C. § 251(c)(6). See also 47 C.F.R. Sections 51.321, 51.323.

e. Notification that a State Commission Has Failed to Act. Any interested party seeking preemption of a state commission’s jurisdiction based on the state commission’s failure to act shall notify the Commission as follows: (1) file with the Secretary of the Commission a detailed petition, supported by an affidavit, that states with specificity the basis for any claim that it has failed to act; (2) serve the state commission and other parties to the proceeding on the same day that the party serves the petition on the Commission; and (3) within 15 days of the filing of the petition, the state commission and parties to the proceeding may file a response to the petition. 47 U.S.C. § 252(e). See also 47 C.F.R. Section 51.803.

f. Rural and Small Carriers. Rural and small carriers may have to submit information to state commissions in order to: (1) justify a continued exemption under section 251(f)(1) once a bona fide request has been made; and (2) petition a state commission for a suspension or modification of the Act’s requirements under section 251(f)(2). 47 U.S.C. § 251(f). See also 47 C.F.R. Section 51.403.

g. Pole Attachment Modifications. Absent a private agreement establishing notification procedures, utilities must provide no less than 60 days’ written notification of a modification of a pole attachment to parties holding attachments on the facility to be modified. Notice should be sufficiently specific to apprise the recipient of the nature and scope of the planned modification. If the contemplated modification involves an emergency situation for which advanced written notice would prove impractical, the notice requirement does not apply, except that notice should be given as soon as reasonably practicable, which in some cases may be after the modification is completed. This requirement does not apply to routine pole maintenance activities. Utilities and parties with attachments should exchange maintenance handbooks or other written descriptions of their standard maintenance practices. Changes to these practices should be made only upon 60 days’ written notice. 47 U.S.C. §224(h). See also 47 C.F.R. Section 1.1403.

h. Pole Attachment Access Requests and Denials of Access. The Commission adopts procedures to provide a complete record of pole access requests and denials of requests. Therefore, cable operators and telecommunications carriers must provide written request for access to utilities. If access is not granted within 45 days of the request, the utility must confirm the denial in writing by the 45^th day. The denial must be specific, and the utility must include all relevant evidence supporting its denial. It must enumerate how the evidence relates to one of the reasons that access can be denied under Section 224(f)(2), i.e., lack of capacity, safety, reliability or engineering standards. 47 U.S.C. §§ 224(f), 251(b)(4). See also 47 C.F.R. Section 1.1403.

i. Dispute Resolution Process for Denials of Access. The Commission also adopts a dispute resolution process for denials of access. Upon the receipt of a notice of denial from the utility, the requesting party shall have 60 days to file its complaint with the Commission. We anticipate that by following the required procedure for denials of access, the Commission will, upon receipt of a complaint, have all relevant information upon which to make its decision. The petition must be served pursuant to Section 1.1404(b) of the Commission’s rules. Final decisions relating to access will be resolved by the Commission. 47 U.S.C. §§ 224(f), 251(b)(4). See also C.F.R. Sections 1.1403, 1.1404.

j. Preparation of Forward-Looking Economic Cost Studies to Determine Rates for Interconnection and Unbundled Network Elements During Arbitration Proceedings. States may prepare themselves, or require parties to prepare, forward-looking economic cost studies to determine rates for unbundled elements during arbitration proceedings. 47 U.S.C. §§ 251(c)(2), (c)(3), (c)(6), 252(d)(1). See also 47 C.F.R. Section 51.505.

k. Preparation of a Cost Study on Avoidable Cost to Determine Resale Discounts. States may prepare themselves, or require parties to prepare, avoided cost studies to determine resale discounts. Initially, a state may choose a percentage within the Commission’s default discount percentage range, or set a discount through review of an avoided cost study prepared by a state or a party. A state that chooses to employ the Commission’s default discount percentage range must articulate a reason for its choice, and must set resale discount through review of an avoided cost study within a reasonable time after choosing the default percentage. 47 U.S.C. §§ 251(c)(4), 252(d)(3). See also 47 C.F.R. Sections 51.609, 51.611.

l. Preparation of Forward-Looking Economic Cost Studies Conducted to Determine Reciprocal Rates for Transport and Termination of Telecommunications Traffic. Parties may prepare forward-looking economic cost studies to demonstrate their costs incurred for the transport and termination of telecommunications traffic. 47 U.S.C. §§ 251(b)(2). See also 47 C.F.R. Sections 51.505, 51.511, 51.705.

m. Measurement of Traffic for Purposes of Determining Whether Transport and Termination Traffic Flows are Symmetrical. Parties will measure traffic flow to determine their reciprocal compensation payment obligations. Those parties regulated under a bill-and-keep arrangement may wish to measure relative traffic flow to determine whether it is roughly balanced. 47 U.S.C. §§ 251(b)(5), 252(d)(2). See also 47 C.F.R. Sections 51.713, 51.703, 51.705.

n. Filing Required for Arbitration. Parties must provide documentation to states (or the Commission acting under 252(e)(5)) when arbitration is to occur. This information will consist of a statement of unresolved issues and the positions of the parties with respect to those issues, and a list of other issues discussed and resolved by the parties. This information also may include the forward-looking economic or avoided cost studies mentioned in the above sections “j” through “m.” 47 U.S.C. § 252 (b)(2). See also 47 C.F.R. Section 51.807.

o. Determination of Rates for Interconnection, Unbundled Network Elements, and Transport and Termination of Telecommunications Traffic – State Commission Review of Forward-Looking Economic Cost Studies. The Act provides that during arbitration the state commission shall set prices for interconnection, unbundled network elements, and transport and termination of telecommunications traffic. In the First Order on Reconsideration, the Commission created a proxy to assist state commissions in setting rates for the flat-rated component of the local switching network element. The state commission sets such prices either through review of a forward-looking economic cost study, or by choosing one of the Commission’s proxies. 47 U.S.C. §§ 251(b), (c)(2), (c)(3), (c)(6), 252(d)(1). See also 47 C.F.R. Sections 51.507, 51.503, 51.505.

p. Determination of Resale Discount Percentage – State Commission Review of Avoided Cost Studies. The Act provides that during arbitration, the state commission shall set the percentage discount for resale of telecommunications services. Initially, a state may choose a discount percentage within the Commission’s default discount percentage range, or set a discount through review of an avoided cost study prepared by a state or a party. A state that chooses to employ the Commission’s default discount percentage range must set a resale discount through review of an avoided cost study within a reasonable time after choosing the default percentage. 47 U.S.C. §§ 251(c)(4), 252(d)(3). See also 47 C.F.R. Section 51.611.

q. Petition for Incumbent LEC Status. A state commission, or any other interested party, may request that the Commission issue an order declaring that a particular LEC be treated as an incumbent LEC, or that a class or category of LECs be treated as incumbent LECs. 47 U.S.C. § 251(h)(2).

r. Use of Proxies by State Commissions – Articulating Written Reasons for Choice. State commissions may set rates for interconnection, unbundled network elements, transport and termination of telecommunications traffic, and resale utilizing a proxy or default percentage as an alternative to conducting or reviewing a cost study. In the First Order on Reconsideration, the Commission created a proxy to assist state commissions in setting rates for the flat-rated component of the local switching network element. 47 U.S.C. §§ 251(b)(5), (c)(2), (c)(3), (c)(4), (c)(6), 252 (d)(l), (d)(2), (d)(3). See also 47 C.F.R. Sections 51.503, 51.505.

s. Preparation of Forward-looking Economic Cost Studies to Establish Rates for Transport and Termination of Paging and Radiotelephone Service, Narrowband Personal Communications Services, and Paging Operations in the Private Land Mobile Radio Services. A state commission shall establish the rates that licensees in the Paging and Radiotelephone Service, Narrowband Personal Communications Services, and Paging Operations in the Private Land Mobile Radio Services may charge to other carriers for transport and termination of traffic, to the extent these carriers are unable to reach agreement on transport and termination rates in their interconnection agreements. Such rates must be based on forward-looking economic costs, and may not be set utilizing a proxy. Given the lack of information in the record concerning paging providers’ costs, the Commission was unable to set a proxy for transport and termination rates for use by these carriers. 47 U.S.C. § 251 (b)(5). See also 47 C.F.R. Sections 20.11, 51.505, 51.513.

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

The statutory authority for this collection is contained in sections: 1-4, 201-205, 214, 224, 251, 252, and 303 (r) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 601 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, 47 U.S.C. §§ 151-154, 201-205, 224, 251, 252, 303 (r), and 601.

2. The information collected under the Submission of Information Necessary to Reach Agreement; Pole Attachment Modifications; Pole Attachment Access Requests and Denials of Access; and Use of Proxies by State Commissions requirements must be provided to third parties. The information collected under the Dispute Resolution Process for Denials of Access; Notification that a State Commission Has Failed to Act; and Petition for Incumbent LEC Status must be submitted to the FCC. The information collected under the Rural and Small Carriers requirement must be provided to the state commission. The Submission of Agreement to the State Commission requirement; the Burden of Proof Regarding Interconnection, and Access to Unbundled Network Elements; Collocation; Measurement of Traffic for Purposes of Determining Whether Transport and Termination Traffic Flows are Symmetrical; Filing Regarding Arbitration; Determination of Interconnection and Unbundled Network Element Prices; Determination of Resale Discount Percentage; Preparation of Forward-looking Economic Cost Studies to Establish Rates for Transport and Termination for Paging and Radiotelephone Service, Narrowband Personal Communications Services, and Paging Operation in the Private Land Mobile Radio Services; and various cost studies must be provided to third parties, state commissions and/or, in some instances, the FCC. All of the requirements would be used to ensure that local exchange carriers comply with their obligations under the 1996 Act.

3. Generally, there is no improved technology identified by the Commission to reduce the burden of these collections. However, the Commission does not prohibit the use of improved technology where appropriate.

4. The Commission is not aware of any similar information already available that can be used or modified for the purposes described in Item 2 above.

5. The information collection may affect small entities as well as large entities. For small entities, the 1996 Act in section 251(f), provides for exemption, suspension, or modification of certain requirements in some instances. That provision would affect information collected under the proposed burdens of proof regarding interconnection, unbundling, and collocation requirements, the submission of agreements to the state commission, the proposed notice that the state commission has failed to act, and pole attachment requests.

6. Failing to collect the information, or collecting it less frequently, would violate the language and/or intent of the 1996 Act to foster opportunities for competing carriers to enter the local telephone market.

7. FCC requirements do not impose any obligations that would require parties to report information to the FCC more often than quarterly, nor will our requirements impose any other special circumstances. In some instances, a respondent might need to make a showing or filing more often than quarterly due to actions by private parties. For example, pursuant to the 1996 Act, if a pole owner modifies its poles more often than quarterly, it would be required to give notice of such modification more often than quarterly to persons with attachments to such poles.

8. Pursuant to 5 C.F.R. Section 1320.8(d), the Commission published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register to solicit public comment on this information collection on April 18, 2022 (87 FR 22885). No PRA comments were received as a result of the notice.

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

10. The Commission is not requesting respondents to submit confidential information to the Commission. If the respondents request to submit information which they believe is confidential, they may request confidential treatment of such information under section 0.459 of the Commission’s rules.

11. The information collection does not address any matters of a sensitive nature.

12. The following represents the estimates of hour burden of the information collections:

a. Third Party Disclosure Requirement (Submission of Information Necessary to Reach Agreement):

(1) Number of respondents: Approximately 100.

(2) Frequency of response: Third party disclosure requirement.

(3) Total number of responses per respondent: 5 responses.

(4) Estimated time per response: 50 hours.

(5) Total annual burden: 25,000 hours.

100 respondents x 5 times/per year x 50 hours/per response = 25,000 hours.

(6) Total estimate of “in-house” cost to respondents: $1,450,250.

(7) Explanation of the calculation:

We estimate that each respondent uses staff equivalent to a GS-13/Step 5 ($58.01/hour) federal employee to satisfy this third party disclosure requirement. Thus, 25,000 hours x $58.01 per hour = $1,450,250.

b. Reporting Requirement (Submission of Agreements to the State Commission):

(1) Number of respondents: Approximately 100.

(2) Frequency of response: On occasion reporting requirement.

(3) Total number of responses per respondent: Approximately 2,000 (20 agreements x 100).

(4) Estimated time per response: 1 hour per agreement.

(5) Total annual burden: 2,000 hours.

100 respondents x 1 hour per agreement x 20 agreements per year = 2,000 hours.

(6) Total estimate of “in-house” cost to respondents: $116,020.

(7) Explanation of the calculation:

We estimate that each respondent uses staff equivalent to a GS-13/Step 5 ($58.01/hour) federal employee to satisfy this reporting requirement. Thus, 2,000 hours x $58.01 per hour = $116,020.

c. Third Party Disclosure Requirement (Burden of Proof Regarding Interconnection and Access to Unbundled Network Elements):

(1) Number of respondents: Approximately 100.

(2) Frequency of response: Third party disclosure requirement.

(3) Total number of responses per respondent: Approximately 5.

(4) Estimated time per response: 25 hours.

(5) Total annual burden: 12,500 hours.

100 respondents x 5 responses per respondent x 25 hours per response = 12,500 hours.

(6) Total estimate of “in-house” cost to respondents: $725,125.

(7) Explanation of the calculation:

We estimate that each respondent uses staff equivalent to a GS-13/Step 5 ($58.01/hour) federal employee to satisfy this third party disclosure requirement. Thus, 12,500 hours per year x $58.01 per hour = $725,125.

d. Reporting Requirement (Collocation):

(1) Number of respondents: Approximately 200.

(2) Frequency of response: On occasion reporting requirement.

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

(4) Estimated time per response: 5 hours.

(5) Total annual burden: 1,000 hours.

Approximately 200 respondents x 5 hours per response x 1 response per year = 1,000 hours.

(6) Total estimate of “in-house” cost to respondents: $58,010.

(7) Explanation of the calculation:

We estimate that each respondent uses staff equivalent to a GS-13/Step 5 ($58.01/hour) federal employee to satisfy this reporting requirement. Thus, 1,000 hours x $58.01 per hour = $58,010.

e. Reporting Requirement (Notification that State Commission has Failed to Act):

(1) Number of respondents: Approximately 30.

(2) Frequency of response: On occasion reporting requirement.

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

(4) Estimated time per response: 10 hours.

(5) Total annual burden: 300 hours.

30 respondents x 1 response per year x 10 hours per response = 300 hours.

(6) Total estimate of “in-house” cost to respondents: $17,403.

(7) Explanation of the calculation:

We estimate that each respondent uses staff equivalent to a GS-13/Step 5 ($58.01/hour) federal employee to satisfy this third party disclosure requirement. Thus, 300 hours x $58.01 per hour = $17,403.

f. Third Party Disclosure Requirement (Rural and Small Carriers):

(1) Number of respondents: Approximately 100.

(2) Frequency of response: Third party disclosure requirement.

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

(4) Estimate time per response: 20 hours.

(5) Total annual burden: 2,000 hours.

100 respondents x 1 response per year x 20 hours per response = 2,000 hours.

(6) Total estimate of “in-house” cost to respondents: $116,020.

(7) Explanation of the calculation:

We estimate that each respondent uses staff equivalent to a GS-13/Step 5 ($58.01/hour) federal employee to satisfy this third party disclosure requirement. Thus, 2,000 hours x $58.01 per hour = $116,020.

g. Third Party Disclosure (Pole Attachment Modifications):

i. Third party disclosure of pole modifications for ILECs.

(1) Number of respondents: Approximately 1,400.

(2) Frequency of response: Third party disclosure requirement.

(3) Total number of responses per respondent: Approximately 1,050,000 (1,400 x 750 modifications).

(4) Estimated time per response: .25 hours.

(5) Total annual burden: 262,500 hours.

1,400 respondents x .25 hours per response x 750 modifications per year = 262,500 hours.

(6) Total estimate of “in-house” cost to respondents: $15,227,625.

(7) Explanation of the calculation:

We estimate that each respondent uses staff equivalent to a GS-13/Step 5 (58.01/hour) federal employee to satisfy this third party disclosure requirement. Thus, 262,500 hours per year x $58.01 per hour = $15,227,625.

ii. Third party disclosure of modifications to standard pole maintenance practices of utilities, cable operators and other telecommunications carriers

(1) Number of respondents: Approximately 12,250.

(2) Frequency of response: Third party disclosure requirement.

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

(4) Estimated time per response: .25 hours.

(5) Total annual burden: 3,062 hours.

12,250 respondents x .25 hours per response x 1 response per respondent = 3,062 hours.

(6) Total estimate of “in-house” cost to respondents: $177,626.62.

(7) Explanation of the calculation:

We estimate that each respondent uses staff equivalent to a GS-13/Step 5 ($58.01/hour) federal employee to satisfy this third party disclosure requirement. Thus, 3,062hours per year x $58.01 per hour = $177,626.62.

h. Third Party Disclosure Requirement (Pole Attachment Access Requests and Denials of Access):

(1) Number of respondents: Approximately 50.

(2) Frequency of response: Third party disclosure requirement.

(3) Total number of responses per respondent: Approximately 1,500 (50 x 30 responses).

(4) Estimated time per response: 5 hours.

(5) Total annual burden: 7,500 hours.

50 respondents x 5 hours per response x 30 responses per year = 7,500 hours.

(6) Total estimate of “in-house” cost to respondents: $435,075.

(7) Explanation of the calculation:

We estimate that each respondent uses staff equivalent to a GS-13/Step 5 ($58.01/hour) federal employee to satisfy this third party disclosure requirement. Thus, 7,500 hours per year x $58.01 per hour = $435,075.

i. Third Party Disclosure Requirement (Dispute Resolution Process for Denials of Access):

(1) Number of respondents: Approximately 250 (125 complainants and 125 defendants).

(2) Frequency of response: Third party disclosure requirement.

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

(4) Estimated time per response: 17.5 hours.

(5) Total annual burden: 4,375 hours.

250 respondents x 1 response per year x 17.5 hours per response = 4,375 hours.

(6) Total estimate of “in-house” cost to respondents: $253,793.75.

(7) Estimate of the calculation:

We estimate that each respondent uses staff equivalent to a GS-13/Step 5 ($58.01/hour) federal employee to satisfy this third party disclosure requirement. Thus, 4,375 hours per year x $58.01 per hour = $253,793.75.

j. Third Party Disclosure Requirement (Preparation of Forward-Looking Economic Cost Studies to Determine Rates for Interconnection and Unbundled Network Elements During Arbitration Proceeding):

(1) Number of respondents: Approximately 15.

(2) Frequency of response: Third party disclosure requirement.

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

(4) Estimated time per response: 4,000 hours.

(5) Total annual burden: 60,000 hours.

Approximately 15 respondents x one response per year x 4,000 hours per response = 60,000 hours.

(6) Total estimate of “in-house” cost to respondents: $20,883,600.

(7) Explanation of the calculation:

We estimate that each respondent uses staff equivalent to a GS-13/Step 5 ($58.01/hour) federal employee to satisfy this third party disclosure requirement. Thus, 60,000 hours per year x 6 employees at $58.01 per hour = $20,883,600.

k. Third Party Disclosure Requirement (Preparation of a Cost Study on Avoidable Costs to Determine Resale Discounts):

(1) Number of respondents: Approximately 15.

(2) Frequency of response: Third party disclosure requirement.

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

(4) Estimated time per response: 480 hours.

(5) Total annual burden: 7,200 hours.

Approximately 15 respondents x one response annually x 480 hours per response = 7,200 hours.

(6) Total estimate of “in-house” cost to respondents: $835,344.

(7) Explanation of the calculation:

We estimate that each respondent uses staff equivalent to a GS-13/Step 5 ($58.01/hour) federal employee to satisfy this third party disclosure requirement. Thus, 7,200 hours per year x 2 employees at $58.01 per hour = $835,344.

l. Third Party Disclosure Requirement (Preparation of Forward-looking Economic Cost Studies to Determine Reciprocal Rates for Transport and Termination of Telecommunications Traffic):

(1) Number of respondents: Approximately 30.

(2) Frequency of response: Third party disclosure requirement.

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

(4) Estimated time per response: 450 hours.

(5) Total annual burden: 13,500 hours.

An average of 30 respondents per year x one response per year x 450 hours per response = 13,500 hours.

(6) Total estimate of “in-house” cost to respondents: $783,135.

(7) Explanation of the calculation:

We estimate that each respondent uses staff equivalent to a GS-13/Step 5 ($58.01/hour) federal employee to satisfy this reporting requirement. Thus, 13,500 hours per year x $58.01 per hour = $783,135.

m. Recordkeeping Requirement (Measurement of Traffic for Purposes of Determining Whether Transport and Termination Traffic Flows are Symmetrical):

(1) Number of respondents: Approximately 550.

(2) Frequency of response: Recordkeeping requirement.

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

(4) Estimated time per response: 350 hours.

(5) Total annual burden: 192,500 hours.

550 respondents x one response per year x 350 hours per response = 192,500 hours.

(6) Total estimate of “in-house” cost to respondents: $11,166,925.

(7) Explanation of the calculation:

We estimate that each respondent uses staff equivalent to a GS-13/Step 5 ($58.01/hour) federal employee to satisfy this recordkeeping requirement. Thus, 192,500 hours per year x $58.01 per hour = $11,166,925.

n. Third Party Disclosure Requirement (Filing Required for Arbitration):

1. Number of respondents: Approximately 50.

(2) Frequency of response: Third party disclosure requirement.

(3) Total number of responses per respondent: Approximately 500 (50 x 10 responses).

(4) Estimated time per response: 5 hours.

(5) Total annual burden: 2,500 hours.

Approximately 50 respondents x 10 responses per year x 5 hours per response = 2,500 hours.

(6) Total estimate of “in-house” cost to respondents: $145,025.

(7) Explanation of the calculation:

We assume that respondents will use staff equivalent to a GS-13/Step 5 ($58.01/hour) to satisfy this third party disclosure requirement. Thus, 2,500 hours per year x $58.01 per hour = $145,025.

o. Third Party Disclosure Requirement (Determination of Rates for Interconnection, Unbundled Network Elements, and Transport and Termination of Telecommunications Traffic – State Commission Review of Forward-looking Economic Cost Studies):

(1) Number of respondents: Approximately 15.

(2) Frequency of response: Third party disclosure requirement.

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

(4) Estimated time per response: 2,880 hours.

(5) Total annual burden: 43,200 hours.

Approximately 15 respondents x 1 response per year x 2,880 hours per response = 43,200 hours.

(6) Total estimate of “in-house” cost to respondents: $2,506,032.

(7) Explanation of the calculation:

We assume that each respondent uses staff equivalent to a GS-13/Step 5 ($58.01/hour) federal employee to satisfy this third party disclosure requirement. Thus, 43,200 hours x $58.01 = $2,506,032.

p. Third Party Disclosure Requirement (Determination of Resale Discounts):

(1) Number of respondents: Approximately 15.

(2) Frequency of response: Third party disclosure requirement.

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

(4) Estimated time per response: 160 hours.

(5) Total annual burden: 2,400 hours.

Approximately 15 respondents x 1 response per year x 160 hours per response = 2,400 hours.

(6) Total estimate of “in-house” cost to respondents: $139,224.

(7) Explanation of the calculation:

We estimate that each respondent uses staff equivalent to a GS-13/Step 5 ($58.01/hour) federal employee to satisfy this third party disclosure requirement. Thus, 2,400 hours x $58.01 = $139,224.

q. Third Party Disclosure Requirement (Petition of Incumbent LEC Status):

(1) Number of respondents: Approximately 2.

(2) Frequency of response: Third party disclosure requirement.

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

(4) Estimated time per response: 30 hours.

(5) Total annual burden: 60 hours.

Approximately 2 respondents x 1 response per year x 30 hours = 60 hours.

(6) Total estimate of “in-house” cost to respondents: $3,480.60.

(7) Explanation of the calculation:

We estimate that each respondent uses staff equivalent to a GS-13/Step 5 ($58.01/hour) federal employee to satisfy this third party disclosure requirement. Thus, 60 hours x $58.01 per hour = $3,480.60.

r. Reporting Requirement (Use of Proxies by State Commission – Articulating Written Reasons for Choice):

(1) Number of respondents: Approximately 5.

(2) Frequency of response: On occasion reporting requirement.

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

(4) Estimated time per response: 120 hours.

(5) Total annual burden: 600 hours.

Approximately 5 respondents x 1 response per year x 120 hours = 600 hours.

(6) Total estimate of “in-house” cost to respondents: $41,130.

(7) Explanation of the calculation:

We estimate that each respondent uses legal staff equivalent to a GS-14/Step 5 ($68.55/hour) federal employee to satisfy this reporting requirement. Thus, 600 hours x $68.55 per hour = $41,130.

s. Third Party Disclosure Requirement (Preparation of Forward-Looking Economic Cost Studies to Establish Rates for Transport and Termination for Paging and Radiotelephone Service, Narrowband Personal Communications Services, and Paging Operations in the Private Land Mobile Radio Services):

(1) Number of respondents: Approximately 5.

(2) Frequency of response: Third party disclosure requirement.

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

(4) Estimated time per response: 720 hours.

(5) Total annual burden: 3,600 hours.

Approximately 5 respondents x 1 response per year x 720 hours = 3,600 hours.

(6) Total estimate of “in-house” cost to respondent: $493,560.

(7) Explanation of the calculation:

We estimate that each respondent uses staff equivalent to a GS-14/Step 5 ($68.55/hour) federal employee to satisfy this third party disclosure requirement. Thus 3,600 hours x 2 employees at $68.55 per hour = $493,560.

	Information Collection Requirements	Respondents	Responses	Hour Burden	Total In-house Costs
(a)	3rd Party Disclosure	100	500	25,000	$1,450,250
(b)	Reporting	100	2,000	2,000	116,020
(c)	3rd Party Disclosure	100	5	12,500	725,125
(d)	Reporting	200	200	1,000	58,010
(e)	Reporting	30	30	300	17,403
(f)	3rd Party Disclosure	100	100	2,000	116,020
(g)(i)	3rd Party Disclosure	1,400	1,050,000	262,500	15,227,625
(g)(ii)	3rd Party Disclosure	12,250	12,250	3,062	177,626.62
(h)	3rd Party Disclosure	50	1,500	7,500	435,075
(i)	3rd Party Disclosure	250	250	4,375	253,793.75
(j)	3rd Party Disclosure	15	15	60,000	20,883,600
(k)	3rd Party Disclosure	15	15	7,200	835,344
(l)	3rd Party Disclosure	30	30	13,500	783,135
(m)	Recordkeeping	550	550	192,500	11,166,925
(n)	3rd Party Disclosure	50	500	2,500	145,025
(o)	3rd Party Disclosure	15	15	43,200	2,506,032
(p)	3rd Party Disclosure	15	15	2,400	139,224
(q)	3rd Party Disclosure	2	2	60	3,480.60
(r)	Reporting	5	5	600	41,130
(s)	3rd Party Disclosure	5	5	3,600	493,560
	Totals	15,282	1,067,987	645,798	$55,574,404

13. Estimated operations and maintenance (O&M) costs to respondents or record keepers resulting from the information collection:

(a) Total capital start-up costs component annualized over its expected useful life: $0. The information collection requirements impose no start-up costs to respondents.

(b) Total operation and maintenance and purchases of services component: $0. We believe operations and maintenance and service costs will be costs which are incurred in the normal course of doing business.

14. Estimated Costs to the Commission:

The following costs represent the only sections (a-s) that have cost associated with them;

c. Burden of Proof Regarding Interconnection and Access to Unbundled Network Elements.

None, unless the Commission has to act under section 252(e). The Commission would act under section 252(e), if the Commission concluded that a state had failed to act. We estimate that the Commission may accept on average of 50% of the estimated 30 notifications annually that a state commission has failed to act. For each arbitration conducted by the Commission, we estimate that a Commission arbitrator will work eight hours a day for approximately four months. 15 arbitrations x 640 hours by a GS 13/Step 5 employee ($58.01/hour) = $556,896 per year.

d. Collocation. None, unless the Commission has to act under section 252(e). Estimated costs to the Commission for are included within those for ‘c’ above.

e. Notification that a State Commission Has Failed to Act. The number of notifications estimated to be filed per year is 30, with an average of 10 hours to review. 30 notifications x 10 hours by a GS 13/Step 5 employee ($58.01/ hour = $17,403 per year.

i. Dispute Resolution Process for Denials of Access. The number of complaint cases estimated to be filed per year is 200, with an average burden of 50 hours for the Commission to review and resolve all aspects of each complaint case. Thus, 200 complaint cases x 50 hours by a GS 13/Step 5 employee ($58.01/hour) = $580,100.

o. Determination of Rates for Unbundled Network Elements and Transport and Termination of Telecommunications Traffic. None, unless the Commission must act under section 252(e). In that case, the estimated cost is explained in section 12(o) above.

p. Determination of Resale Discounts. None, unless the Commission must act under section 252(e). In that case, the estimated cost is explained in section 12(p) above.

s. Preparation of Forward-Looking Economic Cost Studies to Establish Rates for Transport and Termination of Paging and Radiotelephone Service, Narrowband Personal Communications Services, and Paging Operations in the Private Land Mobile Radio Services. None.

Total Estimated Cost to the Federal Government is: $1,154,399.

15. There is no change in the Commission’s previous burden estimates.

16. The Commission does not anticipate publishing any of the information to be collected

17. The Commission is not seeking approval to not display an OMB expiration date. However, the Commission “displays” the OMB control number, OMB expiration date and title of each OMB-approved information collection in 47 CFR 0.408 of the Commission’s rules.

18. There are no exceptions to the Certification Statement.

B. Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods:

The collections of information does not employ statistical methods.

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