Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission, Comments Requested

Summary: The Federal Communications Commission, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection(s), as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Public Law 104-13. An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act that does not display a valid control number. Comments are requested concerning (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Dates: Written Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) comments should be submitted on or before February 7, 2005. If you anticipate that you will be submitting comments, but find it difficult to do so within the period of time allowed by this notice, you should advise the contact listed below as soon as possible.

Addresses: Direct all Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) comments to Judith B. Herman, Federal Communications Commission, Room 1-C804, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554 or via the Internet to Judith-B.Herman@fcc.gov.

For Further Information Contact: For additional information or copies of the information collection(s), contact Judith B. Herman at (202) 418-0214 or via the Internet at Judith-B.Herman@fcc.gov.

Supplementary Information: OMB Control No.: 3060-0816.

Title: Local Telephone Competition and Broadband Reporting, WC Docket No. 04-141, FCC 04-266 (Report and Order).

Form No.: FCC Form 477.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit, not-for-profit institutions, State, local or tribal government.

Number of Respondents: 1,400.

Estimated Time per Response: 22 hours (average).

Frequency of Response: Semi-annual reporting requirement.

Total Annual Burden: 61,295 hours.

Total Annual Cost: N/A.

Privacy Act Impact Assessment: N/A.

Needs and Uses: FCC Form 477 seeks to gather information on the development of local telephone competition and deployment of broadband service also known as advanced telecommunications services. The data are necessary to evaluate the status of developing competition in local exchange telecommunications markets and to evaluate the status of broadband deployment. The information is used by Commission staff to advise the Commission about the efficacy of Commission rules and policies adopted to implement the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

In the Report and Order, FCC 04-266, WC Docket No. 04-141, we adopted rules and a standardized form to improve our FCC Form 477, local telephone competition and broadband data-gathering program, including extending the program for five years beyond its currently designated sunset in March 2005, eliminating existing reporting thresholds, and gathering more granular data from service providers.