Overview
Title
Information Collection Being Submitted for Review and Approval to Office of Management and Budget
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The FCC wants to hear what people think about their plan to make paperwork easier, especially for small businesses with less than 25 workers. They are looking at paperwork rules about undersea cables, which help keep the country safe.
Summary AI
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is requesting public comments on a proposed information collection, as part of its ongoing effort to reduce paperwork burdens under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. They are particularly interested in feedback on reducing information collection burdens for small businesses with fewer than 25 employees, as per the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002. The information collection concerns submarine cable reporting, which is important for national security and emergency preparedness. Comments are due by February 10, 2021.
Abstract
As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or the Commission) invites the general public and other Federal Agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection. Pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, the FCC seeks specific comment on how it might "further reduce the information collection burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees." The Commission may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the PRA that does not display a valid OMB control number.
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AnalysisAI
The document is a notice from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), calling for public comments on a proposed information collection that aims to reduce paperwork burdens, as mandated by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995. The FCC is particularly interested in how it can alleviate the paperwork load for small businesses with fewer than 25 employees, in line with the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002. This initiative focuses on data collection related to submarine cable reporting, which is crucial for national security and emergency preparedness. The deadline for comments is February 10, 2021.
General Summary
The FCC is engaging in a periodic review to examine and potentially reduce the paperwork burden associated with maintaining and submitting submarine cable data. This information is imperative for monitoring and safeguarding national infrastructure, especially in times of emergencies. The organization is essentially seeking public input to ensure that its information collection processes are efficient and not overly burdensome, especially for small businesses.
Significant Issues and Concerns
A key issue with this call for comments is the lack of specific benchmarks or metrics outlined for what constitutes successful reduction in paperwork burdens. Without clear goals, it may be difficult to measure progress or success.
Moreover, the document's emphasis on the voluntary nature of the information submission might confuse businesses regarding their obligations. This is compounded by numerous references to statutory authority and legal citations, creating potential ambiguity about the necessity and urgency of the information collection. For those unfamiliar with regulatory language, this could lead to uncertainty about compliance requirements.
The document also delves into technical details regarding confidentiality and FOIA exemptions, which are crucial for protecting sensitive information but are not explained in layman's terms. This could leave stakeholders unsure of how their information will be protected or what steps they may need to take to safeguard proprietary information.
Potential Public Impact
Broadly, this initiative presents an opportunity for stakeholders to influence FCC policies directly, potentially leading to streamlined processes that benefit various sectors. However, the complexity and technical nature of the document may discourage some from participating in the feedback process.
Stakeholder Impacts
For small businesses with fewer than 25 employees, this initiative could result in less administrative burden, allowing them to allocate resources more effectively. Nevertheless, the confusion surrounding the necessity to respond to the call for comments and the legal jargon may serve as barriers that require additional clarity from the FCC.
Conversely, larger entities involved in submarine cable operations and national security might view this process as a positive step towards enhancing communication Infrastructure resilience. The document’s focus on confidentiality and sensitive data protection assures stakeholders that their competitive and trade information is legally safeguarded, although clearer guidance is needed on how to ensure this protection proactively.
Overall, while the FCC's effort to improve its information collection systems is commendable, further clarity and simplification could enhance participation and support broader stakeholder engagement.
Issues
• The document refers to reducing paperwork burdens, but does not provide specific goals or metrics for reducing these burdens, which could make the effort difficult to assess.
• The document mentions the voluntary nature of the obligation to respond, yet provides extensive statutory and regulatory references, which could be confusing for respondents who are unsure if they must comply.
• The use of legal references and citations (e.g., 47 U.S.C. 151, 154(i)) might be overly complex for those not familiar with legal or regulatory language.
• Potential confusion could arise from the technical details related to confidentiality and FOIA exemptions. The specific exemptions should be clearly explained for general understanding.
• References to both a voluntary obligation and statutory authority could create ambiguity regarding the necessity for businesses to participate.
• The document provides a substantial focus on confidentiality and the FOIA process, but it lacks clear guidance on how businesses can ensure their information is protected and what steps they may need to take.