Overview
Title
Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The FCC is asking people for ideas on how to make filling out forms easier, especially for small businesses, and they want ideas by April 26, 2021. They also want to make sure that phone booths get paid fairly for each call.
Summary AI
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is seeking public comments on information collections as part of its ongoing efforts to reduce paperwork burdens under the Paperwork Reduction Act. Comments should address the necessity and practical utility of these collections, accuracy of the FCC's burden estimates, and ways to enhance and minimize the burden of these collections, especially on small businesses. The information relates to the modernization of payphone compensation rules, ensuring fair compensation for payphone service providers. Written comments are due by April 26, 2021, and can be sent to Nicole Ongele at the FCC via email.
Abstract
As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collections. Comments are requested concerning: 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; the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; 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; and ways to further reduce the information collection burden on small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees. The FCC 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.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) invites public comments on the collection of information, as part of efforts to reduce paperwork burdens under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The FCC emphasizes the need for feedback on the necessity, utility, accuracy, and potential burden of these information collections, particularly in relation to the modernization of payphone compensation rules. Written comments are due by April 26, 2021.
General Summary
The FCC is focusing on reducing paperwork and streamlining processes related to how payphone service providers (PSPs) are compensated. The rules are designed to ensure that these providers are fairly compensated for each payphone-originated call. The document outlines requirements for various carriers to report and confirm the accuracy of compensation payments. The FCC is looking for input on how to enhance the quality and clarity of the information they collect, and especially how to minimize burdens on small businesses with fewer than 25 employees.
Significant Issues and Concerns
The document can be daunting for the general public due to its use of technical jargon such as "Completing Carriers" and "Intermediate Carriers." These terms are not explained in a manner that would be easily understood without specialized knowledge, which could limit useful public feedback.
The obligation described as "Required to obtain or retain benefits" might be misleading. The document implies a necessity to comply but does not necessarily clarify the benefits that respondents might gain from participating, potentially leading to confusion.
There is a lack of detailed breakdown regarding the "total annual burden" of 27,064 hours. Without more context, it isn't clear how these hours are allocated or the specific tasks involved. Such information would be beneficial in analyzing the actual impact on respondents’ time.
The frequency of responses required—described as "on occasion, one-time, and quarterly"—is also vague. There is limited information on what specific actions correlate with each frequency, which could result in misunderstandings about compliance requirements.
Lastly, the section on confidentiality mentions that respondents may request confidential treatment of their information but does not provide clear guidance on how to make such requests or the chances of approval.
Impact on the Public and Stakeholders
For the general public, the impact might be minimal unless they are directly involved or interested in the functioning of PSPs and communication regulations. However, for businesses and other agencies that must comply with these information collection requirements, the effects are more pronounced.
Specific stakeholders, such as small businesses, might find these requirements burdensome, especially given the significant time commitment implied by the total annual burden. If the frequency of compliance is not clearly understood, such businesses may inadvertently fail to comply, leading to lost benefits or penalties, despite the assurance that penalties are only applicable if a valid OMB control number is displayed.
Potential Positive and Negative Impact
On the positive side, modernization and clear rules may lead to simplified processes in the long run for payphone service providers, facilitating better business operations and potentially lowering operational costs. Additionally, the opportunity to provide feedback allows stakeholders to influence regulations directly impacting them.
Conversely, the negative aspects primarily affect small entities that may not have the resources to easily comply with complex reporting requirements. Ensuring fair compensation while aligning with regulatory demands could become a challenging task if the guidance provided is not sufficiently clear or intuitively understandable.
In summary, while the document aims to streamline processes and reduce burdens, it requires more accessible language and thorough breakdowns to truly benefit its stakeholders, particularly smaller businesses that the FCC seeks to assist.
Issues
• The document is highly technical and uses complex terms that may not be easily understood by the general public, such as 'Completing Carriers', 'Intermediate Carriers', and 'Alternative Compensation Arrangements (ACA)'.
• The document mentions the obligation to respond as 'Required to obtain or retain benefits', which could be misleading or confusing since it implies a necessity without clearly explaining the benefits to the respondents.
• Although there is a mention of a 'total annual burden', the document does not clearly break down how the 27,064 hours are calculated or distributed among different tasks, which could help in understanding the burden.
• The frequency of response is described as 'On occasion, one-time, and quarterly', but it lacks specificity about which actions correspond to these frequencies, possibly leading to confusion.
• The section on confidentiality states that respondents may request confidential treatment but does not provide guidance on the process or likelihood of such requests being granted.