Overview
Title
Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission Under Delegated Authority
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The FCC is asking for people’s thoughts on how they collect and use information to make sure it’s useful and not too hard for small businesses to handle. They want everyone to feel free to share their ideas about how to make this process easier and better without getting into trouble if certain rules aren't marked correctly.
Summary AI
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is inviting the public and other federal agencies to comment on their information collection efforts as part of their ongoing attempt to reduce paperwork burdens, in line with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The FCC is seeking feedback on various aspects, such as whether the information collection is necessary and if the burden estimation is accurate, especially for small businesses. The comments should be submitted by April 28, 2025. This effort includes ensuring that no penalties are applied for failing to comply with collections that do not have a valid Office of Management and Budget control number.
Abstract
As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and 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. 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 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 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number.
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AnalysisAI
The document from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an official notice seeking public and agency comments on its ongoing efforts to collect certain information. This initiative aims to reduce the paperwork burden in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995. The feedback solicited will cover areas like the necessity of the information collection, the accuracy of the burden estimates, and the impact on small businesses.
General Summary
The FCC has launched a consultation process to invite comments from the public on their information collection methodologies. Specifically, they want to gather opinions on whether the proposed data collection aligns with the FCC's functions and whether it offers practical utility. Other focal points include the enhancement of data quality and clarity, minimizing the burden on respondents and particularly on small businesses with fewer than 25 employees, and the usage of modern data collection technologies. Importantly, the FCC emphasizes that no penalties will be imposed for non-compliance with collections that lack a valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. Comments are due by April 28, 2025.
Significant Issues and Concerns
While the effort to engage the public in reducing paperwork burdens is commendable, several issues deserve attention:
Burden Estimation: The document provides an overall annual burden estimate of 200 hours yet lacks a detailed explanation of how this figure was derived. This lack of specificity could challenge stakeholder understanding and complicate their assessment of the estimate's accuracy.
Quality and Clarity Improvements: There is a notable absence of specific strategies or methodologies on how the FCC plans to improve the quality, utility, and clarity of the collected information. This might leave stakeholders unclear about the potential changes and improvements.
Time Per Response: The FCC anticipates that each response will take two hours. However, there's no breakdown or clarity on what activities these two hours cover, which could create confusion and impact how stakeholders approach the data collection process.
Cost Implications: The claim of no associated costs lacks supporting details or an explanation, potentially causing skepticism or misunderstanding among those expected to comply with the data collection requirements.
Evaluation Criteria for Utility and Necessity: The absence of clear criteria for evaluating the proposed information collection's practical utility and necessity raises critical questions about the review process's transparency and objectivity.
Impact on the Public
For the general public, particularly businesses, understanding the scope and necessities of these data collection efforts will be essential. The call for comments reflects a participatory approach, which can foster a sense of inclusion and attention to potential burdens imposed.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Small Businesses: The lack of clarity regarding the burden estimate and costs might disproportionately impact small businesses with limited resources to comply with unclear or lengthy procedures.
Respondents and Institutions: Organizations required to provide detailed registration information, such as Radio Frequency Identification Equipment details, may find compliance challenging without clearer guidelines and a transparent burden estimate process.
This document represents a fundamental step in reducing administrative burden, yet emphasizes the necessity for transparency and detailed guidance to ensure stakeholders can provide meaningful feedback and comply effectively with new or existing requirements.
Issues
• The document lacks clarity on how the burden estimate of 200 hours was calculated, which might benefit from further elaboration to ensure transparency.
• The document does not provide specific information on how the FCC plans to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected, which could lead to ambiguity.
• While the estimated time per response is given as 2 hours, there is no explanation on what this time comprises, potentially leading to confusion for the respondents.
• The document specifies that there is no cost associated with the information collection, yet it does not provide a methodology or breakdown to explain how this conclusion was reached.
• It is unclear what specific criteria will be used to evaluate the practical utility and necessity of the proposed information collection.