Overview
Title
Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The FCC wants to hear what people think about a plan to collect information, to help them work better and reduce paperwork, especially for small businesses. They ask questions like: is this really needed, and how can we make it easier and more useful?
Summary AI
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is requesting public comments on a proposed information collection effort to reduce paperwork burdens as part of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The FCC is seeking feedback on several aspects, including the necessity and utility of the information collected, and suggestions for reducing burdens, especially on small businesses. The proposal involves extending an existing collection related to numbering resource optimization, with an estimated annual burden of 5,290 hours for 31 respondents. Comments are due by June 30, 2025.
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.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) invites public input on an information collection proposal, aiming to ease paperwork burdens as part of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The proposal focuses on extending an existing initiative related to "Numbering Resource Optimization," which is vital for managing phone number allocations effectively. The public is encouraged to submit comments by June 30, 2025, especially on the necessity and practicality of the gathered information, the accuracy of burden estimates, and strategies to minimize this burden, particularly for small businesses with fewer than 25 employees.
Significant Issues and Concerns
One of the primary concerns is how the FCC intends to reduce the burden on small businesses specifically, as both the abstract and summary mention this goal without detailing the methods or metrics for achieving it. The document also suggests a broad estimate of 25-40 hours for respondents to fulfill their obligations, a range that may necessitate finer detail for precision and utility.
Another area of ambiguity lies in the claim of "no cost" for annual expenses. While direct costs might not exist, the potential indirect costs—such as the use of personnel time or opportunity costs—are not addressed, which might lead to an incomplete representation of the true resource allocation required for compliance.
Furthermore, the document incorporates terms like "safety valve" and "service-specific and technology-specific overlays," which could be complex terms for those not well-versed in telecommunications, warranting simplification or additional clarification to ensure broader understanding.
Impact on Broader Public
This regulatory effort, albeit technical in nature, bears implications for the broader public largely in terms of telecommunication resource management. Efficient numbering resource optimization could lead to better service availability and potentially improved telecommunications infrastructure, thus benefiting consumers through more reliable and extensive connectivity services.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For small businesses, particularly those with fewer than 25 employees, the document states an intent to diminish regulatory burdens. However, without explicit detail on how this will be achieved, there may be concerns regarding the effectiveness of these measures. Businesses operating in telecommunications might face increased scrutiny and the need to navigate potential administrative complexities, especially surrounding new overlay implementations.
State commissions also play a crucial role, with specific guidelines about how they should manage delegated authority for specialized overlays. The successful implementation of these guidelines could enhance local control over telecommunications resources, benefiting tailor-fit solutions for different areas' unique needs. However, the lack of example cases or further elaboration might make the process appear daunting or unclear to state authorities.
Overall, while the FCC's document aims to streamline data collection and reduce paperwork burdens, there are pockets of vagueness that necessitate clearer guidance and explanation to fully realize its objectives and benefits for all stakeholders involved.
Issues
• The abstract and summary mention efforts to minimize the burden on small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees, but it is not clear how these efforts will be specifically implemented or measured.
• There is a lack of detail in explaining how the FCC plans to practically enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected.
• The estimation of '25-40 hours' for estimated time per response is broad and may need further breakdown for clarity and accuracy.
• The document mentions 'Total Annual Cost: No cost.' However, it is unclear if any indirect costs such as personnel time or opportunity costs are considered.
• Some terms like 'safety valve', 'service-specific and technology-specific overlays', and 'take-backs' could be complex for lay readers and might benefit from additional explanation or simplification.
• The criteria for state commissions seeking delegated authority to implement service-specific or technology-specific overlays are listed without any examples or further elaboration, which may make it difficult to assess feasibility.
• There is no mention of how feedback from the public or agencies will be assessed or incorporated into the information collection process.