PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830 TTY 202 / 418-2555 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov ftp.fcc.gov DA 08-140 Released: January 22, 2008 WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU ANNOUNCES OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET APPROVAL OF THE UNIVERSAL SERVICE RURAL HEALTH CARE PILOT PROGRAM INFORMATION COLLECTION REQUIREMENTS On November 16, 2007, the Commission adopted the Universal Service Rural Health Care Pilot Program Selection Order (2007 RHC PP Selection Order),1 which selected 69 organizations to participate in the Rural Health Care Pilot Program (Pilot Program), established by the Commission on September 26, 2006.2 As a result, selected participants will be eligible to receive funding for up to 85 percent of the costs associated with: (1) the construction of a state or regional broadband networks and the advanced telecommunications and information services provided over those networks; (2) connecting to Internet 2 or National LambdaRail (NLR); and (3) connecting to the public Internet.3 The 2007 RHC PP Selection Order also requires selected participants to file certain forms, reports, and related information (the “information collection requirements”) with the Commission and/or the Universal Service Administrative Company.4 On December 7, 2007, the Commission requested emergency approval of the information collection requirements from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).5 On January 17, 2008, the Commission received OMB approval.6 Filing procedures and instructions for the information collections are detailed in the 2007 RHC PP Selection Order.7 People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty). 1 See Rural Heath Care Support Mechanism, WC Docket No. 02-60, Order, 22 FCC Rcd 20,360 (2007) (2007 RHC PP Selection Order). 2 See Rural Heath Care Support Mechanism, WC Docket No. 02-60, Order, 21 FCC Rcd 11,111 (2006). 3 See 2007 RHC PP Selection Order, 22 FCC Rcd at 20,361, para. 2. 4 Id. 5 See Universal Service – Rural Health Care Program/Rural Health Care Pilot Program, 72 Fed Reg. 235 (December 7, 2007). 6 The Commission will also publish a notice in the Federal Register announcing OMB approval of the information collections. 7 See generally 2007 RHC PP Selection Order, 22 FCC Rcd 20,360. 2 For further information, please contact Jennifer Prime, Wireline Competition Bureau, Jennifer.Prime@fcc.gov, (202) 418-7400. FCC NOTICE AS REQUIRED BY THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 10.39 hours per response, including the time needed for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the required data, and completing and reviewing any report(s), etc., associated with the information collection requirements. If you have any comments on this burden estimate, or how we can improve the collection and reduce the burden estimate it causes you, please write to the Federal Communications Commission, OMD-PERM, Paperwork Reduction Act Project (3060-0804), Washington, D.C. 20554. We will also accept your comments regarding the Paperwork Reduction Act aspects of this collection via the Internet if you send them to PRA@fcc.gov. PLEASE DO NOT SEND YOUR RESPONSE TO THIS ADDRESS. Remember: You are not required to respond to a collection of information sponsored by the Federal government, and the government may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, no person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) that does not display a valid control number. Questions concerning any aspects of the information collection requirements associated with this OMB control number, 3060-0804, should be directed to Leslie F. Smith, Federal Communications Commission, (202) 418-0217 or via the Internet at Leslie.Smith@fcc.gov. THE FOREGOING NOTICE IS REQUIRED BY THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT OF 1995, PUBLIC LAW 104-13, OCTOBER 1, 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3507. -FCC-