Federal Communications Commission	"FCC/DA  XX-XXX"



 DA 21-1251
Released:  October 6, 2021

NOTICE OF EFFECTIVE DATE FOR SECURE AND TRUSTED COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM RULES
WC Docket No. 18-89

By this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau announces that Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program rules containing new information collections approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will become effective on October 6, 2021.
On December 10, 2020, the Commission adopted the 2020 Supply Chain Order, which created rules to implement the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019, including creating the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program (Reimbursement Program). Protecting Against National Security Threats to the Communications Supply Chain Through FCC Programs, WC Docket No. 18-89, Second Report and Order, 35 FCC Rcd 7821 (2020) (2020 Supply Chain Order).  
  Those rules became effective March 15, 2021, except for rules that contained new information collection requirements requiring approval by OMB as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 before becoming effective.  The information collections were submitted to OMB for review under 47 U.S.C. § 3507(d) and were approved by OMB on September 8, 2021. See Notice of Office of Management and Budget Action for OMB Control No. 3060-1270 (approved Sept. 8, 2021), https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/DownloadNOA?requestID=348935.
  These new information collections included filings necessary to participate in the Reimbursement Program, including the FCC Form 5640 Application Request for Funding Allocation, and related recordkeeping requirements. 47 CFR § 1.50004(c), (d)(1), (g), (h)(2), (j)-(n).  The new information collections approved by OMB also include the annual reporting requirement on covered communications equipment or services applicable to all providers of advanced communications services as set forth in section 1.50007 of the Commission’s rules.  Id. § 1.50007.
  
The Commission stated these rules requiring OMB approval would become effective after publication of a notice in the Federal Register, announcing OMB approval and the relevant effective date. See 2020 Supply Chain Order, 35 FCC Rcd at 14373, para., 227.
  On October 6, 2021, the Commission published a notice in the Federal Register, announcing the effective date. See Federal Communications Commission, Protecting Against National Security Threats to the Communications Supply Chain Through FCC Programs, 86 Fed. Reg. 55515 (Oct. 6, 2021).
  Accordingly, the rules requiring OMB approval became effective on October 6, 2021.
For additional information about the Reimbursement Program, please visit our webpage at https://www.fcc.gov/supplychain.  For questions about the Reimbursement Program, please contact the Fund Administrator Help Desk either by email at SCRPFundAdmin@fcc.gov or by calling (202) 418-7540, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM ET, Monday through Friday, except for Federal holidays.
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