Federal Communications Commission DA 22-352 DA 22-352 Released: April 1, 2022 WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF FCC FORM 481 ON THE UNIVERSAL SERVICE ADMINISTRATIVE COMPANY’S ONE PORTAL WC Docket No. 10-90 By this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) announces that the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC)’s One Portal is open for eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) required to file the FCC Form 481 annual reports. See 47 CFR § 54.313. ETCs may begin the filing process, including uploading required documentation and reporting any other substantive information. At this time, however, ETCs are not able to certify and submit the FCC Form 481 annual reports, pending Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval, but will be able to do so at a later date that will be announced in a subsequent public notice. On our own motion, the Bureau also grants a limited waiver to all ETCs of the July 1, 2022 deadline under section 54.313(j) of the Commission’s rules. Generally, the Commission’s rules may be waived for good cause shown. 47 CFR § 1.3. The Commission may exercise its discretion to waive a rule where the particular facts make strict compliance inconsistent with the public interest. Northeast Cellular Telephone Co. v. FCC, 897 F.2d 1164, 1166 (D.C. Cir. 1990) (Northeast Cellular). In addition, the Commission may take into account considerations of hardship, equity, or more effective implementation of overall policy on an individual basis. WAIT Radio v. FCC, 418 F.2d 1153, 1159 (D.C. Cir. 1969); Northeast Cellular, 897 F.2d at 1166. Waiver of a filing deadline in the Commission’s rules is appropriate when (i) special circumstances warrant a deviation from the general rule, and (ii) such deviation will serve the public interest. Northeast Cellular, 897 F.2d at 1166. Because OMB approval of modifications to the associated information collection remains pending, The Bureau is currently seeking approval of the most recent modifications to this information collection, including changes to section 54.313 and FCC Form 481, from OMB pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. The prior approval for the existing information collection associated with the previous FCC Form 481 does not expire until May 31, 2024. See OMB Approval No. 3060-0986 (May 10, 2021). we find that special circumstances warrant grant of a limited waiver of the annual reporting requirements, to provide sufficient time for filers to submit and certify the required information. USAC shall calculate any support reductions from the new filing deadline, 47 CFR § 54.313(j)(1), (2). Our limited waiver of the July 1, 2022 deadline also applies to reporting requirements associated with FCC Form 481 that are not codified in section 54.313. See, e.g., 47 CFR § 54.308(d) (requiring that mobile carriers receiving Alaska Plan support pursuant to section 54.317(e) certify, in their annual compliance filings, that their rates are reasonably comparable to rates for comparable offerings in urban areas). which we will announce in a subsequent public notice. For further information, please contact Stephen Wang, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, at (202) 418-7400 or via email at Stephen.Wang@fcc.gov. - FCC - 2