FCC Paperwork Reduction Act Review: Public Comment Period on Information Collections
AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is conducting a mandatory review of its information collection practices under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995. As part of this review, the FCC is inviting the general public and other federal agencies to submit comments on its existing and proposed information collections. Commenters are specifically asked to address four areas: whether the information being collected is necessary for the FCC to carry out its regulatory functions; the accuracy of the FCC's estimates of the burden imposed on respondents; suggestions for improving the quality and clarity of the data collected; and ways to reduce the burden, particularly for small businesses with fewer than 25 employees. Under the PRA, the FCC is legally prohibited from conducting or sponsoring any information collection that does not display a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. Likewise, no individual or organization can be penalized for failing to comply with an information collection that lacks a valid OMB control number. This notice is a routine administrative step in the FCC's ongoing compliance with federal paperwork reduction requirements and does not introduce new substantive regulatory obligations.
AI-generated summary. May contain errors. Refer to official sources for legal decisions.
Key Changes
- FCC opens a public comment period inviting input on proposed and existing information collections under PRA 1995
- Commenters must address necessity of information, burden accuracy, data quality improvements, and burden reduction strategies
- Small businesses with fewer than 25 employees are specifically identified as a protected category for burden reduction consideration
+ 3 more changes with Pro
Obligations
What this law requires
FCC must display a currently valid OMB control number on all information collections it conducts or sponsors
FCC must invite public comment on whether proposed information collections are necessary for proper performance of Commission functions
FCC must solicit and consider comments on the accuracy of burden estimates for information collections
FCC must solicit and consider comments on ways to enhance quality, utility, and clarity of collected information
FCC must solicit and consider comments on ways to minimize burden on respondents, including small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees