FCC Notice on Information Collection Activities

Regs.gov: Federal Communications Commission

Detected March 25th, 2026

Summary

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued a notice and request for comments regarding the extension of an existing information collection under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). This notice seeks public input on the necessity, utility, and burden of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau's Universal Licensing System Recordkeeping and Third Party Disclosure Requirements.

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What changed

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is seeking public comments on the extension of an existing information collection, OMB Control No. 3060-0865, related to the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau's Universal Licensing System (ULS) Recordkeeping and Third Party Disclosure Requirements. This is part of the FCC's ongoing effort to reduce paperwork burdens under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The agency is specifically asking for feedback on the practical utility of the information, the accuracy of burden estimates, and ways to minimize the collection's impact, particularly on small businesses.

Regulated entities, including businesses, individuals, non-profits, and government entities, are invited to submit written comments by May 26, 2026. The FCC will use this feedback to refine the collection before submitting it to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a three-year clearance. While this is a notice and request for comments, the PRA states that no person shall be subject to penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information that does not display a valid OMB control number. The current collection is an extension of an already approved collection.

What to do next

Submit written comments on the information collection by May 26, 2026.
Advise the contact listed if submitting comments within the allowed period is difficult.

Penalties

No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the PRA that does not display a valid OMB control number.

Source document (simplified)

Content

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

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 Commission) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this
opportunity to comment on the following information collections. 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 burden on small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees.

The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. No
person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the PRA that does
not display a valid OMB control number.

DATES:

Written PRA comments should be submitted on or before May 26, 2026. If you anticipate that you will be submitting comments
but find it difficult to do so within the period of time allowed by this notice, you should advise the contact listed below
as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all PRA comments to Cathy Williams, FCC, via email PRA@fcc.gov and to Cathy.Williams@fcc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For additional information about the information collection, contact Cathy Williams at (202) 418-2918.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control No.: 3060-0865.

Title: Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Universal Licensing System Recordkeeping and Third Party Disclosure Requirements.

Form No.: N/A.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities, Individuals or households, Not-for-profit institutions, and State, Local or Tribal
Government.

Number of Respondents and Responses: 57,070 respondents; 57,070 responses.

Estimated Time per Response:.166 hours (10 minutes)-4 hours.

Frequency of Response: Recordkeeping and third-party disclosure requirements; on occasion reporting requirement.

Obligation To Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The statutory authority for this collection is contained in 47 U.S.C. 154(i) and 309(j).

Total Annual Burden: 77,811 hours.

Annual Cost Burden: No cost.

Needs and Uses: The Commission will submit this information collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as an extension after
this 60-day comment period to obtain the full three-year clearance from them.

The purpose of this information collection is to continually streamline and simplify processes for wireless applicants and
licensees, who previously used a myriad of forms for various wireless services and types of requests, in order to provide
the Commission information that has been collected in separate databases, each for a different group of services. Such processes
have resulted in unreliable reporting, duplicate filings for the same licensees/applicants, and higher cost burdens to licensees/applicants.
By streamlining the Universal Licensing System (ULS), the Commission eliminates the filing of duplicative applications for
wireless carriers; increases the accuracy and reliability of licensing information; and enables all wireless applicants and
licensees to file all licensing-related applications and other filings electronically, thus increasing the speed and efficiency
of the application process. The ULS also benefits wireless applicants/licensees by reducing the cost of preparing applications,
and speeds up the licensing process in that the Commission can introduce new entrants more quickly into this already competitive
industry. Finally, ULS enhances the availability of licensing information to the public, which has access to all publicly
available wireless licensing information on-line, including maps depicting a licensee's geographic service area.

Federal Communications Commission.

Marlene Dortch, Secretary, Office of the Secretary. [FR Doc. 2026-05725 Filed 3-23-26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6712-01-P