Promoting Fair and Open Competitive Bidding in the E-Rate Program; Schools and Libraries Universal Service Support Mechanism

Promoting Fair and Open Competitive Bidding in the E-Rate Program; Schools and Libraries Universal Service Support Mechanism

DATES:

The amendatory instructions 4 and 5, published at 91 FR 29051, on May 19, 2026 are effective September 14, 2026.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Commission made a submission for non-substantive changes to an existing collection for review and approval by OMB, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, on June 25, 2026, which were approved by the OMB on July 7, 2026.

The information collection requirements are contained in the Commission's Report and Order, WC Docket No. 21-455, CC Docket No. 02-6; FCC 26-30, published at 91 FR 29051, May 19, 2026. The OMB Control Number is 3060-0806. The Commission publishes this document as an announcement of the effective date of the rules published on May 19, 2026. If you have any comments on the burden estimates listed in the following, or how the Commission can improve the collections and reduce any burdens caused thereby, please contact Nicole Ongele, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554. Please include the OMB Control Number, 3060-0806, in your correspondence. The Commission will also accept your comments via email at [email protected]. To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an email to [email protected] or call the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice).

Synopsis

As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507), the Commission is notifying the public that it received OMB approval on July 7, 2026, for the amendatory instructions 4 and 5, published at 91 FR 29051, on May 19, 2026.

Under 5 CFR part 1320, an agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a current, valid OMB Control Number.

No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act that does not display a current, valid OMB Control Number. The OMB Control Number is 3060-0806.

The foregoing notice is required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13, October 1, 1995, and 44 U.S.C. 3507.

The total annual reporting burdens and costs for the respondents are as follows:

OMB Control Number: 3060-0806.

OMB Approval Date: July 7, 2026.

OMB Expiration Date: November 30, 2027.

Title: Universal Service-Schools and Libraries Universal Service Program, FCC Form 470 and 471.

Form Number: FCC Forms 470 and 471.

Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions, and State, Local or Tribal governments.

Number of Respondents and Responses: 25,000 unique respondents; 83,560 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 4 hours for FCC Form 470 [3 hours for response; 1 hour for recordkeeping]; 5 hours for FCC Form 471 [4 hours for response; 1 hour for recordkeeping].

Frequency of Response: Recordkeeping, on occasion and annually reporting requirements.

Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in sections 1, 4(i), 4(j), 201-205, 214, 254, and 403 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 151-154, 201-205, 218-220, 254, 303(r), 403 and 405.

Total Annual Burden: 236,890 hours.

Total Annual Cost: No Cost.

Needs and Uses: The requirements are necessary to implement the congressional mandate for universal service. The information collected provides the Commission and the Universal Service Administrative Company with the necessary information to administer the E-Rate program, determine the amount of support entities seeking funding are eligible to receive, to determine if entities are complying with the Commission's rules, and to protect the integrity of the E-Rate program. The information will also allow the Commission to evaluate the extent to which the E-Rate program is meeting the statutory objectives specified in section 254 of the 1996 Act and the Commission's performance goals set forth in the 2014 First E-Rate Order, and to evaluate the need for and feasibility of any future revisions to program rules.

On April 30, 2026, the Commission took action to reinforce the success and integrity of the E-Rate program by establishing a competitive bidding portal and document repository to strengthen the E-Rate program's competitive bidding rules as well as other actions to simplify and streamline program processes and procedures for E-Rate participants. In addition, the Commission adopted changes to streamline and simplify the E-Rate program while maintaining the integrity of the program. Those actions provided greater transparency into the applicants' competitive bidding and bid evaluation and selection processes, and protect the program against waste, fraud, and abuse.

The submission was made for non-substantive changes to an existing information collection pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 3507. The submission sought to alleviate the current 10-year document retention and production requirement for service providers and applicants of the schools and libraries universal service support program, commonly known as the E-Rate program. The submission also sought to add checkboxes and/or fields applicable to the Schools and Libraries Universal Service Description of Services Requested and Certification FCC Form 470 and FCC Form 471.