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Incentive Auction Task Force and Media Bureau Finalize Catalog of Reimbursement Expenses


Published: 2017-02-21

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Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 33 (Tuesday, February 21, 2017)


[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 33 (Tuesday, February 21, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 11156]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-03174]



[[Page 11156]]

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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 73

[GN Docket No. 12-268; MB Docket No. 16-306; DA 17-154]


Incentive Auction Task Force and Media Bureau Finalize Catalog of
Reimbursement Expenses

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final action; requirements and procedures.

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SUMMARY: In this document the Incentive Auction Task Force and the
Media Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission (Commission)
adopts: Updates to the categories of eligible equipment and services,
as well as updated baseline costs, in the catalog of eligible
reimbursement expenses (Catalog); an economic methodology for adjusting
the Catalog's baseline costs annually such that they remain accurate,
by using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Producer Price Index, WPUFD4
series; and revisions to the online Reimbursement Form to incorporate
the updates to the Catalog, which will be embedded in the Reimbursement
Form, as well as other features, including checkboxes for entities to
indicate if they are seeking upgrades or partial payment requests,
which are designed to make it more user-friendly.

DATES: February 21, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Copies of any comments on the Paperwork Reduction Act
information collection requirements contained herein should be
submitted to Cathy Williams, Federal Communications Commission, 445
12th Street SW., Washington, DC 20554, or by email to PRA@fcc.gov and
Cathy.Williams@fcc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pamela Gallant, 202-418-0614, or
Raphael Sznajder, 202-418-1648, of the Media Bureau, Video Division.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: With the assistance of a third-party
contractor, Widelity, Inc., and based on the record to date, the Media
Bureau has developed, updated, and now adopted an updated catalog of
eligible reimbursement expenses (Catalog) for reimbursement-eligible
entities to use for reference during the post-incentive auction
transition. The Catalog is not exhaustive, but rather a tool to
facilitate the process for reimbursement-eligible entities to claim
reimbursement on the Reimbursement Form. This Public Notice (available
at: DA 17-154), adopts not only the proposed updated categories and
prices for the reimbursement expenses listed, but also adopts an
economic methodology to update the prices in the Catalog throughout the
three-year reimbursement period so that they accurately reflect the
current market for the equipment and services listed in the Catalog.
The Catalog that the Incentive Auction Task Force and the Media Bureau
adopt will be embedded in the on-line Reimbursement Form (FCC Form
2100, Schedule 399) which will be used by entities seeking
reimbursement to file estimated costs and reimbursement claims for the
costs they actually incur. The Reimbursement Form is a web-based
electronic form containing previously approved information collections
(under existing OMB control number 3060-1178). The Commission
previously sought, and, on March 17, 2016, obtained OMB approval for
the information collection requirements contained in the Reimbursement
Form, which became effective on March 24, 2016, for a period of three
years. (See Expanding the Economic and Innovation Opportunities of
Spectrum Through Incentive Auctions, 81 FR 15649, Vol. 81, No. 57 (Mar.
24, 2016)). Because the Catalog will be embedded within the
Reimbursement Form, available via the Commission's Licensing and
Management System (LMS), we now resubmit the Reimbursement Form to the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval under the Paperwork
Reduction Act (PRA) of the incremental changes resulting from the
Catalog's updates, as well as other minor modifications made to the
Reimbursement Form that are designed to make it more user-friendly and
assist filers in describing their claims. For example, we have added
check boxes that allow entities to easily indicate if they are seeking
optional equipment upgrades or requesting partial payment of particular
expenses. The public will now have an opportunity to comment on these
modifications to the data collections in the Reimbursement Form. This
is a summary of the FCC's document GN Docket No. 12-268; MB Docket No.
16-306; DA 17-154 (released Feb. 9, 2017). The full text of this
document is available for inspection and copying during normal business
hours in the FCC Reference Center (Room CY-A257), 445 12th Street SW.,
Washington, DC 20554.

Federal Communications Commission.
Barbara A. Kreisman,
Chief, Video Division, Media Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2017-03174 Filed 2-17-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P