2023-01359. Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission Under Delegated Authority

AGENCY:

Federal Communications Commission.

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 the Commission) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection. 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 techniques or other forms of information technology; and ways to further reduce the information 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 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 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number.

DATES:

Written PRA comments should be submitted on or before March 27, 2023. 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 Nicole Ongele, FCC, via email [e-mail] and to [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For additional information about the information collection, contact Nicole Ongele, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control Number: 3060-0862.

Title: Handling Confidential Information.

Form Number: N/A.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

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

Number of Respondents and Responses: 2,400 respondents; 2,400 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 1-2 hours.

Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The statutory authority for this collection of information is contained in 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(4), 18 U.S.C. 1905, and 47 U.S.C. 154(i).

Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement; recordkeeping and third party disclosure requirements.

Total Annual Burden: 4,300 hours.

Total Annual Cost: No Cost.

Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).

Nature of Extent of Confidentiality: The Commission is not requesting that the respondents submit confidential information to the FCC. Respondents may, however, request confidential treatment for information they believe to be confidential under 47 CFR 0.459 of the Commission's rules.

Needs and Uses: On August 4, 1998, the FCC released a Report and Order (R&O), Examination of Current Policy Concerning the Treatment of Confidential Information Submitted to the Commission, CG Docket No. 96-55. The R&O included a Model Protective Order (MPO) that is used, when appropriate, to grant limited access to information that the Commission determines should not be routinely available for public inspection. The party granted access to the confidential information materials must keep a written record of all copies made and provide this record to the submitted of the confidential materials upon request. This approach was adopted to facilitate the use of confidential materials under an MPO, instead of restricting access to materials. In addition, the FCC amended 47 CFR 0.459(b) to set forth the type of information that should be included when a party submits information to the Commission for which it seeks confidential treatment. This listing of types of information to be submitted was adopted to provide guidance to the public for confidentiality requests.

Federal Communications Commission.

Marlene Dortch,

Secretary, Office of the Secretary.