E9-24857. Service and Eligibility Rules for FM Broadcast Translator Stations

AGENCY:

Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION:

Final Rule; announcement of effective date.

SUMMARY:

In this document, the Commission announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved, for a period of three years, the information collection requirements associated with FCC Form 349. Therefore, the form will take effect on [UPON PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER]. On September 1, 2009, the Commission published the summary document of the Report and Order, In the Matter of the Amendment of Service and Eligibility Rules for FM Broadcast Translator Stations, MB Docket No. 07-172, FCC 09-59, at 74 FR 45126. The Ordering Clause of the Report and Order stated that the Commission would publish a notice in the Federal Register announcing when OMB approval for the information collection requirements (revisions to FCC Form 349) have been received and when the revised requirements will take effect. This notice is consistent with the statement in the Report and Order.

DATES:

Effective October 16, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Cathy Williams, [e-mail] or on [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This document announces that, on October 8, 2009, OMB approved, for a period of three years, the information collection requirements which are the revisions to FCC Form 349. The Commission publishes this notice to announce the effective date of the requirements (Form 349). If you have any comments on the burden estimates listed below, or how the Commission can improve the collections and reduce any burdens caused thereby, please contact Cathy Williams, Federal Communications Commission, Room 1-C823, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554. Please include OMB Control Number, 3060-0029 (Form 349) in your correspondence. The Commission will also accept your comments via the Internet if you send them to [e-mail].

To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to [e-mail] or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at [phone] (voice), [phone] (TTY).

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 October 8, 2009, for the information collection requirements (revisions to FCC Form 349).

Under 5 CFR 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 valid OMB Control Number.

The OMB Control Number is 3060-0029 and the total annual reporting burdens for respondents for this information collection are as follows:

OMB Control Number: 3060-0029.

OMB Approval Date: October 8, 2009.

Expiration Date: October 31, 2012.

Title: Application for DTV Broadcast Station License, FCC Form 302-DTV; Application for Construction Permit for Reserved Channel Noncommercial Educational Broadcast Station, FCC Form 340; Application for Authority to Construct or Make Changes in an FM Translator or FM Booster Station, FCC Form 349.

Form Number: FCC Forms: 302-DTV, 340 and 349.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities; Not-for-profit institutions; State, local or tribal government.

Number of Respondents and Responses: 5,170 respondents and 5,170 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 1-4 hours.

Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement; Third party disclosure requirement.

Total Annual Burden: 11,080 hours.

Total Annual Costs: $19,096,297.

Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The statutory authority for this information collection is contained in Sections 154(i), 303 and 308 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: There is no need for confidentiality with this information collection.

Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).

Needs and Uses: On June 29, 2009, the Commission adopted a Report and Order, Amendment of Service and Eligibility Rules for FM Broadcast Translator Stations, MB Docket No. 07-172, FCC 09-59. In the Report and Order, the Commission adopted changes to the FM translator rules that would allow AM stations to use authorized FM translator stations to rebroadcast the AM signal locally, retransmitting their AM programming as a ”fill-in” service. The adopted cross service translating rules limit FM translators to providing ”fill-in” service only, specifically within the AM primary station's authorized service area. In addition, the Commission limited the cross-service rule changes to ”currently authorized FM translators,” that is, those translators with licenses or permit in effect as of May 1, 2009. Therefore, the rule changes affecting this information collection will add a new universe of filers - AM stations - to this information collection. AM stations will use Form 349 to apply for authorizations to operate such FM translator stations.

Consistent with actions taken by the Commission in the Report and Order, the following changes are made to Form 349: Sections II and III of Form 349 include new certifications concerning compliance with the AM station ”fill-in” service requirements. Specifically, in the AM service, applicants certify that the coverage contour of the FM translator station is contained within the lesser of: (a) the 2 mV/m daytime contour of the AM primary station being rebroadcast, or (b) a 25-mile radius centered at the AM station's transmitter site. The instructions for Sections II and III have been revised to assist applicants with completing the new questions.

FCC Form 349 is used to apply for authority to construct a new FM translator or FM booster broadcast station, or to make changes in the existing facilities of such stations. This form also includes the third party disclosure requirement of 47 CFR 73.3580 requires local public notice in a newspaper of general circulation of all application filings for new or major change in facilities. This notice must be completed within 30 days of the tendering of the application. This notice must be published at least twice a week for two consecutive weeks in a three-week period. A copy of this notice must be placed in the public inspection file along with the application.

FCC Form 302-DTV is used by licensees and permittees of Digital TV (”DTV”) broadcast stations to obtain a new or modified station license and/or to notify the Commission of certain changes in the licensed facilities of those stations. It may be used: (1) To cover an authorized construction permit (or auxiliary antenna), provided that the facilities have been constructed in compliance with the provisions and conditions specified on the construction permit; or (2) To implement modifications to existing licenses as permitted by 47 CFR 73.1675(c) or 73.1690(c).

FCC Form 340 is used by licensees and permittees to apply for authority to construct a new noncommercial educational (”NCE”) FM, TV, and DTV broadcast station, or to make changes in the existing facilities of such a station. The FCC Form 340 is only used if the station will operate on a channel that is reserved exclusively for noncommercial educational use, or in the situation where applications for NCE stations on non-reserved channels are mutually exclusive only with one another.

Revisions to this information collection are due to revisions being made only to FCC Form 349.

Federal Communications Commission

William F. Caton,

Deputy Secretary.