02-26611. Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission, Comments Requested

October 10, 2002.

Summary:

The Federal Communications Commission, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection(s), as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13. An agency 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 Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) that does not display a valid control number. Comments are requested concerning (a) 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; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (d) 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.

DATES:

Written comments should be submitted on or before December 17, 2002. 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 comments to Judith Boley Herman or Leslie Smith, Federal Communications Commission, Room 1-C804 or Room 1-A804, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554 or via the Internet to [e-mail] or [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For additional information or copies of the information collection(s), contact Judith Boley Herman at 202-418-0214 or via the Internet at [e-mail].

Supplementary Information:

 

OMB Control No.:

3060-0835.

Title: Ship Inspections.

Form Nos.: FCC Forms 806, 824, 827, and 829.

Type of Review: Revision of a current collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit, not-for-profit institutions, state, local or tribal government.

Number of Respondents: 1,210.

Estimated Time Per Response: .084 hours (5 minutes) for completion of certificate; 4 hours for inspection; .25 hours (15 minutes) for recordkeeping.

Frequency of Response: Annual, on occasion and every 5 years reporting requirement, recordkeeping requirement, third party disclosure requirement.

Total Annual Burden: 5,245 hours.

Total Annual Cost: N/A.

Needs and Uses: With this submission, the Commission combines two OMB-approved information collections (3060-0362 and 3060-0835). The approval for 3060-0362 contains the burden for the actual ship inspections. The approval for 3060-0835 contains the burden for the issuance of safety certificates after the ship has passed inspections.

The Communications Act requires the Commission to inspect the radio installation of large cargo ships and certain passenger ships at least once a year to ensure that the radio installation is in compliance with the requirements of the Communications Act.

Additionally, the Communications Act requires the inspection of small passenger ships at least once every five years. The Safety Convention (which the United States is a signatory) also requires an annual inspection. However, the Safety Convention permits an Administrator to entrust the inspections to either surveyors nominated for the purpose or to organizations recognized by it. Therefore, the United States can have other parties conduct the radio inspection of vessels for compliance with the Safety Convention. The Commission allows FCC-licensed technicians to conduct these inspections. FCC-licensed technicians certify that the ship passed an inspection and issue a safety certificate. These safety certificates (FCC Forms 806, 824, 827, and 829) indicate that the vessel complies with the Communications Act and the Safety Convention. These technicians are required to provide a summary of the results of the inspection in the ship's log. In addition, the vessel's owner, operator, or ship's master must certify in the ship's log that the inspection was satisfactory. Inspection certificates issued in accordance with the Safety Convention must be posted in a prominent and accessible place on the ship. The purpose of the information is to ensure that the inspection was successful so that passengers and crewmembers of certain United States ships have access to distress communications in an emergency.

Federal Communications Commission.

Marlene H. Dortch,

Secretary.