2014-26114. Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission

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 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collections. 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 OMB 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 OMB control number.

DATES:

Written PRA comments should be submitted on or before January 5, 2015. 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 Cathy Williams, FCC, via email [e-mail] and to [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For additional information about the information collection, contact Cathy Williams at [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control Number: 3060-0027.

Title: Application for Construction Permit for Commercial Broadcast Station, FCC Form 301; FCC Form 2100, Application for Media Bureau Audio and Video Service Authorization, Schedule A.

Form Number: FCC Form 301.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business and other for-profit entities; Not for profit entities; State, local or Tribal governments.

Number of Respondents and Responses: 3,775 respondents and 7,211 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 1-6.25 hours.

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

Total Annual Burden: 17,372 hours.

Total Annual Costs: $68,901,963.

Obligation To Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The statutory authority for this collection of information 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 collection of information.

Privacy Impact Assessment(s): No impact(s).

Needs and Uses: FCC Form 301 is used to apply for authority to construct a new commercial AM, FM, or TV broadcast station and to make changes to existing facilities of such a station. It may be used to request a change of a station's community of license by AM and non-reserved band FM permittees and licensees. In addition, FM licensees or permittees may request, by filing though an application on FCC Form 301, upgrades on adjacent and co-channels, modifications to adjacent channels of the same class, and downgrades to adjacent channels. All applicants using this one-step process must demonstrate that a suitable site exists that would comply with allotment standards with respect to minimum distance separation and principal community coverage and that would be suitable for tower construction. For applicants to seek a community of license change through this one-step process, the proposed facility must be mutually exclusive with the applicant's existing facility, and the new facility must comply with the Commission's standards with respect to minimum distance separation and principal community coverage. Applicants availing themselves of this procedure must also attach an exhibit demonstrating that the proposed community of license change comports with the fair, efficient, and equitable distribution of radio service, pursuant to Section 307(b) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (the “Act”).

FCC Form 301 also accommodates commercial FM applicants applying in a Threshold Qualifications Window (“TQ Window”) for a Tribal Allotment. A commercial FM applicant applying in the TQ Window, who was not the original proponent of the Tribal Allotment at the rulemaking stage, must demonstrate that it would have qualified in all respects to add the particular Tribal Allotment for which it is applying. Additionally, a petitioner seeking to add a Tribal Allotment to the FM Table of Allotments must file Form 301 when submitting its Petition for Rulemaking. The collection also accommodates applicants applying in a TQ Window for a Tribal Allotment that had been added to the FM Table of Allotments using the Tribal Priority under the new “threshold qualifications” procedures adopted in the Third R&O, FCC 11-190.

To receive authorization for commencement of Digital Television (“DTV”) operations, commercial broadcast licensees must file FCC Form 2100, Schedule A for a construction permit. The application may be filed anytime after receiving the initial DTV allotment and before mid-point in the applicant's construction period. The Commission will consider the application as a minor change in facilities. Applicants will not have to provide full legal or financial qualification information.

This collection also includes the third party disclosure requirement of 47 CFR 73.3580. This rule requires applicants to provide local public notice, in a newspaper of general circulation published in a community in which a station is located, of requests for new or major changes in facilities and for changes of a station's community of license by AM and non-reserved band FM permittees and licensees. The notice must be completed within 30 days of tendering the application and must be published at least twice a week for two consecutive weeks in a three-week period. A copy of the notice and the application must be placed in the station's public inspection file, pursuant to Section 73.3527.

Federal Communications Commission.

Marlene H. Dortch,

Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Office of the Managing Director.