99-32414. Proposed Collection; Comment RequestCitizens Band Base Station Antennas

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 240 (Wednesday, December 15, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 69992]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-32414]


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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION


Proposed Collection; Comment Request--Citizens Band Base Station 
Antennas

AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
Chapter 35), the Consumer Product Safety Commission requests comments 
on a proposed extension of approval of a collection of information from 
manufacturers and importers of citizens band base station antennas. The 
collection of information is in regulations implementing the Safety 
Standard for Omnidirectional Citizens Band Base Station Antennas (16 
CFR Part 1204). These regulations establish testing and recordkeeping 
requirements for manufacturers and importers of antennas subject to the 
standard. The Commission will consider all comments received in 
response to this notice before requesting an extension of approval of 
this collection of information from the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB).

DATES: The Office of the Secretary must receive comments not later than 
February 14, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be captioned ``Citizens Band Base 
Station Antennas'' and mailed to the Office of the Secretary, Consumer 
Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C. 20207, or delivered to that 
office, Room 502, 4330 East-West Highway, Bethesda, Maryland 20814. 
Written comments may also be sent to the Office of the Secretary by 
facsimile at [phone] or by e-mail at [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about the proposed 
extension of approval of the collection of information, or to obtain a 
copy of 16 CFR Part 1204, call or write Linda L. Glatz, Office of 
Planning and Evaluation, Consumer Product Safety Commission, 
Washington, D.C. 20207; telephone [phone], extension 2226.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    In 1982, the Commission issued the Safety Standard for 
Omnidirectional Citizens Band Antennas (16 CFR Part 1204) to reduce 
risks of death and serious injury that may result if an omnidirectional 
antenna contacts an overhead power line while being erected or removed 
from its site. The standard contains performance tests to demonstrate 
that an antenna will not transmit a harmful electric current if it 
contacts an electric power line with a voltage of 14,500 volts phase-
to-ground. Certification regulations implementing the standard require 
manufacturers, importers, and private labelers of antennas subject to 
the standard to perform tests to demonstrate that those products meet 
the requirements of the standard, and to maintain records of those 
tests. The certification regulations are codified at 16 CFR Part 1204, 
Subpart B.
    The Commission uses the information compiled and maintained by 
manufacturers, importers, and private labelers of antennas subject to 
the standard to help protect the public from risks of injury or death 
associated with omnidirectional citizens band base station antennas. 
More specifically, this information helps the Commission determine that 
antennas subject to the standard comply with all applicable 
requirements. The Commission also uses this information to obtain 
corrective actions if omnidirectional citizens band base station 
antennas fail to comply with the standard in a manner which creates a 
substantial risk of injury to the public. The Office of Management and 
Budget approved the collection of information in the certification 
regulations under control number 3041-0006. OMB's most recent extension 
of approval expires on April 30, 2000. The Commission now proposes to 
request an extension of approval without change for the collection of 
information in the certification regulations.

B. Estimated Burden

    The Commission staff estimates that about 5 firms manufacture or 
import citizens band base station antennas subject to the standard. The 
Commission staff estimates that the certification regulations will 
impose an average annual burden of about 220 hours on each of those 
firms. That burden will result from conducting the testing required by 
the regulations and maintaining records of the results of that testing. 
The total annual burden imposed by the regulations on manufacturers and 
importers of citizens band base station antennas is approximately 1,100 
hours.
    The hourly wage for the testing and recordkeeping required to 
conduct the testing and maintain records required by the regulations is 
about $55, for an estimated annual cost to the industry of $60,500.

C. Request for Comments

    The Commission solicits written comments from all interested 
persons about the proposed collection of information. The Commission 
specifically solicits information relevant to the following topics:

--Whether the collection of information described above is necessary 
for the proper performance of the Commission's functions, including 
whether the information would have practical utility;
--Whether the estimated burden of the proposed collection of 
information is accurate;
--Whether the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected could be enhanced; and
--Whether the burden imposed by the collection of information could be 
minimized by use of automated, electronic or other technological 
collection techniques, or other forms of information technology.

    Dated: December 9, 1999.
Sadye E. Dunn,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. 99-32414 Filed 12-14-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-P