2011-32462. Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission

AGENCY:

Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995. 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; (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; and (e) 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 February 21, 2012. 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 the Federal Communications Commission via email to [e-mail] and [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control Number: 3060-0754.

Title: Children's Television Programming Report, FCC Form 398.

Form Number: 398.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Businesses or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents and Responses: 1,962 respondents; 7,848 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 12 hours.

Frequency of Response: Recordkeeping requirement; Quarterly reporting requirement.

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

Total Annual Burden: 94,176 hours.

Total Annual Cost: $4,708,800.

Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).

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

Needs and Uses: Commercial television broadcast stations and Class A television broadcast stations are both required to file FCC Form 398. FCC Form 398 is a standardized form that:

(a) Provides a consistent format for reporting by all licensees, and

(b) Facilitates efforts by the public and the FCC to monitor compliance with the Children's Television Act.

These commercial television broadcast station licensees and the Class A television broadcast station licensees both use FCC Form 398:

(a) To identify the individual station, and

(b) To identify the children's educational and informational programs, which the station broadcasts on both the regularly scheduled and preempted core programming, to meet the station's obligation under the Children's Television Act of 1990 (CTA).

Each quarter, the licensee is required to place in its public inspection file a “Children's Television Programming Report” and to file the FCC Form 398 each quarter with the Commission. The licensee must also complete a “Preemption Report” for each preempted core program during the quarter. This “Preemption Report” requests information on the date of each preemption, if the program was rescheduled, the date and time the program was aired, and the reason for the preemption.

Federal Communications Commission.

Bulah P. Wheeler,

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