2011-32788. Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission Under Delegated Authority

AGENCY:

Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), the Federal Communications Commission invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection(s). 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 burden for 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 Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) that does not display a valid OMB control number.

DATES:

Written Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) comments should be submitted on or before February 21, 2012. If you anticipate that you will be submitting PRA comments, but find it difficult to do so within the period of time allowed by this notice, you should advise the FCC contact listed below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your PRA comments to Nicholas A. Fraser, Office of Management and Budget, via fax at [phone] or via Internet at [e-mail] and to Judith B. Herman, Federal Communications Commission, via the Internet at [e-mail]. To submit your PRA comments by email send them to: [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Judith B. Herman, Office of Managing Director, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control Number: 3060-0927.

Title: Auditor's Annual Independence and Objectivity Certification.

Form Number: N/A.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.

Number of Respondents: 4 respondents; 4 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 5 hours.

Frequency of Response: Annual reporting requirement.

Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47 U.S.C. Sections 201(b), 219(b) and 220 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

Total Annual Burden: 20 hours.

Total Annual Cost: N/A.

Privacy Impact Assessment: N/A.

Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: There is no need for confidentiality. However, respondents may request materials or information submitted to the Commission be withheld from public inspection under 47 CFR 0.459 of the Commission's rules.

Needs and Uses: The Commission is seeking an extension of this information collection in order to obtain the full three year approval from OMB. There is no change to the annual reporting requirement. There is no change to the Commission's previous burden estimates.

Section 64.904 requires certain local exchange carriers, in connection with their cost allocation manual filings and the accompanying financial reports the Commission prescribes under 47 U.S.C. 201(b), 219(b) and 220, to have an attest engagement performed by an independent auditor every two years, over the prior two year period. The attest engagement is to be performed in accordance with the attestation standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), except as otherwise directed by the Chief, Enforcement Bureau. The audit is to be conducted in compliance with generally accepted auditing standards (GAAS), except as otherwise directed by the Commission's Enforcement Bureau. The Responsible Accounting Office (RAO) letter requires that carriers' independent auditors:

(a) Disclose in writing all relationships between the auditor and its related entities and the carrier and its related entities that in the auditor's professional judgment may reasonably be thought to bear on independence;

(b) Confirm in writing that in its professional judgment it is independent of the carrier; and

(c) Discuss the auditor's independence.

The information is used by the Commission to determine whether the independent auditors are performing their audits independently and unbiased of the carrier they audit.

OMB Control Number: 3060-1124.

Title: Section 80.231, Technical Requirements for Class B Automatic Identification System (AIS) Equipment.

Form Number: N/A.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.

Number of Respondents: 20 respondents; 20 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 1 hour.

Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement and third party disclosure requirement.

Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47 U.S.C. Sections 151-155 and 301-309 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

Total Annual Burden: 20 hours.

Total Annual Cost: $28,000.

Privacy Impact Assessment: N/A.

Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: There is no need for confidentiality. However, respondents may request materials or information submitted to the Commission be withheld from public inspection under 47 CFR 0.459 of the Commission's rules.

Needs and Uses: The Commission is seeking an extension of this information collection in order to obtain the full three year approval from OMB. There is no change to the annual reporting requirement. There is no change to the Commission's previous burden estimates.

When the Commission adopted and released a Second Report and Order, FCC 08-208, it contained in Section 80.231, a requirement that manufacturers of Class B Automatic Identification System (AIS) transmitters for the Maritime Radio Service must include with each transmitting device a statement explaining how to enter static information accurately and to affix a warning that entering the vessel tracking and navigation information transmitted from Class B AIS device(s) are accurate and reliable thereby promoting marine safety. The rule also requires manufacturers to obtain a letter from the U.S. Coast Guard stating that the AIS device satisfies all of the requirements specified in IEC 62287-1, and to submit the letter to the Commission with its certification application for a Class B AIS device.

Additionally, prior to submitting a certification application (FCC Form 731, OMB Control Number 3060-0057) for a Class B AIS device, the following information must be submitted in duplicate to the Commandant (CG-521), U.S. Coast Guard, 2100 2nd Street SW., Washington, DC 20593-0001:

(1) The name of the manufacturer or grantee and the model number of the AIS device; and

(2) Copies of the test report and test data obtained from the test facility showing that the device complies with the environmental and operational requirements identified in IEC 62287-1.

After reviewing the information described in the certification application, the U.S. Coast Guard will issue a letter stating whether the AIS device satisfies all of the requirements specified in IEC-62287-1. A certification application for an AIS device submitted to the Commission must contain a copy of the U.S. Coast Guard letter stating that the device satisfies all of the requirements specified in IEC 62287-1, a copy of the technical test date and the instruction manual(s).

The information collection requires that manufacturers of AIS transmitters label each product and affix and label each transmitting device with a statement explaining how to enter static information and the following statement:

“WARNING: It is a violation of the rules of the Federal Communications Commission to input a MMSI that has not been properly assigned to the end user, or to otherwise input any inaccurate data in this device.”

The information collection also requires manufacturers to assure the device meets standards set forth in IEC-62287-1 and is used by FCC engineers to determine the interference potential of the proposed device's operation.

Federal Communications Commission.

Bulah P. Wheeler,

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