00-30802. Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission, Comments Requested.

November 20, 2000.

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, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 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 January 3, 2001. 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 Les Smith, Federal Communications Commissions, 445 12th Street, S.W., Room 1-A804, Washington, DC 20554 or via the Internet to [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For additional information or copies of the information collections contact Les Smith at [phone] or via the Internet at [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Approval No.: 3060-0032.

Title: Application for Consent to Transfer Control of Entity Holding Broadcast Station License Construction Permit or License.

Form No.: FCC 315.

Type of Review: Revision of currently approved collection.

Respondents: Businesses or other for-profit, not-for-profit institutions.

Number of Respondents: 1,591.

Estimated Hours Per Response: 12-48 hours (the burden hour time and contracting time varies depending on the type of application filed).

Frequency of Response: on occasion.

Cost to Respondents: $12,236,878.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: 2,546.

Needs and Uses: FCC Form 315 and applicable exhibits/explanations are required to be filed when applying for transfer of control of a corporation holding an AM, FM or TV broadcast station construction permit or license. In addition, the applicant must notify the Commission when an approved transfer of control of a broadcast station construction permit or license has been consummated.

This collection also includes the third party disclosure requirement of Section 73.3580. This section requires local public notice in a newspaper of general circulation of the filing of all applications for transfer of control of license/permit. This notice must be completed within 30 days of the tendering of the application. This notice must be published at least twice a week for two consecutive weeks in a three-week period. A copy of this notice must be placed in the public inspection file along with the application. Additionally, an applicant for transfer of control of license must broadcast the same notice over the station at least once daily on four days in the second week immediately following the tendering for filing of the application.

On April 4, 2000, the Commission adopted a Report and Order in MM Docket No. 95-31 in the Matter of Reexamination of the Comparative Standards for Noncommercial Educational Applicants. This Report and Order adopted new procedures to select among competing applicants for noncommercial educational (NCE) broadcast channels. The new procedure will use points to compare objective characteristics whenever there are competing applications for full-service radio or television channels reserved for NCE use. The new procedure established a four-year holding period of on-air operations for licenses approved as a result of evaluation in a point system. The FCC 315 has been revised to reflect the new policy and to require stations authorized under the point system who have not operated for a four-year period to submit with their applications an exhibit demonstrating compliance with Section 73.7005.

The data is used by FCC staff to determine whether the applicants meet basic statutory requirements to become a Commission licensee/permittee and to assure that the public interest would be served by grant of the application.

OMB Approval No.: 3060-0031.

Title: Application for Consent to Assignment of Broadcast License Construction Permit or License.

Form No.: FCC 314.

Type of Review: Revision of currently approved collection.

Respondents: Businesses or other for-profit, not-for-profit institutions.

Number of Respondents: 1,591.

Estimated Hours Per Response: 12-48 hours (the burden hour time and contracting time varies depending on the type of application filed).

Frequency of Response: on occasion.

Cost to Respondents: $12,236,878.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: 2,546.

Needs and Uses: FCC Form 314 and applicable exhibits/explanations are required to be filed when applying for consent for assignment of an AM, FM or TV broadcast station construction permit or license, along with applicable exhibits and explanations. In addition, the applicant must notify the Commission when an approved assignment of a broadcast station construction permit or license has been consummated.

This collection also includes the third party disclosure requirement of Section 73.3580. This section requires local public notice in a newspaper of general circulation of the filing of all applications for assignment of license/permit. This notice must be completed within 30 days of the tendering of the application. This notice must be published at least twice a week for two consecutive weeks in a three-week period. A copy of this notice must be placed in the public inspection file along with the application. Additionally, an applicant for assignment of license must broadcast the same notice over the station at least once daily on four days in the second week immediately following the tendering for filing of the application.

On April 4, 2000, the Commission adopted a Report and Order in MM Docket No. 95-31 in the Matter of Reexamination of the Comparative Standards for Noncommercial Educational Applicants. This Report and Order adopted new procedures to select among competing applicants for noncommercial educational (NCE) broadcast channels. The new procedure will use points to compare objective characteristics whenever there are competing applications for full-service radio or television channels reserved for NCE use. The new procedure established a four-year holding period of on-air operations for licenses approved as a result of evaluation in a point system. The FCC 314 has been revised to reflect the new policy and to require stations authorized under the point system who have not operated for a four-year period to submit with their applications an exhibit demonstrating compliance with Section 73.7005.

The data is used by FCC staff to determine whether the applicants meet basic statutory requirements to become a Commission licensee/permittee and to assure that the public interest would be served by grant of the application.

Federal Communications Commission.

Magalie Roman Salas,

Secretary.