2011-31527. Information Collection Being Submitted for Review and Approval to the Office of Management and Budget

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. 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 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; (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 comments should be submitted on or before January 9, 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 contacts below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all PRA comments to Nicholas A. Fraser, OMB, via fax [phone], or via email [e-mail]; and to Cathy Williams, FCC, via email [e-mail] and to [e-mail]. Include in the comments the OMB control number as shown in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For additional information or copies of the information collection, contact Cathy Williams at [phone]. To view a copy of this information collection request (ICR) submitted to OMB: (1) Go to the web page http://www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain,, (2) look for the section of the Web page called “Currently Under Review,” (3) click on the downward-pointing arrow in the “Select Agency” box below the “Currently Under Review” heading, (4) select “Federal Communications Commission” from the list of agencies presented in the “Select Agency” box, (5) click the “Submit” button to the right of the “Select Agency” box, (6) when the list of FCC ICRs currently under review appears, look for the OMB control number of this ICR and then click on the ICR Reference Number. A copy of the FCC submission to OMB will be displayed.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control No.: 3060-1035.

Title: Part 73, Subpart F-International Broadcast Stations.

Form No.: FCC Forms 309, 310 and 311.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents/Responses: 225 respondents; 225 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 2-720 hours.

Frequency of Response: Recordkeeping requirement; on occasion, semi-annual, weekly and annual reporting requirements.

Obligation To Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47 U.S.C. Sections 154, 303, 307, 334, 336 and 554.

Total Annual Burden: 20,096 hours.

Annual Cost Burden: $92,605.

Privacy Act Impact Assessment: N/A.

Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: In general, there is no need for confidentiality with this collection of information.

Needs and Uses: This information collection is used by the Commission to assign frequencies for use by international broadcast stations, to grant authority to operate such stations and to determine if interference or adverse propagation conditions exist that may impact the operation of such stations. The Commission collects this information pursuant to 47 CFR part 73, subpart F. If the Commission did not collect this information, it would not be in a position to effectively coordinate spectrum for international broadcasters or to act for entities in times of frequency interference or adverse propagation conditions. Therefore, the information collection requirements are as follows:

FCC Form 309—Application for Authority To Construct or Make Changes in an International, Experimental Television, Experimental Facsimile, or a Developmental Broadcast Station—The FCC Form 309 is filed on occasion when the applicant is requesting authority to construct or make modifications to the international broadcast station.

FCC Form 310—Application for an International, Experimental Television, Experimental Facsimile, or a Developmental Broadcast Station License—The FCC Form 310 is filed on occasion when the applicant is submitting an application for a new international broadcast station.

FCC Form 311—Application for Renewal of an International or Experimental Broadcast Station License—The FCC Form 311 is filed by applicants who are requesting renewal of their international broadcast station licenses.

The Commission has not developed the FCC Forms 309, 310 and 311 due to a lack of budget funds and technical staff. The Commission stated previously that the above referenced applications will be available to applicants in the International Bureau Filing System (“MyIBFS”) after implementation in the system. However, the Commission plans to develop a new Consolidated Licensing System (CLS) within the next five years that will replace MyIBFS. Therefore, the applications will be made available to the public in CLS instead of MyIBFS.

47 CFR 73.702(a) states that six months prior to the start of each season, licensees and permittees shall by informal written request, submitted to the Commission in triplicate, indicate for the season the frequency or frequencies desired for transmission to each zone or area of reception specified in the license or permit, the specific hours during which it desires to transmit to such zones or areas on each frequency, and the power, antenna gain, and antenna bearing it desires to use. Requests will be honored to the extent that interference and propagation conditions permit and that they are otherwise in accordance with the provisions of section 47 CFR 73.702(a).

47 CFR 73.702(b) states that two months before the start of each season, the licensee or permittee must inform the Commission in writing as to whether it plans to operate in accordance with the Commission's authorization or operate in another manner.

47 CFR 73.702(c) permits entities to file requests for changes to their original request for assignment and use of frequencies if they are able to show good cause. Because international broadcasters are assigned frequencies on a seasonal basis, as opposed to the full term of their eight-year license authorization, requests for changes need to be filed by entities on occasion.

47 CFR 73.702 (note) states that permittees who during the process of construction wish to engage in equipment tests shall by informal written request, submitted to the Commission in triplicate not less than 30 days before they desire to begin such testing, indicate the frequencies they desire to use for testing and the hours they desire to use those frequencies.

47 CFR 73.702(e) states within 14 days after the end of each season, each licensee or permittee must file a report with the Commission stating whether the licensee or permittee has operated the number of frequency hours authorized by the seasonal schedule to each of the zones or areas of reception specified in the schedule.

47 CFR 73.782 requires that licensees retain logs of international broadcast stations for two years. If it involves communications incident to a disaster, logs should be retained as long as required by the Commission.

47 CFR 73.759(d) states that the licensee or permittee must keep records of the time and results of each auxiliary transmitter test performed at least weekly.

47 CFR 73.762(b) requires that licensees notify the Commission in writing of any limitation or discontinuance of operation of not more than 10 days.

47 CFR 73.762(c) states that the licensee or permittee must request and receive specific authority from the Commission to discontinue operations for more than 10 days under extenuating circumstances.

47 CFR 1.1301 cover certifications of compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act and how the public will be protected from radio frequency radiation hazards.

Federal Communications Commission.

Marlene H. Dortch,

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