2019-26449. Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission

AGENCY:

Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collections. Comments are requested concerning: 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; the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; 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 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 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 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 OMB control number.

DATES:

Written PRA comments should be submitted on or before February 7, 2020. 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 Cathy Williams, FCC, via email [e-mail] and to [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control Number: 3060-0110.

Title: FCC Form 2100, Application for Renewal of Broadcast Station License, LMS Schedule 303-S.

Form Number: FCC 2100, LMS Schedule 303-S.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities; Not for profit institutions; State, Local or Tribal Governments.

Number of Respondent and Responses: 5,126 respondents, 5,126 responses.

Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The statutory authority for this collection of information is contained in Sections 154(i), 303, 307 and 308 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 204 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

Estimated Time per Response: 1.2-12 hours.

Frequency of Response: Every eight-year reporting requirement; Third party disclosure requirement.

Total Annual Burden: 13,554 hours.

Total Annual Costs: $5,786.268.

Obligation of Response: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The statutory authority for the collection is contained Sections 154(i), 303, 307 and 308 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 204 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

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

Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).

Needs and Uses: The Licensing Management System (LMS) Form Schedule 303-S is used in applying for renewal of license for commercial or noncommercial AM, FM, TV, FM translator, TV translator, Class A TV, or Low Power TV, and Low Power FM broadcast station licenses. Licensees of broadcast stations must apply for renewal of their licenses every eight years. The Commission is revising this collection to reflect the adoption of a Report and Order (“R&O”) in MB Docket No. 17-105 and 12-202, FCC 19-67, In the Matter of Children's Television Programming Rules; Modernization of Media Regulation Initiative, adopted and released on July 10, 2019. The R&O modernizes the children's television programming rules in light of changes to the media landscape that have occurred since the rules were first adopted. Among other revisions, the R&O revises the children's television programming rules to expand the Core Programming hours to 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.; modify the safe harbor processing guidelines for determining compliance with the children's programming rules; requires that broadcast stations air the substantial majority of their Core Programming on their primary program streams, but permit broadcast stations to air up to 13 hours per quarter of regularly scheduled weekly programming on a multicast stream; eliminates the additional processing guideline applicable to stations that multicast; and modify the rules governing preemption of Core Programming. In addition, the R&O eliminates the requirements that the reports include information describing the educational and informational purpose of each Core Program aired during the current reporting period and each Core Program that the licensee expects to air during the next reporting period; eliminating the requirement to identify the program guide publishers who were sent information regarding the licensee's Core Programs; and streamlining the form by eliminating certain fields. The R&O also eliminates the requirement to publicize the Children's Television Programming Reports.

Accordingly, we are revising FCC Form 2100, 303-S in order to clarify the new requirements in accordance with the aforementioned R&O.

Federal Communications Commission.

Marlene Dortch,

Secretary, Office of the Secretary.