98-3774. Notice of Public Information Collections Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission  

  • [Federal Register Volume 63, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 17, 1998)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 7786-7787]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 98-3774]
    
    
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    FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
    
    
    Notice of Public Information Collections Being Reviewed by the 
    Federal Communications Commission
    
    February 5, 1998.
    
    SUMMARY: 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 collections, 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, 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 information techniques 
    or other forms of information technology.
    
    DATES: Written comments should be submitted on or before April 20, 
    1998. 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 Judy Boley, Federal Communications, 
    Room 234, 1919 M St., NW., Washington, DC 20554 or via internet to 
    jboley@fcc.gov.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or copies 
    of the information collections contact Judy Boley at 202-418-0214 or 
    via internet at jboley@fcc.gov. 
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    OMB Approval Number: 3060-0501.
        Title: Section 76.206, Candidate rates.
        Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
        Respondents: Business and other for-profit entities.
        Number of Respondents: 10,750
        Estimated Time Per Response: .5-10 hours.
        Total Annual Burden to Respondents: 139,750 hours, calculated as 
    follows: There are approximately 10,750 cable systems in the nation. We 
    estimate that in any given year, candidates for public office will be 
    interested in seeking origination cablecast time from approximately 
    half of these systems (5,375). We estimate that these cable systems 
    will be required to make the various advertising rate disclosures set 
    forth in Section 76.206 to an average of 4 candidates. The average 
    burden on systems to disclose this information is estimated to be .5 
    hours per candidate. 5,375 systems x 4 candidates x .5 hours = 10,750 
    hours. We estimate that each cable system will calculate its lowest 
    unit charge semi-annually with an average burden of 10 hours per 
    station. 5,375 systems x 2 calculations x 10 hours = 107,500 hours. 
    Systems are also required to periodically review their advertising 
    records throughout the election period to determine whether compliance 
    with Section 76.206 requires that candidates receive rebates or 
    credits. We estimate that cable systems will review their records an 
    average of 2 times throughout the election period, undergoing a burden 
    of 2 hours per review. 5,375 systems x 2 reviews x 2 hours = 21,500 
    hours.
        Total Annual Cost to Respondents: Postage and stationery costs 
    associated with the various requirements contained in Section 76.206 
    are estimated to be $5 per system. 5,375 systems x $5 = $26,875.
        Needs and Uses: On December 12, 1991, the Commission adopted Report 
    and Order, FCC 91-403, MM Docket No. 91-168, in the matter of 
    codification of the Commission's political programming policies. The 
    Report and Order adopted affirmative disclosure requirements obliging 
    cable television systems to disclose and make available to candidates 
    all discount privileges available to commercial advertisers, including 
    the lowest unit charge for the different classes of time sold. The 
    Report and Order added Section 76.206 to the Commission's rules. 
    Section 76.206 requires cable television systems to disclose any 
    station practices offered to commercial advertisers that enhance the 
    value of advertising spots and different classes of time (immediately 
    preemptible, preemptible with notice, fixed, fire sale, and make good). 
    It also requires cable systems to calculate the lowest unit charge. The 
    disclosure requirements contained in Section 76.206 serve to ensure 
    that cable system licensees provide timely, accurate and complete 
    information on rates and sales practices to legally qualified 
    candidates for public office who are interested in origination 
    cablecasting.
    OMB Approval Number: 3060-0313.
        Title: Section 76.207, Political file.
        Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
        Respondents: Business and other for-profit entities.
        Number of Respondents: 5,375.
        Estimated Time Per Response: .5-10 hours.
        Total Annual Burden to Respondents: 5,375 hours, calculated as 
    follows: There are approximately 10,750 cable systems in the nation. We 
    estimate that in any given year, candidates for public office will be 
    interested in seeking origination cablecast time from approximately 
    half of these systems (5,375). We estimate these systems will be 
    required to keep a political file for an average of 4 candidates at an 
    estimated recordkeeping burden of .25 hours per candidate. 5,375 
    systems x 4 candidates x .25 hours = 5,375 hours.
    
    [[Page 7787]]
    
        Total Annual Cost to Respondents: $10,750. The photocopying and 
    stationery costs associated with this recordkeeping requirement are 
    estimated to be $2 per system. 5,375 systems x $2 = $10,750.
        Needs and Uses: Section 76.207 requires every cable television 
    system to keep and permit public inspection of a complete record 
    (political file) of all requests for cablecast time made by or on 
    behalf of candidates for public office, together with an appropriate 
    notation showing the disposition made by the system of such requests, 
    and the charges made, if any, if the request is granted. The 
    disposition includes the schedule of time purchased, when the spots 
    actually aired, the rates charged, and the classes of time purchased. 
    Also, when free time is provided for use by or on behalf of candidates, 
    a record of the free time provided is to be placed in the political 
    file. The data are used by the public in order to assess the amount of 
    money expended and time allotted to a political candidate to ensure 
    that equal access was afforded to other legally qualified candidates 
    for public office.
    OMB Approval Number: 3060-0595.
        Title: FCC Form 1210 Updating Maximum Permitted Rates for Regulated 
    Services and Equipment.
        Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
        Respondents: Business and other for-profit entities; State, local 
    and tribal governments.
        Number of Respondents: 6,000 (4,000 filings and 2,000 LFA reviews)
        Estimated Time Per Response: 2-15 hours.
        Total Annual Burden to Respondents: 54,000 hours, calculated as 
    follows: We estimate that approximately 4,000 FCC Form 1210s will be 
    filed in the next year, approximately 50% with the Commission and 50% 
    with LFAs. The average burden for cable operators to complete FCC Form 
    1210 is estimated to be 15 hours. The average burden for local 
    franchise authorities to review Form 1210 filings is estimated to be 10 
    hours per filing. Cable operators are estimated to use in-house staff 
    to complete approximately 50% of the filings. When using outside 
    assistance to complete to other 50%, we estimate operators undergo a 
    burden of 2 hours per filing to coordinate information with the outside 
    assistance. 2,000 (50% of 4,000) filings completed with in-house staff 
    x 15 hours per filing = 30,000 hours. 2,000 (50% of 4,000) filings 
    coordinated with outside assistance x 2 hours per filing = 4,000 hours. 
    2,000 filings reviewed by LFAs at an average burden of 10 hours per 
    filing = 2,000 x 10 hours per filing = 20,000 hours.
        Total Annual Cost to all Respondents: $3,008,000 calculated as 
    follows: Printing, photocopying and postage costs incurred by 
    respondents are estimated to be $2 per filing. 4,000 annual filings x 
    $2 per filing = $8,000. We estimate cable operators that use legal and 
    accounting contractors will pay for services at an average rate of 
    $100/hour. 2,000 filings x 15 hours per filing x $100/hour = 
    $3,000,000.
        Needs and Uses: FCC Form 1210 is used by cable operators to file 
    for adjustments in maximum permitted rates for regulated services to 
    reflect external costs. Regulated cable operators submit this form to 
    local franchising authorities or the Commission (in situations where 
    the FCC has assumed jurisdiction). It is also filed with the Commission 
    when responding to a complaint filed with the Commission concerning 
    cable programming service rates and associated equipment. The filings 
    are used by the Commission and local franchising authorities (``LFAs'') 
    to adjudicate permitted rates for regulated cable services and 
    equipment, for the addition of new programming tiers and to account for 
    the addition and deletion of channels, and for the allowance for pass 
    throughs of external costs and costs due to inflation.
    
    Federal Communications Commission.
    Magalie Roman Salas,
    Secretary.
    [FR Doc. 98-3774 Filed 2-13-98; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 6712-01-F
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
02/17/1998
Department:
Federal Communications Commission
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
98-3774
Dates:
Written comments should be submitted on or before April 20, 1998. 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.
Pages:
7786-7787 (2 pages)
PDF File:
98-3774.pdf