[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 24 (Thursday, February 5, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5949-5950]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-2833]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Notice of Public Information Collections Being Reviewed by the
Federal Communications Commission Under Delegated Authority 5 CFR 1320,
Comments Requested
January 30, 1998.
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 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 6, 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
Commission, Room 234, 1919 M St., N.W., 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 Control Number: 3060-0609.
Title: Section 76.934(e), Petitions for extension of time.
Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities; state, local or
tribal governments.
Number of Respondents: 35. (25 petitioners + 10 local franchise
authorities (``LFAs'')).
Estimated Time Per Response: 4 hours.
Total Annual Burden: 140 hours, calculated as follows: We estimate
that small cable systems will annually submit 25 petitions for
extension of time, with approximately 15 of the petitions being
addressed to the Commission and 10 being addressed to LFAs. We estimate
that the average burden to small cable systems to file each petition is
4 hours and that the average burden to LFAs to review each petition is
4 hours. 25 petitions filed x 4 hours = 100 hours. 10 LFA reviews of
petitions x 4 hours = 40 hours.
Total Annual Cost to Respondents: Postage and photocopying expenses
for each petition are estimated at $2 per filing. 25 x $2 = $50.
Needs and Uses: Section 76.934(e) states that small cable systems
may obtain an extension of time to establish compliance with rate
regulations provided that they can demonstrate that timely compliance
would result in severe economic hardship. Requests for extension of
time should be addressed to the local franchising authority (``LFA'')
concerning rates for basic service and equipment and to the Commission
concerning rates for a cable programming service tier and associated
equipment. The information collected from entities will be used by the
Commission and LFAs to grant temporary relief to small systems who
demonstrate a need for an extension of time to come into compliance
with rate regulation.
OMB Control Number: 3060-0610.
Title: Section 76.958, Notice to Commission of rate change while
complaint is pending.
Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.
Number of Respondents: 400.
Estimated Time Per Response: .5 hours.
Total Annual Burden: 200 hours. Annually, we estimate that cable
operators will be required to notify the Commission of proposed cable
service tier rate increases during the Commission reviews of pending
rate complaints an estimated 400 times. The estimated average burden to
make each
[[Page 5950]]
notification is .5 hours. 400 notifications x .5 = 200 hours.
Needs and Uses: Section 76.958 states that a regulated cable
operator that proposes to change any rate while a cable service tier
rate is pending before the Commission shall provide the Commission at
least 30 days notice of the proposed change. The information will be
used by the Commission to ensure that regulated cable operators give
the appropriate notice to the Commission concerning proposed rate
changes while they have cable service tier complaints pending before
the Commission.
OMB Control Number: 3060-0570.
Title: Section 76.982, Continuation of Rate Agreements.
Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
Respondents: State or local governments.
Number of Respondents: 25.
Estimated Time Per Response: .5 hours.
Total Annual Burden to Respondents: We estimate that 25
notifications are annually filed by franchising authorities who wish to
continue to regulate rates under existing rate agreements. The average
burden on franchising authorities is .5 hours per notification. 25
notifications x .5 hours = 12.5 hours (rounded up to 13 hours).
Total Annual Cost to Respondents: Postage and stationery expenses
are estimated to be $1 for each filing. 25 notifications x $1 = $25.
Needs and Uses: Section 76.982 provides that franchise authorities
who were regulating basic cable rates pursuant to a rate agreement
executed before July 1, 1990, may continue to regulate rates during the
remainder of the agreement. Franchise authorities must notify the
Commission of their intentions to continue regulating rates under the
rate agreement. These new requirements ensure that cable subscribers
nationwide enjoy the rates that would be charged by cable systems
operating in a competitive environment. These notifications enable the
Commission to determine the extent of rate regulation agreements that
pre-date the 1992 Cable Act and that are still in effect.
Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-2833 Filed 2-4-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-10-P
