2013-02525. Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission Under Delegated Authority

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. 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 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 PRA comments should be submitted on or before April 8, 2013. 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 the Federal Communications Commission via email to [e-mail] and [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control Number: 3060-1034.

Title: Digital Audio Broadcasting Systems and their Impact on the Terrestrial Radio Broadcast Service; Digital Notification Form, FCC Form 335.

Form Number: FCC Form 335.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.

Number of Respondents and Responses: 1,310 respondents; 1,310 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 1-8 hours.

Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement.

Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The statutory authority for this information collection is contained in Sections 154(i), 303, 310 and 533 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

Total Annual Burden: 1,780 hours.

Total Annual Cost: $606,500.

Privacy Impact Assessment: No impact(s).

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

Needs and Uses: On January 29, 2010, the Commission released the Order, Digital Audio Broadcasting Systems and Their Impact on the Terrestrial Radio Broadcast Service (Order), DA 10-208, MM Docket 99-325. The Order established these non-rule information collection requirements:

(1) Eligible authorized FM stations to commence operation of FM digital facilities with operating power up to −14 dB upon notice to the Commission on either Form 335 (the licensee of a super-powered FM station must file an informal request for any increase in the station's FM Digital ERP).

(2) Licensees to submit an application to the Media Bureau, in the form of an informal request, for any increase in FM Digital ERP beyond 6 dB.

(3) Licensees submitting such a request must use a simplified method set forth in the Order to determine the proponent station's maximum permissible FM Digital ERP.

(4) In situations where the simplified method is not applicable due to unusual terrain or other environmental or technical considerations or when it produces anomalous FM Digital ERP results, the Bureau will accept applications for FM Digital ERP in excess of −14 dB on a case-by-case basis when accompanied by a detailed showing containing a complete explanation of the prediction methodology used as well as data, maps and sample calculations.

(5) Finally, the Order implements interference mitigation and remediation procedures to resolve promptly allegations of digital interference to an authorized FM analog facility resulting from an FM Digital ERP power increase undertaken pursuant to the procedures adopted in the Order. Pursuant to these procedures, the affected analog FM station may file an interference complaint with the Bureau. In order to be considered by the Bureau, the complaint must contain at least six reports of ongoing (rather than transitory) objectionable interference. For each report of interference, the affected FM licensee must submit a map showing the location of the reported interference and a detailed description of the nature and extent of the interference being experienced at that location. Interference reports at locations outside a station's protected analog contour will not be considered. The complaint must also contain a complete description of the tests and equipment used to identify the alleged interference and the scope of the unsuccessful efforts to resolve the interference.

Existing information collection requirements before FCC Order DA 10-208: 47 CFR 73.404(b) states in situations where interference to other stations is anticipated or actually occurs, AM licensees may, upon notification to the Commission, reduce the power of the primary Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) sidebands by up to 6 dB. Any greater reduction of sideband power requires prior authority from the Commission via the filing of a request for special temporary authority or an informal letter request for modification of license.

47 CFR 73.404(e) states licensees (commercial and noncommercial AM and FM radio stations) must provide notification to the Commission in Washington, DC, within 10 days of commencing in-band, on channel (IBOC) digital operation. The notification must include the following information:

(1) Call sign and facility identification number of the station;

(2) date on which IBOC operation commenced;

(3) certification that the IBOC DAB facilities conform to permissible hybrid specifications;

(4) name and telephone number of a technical representative the Commission can call in the event of interference;

(5) FM digital effective radiated power used and certification that the FM analog effective radiated power remains as authorized;

(6) transmitter power output; if separate analog and digital transmitters are used, the power output for each transmitter;

(7) if applicable, any reduction in an AM station's primary digital carriers;

(8) if applicable, the geographic coordinates, elevation data, and license file number of the auxiliary antenna employed by an FM station as a separate digital antenna;

(9) if applicable, for FM systems employing interleaved antenna bays, a certification that adequate filtering and/or isolation equipment has been installed to prevent spurious emissions in excess of the limits specified in § 73.317;

(10) a certification that the operation will not cause human exposure to levels of radio frequency radiation in excess of the limits specified in § 1.1310 of the Commission's rules and is therefore categorically excluded from environmental processing pursuant to § 1.1306(b). Any station that cannot certify compliance must submit an environmental assessment (EA) pursuant to § 1.1311 and may not commence IBOC operation until such EA is ruled upon by the Commission.

Federal Communications Commission.

Marlene H. Dortch,

Secretary.