2022-02497. Information Collections 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 (PRA) of 1995, 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 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 April 8, 2022. 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 to [e-mail] and to [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control Number: 3060-0214.

Title: Sections 73.3526 and 73.3527, Local Public Inspection Files; Sections 73.1212, 76.1701 and 73.1943, Political Files.

Form Number: N/A.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for profit entities; Not for profit institutions; State, Local or Tribal government; Individuals or households.

Number of Respondents: 23,805 respondents; 66,364 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 1-52 hours.

Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement, Recordkeeping requirement, Third party disclosure requirement.

Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. Statutory authority for these collections is contained in Sections 151, 152, 154(i), 303, 307, 308, and 315 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

Total Annual Burden: 2,064,483 hours.

Total Annual Cost: No cost.

Needs and Uses: On January 25, 2022, the Commission adopted a Report and Order in MB Docket No. 21-293, FCC 22-5, Revisions to Political Programming and Record-Keeping Rule, which updates the political file rules for broadcast licensees and cable television system operators to bring them into conformity with the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002. The Report and Order revises the following information collection requirements:

Pursuant to 47 CFR 73.1943 and 76.1701, each broadcast station licensee and each cable television system is required to maintain in its online political file a complete record of any request to purchase broadcast and cablecast time that is made by or on behalf of a candidate for public office, or that communicates a message relating to any political matter of national importance, including a legally qualified candidate, any election to Federal office, or a national legislative issue of public importance. Such records must include information regarding:

(1) Whether the request to purchase broadcast or cablecast time is accepted or rejected by the broadcast licensee or cable television system operator;

(2) the rate charged for the broadcast or cablecast time;

(3) the date and time on which the communication is aired;

(4) the class of time that is purchased;

(5) the name of the candidate to which the communication refers and the office to which the candidate is seeking election, the election to which the communication refers, or the issue to which the communication refers (as applicable);

(6) in the case of a request made by, or on behalf of, a candidate, the name of the candidate, the authorized committee of the candidate, and the treasurer of such committee; and

(7) in the case of any other request, the name of the person purchasing the time, the name, address, and phone number of a contact person for such person, and a list of the chief executive officers or members of the executive committee or of the board of directors of such person.

In addition, when free time is provided for use by or on behalf of candidates, a record of the free time provided must be placed in the political file. These records must be placed in the political file as soon as possible and retained for a period of two years.

All other information collection requirements contained under 47 CFR 73.1212, 73.3526, 73.3527, 73.1943, and 76.1701 are still a part of the information collection and remain unchanged since last approved by OMB.

OMB Control Number: 3060-1207.

Title: Section 25.701, Other DBS Public Interest Obligations, and Section 25.702, Other SDARS Public Interest Obligations.

Form Number: N/A.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.

Number of Respondents: 3 respondents; 11 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 1-11 hours.

Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement, Recordkeeping requirement, Third party disclosure requirement.

Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The statutory authority for this information collection is contained in sections 154, 301, 302, 303, 307, 309, 310, 332, and 335 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

Total Annual Burden: 75 hours.

Total Annual Cost: No cost.

Needs and Uses: On January 25, 2022, the Commission adopted a Report and Order in MB Docket No. 21-293, FCC 22-5, Revisions to Political Programming and Record-Keeping Rule, which updates the political file rules for Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) providers and Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service (SDARS) licensees to bring them into conformity with the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002. The Report and Order revises the following information collection requirements:

Pursuant to 47 CFR 25.701(d) and 25.702(b), each DBS provider and each SDARS licensee is required to maintain in its online political file a complete record of any request to purchase airtime that is made by or on behalf of a candidate for public office, or that communicates a message relating to any political matter of national importance, including a legally qualified candidate, any election to Federal office, or a national legislative issue of public importance. Such records must include information regarding:

(1) Whether the request to purchase airtime is accepted or rejected by the DBS provider or SDARS licensee;

(2) the rate charged for the airtime;

(3) the date and time on which the communication is aired;

(4) the class of time that is purchased;

(5) the name of the candidate to which the communication refers and the office to which the candidate is seeking election, the election to which the communication refers, or the issue to which the communication refers (as applicable);

(6) in the case of a request made by, or on behalf of, a candidate, the name of the candidate, the authorized committee of the candidate, and the treasurer of such committee; and

(7) in the case of any other request, the name of the person purchasing the time, the name, address, and phone number of a contact person for such person, and a list of the chief executive officers or members of the executive committee or of the board of directors of such person.

In addition, when free time is provided for use by or on behalf of candidates, a record of the free time provided must be placed in the political file. These records must be placed in the political file as soon as possible and retained for a period of two years.

All other information collection requirements contained under 47 CFR 25.701 and 25.702 are still a part of the information collection and remain unchanged since last approved by OMB.

This information collection (OMB 3060-1207) also consolidates the information collections in OMB 3060-1065, OMB 3060-1212, and the portion of OMB 3060-0214 which related to SDARS licensees to eliminate duplication and inconsistencies between these information collections. OMB 3060-1065 and OMB 3060-1212 will be discontinued.

Federal Communications Commission.

Katura Jackson,

Federal Register Liaison Officer.