E8-5051. Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission, Comments Requested

March 4, 2008.

SUMMARY:

The Federal Communications Commission, 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 (PRA), Public Law No. 104-13. An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. Subject to the PRA, no person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information 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, and 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 collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

DATES:

Written PRA comments should be submitted on or before May 12, 2008. 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:

You may submit all PRA comments by email or U.S. post mail. To submit your comments by e-mail, send them to [e-mail]. To submit your comments by U.S. mail, mark them to the attention of Cathy Williams, Federal Communications Commission, Room 1-C823, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For additional information about the information collection(s), contact Cathy Williams at [phone] or send an e-mail to [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control Number: 3060-0214.

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

Form Number: FCC Form 355.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities; Not for-profit institutions.

Number of Respondent and Responses: 56,030 respondents; 56,030 responses.

Estimated time per Response: 2.5-52 hours.

Frequency of Response: Recordkeeping requirement; Third party disclosure requirement.

Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain benefits—Statutory authority for this collection of information is contained in Sections 154(i), 303 and 308 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

Total Annual Burden: 2,072,814 hours.

Total Annual Cost: $11,600,000.

Nature of Response: Required to obtain or retain benefits.

Confidentiality: No need for confidentiality required.

Privacy Impact Assessment: No impact(s).

Needs and Uses: On November 27, 2007, the Commission adopted a Report and Order in MM Docket 00-168, In the Matter of Standardized and Enhanced Disclosure Requirements for Television Broadcast Licensee Public Interest Obligations. The Report and Order adopts a Standardized Television Disclosure Form, FCC Form 355, and also requires require television licensees and applicants to post a portion of the contents of its public inspection file on its Web site, as proposed in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in MB Docket 00-168 in October 2000. Television broadcast stations and Class A television broadcast stations are both required to file FCC Form 355. The Standardized Television Disclosure Form, FCC Form 355, provides: (a) A consistent format for reporting by all licensees, and (b) documents the licensees efforts to determine the issues facing its community and the public interest programming aired during the preceding three month period in response to such issues.

47 CFR 73.3526 and 73.3527 require that licensees and permittees of commercial and noncommercial AM, FM and TV stations maintain a file for public inspection at its main studio or at another accessible location in its community of license. The contents of the file vary according to type of service and status. The contents include, but are not limited to, copies of certain applications tendered for filing, a statement concerning petitions to deny filed against such applications, copies of ownership reports, statements certifying compliance with filing announcements in connection with renewal applications, a list of donors supporting specific programs, and a list of community issues addressed by the station's programming. These rules also specify the length of time, which varies by document type, that each record must be retained in the public file. The public and FCC use the data to evaluate information about the licensee's performance and to ensure that station is addressing issues concerning the community to which it is licensed to serve.

47 CFR 73.1943 and 76.1701 require licensees of broadcast stations and cable television systems, respectively, to keep and permit public inspection of a complete record (political file) of all requests for broadcast time made by or on behalf of candidates for public office, together with an appropriate notation showing the disposition made by the licensee of such requests. The data is used by the public to assess money expended and time allotted to a political candidate and to ensure that equal access was afforded to other legally qualified candidates. Section 76.1701 also requires that, when an entity sponsors origination cablecasting material that concerns a political matter or a discussion of a controversial issue of public importance, a list must be maintained in the public file of the system that includes the sponsoring entity's chief executive officers, or members of its executive committee or of its board of directors.

Federal Communications Commission.

Marlene H. Dortch,

Secretary.