2017-04969. Information Collection Approved by the Office of Management and Budget

AGENCY:

Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has received Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the following public information collections pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number, and no person is required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. Comments concerning the accuracy of the burden estimates and any suggestions for reducing the burden should be directed to the person listed as the contact.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For additional information about the information collection, contact Brian Marenco at [phone], or email: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control Number: 3060-1226.

OMB Approval Date: January 17, 2017.

OMB Expiration Date: January 31, 2020.

Title: Receiving Written Consent for Communication with Base Stations in Canada; Issuing Written Consent to Licensees from Canada for Communication with Base Stations in the U.S.; Description of Interoperable Communications with Licensees from Canada.

Form No.: N/A.

Respondents: State, Local, or Tribal governments.

Number of Respondents and Responses: 3,224 respondents; 3,224 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 0.5 hours-1 hour.

Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement.

Total Annual Burden: 5,642 hours.

Annual Cost Burden: None.

Obligation to Respond: Written consent from the licensee of a base station repeater is required before first responders from the other country can begin communicating with that base stations repeater. Applicants are advised to include a description of how they intend to interoperate with licensees from Canada when filing applications to operate under any of the scenarios described in Public Notice DA 16-739 in order to ensure that the application is not inadvertently rejected by Canada. Statutory authority for these collections are contained in 47 U.S.C. 151, 154, 301, 303, 307, 308, 309, 310, 316, 319, 325(b), 332, 336(f), 338, 339, 340, 399b, 403, 534, 535, 1404, 1452, and 1454 of the Communications Act of 1934.

Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).

Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: Applicants who include a description of how they intend to interoperate with licensees from Canada need not include any confidential information with their description. Nonetheless, there is a need for confidentiality with respect to all applications filed with the Commission through its Universal Licensing System (ULS). Although ULS stores all information pertaining to the individual license via an FCC Registration Number (FRN), confidential information is accessible only by persons or entities that hold the password for each account, and the Commission's licensing staff. Information on private land mobile radio licensees is maintained in the Commission's system of records, FCC/WTB-1, “Wireless Services Licensing Records.” The licensee records will be publicly available and routinely used in accordance with subsection (b) of the Privacy Act. TIN Numbers and material which is afforded confidential treatment pursuant to a request made under 47 CFR 0.459 will not be available for Public inspection. Any personally identifiable information (PII) that individual applicants provide is covered by a system of records, FCC/WTB-1, “Wireless Services Licensing Records,” and these and all other records may be disclosed pursuant to the Routine Uses as stated in this system of records notice.

Needs and Uses: The purpose of requiring an agency to issue written consent before allowing first responders from the other country to communicate with its base station repeater ensures to that the licensee of that base stations repeater (host licensee) maintains control and is responsible for its operation at all times. The host licensee can use the written consent to ensure that first responders from the other country understand the proper procedures and protocols before they begin communicating with its base station repeater. Furthermore, when reviewing applications filed by border area licensees, Commission staff will use any description of how an applicant intends to interoperate with licensees from Canada, including copies of any written agreements, in order to coordinate the application with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and reduce the risk of an inadvertent rejection by ISED.

Federal Communications Commission.

Marlene H. Dortch,

Secretary, Office of the Secretary.