2017-07472. 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), 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 Office of Management and Budget (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 comments should be submitted on or before June 12, 2017. 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 contacts below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all PRA comments to Cathy Williams, FCC, via email [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 No.: 3060-0016.

Title: FCC Form 2100, Application for Media Bureau Audio and Video Service Authorization, Schedule C (Former FCC Form 346); Sections 74.793(d) and 74.787, Low Power Television (LPTV) Out-of-Core Digital Displacement Application; Section 73.3700(g)(1)-(3), Post-Incentive Auction Licensing and Operations; Section 74.799, Low Power Television and TV Translator Channel Sharing.

Form No.: FCC Form 2100, Schedule C.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved information collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities; Not for profit institutions; State, local or Tribal government.

Number of Respondents and Responses: 4,460 respondents and 4,460 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 2.5-7 hours (total of 9.5 hours).

Frequency of Response: One-time reporting requirement; on occasion reporting requirement; third party disclosure requirement.

Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The statutory authority for this collection is contained in Section 154(i), 303, 307, 308 and 309 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

Total Annual Burden: 42,370 hours.

Annual Cost Burden: $24,744,080.

Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).

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

Needs and Uses: FCC Form 2100, Schedule C is used by licensees/permittees/applicants when applying for authority to construct or make changes in a Low Power Television, TV Translator or TV Booster broadcast station.

The Commission is submitting a revision to this information collection which results from the rule provisions adopted in the FCC 17-29. On March 23, 2017, the Commission adopted a Report and Order, Channel Sharing by Full Power and Class A Stations Outside the Broadcast Television Spectrum Incentive Auction Context, GN Docket No. 12-268, MB Docket No. 03-185, MB Docket No. 15-137, FCC 17-29 (“Report and Order”). This document approved channel sharing outside of the incentive auction context between full power, Class A, Low Power Television (LPTV) and TV translator stations.

Although there are no changes to the FCC Form 2100, Schedule C itself, there are changes to the substance, burden hours, and costs as described herein.

The information collection requirements contained in 47 section 74.799 (previously 74.800) permits LPTV and TV translator stations to seek approval to share a single television channel with other LPTV and TV translator stations and with full power and Class A stations. Stations interested in terminating operations and sharing another station's channel must submit FCC Form 2100 Schedule C in order to have the channel sharing arrangement approved. If the sharing station is proposing to make changes to its facility to accommodate the channel sharing, it must also file FCC Form 2100 Schedule C.

OMB Control Number: 3060-0017.

Title: Application for Media Bureau Audio and Video Service Authorization, FCC 2100, Schedule D.

Form Number: FCC Form 2100, Schedule D.

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.

Number of Respondents/Responses: 570 respondents; 570 responses.

Estimated Hours per Response: 1.5 hours per response.

Frequency of Response: One time reporting requirement; On occasion reporting requirement.

Total Annual Burden: 855 hours.

Total Annual Cost: $68,400.

Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain benefits. The statutory authority for this information collection is contained in sections 154(i), 301, 303, 307, 308 and 309 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

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

Privacy Act Assessment: No impact(s).

Needs and Uses: Applicants/licensees/permittees are required to file FCC Form 2100, Schedule D when applying for a Low Power Television, TV Translator or TV Booster Station License.

The Commission is submitting this revising this information collection which results from the rule provisions adopted in the FCC 17-29. On March 23, 2017, the Commission adopted the Report and Order, Channel Sharing by Full Power and Class A Stations Outside the Broadcast Television Spectrum Incentive Auction Context, GN Docket No. 12-268, MB Docket No. 03-185, MB Docket No. 15-137, FCC 17-29 (“Report and Order”). This document approved channel sharing outside of the incentive auction context between full power, Class A, Low Power Television (LPTV) and TV translator stations.

Although there are no changes to the FCC Form 2100, Schedule D itself, there are changes to the substance, burden hours, and costs as described herein.

The information collection requirements contained in 47 section 74.799 (previously 74.800) permits LPTV and TV translator stations to seek approval to share a single television channel with other LPTV and TV translator stations and with full power and Class A stations. Stations interested in terminating operations and sharing another station's channel must submit FCC Form 2100 Schedule D in order to complete the licensing of their channel sharing arrangement.

OMB Control No.: 3060-0027.

Title: Application for Construction Permit for Commercial Broadcast Station, FCC Form 301; FCC Form 2100, Application for Media Bureau Audio and Video Service Authorization, Schedule A; 47 CFR 73.3700(b)(1) and (2) and 73.3800, Post Auction Licensing.

Form No.: FCC Form 2100, Schedule A.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved information collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities; Not for profit institutions; State, local or Tribal Government.

Number of Respondents and Responses: 3,090 respondents and 6,526 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 1-6.25 hours.

Frequency of Response: One-time reporting requirement; On occasion reporting requirement; Third party disclosure requirement.

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

Total Annual Burden: 15,317 hours.

Annual Cost Burden: $62,444,288.

Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).

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

Needs and Uses: The Commission is submitting this revision to this information collection which results from the rule provisions adopted in the FCC 17-29. On March 23, 2017, the Commission adopted the Report and Order, Channel Sharing by Full Power and Class A Stations Outside the Broadcast Television Spectrum Incentive Auction Context, GN Docket No. 12-268, MB Docket No. 03-185, MB Docket No. 15-137, FCC 17-29 (“Report and Order”). This document approved channel sharing outside of the incentive auction context between full power, Class A, Low Power Television (LPTV) and TV translator stations.

Although there are no changes to the FCC Form 2100, Schedule A itself, there are changes to the substance, burden hours, and costs as described herein.

The information collection requirements contained in 47 CFR 73.3800 allows full power television stations to channel share with other full power stations, Class A, LPTV and TV translator stations outside of the incentive auction context. Full power stations file FCC Form 2100, Schedule A in order to obtain Commission approval to operate on a shared channel.

OMB Control No.: 3060-0837.

Title: FCC Form 2100, Application for Media Bureau Audio and Video Service Authorization, Schedule B (Former FCC Form 302-DTV), Section 73.3700(b)(3) and Section 73.3700(h)(2).

Form No.: FCC Form 2100, Schedule B.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved information collection.

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

Number of Respondents and Responses: 975 respondents and 975 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 2 hours.

Frequency of Response: One-time reporting requirement and on occasion reporting requirement.

Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The statutory authority for this collection is contained in Sections 154(i), 307, 308, 309, and 319 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended; the Community Broadcasters Protection Act of 1999, Public Law 106-113, 113 Stat. Appendix I at pp. 1501A-594-1501A-598 (1999) (codified at 47 U.S.C. 336(f)); and the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, Public Law 112-96, 6402 (codified at 47 U.S.C. 309(j)(8)(G)), 6403 (codified at 47 U.S.C. 1452), 126 Stat. 156 (2012) (Spectrum Act).

Total Annual Burden: 1,950 hours.

Annual Cost Burden: $585,945.

Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).

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

Needs and Uses: FCC Form 2100, Schedule B (formerly FCC Form 302-DTV) is used by licensees and permittees of full power broadcast stations to obtain a new or modified station license and/or to notify the Commission of certain changes in the licensed facilities of those stations. It may be used: (1) To cover an authorized construction permit (or auxiliary antenna), provided that the facilities have been constructed in compliance with the provisions and conditions specified on the construction permit; or (2) To implement modifications to existing licenses as permitted by 47 CFR 73.1675(c) or 73.1690(c).

The Commission is submitting this revision to this information collection which results from the rule provisions adopted in the FCC 17-29. On March 23, 2017, the Commission adopted the Report and Order, Channel Sharing by Full Power and Class A Stations Outside the Broadcast Television Spectrum Incentive Auction Context, GN Docket No. 12-268, MB Docket No. 03-185, MB Docket No. 15-137, FCC 17-29 (“Report and Order”). This document approved channel sharing outside of the incentive auction context between full power, Class A, (Low Power Television) LPTV and TV translator stations.

Although there are no changes to the FCC Form 2100, Schedule B itself, there are changes to the substance, burden hours, and costs as described herein.

The information collection requirements contained in 47 CFR 73.3800 allows full power television stations to channel share with other full power stations, Class A, LPTV and TV translator stations outside of the incentive auction context. Full power stations file FCC Form 2100, Schedule B in order to complete the licensing of their shared channel.

OMB Control No.: 3060-0928.

Title: FCC Form 2100, Application for Media Bureau Audio and Video Service Authorization, Schedule F (Formerly FCC 302-CA); 47 CFR 73.6028.

Form No.: FCC Form 2100, Schedule F.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved information collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities; Not for profit institutions; State, local or Tribal Government.

Number of Respondents and Responses: 975 respondents and 975 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 2 hours.

Frequency of Response: One-time reporting requirement and on occasion reporting requirement.

Total Annual Burden: 1,950 hours.

Annual Cost Burden: $307,125.

Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).

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

Needs and Uses: The FCC Form 2100, Schedule F is used by Low Power TV (LPTV) stations that seek to convert to Class A status; existing Class A stations seeking a license to cover their authorized construction permit facilities; and Class A stations entering into a channel sharing agreement. The FCC Form 2100, Schedule F requires a series of certifications by the Class A applicant as prescribed by the Community Broadcasters Protection Act of 1999 (CBPA). Licensees will be required to provide weekly announcements to their listeners: (1) Informing them that the applicant has applied for a Class A license and (2) announcing the public's opportunity to comment on the application prior to Commission action.

The Commission is submitting this revision to this information collection, which results from the provisions adopted in the FCC 17-29. On March 23, 2017, the Commission adopted the Report and Order, Channel Sharing by Full Power and Class A Stations Outside the Broadcast Television Spectrum Incentive Auction Context, GN Docket No. 12-268, MB Docket No. 03-185, MB Docket No. 15-137, FCC 17-29 (“Report and Order”). This document approved channel sharing outside of the incentive auction context between full power, Class A, LPTV and TV translator stations.

Although there are no changes to the FCC Form 2100, Schedule F itself, there are changes to the substance, burden hours, and costs as described herein.

The information collection requirements contained in 47 CFR 73.6028 permits Class A stations to seek approval to share a single television channel with LPTV, TV translator, full power and Class A television stations. Class A stations interested in terminating operations and sharing another station's channel must submit FCC Form 2100 Schedule F in order to complete the licensing of their channel sharing arrangement.

OMB Control No.: 3060-0932.

Title: FCC Form 2100, Application for Media Bureau Audio and Video Service Authorization, Schedule E (Former FCC Form 301-CA); 47 CFR Sections 73.3700(b)(1)(i)-(v) and (vii),(b)(2)(i) and (ii); 47 CFR Section 74.793(d)

Form No.: FCC Form 2100, Schedule E (Application for Media Bureau Audio and Video Service Authorization) (Former FCC Form 301-CA).

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved information collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities; Not for profit institutions; State, Local or Tribal Government.

Number of Respondents and Responses: 745 respondents and 745 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 2.25 hours-6 hours (for a total of 8.25 hours).

Frequency of Response: One-time reporting requirement; On occasion reporting requirement; Third party disclosure requirement; Recordkeeping requirement.

Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The statutory authority for this collection is contained in 47 U.S.C. 151, 154(i), 157 and 309(j) as amended; Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, Public Law 112-96, 6402 (codified at 47 U.S.C. 309(j)(8)(G)), 6403 (codified at 47 U.S.C. 1452), 126 Stat. 156 (2012) (Spectrum Act) and the Community Broadcasters Protection Act of 1999.

Total Annual Burden: 6,146 hours.

Annual Cost Burden: $4,035,550.

Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).

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

Needs and Uses: FCC Form 2100, Schedule E (formerly FCC Form 301-CA) is to be used in all cases by a Class A television station licensees seeking to make changes in the authorized facilities of such station. FCC Form 2100, Schedule E requires applicants to certify compliance with certain statutory and regulatory requirements. Detailed instructions on the FCC Form 2100, Schedule E provide additional information regarding Commission rules and policies. FCC Form 2100, Schedule E is presented primarily in a “Yes/No” certification format. However, it contains appropriate places for submitting explanations and exhibits where necessary or appropriate. Each certification constitutes a material representation. Applicants may only mark the “Yes” certification when they are certain that the response is correct. A “No” response is required if the applicant is requesting a waiver of a pertinent rule and/or policy, or where the applicant is uncertain that the application fully satisfies the pertinent rule and/or policy. FCC Form 2100, Schedule E filings made to implement post-auction channel changes will be considered minor change applications.

Class A applications for a major change are subject to third party disclosure requirement of Section 73.3580 which requires local public notice in a newspaper of general circulation of the filing of all applications for major changes in facilities. This notice must be completed within 30 days of the tendering of the application. This notice must be published at least twice a week for two consecutive weeks in a three-week period. A copy of this notice must be placed in the public inspection file along with the application.

47 CFR 74.793(d) requires that digital low power and TV translator stations shall be required to submit information as to vertical radiation patterns as part of their applications (FCC Forms 346 and 301-CA) for new or modified construction permits.

The Commission is submitting this revision to this information collection, which results from the rule provisions adopted in the FCC 17-29. On March 23, 2017, the Commission adopted the Report and Order, Channel Sharing by Full Power and Class A Stations Outside the Broadcast Television Spectrum Incentive Auction Context, GN Docket No. 12-268, MB Docket No. 03-185, MB Docket No. 15-137, FCC 17-29 (“Report and Order”). This document approved channel sharing outside of the incentive auction context between full power, Class A, LPTV and TV translator stations.

Although there are no changes to the FCC Form 2100, Schedule E itself, there are changes to the substance, burden hours, and costs as described herein.

The information collection requirements contained in 47 CFR 73.6028 permits Class A stations to seek approval to share a single television channel with Low Power Television (LPTV), TV translator, full power and Class A television stations. Class A stations interested in terminating operations and sharing another station's channel must submit FCC Form 2100 Schedule E in order to obtain Commission approval for their channel sharing arrangement.

OMB Control Number: 3060-1176.

Title: MVPD Notice, Section 73.3700.

Form Number: Not applicable.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved information collection.

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

Number of Respondents and Responses: 735 respondents; 735 responses.

Estimated Hours per Response: 1-2 hours.

Frequency of Response: One time reporting requirement; Third party disclosure requirement.

Total Annual Burden: 1,397 hours.

Total Annual Cost: $43,800.

Obligation To Respond: Required to obtain benefits. The statutory authority for this information collection is contained in sections 1, 4(i) and (j), 7, 154(i), 301, 302, 303, 307, 308, 309, 312, 316, 318, 319, 324, 325, 336 and 337 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

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

Privacy Act Assessment: No impact(s).

Needs and Uses: On June 2, 2014 the Commission released a rulemaking titled “Expanding the Economic and Innovation Opportunities of Spectrum Through Incentive Auctions,” GN Docket 12-268, Report and Order, FCC 14-50, 29 FCC Rcd 6567 (2014) which adopted rules for holding an Incentive Auction. Full power and Class A stations will be reassigned to a new channel via the repacking process following the auction. Other stations will submit winning bids to relinquish their channels, enter into channel sharing agreements (and move to the channel of the station they are sharing with); or to move from high-VHF to low-VHF channels or from UHF to high-VHF or low-VHF. Each of these stations are required to notify multichannel video programming providers (“MVPD”) that carry the station of the fact that the station will be changing channels or terminating operations.

The information collection requirements contained in 47 CFR 73.3700 requires that full power and Class A television stations assigned a new channel in the incentive auction repacking, relinquishing their channel or moving to a new channel as a result of a winning bid in the auction, notify MVPDs of their termination of operations or change in channel.

On March 23, 2017, the Commission adopted the Report and Order, Channel Sharing by Full Power and Class A Stations Outside the Broadcast Television Spectrum Incentive Auction Context, GN Docket No. 12-268, MB Docket No. 03-185, MB Docket No. 15-137, FCC 17-29 (“Report and Order”). This document approved channel sharing outside of the incentive auction context between full power, Class A, Low Power Television (LPTV) and TV translator stations. Channel sharing stations also must notify MVPDs of the fact that stations will be terminating operations on one channel to share another station's channel.

The information collection requirements contained in 47 CFR 73.3800, Full Power Television Channel Sharing Outside the Incentive Auction, Section 73.6028 Class A Television Channel Sharing Outside the Incentive Auction and Section 74.799 Low Power Television and TV Translator Channel Sharing require that stations seeking to channel share outside of the incentive auction provide notification to MVPDs of the fact that the station will be terminating operations on one channel to share another station's channel.

OMB Control No.: 3060-1177.

Title: 47 CFR 74.800, Channel Sharing Agreement (CSA).

Form Number: Not applicable.

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.

Number of Respondents and Responses: 160 respondents; 160 responses.

Estimated Hours per Response: 1 hr.

Frequency of Response: One time reporting requirement.

Total Annual Burden: 160 hours.

Total Annual Cost: $86,400.

Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain benefits. The statutory authority for this information collection is contained in sections 1, 4(i) and (j), 7, 154(i), 301, 302, 303, 307, 308, 309, 312, 316, 318, 319, 324, 325, 336 and 337 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

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

Privacy Act Assessment: No impact(s).

Needs and Uses: Full power and Class A television stations that agree to share a single television channel in conjunction with the incentive auction and low power television (LPTV) and TV translator stations that channel share outside of the auction context are required to reduce their agreement (CSA) to writing and submit a copy to the Commission for review. There is no specified format for the CSA but it must contain provisions covering: a. Access to facilities, including whether each licensee will have unrestrained access to the shared transmission facilities; b. Allocation of bandwidth within the shared channel; c. Operation, maintenance, repair, and modification of facilities, including a list of all relevant equipment, a description of each party's financial obligations, and any relevant notice provisions; d. Transfer/assignment of a shared license, including the ability of a new licensee to assume the existing CSA; e. Termination of the license of a party to the CSA, including reversion of spectrum usage rights to the remaining parties to the CSA and f. A provision affirming compliance with the channel sharing requirements in the rules including a provision requiring that each channel sharing licensee shall retain spectrum usage rights adequate to ensure a sufficient amount of the shared channel capacity to allow it to provide at least one Standard Definition (SD) program stream at all times.

The Commission is submitting this revision to this information collection, which results from the rule provisions adopted in the FCC 14-50 and FCC 17-29.

On June 2, 2014 the Commission released a rulemaking titled “Expanding the Economic and Innovation Opportunities of Spectrum Through Incentive Auctions,” GN Docket 12-268, Report and Order, FCC 14-50, 29 FCC Rcd 6567 (2014) which adopted rules for holding an Incentive Auction. Full power and Class A stations are permitted to propose to relinquish their channels in the auction and to share the channel of another station.

The information collection requirements contain in 47 CFR 73.3700 requires that full power and Class A television stations seeking approval to channel share in the incentive auction provide the Commission with a copy of their CSA for review.

On March 23, 2017, the Commission adopted the Report and Order, Channel Sharing by Full Power and Class A Stations Outside the Broadcast Television Spectrum Incentive Auction Context, GN Docket No. 12-268, MB Docket No. 03-185, MB Docket No. 15-137, FCC 17-29 (“Report and Order”). This document approved channel sharing outside of the incentive auction context between full power, Class A, Low Power Television (LPTV) and TV translator stations.

The information collection requirements contained in 47 CFR 73.3800, Full Power Television Channel Sharing Outside the Incentive Auction, Section 73.6028, Class A Television Channel Sharing Outside the Incentive Auction and Section 73.799, Low Power Television and TV Translator Channel Sharing require that stations seeking to channel share outside of the incentive auction provide a copy of their “CSA” to the Commission for review.

Federal Communications Commission.

Katura Jackson,

Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Secretary.