E6-4769. Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission for Extension Under Delegated Authority

March 24, 2006.

SUMMARY:

The Federal Communications Commission, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection(s), as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Public Law No. 104-13. An agency 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 Paperwork Reduction Act 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 Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) comments should be submitted on or before June 5, 2006. 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 your all Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) comments by email or U.S. postal 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) send an e-mail to [e-mail] or contact Cathy Williams at [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control Number: 3060-01041.

Title: Remedial Measures for Failure to Construct Digital Television Stations (DTV Policy Statement).

Form Number: Not applicable.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

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

Number of Respondents: 400.

Estimated Time per Response: 0.50—2 hours.

Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement.

Total Annual Burden: 460 hours.

Total Annual Cost: $304,000.

Privacy Impact Assessment: No impact(s).

Needs and Uses: On April 16, 2003, the FCC released a Report and Order and Memorandum Opinion and Order on Reconsideration, In the Matter of Remedial Steps for Failure to Comply with Digital Television Construction Schedule, MM Docket No. 02-113, FCC 03-77. The Commission adopted a series of remedial measures for stations that fail to construct their digital television (DTV) facilities in a timely fashion and fail to justify an extension of their DTV construction deadline. Stations will be subject to periodic reporting requirements.

Under the first step, the Commission will deny the request for an unqualified extension and admonish the station for its failure to comply with its DTV construction obligation. The station must submit a report within thirty days outlining the steps it intends to take to complete construction and the approximate date that it expects to reach each of these construction milestones. Sixty days after its initial report, the station must submit a report detailing its progress on meeting its proposed construction milestones and justifying any delays it has encountered.

Under the second step in the approach, if the station has not come into compliance with the DTV construction rule within a six-month period, then, absent extraordinary and compelling circumstances, the Commission will issue a Notice of Apparent Liability for forfeiture to the licensee and require that the station report every thirty days on its proposed construction milestones and its efforts to meet those milestones. Once again, failure to adequately demonstrate that the station was taking all reasonable steps towards construction and to justify any additional delays that were encountered will result in the imposition of additional sanctions.

Under the third and final step in the approach, if the station still had failed to come into compliance with the DTV construction rule within an additional six-month period of time (i.e., one year from the date of the formal admonition), then, absent extraordinary and compelling circumstances, the Commission will consider its construction permit for its DTV facilities to have expired and will rescind the station's DTV authorization. The Commission concluded that no hearing was necessary prior to rescinding the station's DTV authorization. The Commission also concluded that it would not make the station's vacant DTV allotment available. The Commission also announced that the station will be required to surrender its analog authorization at the end of the DTV transition.

Federal Communications Commission.

Marlene H. Dortch,

Secretary.