2013-12303. Information Collection 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 burden and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), the Federal Communications Commission invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection(s). 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 burden for 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 Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) that does not display a valid OMB control number.

DATES:

Written Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) comments should be submitted on or before July 22, 2013. If you anticipate that you will be submitting PRA comments, but find it difficult to do so within the period of time allowed by this notice, you should advise the FCC contact listed below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your PRA comments to Benish Shah, Federal Communications Commission, via the Internet at [e-mail]. To submit your PRA comments by email send them to: [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Benish Shah, Office of Managing Director, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Approval Number: 3060-0398.

Title: Sections 2.948 and 15.117(g)(2)—Equipment Authorization Measurement Standards.

Form No.: N/A.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.

Number of Respondents: 1,225 respondents; 525 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 2 to 30 hours.

Frequency of Response: On occasion, one time and every three year reporting requirements, recordkeeping requirement and third party disclosure requirement.

Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47 U.S.C. sections 4(i), 302, 303(c), 303(f), 303(g) and 303(r), and 309(a).

Total Annual Burden: 5,360 hours.

Total Annual Cost: None.

Privacy Impact Assessment: N.A.

Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: There is a minimal exemption from the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(4) and 47 CFR 0.459(d) of the Commission's rules that is granted for trade secrets, which may be submitted to the Commission as part of the documentation of the test results. No other assurances of confidentiality are provided to respondents.

Needs and Uses: The Commission will submit this information collection after this 60 day comment period to obtain the full three year clearance from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

Description of Measurement Facilities

The Commission established uniform technical standards for various non-licensed equipment operating under the guidelines established in 47 CFR parts 2, 15 and 18 of the FCC rules, which include personal computers, garage door openers, baby monitors, etc. In order to ensure that technical standards are applied uniformly to non-licensed equipment, the Commission requires manufacturers to follow the standardized measurement procedures and practices:

(a) 47 CFR part 2 of the Commission's rules requires each Electro-Magnetic Compatibility (EMC) testing facility that performs equipment testing in support of any request for equipment authorization to file a test site description with the Commission. The Commission also permits a testing facility to be accredited by Commission-approved accrediting bodies. A testing laboratory that is accredited by a Commission-approved accrediting body is not required to file a test site description with the Commission since the accreditation body will review this information as part of the accreditation assessment.

(b) The test site description and the supporting information documents that the EMC testing facility complies with the testing standards used to make the measurements that support any request for equipment authorization.

The Commission or a Telecommunications certification body uses the information from these test sites and the supporting documentation, which accompany all requests for equipment authorization:

(a) To ensure that the data are valid and that proper testing procedures are used;

(b) To ensure that potential interference to radio communications is controlled; and

(c) To investigate complaints of harmful interference or to verify the manufacturer's compliance with Section 47 CFR 2.948 of the Commission's rules.

Accreditation Bodies

On September 14, 2009, the Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) identified and requested comment on certain types of information that an applicant should provide to be considered as an accreditation body of test laboratories under the Commission's rules, see DA 09-2049. 47 CFR 2.948(d) of the Commission's rules sets forth the requirements for accreditation bodies seeking recognition from the FCC as a laboratory accreditation body. Accreditation bodies seeking such recognition from the Commission must file a report of their qualifications with the Office of Engineering and Technology (OET). They are only required to file this information once. The Commission currently has three recognized accreditations bodies.

Other Information

In addition, the referenced 47 CFR part 15 rules (47 CFR 15.117(g)(2)) require that certain equipment manufacturers file information concerning the testing of TV receivers, which tune to UHF channels, to show that the UHF channels provide approximately the same degree of tuning accuracy with approximately the same expenditure of time and effort.

Federal Communications Commission.

Marlene H. Dortch,

Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Office of Managing Director.