2023-09371. Information Collection Requirement Being Submitted to the Office of Management and Budget for Emergency Review and Approval

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) of 1995, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection. Comments are requested concerning: whether the 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 Commission 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 PRA that does not display a valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number.

DATES:

Written PRA comments should be submitted on or before June 2, 2023.

ADDRESSES:

Comments should be sent to http://www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function. Your comment must be submitted into www.reginfo.gov per the above instructions for it to be considered. In addition to submitting in www.reginfo.gov also send a copy of your comment on the information collection to Cathy Williams, FCC, via email to [e-mail] and to [e-mail]. Include in the comments the OMB control number as shown in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For additional information or copies of the information collection, contact Cathy Williams at (202) 418–2918.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501–3520), the Commission invites the general public and other Federal Agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection. 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 estimates; (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. Pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, Public Law 107–198, see44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(4), the Commission seeks specific comment on how it might “further reduce the information collection burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees.”

The Commission is requesting emergency OMB processing of the information collection requirement(s) contained in this notice and has requested OMB approval no later than 37 days after the collection is received at OMB. To view a copy of this information collection request (ICR) submitted to OMB: (1) go to the web page http://www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain, (2) look for the section of the web page called “Currently Under Review,” (3) click on the downward-pointing arrow in the “Select Agency” box below the “Currently Under Review” heading, (4) select “Federal Communications Commission” from the list of agencies presented in the “Select Agency” box, (5) click the “Submit” button to the right of the “Select Agency” box, (6) when the list of Commission ICRs currently under review appears, look for the Title of this ICR and then click on the ICR Reference Number. A copy of the Commission's submission to OMB will be displayed.

OMB Control No.: 3060–xxxx.

Title: Reporting On Foreign Ownership of International Section 214 Authorization Holders.

Form Number: N/A.

Type of Review: New information collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 1,500 respondents; 1,500 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 6 hours.

Frequency of Response: One time reporting requirement.

Obligation To Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in sections 218, 219, and 403 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 218, 219, and 403.

Total Annual Burden: 4,500 hours.

Annual Cost Burden: $1,350,000.

Needs and Uses: The Federal Communications Commission (Commission) is requesting that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve OMB Control No. 3060–xxxx—Reporting On Foreign Ownership of International Section 214 Authorization Holders. The Commission established a new one-time information collection in the Review of International Section 214 Authorizations to Assess Evolving National Security, Law Enforcement, Foreign Policy, and Trade Policy Risks, IB Docket No. 23–119; Amendment of the Schedule of Application Fees Set Forth in Sections 1.1102 through 1.1109 of the Commission's Rules, MD Docket No. 23–134, Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking ( Evolving Risks Order and Notice), FCC 23–28. Each international section 214 authorization holder is required to identify its 10% or greater direct or indirect foreign interest holders (reportable foreign ownership) as of thirty (30) days prior to the filing deadline. Additionally, the filer will be required to certify as to the accuracy of the information provided. The filer must submit its information based on the categories below.

(1) Reportable Foreign.

(2) Ownership—Foreign Adversary—China (including Hong Kong), Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Maduro Regime. Where there are interest holders that are entities and individuals that are a government organization or citizen of a “foreign adversary” country, an authorization holder must identify its 10% or greater direct or indirect foreign interest holders, including any 10% or greater direct or indirect foreign interest holders outside the foregoing “foreign adversary” countries. A “foreign adversary” country is defined in the Department of Commerce's rule, 15 CFR 7.4. The authorization holder must:

• identify each interest holder and the foreign country or countries, including countries that are not foreign adversary countries;
• disclose whether any interest holder has dual or more citizenships and identify all countries where citizenship is held; and
• certify to the truth and accuracy of all information.

(3) Reportable Foreign Ownership—No Foreign Adversary. Where there are no interest holders that are entities or individuals that are a government organization or citizen of any foreign country that is a “foreign adversary” country defined in the Department of Commerce's rule, 15 CFR 7.4, an authorization holder must identify its 10% or greater direct or indirect foreign interest holders. The authorization holder must:

• identify each interest holder and the foreign country or countries;
• disclose whether any interest holder has dual or more citizenships and identify all the countries where citizenship is held; and
• certify to the truth and accuracy of all information.

(4) No Reportable Foreign Ownership. An authorization holder that has no reportable foreign ownership must certify to the truth and accuracy of this information.

Federal Communications Commission.

Marlene Dortch,

Secretary, Office of the Secretary.