[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 91 (Thursday, May 9, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21181-21182]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-11526]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Notice of Public Information Collections Submitted to OMB for
Review and Approval
April 30, 1996.
SUMMARY: The Federal Communications, 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 proposed
and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 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 (PRA) 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;
[[Page 21182]]
(b) the accuracy of the Commissions 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.
DATES: Written comments should be submitted on or before June 10, 1996.
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.
ADDRESS: Direct all comments to Dorothy Conway, Federal Communications,
Room 234, 1919 M St., NW., Washington, DC 20554 or via internet to
dconway@fcc.gov and Timothy Fain, OMB Desk Officer, 10236 NEOB 725 17th
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503 or fain_t@a1.eop.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or copies
of the information collections contact Dorothy Conway at 202-418-0217
or via internet at dconway@fcc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
OMB Approval Number: 3060-0571.
Title: Determination of Maximum Initial Permitted Rates for
Regulated Cable Programming Services and Equipment.
Form Number: FCC Form 393.
Type of Review: Revision of existing collection.
Respondents: Businesses or other for-profit entities; state, local
and tribal governments.
Number of Respondents: 120 (80 cable operators + 40 LFAs).
Estimated Time Per Response: 1-40 hours. FCC Form 393 has an
estimated average burden of 40 hours for cable operators to complete.
Cable operators who contract out the burden of filing will take 1 hour
to coordinate information with those contractors. In addition, there is
an estimated average burden of 15 hours for each FCC Form 393 filing
that LFAs must review.
Total Annual Burden: 3,020 hours (2,420 for operators + 600 for
LFAs). For cable operators: we estimate approximately 80 FCC Form 393
filings will be made this year, 50% with the Commission and 50% with
LFAs. We estimate that 25% of cable operators will contract out the
burden of filing and that it will take 1 hour to coordinate information
with those contractors. The remaining 75% of operators will employ in
house staff to complete the application. 20 filings (25% contracted
out) x 1 hour = 20 hours. 60 filings (75% in house) x 40 hours = 2,400
hours. Total burden for operators = 2,420 hours.
For LFAs: we estimate 40 (50%) of remaining FCC Form 393 filings
will be reviewed by LFAs. This third party disclosure was not
previously reported by the Commission. 40 FCC Form 393s reviewed by
LFAs at 15 hours each = 600 hours.
In the prior Federal Register notice soliciting public comment for
this collection, the Commission initially estimated a total burden of
12,000 hours (300 annual filings @ 40 hours each). Based on current
information, we further reduce the estimated number of annual FCC Form
393 filings to now be 80 per year, with 50% of filings being reviewed
by LFAs. The burden for LFA review of FCC Form 393s @ 15 hours per
review was not reported in the prior Federal Register summary
soliciting initial public comment.
Costs for respondents: $80,160. Printing and postage costs are
estimated at $2 per Form 393 filing. 80 annual filings x $2 = $160. We
estimate assistance will be performed by outside accounting/legal
assistance at an average of $100/hour for 25% of the Form 393 filings.
$100/hour x 20 filings (25% of Form 393 filings) x 40 hours = $80,000.
Total annual cost for respondents = $160 + $80,000 = $80,160.
In the prior Federal Register notice soliciting public comment for
this collection, the Commission did not report costs to respondents for
complying with this information collection. We now report the various
costs for printing, postage and contracting out for legal/accounting
assistance in completing FCC Form 393 filings.
Needs and Uses: The data are used by FCC staff and LFAs to
determine whether cable rates in effect prior to May 15, 1994 for basic
service, cable programming service and associated equipment are
reasonable under FCC regulations. Cable operators use FCC Form 393 to
submit their basic rate schedule to LFAs certified prior to May 15,
1994 or the FCC (in situations where the FCC has assumed jurisdiction).
Cable operators also file FCC Form 393 with the FCC when responding to
a complaint filed with the Commission about cable programming service
rates and associated equipment in effect prior to May 15, 1994. FCC
Form 393 is a one-time only filing requirement for operators. Local
franchise authority (``LFA'') certifications to regulate rates are not
granted retroactively. Rate complaints are also not permitted to
retroactively challenge rates in effect prior to May 15, 1994;
therefore, no future entities will be impacted by this filing
requirement. In fact, the Form 393 filing process is nearly exhausted.
The only remaining entities impacted by this requirement are those
initially required to file but have not yet done so, and those who
filed incorrect or incomplete FCC Form 393s.
Federal Communications Commission
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-11526 Filed 5-8-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-F
