2020-15097. Information Collections Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission Under Delegated Authority  

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    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.

    DATES:

    Written comments should be submitted on or before September 14, 2020. 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 PRA@fcc.gov and to Cathy.Williams@fcc.gov.

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    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

    For additional information about the information collection, contact Cathy Williams at (202) 418-2918.

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    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    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.

    As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the PRA of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), the FCC 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.

    OMB Control No.: 3060-1054.

    Title: Application for Renewal of an International Broadcast Station License.

    Form No.: Form 422-IB.

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

    Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.

    Number of Respondents: 10 respondents; 50 responses.

    Estimated Time per Response: 1-8 hours per response.

    Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting 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. 154, 303, 334, 336 and 339.

    Total Annual Burden: 160 hours.

    Annual Cost Burden: $36,000.

    Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).

    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: In general, there is no need for confidentiality with this collection of information.

    Needs and Uses: This collection will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as an extension following the 60-day comment period in order to obtain the full three-year clearance from OMB.

    The Commission plans to implement and release to the public an “Application for Renewal of an International Broadcast Station License (FCC Form 422-IB).” After the FCC Form 422-IB has been implemented and the Commission receives final approval from OMB, applicants will complete the FCC Form 422-IB in lieu of the “Application for Renewal of an International or Experimental Broadcast Station License,” (FCC Form 311). In the interim, applicants will continue to file the FCC Form 311 with the Commission. (Note: The OMB approved the FCC Form 311 under OMB Control No. 3060-1035).

    The Commission stated previously that it plans to develop a Consolidated Licensing System (CLS). However, the Commission discontinued its plan to develop CLS. Instead, the Commission plans to make the FCC Form 422-IB available to the public in the International Bureau Filing System (“IBFS”). It is anticipated that this form will be available in IBFS on or before December 2021.

    The information collected pursuant to the rules set forth in 47 CFR part 73, Start Printed Page 42399subpart F, is used by the Commission to assign frequencies for use by international broadcast stations, to grant authority to operate such stations and to determine if interference or adverse propagation conditions exist that may impact the operation of such stations. If the Commission did not collect this information, it would not be in a position to effectively coordinate spectrum for international broadcasters or to act for entities in times of frequency interference or adverse propagation conditions. The orderly nature of the provision of international broadcast service would be in jeopardy without the Commission's involvement.

    OMB Control No.: 3060-1056.

    Title: Application for International Broadcast Station License.

    Form No.: FCC Form 421-IB.

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

    Respondents: Business or other for-profit.

    Number of Respondents: 10 respondents; 10 responses.

    Estimated Time per Response: 6 hour per response.

    Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement.

    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The statutory authority for this information collection is contained in Section 325(c) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

    Total Annual Burden: 60 hours.

    Annual Cost Burden: $40,500.

    Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).

    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: In general, there is no need for confidentiality with this collection of information.

    Needs and Uses: This collection will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as an extension following the 60-day comment period in order to obtain the full three-year clearance from OMB.

    The Federal Communications Commission (“Commission”) plans to implement and release to the public an “Application for an International Broadcast Station License” (FCC Form 421-IB). The FCC Form 421-IB will be used by applicants to request licenses to operate international broadcast stations. It is anticipated that the FCC Form 421-IB will be completed by December 2021.

    After the form has been implemented and the Commission has obtained final approval from the OMB, applicants will file the FCC Form 421-IB with the Commission in lieu of the ”Application for an International, Experimental Television, Experimental Facsimile, or a Developmental Broadcast Station,” (FCC Form 310.)

    The Commission stated previously that it plans to develop a Consolidated Licensing System (CLS). However, the Commission discontinued its plan to develop CLS. Instead, the Commission plans to make the FCC Form 421-IB available to the public in the International Bureau Filing System (“IBFS”).

    (Note: The Commission received approval from the OMB for the FCC Form 310 under OMB Control No 3060-1035.) In the interim, applicants will continue to file the FCC Form 310 with the Commission.

    The information collected is used by the Commission to assign frequencies for use by international broadcast stations, to grant authority to operate such stations and to determine if interference or adverse propagation conditions exist that may impact the operation of such stations. If the Commission did not collect this information, it would not be in a position to effectively coordinate spectrum for international broadcasters or to act for entities in times of frequency interference or adverse propagation conditions. The orderly nature of the provision of international broadcast service would be in jeopardy without the Commission's involvement.

    OMB Control No.: 3060-1057.

    Title: Application for Authority to Construct or Make Changes in an International Broadcast Station.

    Form No.: FCC Form 420-IB.

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

    Respondents: Business or other for-profit.

    Number of Respondents: 10 respondents; 10 responses.

    Estimated Time per Response: 6 hours per response.

    Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement.

    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The statutory authority for this information collection is contained in Section 325(c) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and in 47 CFR part 73, subpart F.

    Total Annual Burden: 60 hours.

    Annual Cost Burden: $46,050.

    Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).

    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: In general, there is no need for confidentiality with this collection of information.

    Needs and Uses: This collection will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as an extension following the 60-day comment period in order to obtain the full three-year clearance from OMB.

    The Federal Communications Commission (“Commission”) received approval from the OMB to develop a new application titled, “Application for Authority to Construct or Make Changes in an International Broadcast Station (FCC Form 420-IB)” to request authority from the Commission to construct or make changes in an international broadcast station. This application has not been implemented and released to the public yet due to a lack of budget resources and technical staff. After the FCC Form 420-IB has been implemented and the Commission has obtained final approval from the OMB, it will be completed by international broadcasters in lieu of the “Application for Authority to Construct or Make Changes in an International, Experimental Television, Experimental Facsimile, or a Developmental Broadcast Station,” (FCC Form 309). In the interim, applicants will continue to file the FCC Form 309 with the Commission. (Note: The OMB approved the FCC Form 309 under OMB Control No. 3060-1035.)

    The Commission stated previously that it plans to develop a Consolidated Licensing System (CLS). However, the Commission discontinued its plan to develop CLS. Instead, the Commission plans to make the FCC Form 420-IB available to the public in the International Bureau Filing System (“IBFS”). It is anticipated that this form will be available in IBFS on or before December 2021.

    The information collected pursuant to the rules set forth in 47 CFR part 73, subpart F, is used by the Commission to assign frequencies for use by international broadcast stations, to grant authority to operate such stations and to determine if interference or adverse propagation conditions exist that may impact the operation of such stations. If the Commission did not collect this information, it would not be in a position to effectively coordinate spectrum for international broadcasters or to act for entities in times of frequency interference or adverse propagation conditions. The orderly nature of the provision of international broadcast service would be in jeopardy without the Commission's involvement.

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    Federal Communications Commission.

    Marlene Dortch,

    Secretary, Office of the Secretary.

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    [FR Doc. 2020-15097 Filed 7-13-20; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 6712-01-P

Document Information

Published:
07/14/2020
Department:
Federal Communications Commission
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice and request for comments.
Document Number:
2020-15097
Dates:
Written comments should be submitted on or before September 14, 2020. 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.
Pages:
42398-42399 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
OMB 3060-1054, OMB 3060-1056, OMB 3060-1057, FRS 16920
PDF File:
2020-15097.Pdf