03-22680. Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Being Submitted to OMB for Review and Approval

August 25, 2003.

SUMMARY:

The Federal Communications Commissions, 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, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 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; (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 comments should be submitted on or before October 8, 2003. 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:

Direct all comments to Les Smith, Federal Communications Commission, Room 1-A804, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554 or via the Internet to [e-mail] or Kim A. Johnson, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Room 10236 NEOB, Washington, DC 20503, [phone] or via the Internet at [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For additional information or copy of the information collection(s) contact Les Smith at [phone] or via the Internet at [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control Number: 3060-0055.

Title: Application for Cable Television Relay Service Station (CARS) Authorization, FCC Form 327.

Form Number: FCC 327.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

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

Number of Respondents: 973.

Estimated Time per Response: 3.166 hours (avg.).

Frequency of Response: On occasion and/or every five years reporting requirements.

Total Annual Burden: 3,081 hours.

Total Annual Costs: $214,060.

Needs and Uses: On March 13, 2003, the Commission adopted a Report and Order (R&O), Amendment of the Commission's Rules for Implementation of its Cable Operations and Licensing System (COALS) to Allow for Electronic Filing of Licensing Applications, Forms, Registrations and Notifications in the Multichannel Video and Cable Television Service and the Cable Television Relay Service, FCC 03-55. This R&O provided for electronic filing and standardized information collections. Under 47 CFR Sections 78.11-78.40 of FCC Rules, an applicant files FCC Form 327 to obtain an initial license or modification, transfer, assignment, or renewal of an existing Cable television Relay Service (CARS) microwave radio license. Franchised cable systems and other eligible services use the 12 GHz and 18 GHz CARS bands for microwave relays pursuant to 47 CFR part 78 of the Commission's Rules. CARS is principally a video transmission service used for intermediate links in a distribution network, i.e., CARS stations relay broadcast television, low power television, AM, FM, and cablecasting video and audio signal transmissions for and supply program material to these various broadcast transmission systems using point-to-point and point-to-multipoint transmissions. The Commission has restructured FCC Form 327 primarily to make it conform to the online filing system.

OMB Control Number: 3060-0647.

Title: Annual Survey of Cable Industry Prices.

Form Number: N/A.

Type of Review: Revision of currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities; and State, local, or tribal governments.

Number of Respondents: 720.

Estimated Time per Response: 7 hours.

Frequency of Response: Annual reporting requirements.

Total annual burden: 5,040 hours.

Total Annual Costs: None.

Needs and Uses: Section 623(k) of the Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992 requires the Commission to publish an annual statistical report on average rates for basic cable service, cable programming and equipment. The report must compare the prices charged by cable systems subject to effective competition and those not subject to effective competition. The annual Price Survey is intended to collect data needed to prepare this report.

Federal Communications Commission.

Marlene H. Dortch,

Secretary.