2011-6905. Notice of Public Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission, Comments Requested

March 16, 2011.

SUMMARY:

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, 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 (PRA) of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520. 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 will 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; (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; and (e) ways to further reduce the information collection burden on 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 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 May 23, 2011. 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 PRA comments to Cathy Williams, FCC, via e-mail to [e-mail] and [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For additional information about the information collection, contact Cathy Williams at [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control Number: 3060-0980.

Title: 47 CFR Section 76.66, Implementation of the Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act of 1999: Local Broadcast Signal Carriage Issues and Retransmission Consent Issues.

Form Number: Not applicable.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.

Number of Respondents and Responses: 10,280 respondents; 11,938 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 1 to 5 hours.

Frequency of Response: Third party disclosure requirement; On occasion reporting requirement, Every three years reporting requirement.

Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The statutory authority for this collection is contained in Sections 325, 338, 339 and 340 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

Total Annual Burden: 12,146 hours.

Total Annual Cost: 24,000.

Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).

Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: There is no need for confidentiality with this collection of information.

Needs and Uses: On March 27, 2008 the Commission released a Second Report and Order, Memorandum Opinion and Order, and Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Carriage of Digital Television Broadcast Signals: Amendment to Part 76 of the Commission's Rules; Implementation of the Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act of 1999: Local Broadcast Signal Carriage Issues and Retransmission Consent Issues, FCC 08-86, CS Docket 00-96. The Commission amended the rules to require satellite carriers to carry digital-only stations upon request in markets in which they are providing any local-into-local service pursuant to the statutory copyright license, and to require carriage of all high definition (“HD”) signals in a market in which any station's signals are carried in HD.

The information collection requirements that have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and have not changed since last approved are as follows:

47 CFR Section 76.66(b)(1) states each satellite carrier providing, under section 122 of title 17, United States Code, secondary transmissions to subscribers located within the local market of a television broadcast station of a primary transmission made by that station, shall carry upon request the signals of all television broadcast stations located within that local market, subject to section 325(b) of title 47, United States Code, and other paragraphs in this section. Satellite carriers are required to carry digital-only stations upon request in markets in which the satellite carrier is providing any local-into-local service pursuant to the statutory copyright license.

47 CFR Section 76.66(b)(2) requires a satellite carrier that offers multichannel video programming distribution service in the United States to more than 5,000,000 subscribers shall, no later than December 8, 2005, carry upon request the signal originating as an analog signal of each television broadcast station that is located in a local market in Alaska or Hawaii; and shall, no later than June 8, 2007, carry upon request the signals originating as digital signals of each television broadcast station that is located in a local market in Alaska or Hawaii. Such satellite carrier is not required to carry the signal originating as analog after commencing carriage of digital signals on June 8, 2007. Carriage of signals originating as digital signals of each television broadcast station that is located in a local market in Alaska or Hawaii shall include the entire free over-the-air signal, including multicast and high definition digital signals.

47 CFR Section 76.66(c)(3) requires that a commercial television station notify a satellite carrier in writing whether it elects to be carried pursuant to retransmission consent or mandatory consent in accordance with the established election cycle.

47 CFR Section 76.66(c)(5) requires that a noncommercial television station must request carriage by notifying a satellite carrier in writing in accordance with the established election cycle.

47 CFR Section 76.66(c)(6) requires a commercial television broadcast station located in a local market in a noncontiguous State to make its retransmission consent-mandatory carriage election by October 1, 2005, for carriage of its signals that originate as analog signals for carriage commencing on December 8, 2005 and ending on December 31, 2008, and by April 1, 2007 for its signals that originate as digital signals for carriage commencing on June 8, 2007 and ending on December 31, 2008. For analog and digital signal carriage cycles commencing after December 31, 2008, such stations shall follow the election cycle in 47 CFR Section 76.66(c)(2) and 47 CFR Section 76.66(c)(4). A noncommercial television broadcast station located in a local market in Alaska or Hawaii must request carriage by October 1, 2005, for carriage of its signals that originate as an analog signal for carriage commencing on December 8, 2005 and ending on December 31, 2008, and by April 1, 2007 for its signals that originate as digital signals for carriage commencing on June 8, 2007 and ending on December 31, 2008. Moreover, Section 76.66(c) requires a commercial television station located in a local market in a noncontiguous State to provide notification to a satellite carrier whether it elects to be carried pursuant to retransmission consent or mandatory consent.

47 CFR Section 76.66(d)(1)(ii) states an election request made by a television station must be in writing and sent to the satellite carrier's principal place of business, by certified mail, return receipt requested.

47 CFR Section 76.66(d)(1)(iii) states a television station's written notification shall include the:

(A) Station's call sign;

(B) Name of the appropriate station contact person;

(C) Station's address for purposes of receiving official correspondence;

(D) Station's community of license;

(E) Station's DMA assignment; and

(F) For commercial television stations, its election of mandatory carriage or retransmission consent.

47 CFR Section 76.66(d)(1)(iv) Within 30 days of receiving a television station's carriage request, a satellite carrier shall notify in writing: (A) Those local television stations it will not carry, along with the reasons for such a decision; and (B) those local television stations it intends to carry.

47 CFR Section 76.66(d)(2)(i) states a new satellite carrier or a satellite carrier providing local service in a market for the first time after July 1, 2001, shall inform each television broadcast station licensee within any local market in which a satellite carrier proposes to commence carriage of signals of stations from that market, not later than 60 days prior to the commencement of such carriage.

(A) Of the carrier's intention to launch local-into-local service under this section in a local market, the identity of that local market, and the location of the carrier's proposed local receive facility for that local market;

(B) Of the right of such licensee to elect carriage under this section or grant retransmission consent under section 325(b);

(C) That such licensee has 30 days from the date of the receipt of such notice to make such election; and

(D) That failure to make such election will result in the loss of the right to demand carriage under this section for the remainder of the 3-year cycle of carriage under section 325.

47 CFR Section 76.66(d)(2)(ii) states satellite carriers shall transmit the notices required by paragraph (d)(2)(i) of this section via certified mail to the address for such television station licensee listed in the consolidated database system maintained by the Commission.

47 CFR Section 76.66(d)(2)(iii) requires a satellite carrier with more than five million subscribers to provide a notice as required by 47 CFR Section 76.66(d)(2)(i) and 47 CFR Section 76.66(d)(2)(ii) to each television broadcast station located in a local market in a noncontiguous State, not later than September 1, 2005 with respect to analog signals and a notice not later than April 1, 2007 with respect to digital signals; provided, however, that the notice shall also describe the carriage requirements pursuant to Section 338(a)(4) of Title 47, United States Code, and 47 CFR Section 76.66(b)(2).

47 CFR Section 76.66(d)(2)(iv) requires that a satellite carrier shall commence carriage of a local station by the later of 90 days from receipt of an election of mandatory carriage or upon commencing local-into-local service in the new television market.

47 CFR Section 76.66(d)(2)(v) states within 30 days of receiving a local television station's election of mandatory carriage in a new television market, a satellite carrier shall notify in writing: Those local television stations it will not carry, along with the reasons for such decision, and those local television stations it intends to carry.

47 CFR Section 76.66(d)(2)(vi) requires satellite carriers to notify all local stations in a market of their intent to launch HD carry-one, carry-all in that market at least 60 days before commencing such carriage.

47 CFR Section 76.66(d)(3)(ii) states a new television station shall make its election request, in writing, sent to the satellite carrier's principal place of business by certified mail, return receipt requested, between 60 days prior to commencing broadcasting and 30 days after commencing broadcasting. This written notification shall include the information required by paragraph (d)(1)(iii) of this section.

47 CFR Section 76.66(d)(3)(iv) states within 30 days of receiving a new television station's election of mandatory carriage, a satellite carrier shall notify the station in writing that it will not carry the station, along with the reasons for such decision, or that it intends to carry the station.

47 CFR Section 76.66(d)(5)(i) states beginning with the election cycle described in § 76.66(c)(2), the retransmission of significantly viewed signals pursuant to § 76.54 by a satellite carrier that provides local-into-local service is subject to providing the notifications to stations in the market pursuant to paragraphs (d)(5)(i)(A) and (B) of this section, unless the satellite carrier was retransmitting such signals as of the date these notifications were due.

(A) In any local market in which a satellite carrier provided local-into-local service on December 8, 2004, at least 60 days prior to any date on which a station must make an election under paragraph (c) of this section, identify each affiliate of the same television network that the carrier reserves the right to retransmit into that station's local market during the next election cycle and the communities into which the satellite carrier reserves the right to make such retransmissions;

(B) In any local market in which a satellite carrier commences local-into-local service after December 8, 2004, at least 60 days prior to the commencement of service in that market, and thereafter at least 60 days prior to any date on which the station must thereafter make an election under § 76.66(c) or (d)(2), identify each affiliate of the same television network that the carrier reserves the right to retransmit into that station's local market during the next election cycle.

47 CFR Section 76.66 (f)(3) states except as provided in 76.66(d)(2), a satellite carrier providing local-into-local service must notify local television stations of the location of the receive facility by June 1, 2001 for the first election cycle and at least 120 days prior to the commencement of all election cycles thereafter.

47 CFR Section 76.66 (f)(4) states a satellite carrier may relocate its local receive facility at the commencement of each election cycle. A satellite carrier is also permitted to relocate its local receive facility during the course of an election cycle, if it bears the signal delivery costs of the television stations affected by such a move. A satellite carrier relocating its local receive facility must provide 60 days notice to all local television stations carried in the affected television market.

47 CFR Section 76.66 (h)(5) states a satellite carrier shall provide notice to its subscribers, and to the affected television station, whenever it adds or deletes a station's signal in a particular local market pursuant to this paragraph.

47 CFR 76.66 (m)(1) states whenever a local television broadcast station believes that a satellite carrier has failed to meet its obligations under this section, such station shall notify the carrier, in writing, of the alleged failure and identify its reasons for believing that the satellite carrier failed to comply with such obligations.

47 CFR 76.66 (m)(2) states the satellite carrier shall, within 30 days after such written notification, respond in writing to such notification and comply with such obligations or state its reasons for believing that it is in compliance with such obligations.

47 CFR 76.66 (m)(3) states a local television broadcast station that disputes a response by a satellite carrier that it is in compliance with such obligations may obtain review of such denial or response by filing a complaint with the Commission, in accordance with § 76.7 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations. Such complaint shall allege the manner in which such satellite carrier has failed to meet its obligations and the basis for such allegations.

47 CFR 76.66 (m)(4) states the satellite carrier against which a complaint is filed is permitted to present data and arguments to establish that there has been no failure to meet its obligations under this section.

Non-rule requirement: Satellite carriers must immediately commence carriage of the digital signal of a television station that ceases analog broadcasting prior to the February 17, 2009 transition deadline provided that the broadcaster notifies the satellite carrier on or before October 1, 2008 of the date on which they anticipate termination of their analog signal.

Federal Communications Commission.

Marlene H. Dortch,

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