73 FR 195 pgs. 58590-58591 - Notice of Public Information Collections Approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
Type: NOTICEVolume: 73Number: 195Pages: 58590 - 58591
FR document: [FR Doc. E8-23752 Filed 10-6-08; 8:45 am]
Agency: Federal Communications Commission
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Notice of Public Information Collections Approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
September 30, 2008.
SUMMARY:
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has received Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the following public information collections pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520). An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number, and no person is required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Comments concerning the accuracy of the burden estimates and any suggestions for reducing the burden should be directed to the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
For additional information contact Cathy Williams, via the Internet at PRA@fcc.gov or on (202) 418-2918.
Commission at (202) 418-2918.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
OMB Control No.: 3060-1115.
OMB Approval Date: 9/24/2008.
Expiration Date: 9/30/2011.
Title: Sections 15.124, 27.20, 54.418, 73.674, 76.1630, DTV Consumer Education Initiative; FCC Form 388.
Form No.: FCC Form 388.
Number of Respondents/Responses: 11,022 respondents; 70,026 responses.
Estimated Time Per Response: 0.5 to 85 hours
Total Annual Burden: 155,646 hours.
Total Annual Cost: None.
Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain benefits-Statutory authority for this collection of information is contained in Sections 4(i), 303(r), 335, and 336 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. Sections 154(i), 303(r), 335, and 336.
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: No need for confidentiality required with this information collection.
Needs and Uses: The Commission adopted on April 23, 2008, an Order of Reconsideration, In the Matter of DTV Consumer Education Initiative, MB Docket 07-148, FCC 08-119. In this Order, we modify our requirements regarding the timing, scope, and content of manufacturer notices and the method of delivery of eligible telecommunications carriers (ETC) notices, and clarify other manufacturer requirements. The revised requirements that were approved by OMB on an emergency basis on May 22, 2008 for a six month time period are as follows:
(1). Consumer Electronics Manufacturer Notices (47 CFR 15.124).
The "responsible party," as defined the Commission's rules, has to include a notice about the digital television (DTV) transition on television receivers and related devices manufactured between May 30, 2008 and March 31, 2009. The notices themselves must include the Commission's contact information (rather than the manufacturer's), convey information about the DTV transition, and must be included with covered devices.
(2). Eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) Federal Universal Service Low-Income Program Participant Notices (47 CFR 54.418). ETCs that receive federal universal service funds shall provide their Lifeline or Link-up customers (low-income customers) with notices about the transition for over-the-air full power broadcasting from analog to digital service (the "DTV Transition") in monthly bills, bill notices, or as a monthly stand-alone mailer (e.g., postcard, brochure), beginning May 30, 2008 through March 31, 2009.
The following requirements also have been approved by OMB:
(1) Broadcaster Education and Reporting (47 CFR 73.674).
(a) On-air Education. Broadcasters must provide on-air DTV Transition consumer education information (e.g., via Public Service Announcements (PSAs), information crawls, snipes or tickers) to their viewers. Broadcasters must comply with one of three alternative sets of rules as provided in the Report and Order.
(b) DTV Consumer Education Quarterly Activity Report, FCC Form 388. Broadcasters must electronically file a report about its DTV Transition consumer education efforts to the Commission on a quarterly basis. Broadcasters must begin filing these quarterly reports no later than April 10, 2008. In addition, if the broadcaster has a public website, they must post these reports on that website.
(2) Multichannel Video Programming Distributor (MVPD) Customer Bill Notices (47 CFR 76.1630). MVPDs must provide monthly notices about the DTV transition in their customer billing statements. They include (but are not limited to), for example: cable operators, direct broadcast satellite (DBS) carriers, open video system operators, and private cable operators.
(3) DTV.gov Partner Consumer Education Reporting. DTV.gov Transition Partners must report their consumer education efforts, as a condition of continuing Partner status. They must begin filing these quarterly reports no later than April 10, 2008.
(4) 700 MHz Wireless Service Licensee/Permitees Consumer Education Reporting (47 CFR 27.20). Winners of the 700 MHz spectrum auction must report their consumer education efforts to the Commission on a quarterly basis. These parties must file the first by the tenth day of the first calendar quarter following the initial grant of the license authorization that the entity holds.
The Commission received the full three year OMB approval for all of the requirements contained in information collection 3060-1115 on September 24, 2008.
OMB Control No.: 3060-1117.
OMB Approval Date: 9/24/2008.
Expiration Date: 9/30/2011.
Title: Viewer Notification Requirements in the Third DTV Periodic Report and Order, FCC 07-228.
Form No.: Not applicable.
Number of Respondents/Responses: 1,050 respondents; 174,000 responses.
Estimated Time Per Response: 0.01-0.33 hours
Total Annual Burden: 12,015 hours.
Total Annual Cost: $210,000.
Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. Statutory authority for this collection of information is contained in Section 154(i) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: No need for confidentiality required with this information collection.
Needs and Uses: Congress has mandated that after February 17, 2009, full-power television broadcast stations must transmit only in digital signals, and may no longer transmit analog signals. On December 22, 2007, the Commission adopted a Report and Order, In the Matter of the Third Periodic Review of the Commission's Rules and Policies Affecting the Conversion to Digital Television, MB Docket No. 07-91, FCC 07-228 to establish the rules, policies and procedures necessary to complete the nation's transition to DTV. In the Report and Order, the Commission adopted rules to ensure that, by the February 17, 2009 transition date, all full-power television broadcast stations (1) cease analog broadcasting and (2) complete construction of, and begin operations on, their final, full-authorized post-transition (DTV) facility. The Commission recognized that broadcasters may need regulatory flexibility in order to achieve these goals. Accordingly, the Commission affords broadcasters the opportunity for regulatory flexibility, if necessary, to meet their DTV construction deadlines. The Commission, however, must also ensure that no consumers are left behind in the DTV transition. Therefore, the Commission requires broadcasters that choose to reduce or terminate TV service to comply with viewer notification requirements.
Specifically, as a result of the Third DTV Periodic Report and Order, stations must comply with a viewer notification requirement ( i.e. , stations must notify viewers about their planned service reduction or termination) if:
(1) The station will permanently reduce or terminate analog or pre-transition digital service before the transition date; or
(2) The station will not serve at least the same population that receives their current analog TV and DTV service after the transition date.
Viewer notifications must occur every day on-air at least four times a day including at least once in primetime for the 30/60-days prior to the station's termination of full, authorized analog service. These notifications must include: (1) The station's call sign and community of license; (2) the fact that the station must delay the construction and operation of its post-transition (DTV) service or the fact that the station is planning to or has reduced or terminated its analog or digital operations before the transition date; (3) information about the nature, scope, and anticipated duration of the station's post-transition service limitations; (4) what viewers can do to continue to receive the station, i.e., how and when the station's digital signal can be received; (5) information about the availability of digital-to-analog converter boxes in their service area; and (6) the street address, email address (if available), and phone number of the station where viewers may register comments or request information.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8-23752 Filed 10-6-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P