73 FR 106 pgs. 31481-31484 - Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Approved by the Office of Management and Budget
Type: NOTICEVolume: 73Number: 106Pages: 31481 - 31484
FR document: [FR Doc. E8-12123 Filed 5-30-08; 8:45 am]
Agency: Federal Communications Commission
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Approved by the Office of Management and Budget
May 23, 2008.
SUMMARY:
The Federal Communications Commission has received Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the following public information collection(s) pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. sections 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 estimate(s) 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, please contact Cathy Williams, Cathy.Williams@fcc.gov , or on (202) 418-2918.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
OMB Control Number: 3060-0027.
OMB Approval Date: 05/14/08.
Expiration Date: 05/31/2011.
Title: Application for Construction Permit for Commercial Broadcast Station.
Form Number: FCC Form 301.
Estimated Annual Burden: 4,278 responses; 2 to 4 hours per response; 10,513 hours total per year.
Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 154, 303 and 308 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: There is no need for confidentiality.
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. With the DTV transition deadline less than 14 months away, the Commission must ensure that broadcasters meet their statutory responsibilities and complete construction of, and begin operations on, the facility on their final, post-transition (digital) channel that will reach viewers in their authorized service areas by the statutory transition deadline, when they must cease broadcasting in analog. The Commission wants to ensure that no consumers are left behind in the DTV transition. Specifically, the Report and Order requires full-power commercial television stations to use revised FCC Form 301 to obtain the necessary Commission approvals (i.e., construction permits and licenses) in time to build their post-transition facility.
Applications for post-transition facilities. Full-power commercial television stations without a construction permit for their final, post-transition (DTV) facility must file an application to construct or modify that facility using FCC Form 301.
Requests to transition early to post-transition channel. Full-power commercial television stations may request authority to transition early to their post-transition channel using FCC Form 301.
Revisions to FCC Form 301. FCC Form 301 was revised to accommodate the filing of post-transition applications.
OMB Control Number: 3060-0029.
OMB Approval Date: 05/14/08.
Expiration Date: 05/31/2011.
Title: Application for TV Broadcast Station License, FCC Form 302 TV; Application for DTV Broadcast Station License, FCC Form 302-DTV; Application for Construction Permit for Reserved Channel Noncommercial Educational Broadcast Station, FCC Form 340; Application for Authority to Construct or Make Changes in an FM Translator or FM Booster Station, FCC Form 349.
Form Number(s): FCC Form 302-TV; FCC Form 302-DTV; FCC Form 340; FCC Form 349.
Estimated Annual Burden: 4,325 responses; 1 to 4 hours per response; 12,150 hours total per year.
Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 154(i), 303 and 308 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: There is no need for confidentiality.
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. With the DTV transition deadline less than 14 months away, the Commission must ensure that broadcasters meet their statutory responsibilities and complete construction of, and begin operations on, the facility on their final, post-transition (digital) channel that will reach viewers in their authorized service areas by the statutory transition deadline, when they must cease broadcasting in analog. The Commission wants to ensure that no consumers are left behind in the DTV transition. Specifically, the Report and Order requires Noncommercial Educational ("NCE") television stations to use revised FCC Form 340 to obtain the necessary Commission approvals (i.e., construction permits and licenses) in time to build their post-transition facility.
Applications for post-transition facilities. NCE television stations without a construction permit for their final, post-transition (DTV) facility must file an application to construct or modify that facility using FCC Forms 340.
Requests to transition early to post-transition channel. NCE television stations may request authority to transition early to their post-transition channel using FCC Form 340.
Revisions to FCC Form 340. FCC Form 340 was revised to accommodate the filing of post-transition applications.
In addition, the Report and Order requires that stations that have applied to construct or modify post-transition facilities must use the Form 302-DTV to obtain a new or modified station license to cover those post-transition facilities.
OMB Control Number: 3060-0216.
OMB Approval Date: 02/28/08.
Expiration Date: 02/28/2011.
Title: Informal Requests to Discontinue Only One Service and Informal Requests to Flash Cut; Section 73.3538, Application To Make Changes in an Existing Station, Section 73.1690(e) Modification of Transmission Systems.
Form Number: Not applicable.
Estimated Annual Burden: 700 responses; 0.50-3 hours per response; 1,125 hours total per year.
Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 154(i), 303(r), 308, 309(j) and 337(e) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: There is no need for confidentiality.
Needs and Uses: Congress has mandated that after February 17, 2009, full-power television broadcast stations must transmit only digital signals and may no longer transmit analog signals. On December 31, 2007, the Commission released 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. In this Report and Order, among other things, the Commission requires stations to request Commission approval to return their currently assigned, pre-transition-only DTV channel (i.e., a DTV channel that is not their final, post-transition channel) and flash cut at or before the transition deadline from their current analog channel to their final, post-transition channel. This process will be accomplished by permitting broadcasters to file an informal letter to the Video Division of the Media Bureau and send an e-mail to analog @fcc.gov in lieu of a formal construction permit application (FCC Forms 301 and 340). 47 CFR 73.1690(e) requires AM, FM, and TV station licensees to prepare an informal statement or diagram describing any electrical and mechanical modification to authorized transmitting equipment that can be made without prior Commission approval provided that equipment performance measurements are made to ensure compliance with FCC rules. This informal statement or diagram must be retained at the transmitter site as long as the equipment is in use. 47 CFR 73.3538 requires broadcast stations to file an informal application to modify or discontinue the obstruction marking or lighting of an antenna supporting structure.
OMB Control Number: 3060-0386.
OMB Approval Date: 05/08/2008.
Expiration Date: 11/30/2008.
Title: Special Temporary Authorization (STA) Requests, 47 CFR 73.1635; Notifications, 47 CFR 73.1615; and Informal Filings (47 CFR part 73).
Form Number: Not applicable.
Estimated Annual Burden: 3,710 responses; 30 minutes to 4 hours per response; 4,020 hours total per year.
Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 1, 4(i) and (j), 7, 301, 302, 303, 307, 308, 309, 312, 316, 318, 319, 324, 325, 336 and 337 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: There is no need for confidentiality.
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 31, 2007, the Commission released 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. 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 authorized the following "DTV Transition-related" filings, which must be made electronically via the FCC's Consolidated Database System ("CDBS"), to permit broadcasters to request and obtain regulatory flexibility from the Commission, if necessary, to meet their DTV construction deadlines:
STA for Phased Transition and Continued Interim Operations. Stations may file a request for Special Temporary Authorization (STA) approval to temporarily remain on their in-core, pre-transition DTV channel after the transition date through the CDBS using the Informal Application Filing Form.
STA for Phased Transition/Build-Out. Stations may file a request for STA approval to build less than full, authorized post-transition facilities by the transition date through the CDBS using the Informal Application Filing Form.
STA for Permanent Service Reduction or Termination. Stations may file a request for STA approval to permanently reduce or terminate analog or pre-transition DTV service where necessary to facilitate construction of final, post-transition facilities through the CDBS using the Informal Application Filing Form.
Notification/Informal Letter of Temporary Service Disruption. Stations may file a notification or informal letter pursuant to Section 73.1615 to temporarily reduce or cease existing analog or pre-transition DTV service where necessary to facilitate construction of final, post-transition facilities through the CDBS using the Informal Application Filing Form.
Notification of Service Reduction or Termination. Stations may file a notification to permanently reduce or terminate analog or pre-transition DTV service within 90 days of the transition date through the CDBS using the Informal Application Filing Form.
Informal Filings. Stations claiming a "unique technical challenge" warranting a February 17, 2009, construction deadline may file a notification to document their status through the CDBS using the Informal Application Filing Form.
47 CFR 73.1635 states that broadcast stations (licensees or permittees) may file a request for Special Temporary Authority (STA) approval to permit a station to operate a broadcast facility for a limited period at a specified variance from the terms of the station's authorization or requirements of the FCC rules. Stations may file a request for STA approval for a variety of reasons. The request must describe the operating modes and facilities to be used.
OMB Control Number: 3060-1117.
OMB Approval Date: 05/08/2008.
Expiration Date: 11/30/2008.
Title: Viewer Notification Requirements in Third DTV Periodic Report and Order, FCC 07-228.
Form Number: Not applicable.
Estimated Annual Burden: 174,000 responses; 0.01-0.33 hours per response; 12,015 hours total per year.
Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 154(i) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: There is no need for confidentiality.
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 ("Third DTV Periodic Report and Order") 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-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, e-mail 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. E8-12123 Filed 5-30-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P