[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 11 (Thursday, January 16, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2830-2834]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-00669]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Information Collections Being Submitted for Review and Approval
to the Office of Management and Budget
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens,
and as
[[Page 2831]]
required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-
3520), the Federal Communication 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.
The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information
unless it displays a currently valid 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.
DATES: Written comments should be submitted on or before February 18,
2014. 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 Nicholas A. Fraser, OMB, via
email [email protected]; and to Cathy Williams, FCC, via
email [email protected] mailto:[email protected] and to [email protected].
Include in the comments the OMB control number as shown in the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or copies
of the information collection, contact Cathy Williams at (202) 418-
2918. To view a copy of this information collection request (ICR)
submitted to OMB: (1) Go to the Web page http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain, (2) look for the section of the Web page called ``Currently
Under Review,'' (3) click on the downward-pointing arrow in the
``Select Agency'' box below the ``Currently Under Review'' heading, (4)
select ``Federal Communications Commission'' from the list of agencies
presented in the ``Select Agency'' box, (5) click the ``Submit'' button
to the right of the ``Select Agency'' box, (6) when the list of FCC
ICRs currently under review appears, look for the OMB control number of
this ICR and then click on the ICR Reference Number. A copy of the FCC
submission to OMB will be displayed.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
OMB Control Number: 3060-0311.
Title: 47 CFR 76.54, Significantly Viewed Signals; Method to be
followed for Special Showings.
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: 500 respondents, 1,274
responses.
Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting and third party
disclosure requirements.
Estimated Time per Response: 1-15 hours (average).
Total Annual Burden: 20,610 hours.
Total Annual Costs: $200,000.
Nature of Response: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The
statutory authority for this information collection is contained in
Section 4(i) and 340 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: There is no need for
confidentiality with this collection of information.
Privacy Impact Assessment: No impact(s).
Needs and Uses: 47 CFR 76.54(b) states significant viewing in a
cable television or satellite community for signals not shown as
significantly viewed under 47 CFR 76.54(a) or (d) may be demonstrated
by an independent professional audience survey of over-the-air
television homes that covers at least two weekly periods separated by
at least thirty days but no more than one of which shall be a week
between the months of April and September. If two surveys are taken,
they shall include samples sufficient to assure that the combined
surveys result in an average figure at least one standard error above
the required viewing level.
47 CFR 76.54(c) is used to notify interested parties, including
licensees or permittees of television broadcast stations, about
audience surveys that are being conducted by an organization to
demonstrate that a particular broadcast station is eligible for
significantly viewed status under the Commission's rules. The
notifications provide interested parties with an opportunity to review
survey methodologies and file objections.
47 CFR 76.54(e) and (f), are used to notify television broadcast
stations about the retransmission of significantly viewed signals by a
satellite carrier into these stations' local market.
OMB Control Number: 3060-0016.
Title: Application for Authority to Construct or Make Changes in a
Low Power TV, TV Translator or TV Booster Station, FCC Form 346; 47 CFR
74.787(c) and 74.793(d); LPTV Out-of-Core Digital Displacement
Application.
Form Number: FCC Form 346.
Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
Respondents: Businesses or other for-profit entities; not-for-
profit institutions; and State, local or tribal government.
Number of Respondents: 3,500 respondents and 3,500 responses.
Estimated Time per Response: 2.5-7 hours.
Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement; third
party disclosure requirement.
Total Annual Burden: 33,250 hours.
Total Annual Costs: $19,418,000.
Nature of Response: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The
statutory authority for this collection of information is contained in
Section 154(i), 303, 307, 308 and 309 of the Communications Act of
1934, as amended.
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: There is no need for
confidentiality with this collection.
Privacy Impact Assessment: No impact(s).
Needs and Uses: FCC Form 346 is used by licensees/permittees/
applicants when applying for authority to construct or make changes in
a Low Power Television, TV Translator or TV Booster broadcast station.
47 CFR 74.793(d) require that certain digital low power and TV
translator stations submit information as to vertical radiation
patterns as part of their applications (FCC Forms 346 and 301-CA) for
new or modified construction permits.
47 CFR 74.787(c) require that all low power station with facilities
on out-of-core channels (channels 52-59) submit a digital displacement
(FCC Form 346) application proposing an in-core channel (channels 2-51,
excluding channel 37) not later than September 1, 2011.
OMB Control Number: 3060-1104.
Title: Section 73.682(d), DTV Transmission and Program System and
Information Protocol (``PSIP'') Standards.
Form Number: N/A.
Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities; not for-profit
institutions.
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Number of Respondents and Responses: 1,812 respondents and 1,812
respondents.
Estimated Hours per Response: 0.50 hours.
Frequency of Response: Third party disclosure requirement; weekly
reporting requirement.
Total Annual Burden: 47,112 hours.
Total Annual Cost: None.
Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The
statutory authority for this collection is contained in Sections 309
and 337 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: Confidentiality is not
required with this collection of information.
Privacy Impact Assessment: No impact(s).
Needs and Uses: Section 73.682(d) of the Commission's rules
incorporates by reference the Advanced Television Systems Committee,
Inc. (``ATSC'') Program System and Information Protocol (``PSIP'')
standard ``A/65C.'' PSIP data is transmitted along with a TV broadcast
station's digital signal and provides viewers (via their DTV receivers)
with information about the station and what is being broadcast, such as
program information. The Commission has recognized the utility that the
ATSC PSIP standard offers for both broadcasters and consumers (or
viewers) of digital television (``DTV'').
ATSC PSIP standard A/65C requires broadcasters to provide detailed
programming information when transmitting their broadcast signal. This
standard enhances consumers' viewing experience by providing detailed
information about digital channels and programs, such as how to find a
program's closed captions, multiple streams and V-chip information.
This standard requires broadcasters to populate the Event Information
Tables (``EITs'') (or program guide) with accurate information about
each event (or program) and to update the EIT if more accurate
information becomes available. The previous ATSC PSIP standard A/65-B
did not require broadcasters to provide such detailed programming
information but only general information.
OMB Control Number: 3060-0960.
Title: 47 CFR 76.122, Satellite Network Non-duplication Protection
Rules; 47 CFR 76.123, Satellite Syndicated Program Exclusivity Rules;
47 CFR 76.124, Requirements for Invocation of Non-duplication and
Syndicated Exclusivity Protection; 47 CFR 76.127, Satellite Sports
Blackout Rules.
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: 1,428 respondents and 12,686
responses.
Estimated Time per Response: 0.5-1 hour.
Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement; Third
party disclosure requirement.
Total Annual Burden: 12,402 hours.
Total Annual Costs: None.
Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The
statutory authority for this collection is contained in Sections 4(i),
4(j), 303(r), 339 and 340 of the Communications Act of 1934, as
amended.
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: There is no need for
confidentiality with this collection of information.
Privacy Impact Assessment: No impact(s).
Needs and Uses: 47 CFR 76.122, 76.123, 76.124 and 76.127 are used
to protect exclusive contract rights negotiated between broadcasters,
distributors, and rights holders for the transmission of network,
syndicated, and sports programming in the broadcasters' recognized
market areas. Rule sections 76.122 and 76.123 implement statutory
requirements to provide rights for in-market stations to assert non-
duplication and exclusivity rights.
OMB Control Number: 3060-0653.
Title: Sections 64.703(b) and (c), Consumer Information-Posting by
Aggregators.
Form No.: N/A.
Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.
Number of Respondents: 56,075 respondents; 5,339,038 responses.
Estimated Time per Response: .017 to 3 hours.
Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement; Third
party disclosure requirement.
Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The
statutory authority for this information collection is found at section
226 [47 U.S.C. 226] Telephone Operator Services codified at 47 CFR
64.703(b) Consumer Information.
Total Annual Burden: 174,401 hours.
Total Annual Cost: $1,688,168.
Privacy Act Impact Assessment: An assurance of confidentiality is
not offered because this information collection does not require the
collection of personally identifiable information (PII) from
individuals.
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: No impact(s).
Needs and Uses: The information collection requirements included
under this OMB Control Number 3060-0653, requires aggregators
(providers of telephones to the public or to transient users of their
premises) under 47 U.S.C. 226(c)(1)(A), 47 CFR 64.703(b) of the
Commission's rules, to post in writing, on or near such phones,
information about the pre-subscribed operator services, rates, carrier
access, and the FCC address to which consumers may direct complaints.
Section 64.703(c) of the Commission's rules requires the posted
consumer information to be added when an aggregator has changed the
pre-subscribed operator service provider (OSP) no later than 30 days
following such change. Consumers will use this information to determine
whether they wish to use the services of the identified OSP.
OMB Control Number: 3060-1094.
Title: Licensing, Operation, and Transition of the 2500-2690 MHz
Band.
Form Number: N/A.
Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities, not-for-profit
institutions, and state, local, or tribal government.
Number of Respondents: 42 respondents, 282 responses.
Estimated Time per Response: .5-2 hours.
Frequency of Response: On occasion and one time reporting
requirements, third-party disclosure requirement and recordkeeping
requirement.
Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The
statutory authority is contained in 47 U.S.C. 151, 154(i), 301, 303(f),
303(g), 303(r), 307, 308, 316.
Total Annual Burden: 147 hours.
Total Annual Cost: $11,550.
Privacy Impact Assessment: No impact(s).
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: There is no need for
confidentiality. Respondents or applicants may request materials or
information submitted to the Commission be withheld from public
inspection under 47 CFR 0.459 of the Commission's rules.
Needs and Uses: The information relating to substantial service is
used by the Commission staff to satisfy requirements for licensees to
demonstrate substantial service. Without this information, the
Commission would not be able to carry out its statutory
responsibilities. The third party disclosure coordination requirements
are necessary to ensure that licensees do not cause interference to
each other and that licensees who
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undertake to transition to the new band plan receive reimbursement for
eligible costs.
OMB Control No.: 3060-0865.
Title: Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Universal Licensing
System Recordkeeping and Third Party Disclosure Requirements.
Form No.: N/A.
Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities, Individuals or
households, Not-for-profit institutions, and State, Local or Tribal
Government.
Number of Respondents and Responses: 62,490 respondents; 168,908
responses.
Estimated Time per Response: .166 hours (10 minutes)--4 hours.
Frequency of Response: Recordkeeping and third-party disclosure
requirements; On occasion reporting requirement.
Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The
statutory authority for this collection is contained in 47 U.S.C.
154(i) and 309(j).
Total Annual Burden: 88,927 hours.
Annual Cost Burden: None.
Privacy Act Impact Assessment: Yes.
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: This information collection
contains personally identifiable information (PII). The FCC has a
system of records notice (SORN), FCC/WTB-1, ``Wireless Services
Licensing Records,'' to cover the collection, maintenance, use(s), and
destruction of this PII, which respondents may provide to the FCC as
part of the information collection requirement(s). This SORN was
published in the Federal Register on April 5, 2006 (71 FR 17234,
17269).
Needs and Uses: The Commission will submit this information
collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as an extension
after this 60 day comment period to obtain the full three-year
clearance from them.
The purpose of this information collection is to continually
streamline and simplify processes for wireless applicants and
licensees, who previously used a myriad of forms for various wireless
services and types of requests, in order to provide the Commission
information that has been collected in separate databases, each for a
different group of services. Such processes have resulted in unreliable
reporting, duplicate filings for the same licensees/applicants, and
higher cost burdens to licensees/applicants. By streamlining the
Universal Licensing System (ULS), the Commission eliminates the filing
of duplicative applications for wireless carriers; increases the
accuracy and reliability of licensing information; and enables all
wireless applicants and licensees to file all licensing-related
applications and other filings electronically, thus increasing the
speed and efficiency of the application process. The ULS also benefits
wireless applicants/licensees by reducing the cost of preparing
applications, and speeds up the licensing process in that the
Commission can introduce new entrants more quickly into this already
competitive industry. Finally, ULS enhances the availability of
licensing information to the public, which has access to all publicly
available wireless licensing information on-line, including maps
depicting a licensee's geographic service area.
OMB Control Number: 3060-0667.
Title: Section 76.630, Compatibility with Consumer Electronics
Equipment; Section 76.1621, Equipment Compatibility Offer; Section
76.1622, Consumer Education of Equipment Compatibility.
Form Number: Not applicable.
Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.
Number of Respondents and Responses: 8,250 respondents; 66,501
responses.
Estimated Time per Response: .017 hours-3 hours.
Frequency of Response: Recordkeeping and third party disclosure
requirements; On occasion reporting requirement.
Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The
statutory authority for this collection is contained in Section 4(i)
and Section 632 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.
Total Annual Burden: 17,353 hours.
Total Annual Cost: $1,355.
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: 47 CFR 76.630(a) states a cable system operator
shall not scramble or otherwise encrypt signals carried on the basic
service tier. This requirement is subject to certain exemptions
explained below. Requests for waivers of this prohibition, which are
allowed under 47 CFR 76.630(a)(2), must demonstrate either a
substantial problem with theft of basic tier service or a strong need
to scramble basic signals for other reasons. As part of this showing,
cable operators are required to notify subscribers by mail of waiver
requests. The notice to subscribers must be mailed no later than thirty
calendar days from the date the request waiver was filed with the
Commission, and cable operators must inform the Commission in writing,
as soon as possible, of that notification date. The notification to
subscribers must state:
On (date of waiver request was filed with the Commission), (cable
operator's name) filed with the Federal Communications Commission a
request for waiver of the rule prohibiting scrambling of channels on
the basic tier of service. The request for waiver states (a brief
summary of the waiver request). A copy of the request for waiver is on
file for public inspection at (the address of the cable operator's
local place of business).
Individuals who wish to comment on this request for waiver should
mail comments to the Federal Communications Commission by no later than
30 days from (the date the notification was mailed to subscribers).
Those comments should be addressed to the: Federal Communications
Commission, Media Bureau, Washington, DC 20554, and should include the
name of the cable operator to whom the comments are applicable.
Individuals should also send a copy of their comments to (the cable
operator at its local place of business). Cable operators may file
comments in reply no later than 7 days from the date subscriber
comments must be filed.
47 CFR 76.1621 states a cable system operators that use scrambling,
encryption or similar technologies in conjunction with cable system
terminal devices, as defined in Sec. 15.3(e) of this chapter, that may
affect subscribers' reception of signals shall offer to supply each
subscriber with special equipment that will enable the simultaneous
reception of multiple signals. The equipment offered shall include a
single terminal device with dual descramblers/decoders and/or timers
and bypass switches. Other equipment, such as two independent set-top
terminal devices may be offered at the same time that the single
terminal device with dual tuners/descramblers is offered. For purposes
of this rule, two set-top devices linked by a control system that
provides functionality equivalent to that of a single device with dual
descramblers is considered to be the same as a terminal device with
dual descramblers/decoders.
(a) The offer of special equipment shall be made to new subscribers
at the time they subscribe and to all subscribers at least once each
year (i.e., in subscriber billings or pre-printed information on the
bill).
(b) Such special equipment shall, at a minimum, have the
capability:
[[Page 2834]]
(1) To allow simultaneous reception of any two scrambled or
encrypted signals and to provide for tuning to alternative channels on
a pre-programmed schedule; and
(2) To allow direct reception of all other signals that do not need
to be processed through descrambling or decryption circuitry (this
capability can generally be provided through a separate by-pass switch
or through internal by-pass circuitry in a cable system terminal
device).
(c) Cable system operators shall determine the specific equipment
needed by individual subscribers on a case-by-case basis, in
consultation with the subscriber. Cable system operators are required
to make a good faith effort to provide subscribers with the amount and
types of special equipment needed to resolve their individual
compatibility problems.
(d) Cable operators shall provide such equipment at the request of
individual subscribers and may charge for purchase or lease of the
equipment and its installation in accordance with the provisions of the
rate regulation rules for customer premises equipment used to receive
the basic service tier, as set forth in Sec. 76.923. Notwithstanding
the required annual offering, cable operators shall respond to
subscriber requests for special equipment for reception of multiple
signals that are made at any time.
Information Collection Requirements Which Require OMB Approval
In October 2012, the Commission loosened its prohibition on
encryption of the basic service tier. This rule change allows all-
digital cable operators to encrypt, subject to certain consumer
protection measures. 77 FR 67290 (Nov. 9, 2012); 47 CFR 76.630(a)(1).
Encryption of all-digital cable service will allow cable operators to
activate and/or deactivate cable service remotely, thus relieving many
consumers of the need to wait at home to receive a cable technician
when they sign up for or cancel cable service, or expand service to an
existing cable connection in their home.
In addition, encryption will reduce service theft by ensuring that
only paying subscribers have decryption equipment. Encryption could
reduce cable rates and reduce the theft that often degrades the quality
of cable service received by paying subscribers. Encryption also will
reduce the number of service calls necessary for manual installations
and disconnections, which may have beneficial effects on vehicle
traffic and the environment.
Because this rule change allows cable operators to encrypt the
basic service tier without filing a request for waiver, we expect that
the number of requests for waiver will decrease significantly.
These Requirements Remain Unchanged Since Last Approved by OMB
47 CFR 76.1622 states that Cable system operators shall provide a
consumer education program on compatibility matters to their
subscribers in writing, as follows:
(a) The consumer information program shall be provided to
subscribers at the time they first subscribe and at least once a year
thereafter. Cable operators may choose the time and means by which they
comply with the annual consumer information requirement. This
requirement may be satisfied by a once-a-year mailing to all
subscribers. The information may be included in one of the cable
system's regular subscriber billings.
(b) The consumer information program shall include the following
information:
(1) Cable system operators shall inform their subscribers that some
models of TV receivers and videocassette recorders may not be able to
receive all of the channels offered by the cable system when connected
directly to the cable system. In conjunction with this information,
cable system operators shall briefly explain, the types of channel
compatibility problems that could occur if subscribers connected their
equipment directly to the cable system and offer suggestions for
resolving those problems. Such suggestions could include, for example,
the use of a cable system terminal device such as a set-top channel
converter. Cable system operators shall also indicate that channel
compatibility problems associated with reception of programming that is
not scrambled or encrypted programming could be resolved through use of
simple converter devices without descrambling or decryption
capabilities that can be obtained from either the cable system or a
third party retail vendor.
(2) In cases where service is received through a cable system
terminal device, cable system operators shall indicate that subscribers
may not be able to use special features and functions of their TV
receivers and videocassette recorders, including features that allow
the subscriber to: View a program on one channel while simultaneously
recording a program on another channel; record two or more consecutive
programs that appear on different channels; and, use advanced picture
generation and display features such as ``Picture-in-Picture,'' channel
review and other functions that necessitate channel selection by the
consumer device.
(3) In cases where cable system operators offer remote control
capability with cable system terminal devices and other customer
premises equipment that is provided to subscribers, they shall advise
their subscribers that remote control units that are compatible with
that equipment may be obtained from other sources, such as retail
outlets. Cable system operators shall also provide a representative
list of the models of remote control units currently available from
retailers that are compatible with the customer premises equipment they
employ. Cable system operators are required to make a good faith effort
in compiling this list and will not be liable for inadvertent
omissions. This list shall be current as of no more than six months
before the date the consumer education program is distributed to
subscribers. Cable operators are also required to encourage subscribers
to contact the cable operator to inquire about whether a particular
remote control unit the subscriber might be considering for purchase
would be compatible with the subscriber's customer premises equipment.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Office of Managing Director.
[FR Doc. 2014-00669 Filed 1-15-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P