[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 112 (Monday, June 11, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27000-27002]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-12489]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
[OMB 3060-1113]
Information Collection 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 required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC or the Commission) invites the
general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to
comment on the following information collection. 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 Commission may not conduct or sponsor a collection of
information unless it displays a currently valid
[[Page 27001]]
Office of Management and Budget (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 July 11, 2018.
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 listed below as soon as possible.
ADDRESSES: Direct all PRA comments to Nicholas A. Fraser, OMB, via
email [email protected]; and to Nicole Ongele, FCC, via
email [email protected] and to [email protected]. Include in the comments
the OMB control number as shown in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or copies
of the information collection, contact Nicole Ongele at (202) 418-2991.
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: As part of its continuing effort to reduce
paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)
of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC or the Commission) invites the general public and other Federal
agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following
information collection.
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.
OMB Control Number: 3060-1113. Title: Election Whether to
Participate in the Wireless Emergency Alert System.
Form No.: N/A.
Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents and Responses: 1,253 respondents; 5,012
responses.
Estimated Time per Response: 0.5--12 hours.
Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement,
recordkeeping requirement and third party disclosure requirements.
Obligation To Respond: Mandatory and Voluntary Statutory authority
for this information collection is contained in 47 U.S.C. 151, 154(i),
154(j), 154(o), 218, 219, 230, 256, 302(a), 303(f), 303(g), 303(r),
403, 621(b)(3), and 621(d). Total Annual Burden: 28,820 hours. Total
Annual Cost: No Cost. Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No Impact(s).
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: There is no need for
confidentiality with this information collection.
Needs and Uses: The Commission will submit this information
collection as a revision to the Office of Management and Budget after
this 60-day comment period in order to obtain the three year clearance
from them.
The information collection requirements of this collection include
the following information from Commercial Mobile Service (CMS)
providers: (1) Enhanced notice to consumers at time of sale (Enhanced
Notice at Time of Sale); (2) marginally different disclosure as to
degree of participation in wireless alerts (``in whole'' or ``in
part'') (Notice of Election); (3) notice to current subscribers of non-
participation in WEA (Notice to Current Subscribers); and (4) a new
collection to include voluntary information collection for a database
that the Commission plans to create (Database Collection).
The Commission created WEA (previously known as the Commercial
Mobile Service Alert System, or CMAS) as required by Congress in the
Warning Alert and Response Network (WARN) Act and to satisfy the
Commission's mandate to promote the safety of life and property through
the use of wire and radio communication. All these information
collections involve the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system, a
mechanism under which CMS providers may elect to transmit emergency
alerts to the public.
Notice of Election
On August 7, 2008, the Commission released the Third Report and
Order in PS Docket No. 07- 287 (CMS Third Report and Order), FCC 08-
184. The CMS Third Report and Order implemented provisions of the WARN
Act, including a requirement that within 30 days of release of the CMS
Third Report and Order, each CMS provider must file an election with
the Commission indicating whether or not it intends to transmit
emergency alerts as part of WEA. The Commission began accepting WEA
election filings on or before September 8, 2008. The Bureau has sought
several extensions of this information collection. OMB granted the
latest on July 14, 2017. On January 30, 2018, the Commission adopted a
WEA Second Report and Order and Second Order on Reconsideration in PS
Docket Nos. 15-91 and 15-94, FCC 18-4 (WEA Second R&O). In this order,
the Commission defines ``in whole'' or ``in part'' WEA participation,
specifies the difference between these elections, and requires CMS
providers to update their election status accordingly.
Enhanced Notice at Time of Sale
Section 10.240 of the Commission's rules already requires that CMS
Providers participating in WEA ``in part'' provide notice to consumers
that WEA may not be available on all devices or within the entire
service area, as well as details about the availability of WEA service.
As part of the WEA Second R&O, the Commission adopted enhanced
disclosure requirements, requiring CMS Providers participating in WEA
``in part'' to disclose the extent to which enhanced geo-targeting is
available on their network and devices at the point of sale and the
benefits of enhanced geo-targeting at the point of sale. We believe
these disclosures will allow consumers to make more informed choices
about their ability to receive WEA Alert Messages that are relevant to
them.
Notice to Current Subscribers
A CMS provider that elects not to transmit WEA Alert Messages, in
part or in whole, shall provide clear and conspicuous notice, which
takes into account the needs of persons with disabilities, to existing
subscribers of its non-election or partial election to provide Alert
messages by means of an announcement amending the existing subscriber's
service agreement.
[[Page 27002]]
A CMS provider that elects not to transmit WEA Alert Messages, in
part or in whole, shall use the notification language set forth in
Sec. 10.240 (c) or (d) respectively, except that the last line of the
notice shall reference FCC Rule 47 CFR 10.250, rather than FCC Rule 47
CFR 10.240.
In the case of prepaid customers, if a mailing address is
available, the CMS provider shall provide the required notification via
U.S. mail. If no mailing address is available, the CMS provider shall
use any reasonable method at its disposal to alert the customer to a
change in the terms and conditions of service and directing the
subscriber to voice-based notification or to a website providing the
required notification.
Database Collection
The Commission also seeks to collect new information in connection
with its creation of a WEA database to improve information transparency
for emergency managers and the public regarding the extent to which WEA
is available in their area. The Commission will request this
information from CMS providers on a voluntary basis, including
geographic area served and devices that are programmed, at point of
sale, to transmit WEAs. We note that many participating CMS providers
already provide information of this nature in their docketed filings.
As discussed below, this database will remove a major roadblock to
emergency managers' ability to conduct tests of the alerting system and
enable individuals and emergency managers to identify the alert
coverage area.
Since ensuring consumer notice and collection information on the
extent of CMS providers' participation is statutorily mandated, the
Commission requests approval of this collection by OMB so that the
Commission may continue to meet its statutory obligation under the WARN
Act. The database information collection is voluntary, but also
requires OMB approval.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-12489 Filed 6-8-18; 8:45 am]
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