[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 52 (Friday, March 15, 1996)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 10709-10710] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-6205] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 47 CFR Parts 5, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 73, 74, 78, 80, 87, 90, 94, 95, and 97 [ET Docket No. 96-2; RM-8165; FCC 96-12] Arecibo Coordination Zone AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission. ACTION: Proposed rule. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: By this Notice of Proposed Rule Making (``NPRM''), the Commission proposes to designate the Puerto Rican Islands of Puerto Rico, Desecheo, Mona, Vieques, and Culebra as a Coordination Zone, in order that the Arecibo Radio Astronomy Observatory (Observatory) near Arecibo, Puerto Rico may be notified of certain proposed radio operations. This proposal would require applicants for a new station or for a modification of facilities within the requested Coordination Zone, to simultaneously notify the Observatory of the technical particulars of the proposed operations at the time of filing their applications with the Commission. The NPRM also proposes to require applicants for short-term broadcast auxiliary services within the Coordination Zone to notify the Observatory in advance of their proposed operations, except in emergency situations. In addition, the NPRM proposes to require new amateur beacon and repeater stations within 10 miles of the Observatory to be coordinated. This NPRM would make it possible for the Observatory and applicants to coordinate and share information in order to avoid harmful interference to sensitive, nationally important radio astronomy operations. DATES: Comments must be filed on or before April 1, 1996 and reply comments must be filed on or before April 16, 1996. Written comments by the public on the proposed and/or modified information collections are due April 1, 1996. Written comments [[Page 10710]] must be submitted by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on the proposed and/or modified information collections on or before May 14, 1996. ADDRESSES: Comments and reply comments should be sent to the Office of Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC 20554. In addition to filing comments with the Secretary, a copy of any comments on the information collections contained herein should be submitted to Dorothy Conway, Federal Communications Commission, Room 234, 1919 M Street, NW., Washington, DC 20554, or via the Internet to [email protected], and to Timothy Fain, OMB Desk Officer, 10236 NEOB, 725--17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503 or via the Internet to [email protected]. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Derenge, Office of Engineering and Technology, (202) 418-2451. For additional information concerning the information collections contained in this NPRM contact Dorothy Conway at (202) 418-0217, or via the Internet at [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Notice of Proposed Rule Making, ET Docket No. 96-2, adopted January 18, 1996, and released February 8, 1996. The full text of this Commission decision is available for inspection and copying during normal business hours in the FCC Reference Center (Room 239), 1919 M Street, NW., Washington, DC. The complete text of this decision may also be purchased from the Commission's copy contractor, International Transcription Service, Inc., (202) 857-3800, 1919 M Street, NW., Room 246, or 2100 M Street, NW., Suite 140, Washington, DC 20037. This NPRM contains proposed or modified information collections subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). It has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review under the PRA. OMB, the general public, and other Federal agencies are invited to comment on the proposed or modified information collections contained in this proceeding. Paperwork Reduction Act This NPRM contains either a proposed or modified information collection. The Commission, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, invites the general public and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to comment on the information collections contained in this NPRM, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Public and agency comments are due at the same time as other comments on this NPRM; OMB comments are due May 14, 1996. Comments should address: (a) 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; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimates; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (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. OMB Approval Number: N/A. Title: Amendment of the Commission's Rules to Establish a Radio Astronomy Coordination Zone in Puerto Rico. Form No.: N/A. Type of Review: New Collection. Respondents: Small Entities, Individual or households, Business or other for profit, State, Local of Tribal Government. Number of Respondents: 500. Estimated Time Per Response: 1 hour. Total Annual Burden: 300 hours. Needs and Uses: The Commission believes that a Coordination Zone would facilitate the ability of the Observatory and Commission applicants to contact each other in order to cooperate to avoid causing interference. The collection would enable the Observatory and applicants to coordinate and share information in order to avoid harmful interference to sensitive, nationally important radio astronomy operations. List of Subjects 47 CFR Part 5 Radio. 47 CFR Part 21 Communications common carriers, Radio. 47 CFR Part 22 Communications common carriers, Radio. 47 CFR Part 23 Communications common carriers, Radio. 47 CFR Part 24 Communications common carriers, Radio. 47 CFR Part 25 Communications common carriers, Radio. 47 CFR Part 26 Communications common carriers, Radio. 47 CFR Part 73 Radio broadcasting, Television broadcasting. 47 CFR Part 74 Radio broadcasting, Television broadcasting. 47 CFR Part 78 Cable television, Radio. 47 CFR Part 80 Marine safety, Radio. 47 CFR Part 87 Defense communications, Radio. 47 CFR Part 90 Common carriers, Radio. 47 CFR Part 94 Radio. 47 CFR Part 95 Radio. 47 CFR Part 97 Civil defense, Radio. Federal Communications Commission. William F. Caton, Secretary. [FR Doc. 96-6205 Filed 3-14-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6712-01-P