[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 44 (Friday, March 6, 1998)] [Notices] [Pages 11257-11258] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-5810] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Submitted to OMB for Review and Approval February 27, 1998. SUMMARY: The Federal Communications Commission, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection(s), as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) that does not display a valid control number. Comments are requested concerning (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 estimate; (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. DATES: Written comments should be submitted on or before April 6, 1998. 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 contact listed below as soon as possible. ADDRESSES: Direct all comments to Judy Boley, Federal Communications Commission, Room 234, 1919 M St., N.W., Washington, DC 20554 or via internet to [email protected]. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or copies of the information collection(s), contact Judy Boley at 202-418-0214 or via internet at [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OMB Control No.: 3060-0108. Title: Emergency Alert System, EAS Activation Report. Form No.: FCC Form 201. Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection. Respondents: Business or other for-profit, not-for-profit institutions, state, local, or tribal government. [[Page 11258]] Number of Respondents: 1,300. Estimated Time Per Response: .084 hours. Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement. Cost to Respondents: N/A. Total Annual Burden: 109 hours. Needs and Uses: The Emergency Broadcast System (EBS) was changed to the Emergency Alert System (EAS) effective January 1, 1997. This change required that all EBS collections/forms be corrected to reflect the name change. The EAS Activation Report postcard was developed as part of the EAS planning program. The program is a tri-agency agreement between the FCC, the NOAA National Weather Service, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The postcard was recommended for use in the program by the National Industry Advisory Committee (NIAC). The postcard allows the three agencies to assess the success of the program and identify the areas of the country that need further assistance in developing their local EAS plan. OMB Control No.: 3060-0629. Title: Section 76.987, New Product Tiers. Form No.: N/A. Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection. Respondents: Business or other for-profit. Number of Respondents: 500. Estimated Time Per Response: .5 hours. Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement and third party disclosure requirement. Cost to Respondents: $500. Total Annual Burden: 250 hours. Needs and Uses: Section 76.987(g) states that within 30 days of the offering of a New Product Tier (NPT), operators shall file with the Commission, a copy of the new rate card that contains the following information on the BSTs, CPSTs, and NPTs: (1) The names of the programming services contained on each tier, and (2) the price of each tier. Operators also must file with the Commission, copies of notifications that were sent to subscribers regarding the initial offering of NPTs. After this initial filing, cable operators must file updated rate cards and copies of customer notifications with the Commission within 30 days of rate or service changes affecting the NPT. The information contained in NPT filings is used by the Commission to ensure that cable operators are complying with conditions set forth for NPTs, i.e., that operators are not making fundamental changes to what they offer on their tiers of service, and that subscribers are given due notice of NPT offerings. OMB Control No.: 3060-0685. Title: Annual Updating of Maximum Permitted Rates for Regulated Cable Services. Form No.: FCC Form 1240. Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection. Respondents: Business or other for-profit, state, local, or tribal government. Number of Respondents: 4,500. Estimated Time Per Response: 10.5 hours (avg.). Frequency of Response: Annual reporting requirement. Cost to Respondents: $1,134,000. Total Annual Burden: 47,250 hours. Needs and Uses: FCC Form 1240 is used by cable operators to file for annual rate adjustments to maximum permitted rates for regulated services to reflect external costs. The FCC Form 1240 implements an optional rate methodology where cable operators are permitted to make annual rate adjustments, as opposed to quarterly FCC Form 1210 rate adjustments. Cable operators' initial FCC Form 1240 filings are permitted to include projected rate changes attributable to the period between the last date for which historical cost data is available and the effective date of the new rates. Federal Communications Commission. Magalie Roman Salas, Secretary. [FR Doc. 98-5810 Filed 3-5-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6712-01-P