Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission

AGENCY:

Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

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 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 PRA comments should be submitted on or before January 11, 2016. 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 PRA comments to Cathy Williams, FCC, via email PRA@fcc.gov and to Cathy.Williams@fcc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For additional information about the information collection, contact Cathy Williams at (202) 418-2918.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control No.: 3060-1178.

Title: TV Broadcaster Relocation Fund Reimbursement Form, FCC Form 2100, Schedule 399; Section 73.3700(e), Reimbursement Rules.

Form No.: FCC Form 2100, Schedule 399.

Type of Review: Revision of an existing information collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities; Not for profit institutions.

Number of Respondents and Responses: 1,900 respondents and 22,800 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 1-4 hours.

Frequency of Response: One-time reporting requirement; On occasion reporting requirement; Recordkeeping requirement.

Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The statutory authority for this collection is contained in 47 U.S.C. 151, 154(i), 157 and 309(j) as amended; and Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, Pub. L. 112-96, §§ 6402 (codified at 47 U.S.C. 309(j)(8)(G)), 6403 (codified at 47 U.S.C. 1452), 126 Stat. 156 (2012) (Spectrum Act).

Total Annual Burden: 31,100 hours.

Annual Cost Burden: $5,625,000.

Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).

Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: There is some need for confidentiality with this collection of information. Invoices, receipts, contracts and other cost documentation submitted along with the form will be kept confidential in order to protect the identification of vendors and the terms of private contracts between parties. Vendor name and Employer Identification Numbers (EIN) or Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) will not be disclosed to the public.

Needs and Uses: The collection is being made to the Office of Management (OMB) for the approval of information collection requirements contained in the Commission's Incentive Auction Order, FCC 14-50, which adopted rules for holding an Incentive Auction, as required by the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (Spectrum Act). The information gathered in this collection will be used to provide reimbursement to television broadcast stations that are relocated to a new channel following the Federal Communications Commission's Incentive Auction, and to multichannel video programming distributors (MVDPs) that incur costs in carrying the signal of relocated television broadcast stations. Relocated television broadcasters and MVPDs (“eligible entities”) will be reimbursed for their reasonable costs incurred as a result of relocation from the TV Broadcaster Relocation Fund. Eligible entities will use the TV Broadcaster Relocation Fund Reimbursement Form (FCC Form 2100, Schedule 399) to submit an estimate of their eligible relocation costs; to submit actual cost documentation (such as receipts and invoices) throughout the construction period, as they incur expenses; and to account for the total expenses incurred at the end of the project.