Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Being Submitted to OMB for Review and Approval

SUMMARY:

The Federal Communications Commissions, 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, 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 January 3, 2005. 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 Cathy Williams, Federal Communications Commission, Room 1-C823, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554 or via the Internet to Cathy.Williams@fcc.gov or Kristy L. LaLonde, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Room 10236 NEOB, Washington, DC 20503, (202) 395-3087 or via the Internet at Kristy_L._LaLonde@omb.eop.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For additional information or copy of the information collection(s) contact Cathy Williams at (202) 418-2918 or via the Internet at Cathy.Williams@fcc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control Number: 3060-0188.

Title: Call Sign Reservation and Authorization System, FCC Form 380.

Form Number: FCC Form 380.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

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

Number of Respondents: 1,600.

Estimated Time per Response: 0.166—0.25 hours.

Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement.

Total Annual Burden: 333 hours.

Total Annual Cost: $142,000.

Privacy Impact Assessment: No impact(s).

Needs and Uses: 47 CFR 73.3550 provides that all requests for new or modified call signs be made via the on-line call sign reservation and authorization. The FCC Form 380 is an on-line system for electronic preparation and submission of requests for the reservation and authorization of new and modified call signs. Access to the call sign reservation and authorization system is made by broadcast licensees and permittees, or by persons acting on their behalf, via the Internet's World Wide Web. This on-line, electronic call sign system enables users to determine the availability and licensing status of call signs; to request an initial, or change an existing, call sign; and to determine and submit more easily the appropriate fee, if any. 47 CFR 74.783 also permits any low power television (LPTV) station to request a four-letter call sign after receiving its construction permit. All initial LPTV construction permits will continue to be issued with a five-character alpha-numeric LPTV call sign. LPTV licensees/permittees are also required to use the on-line call sign reservation and authorization system. The call sign reservation and authorization system is used by permittees, licensees or persons acting on their behalf to determine the availability of a call sign and to request an initial call sign or change an existing call sign.

OMB Control Number: 3060-0844.

Title: Carriage of the Transmissions of Digital Television Broadcast Stations, Report & Order (R&O) and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM).

Form Number: Not Applicable.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.

Number of Respondents: 10,100.

Estimated Time per Response: 30 minutes—40 hours.

Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement; Third party disclosure requirement.

Total Annual Burden: 81,296 hours.

Total Annual Cost: $2,359,681.

Privacy Impact Assessment: No impact(s).

Needs and Uses: The FCC adopted a Report and Order (R&O) on January 23, 2001, and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM). The R&O modified 47 CFR 76.64(f) to provide that stations that return their analog spectrum and broadcast only in digital format are entitled to elect must-carry or retransmission consent status following the procedures previously applicable to new television stations. The R&O also provided only carriage rights for a very limited number of digital-only television broadcast station (DTV) and may result in voluntary carriage for a subset of other DTV stations. Furthermore, the R&O established a framework for voluntary retransmission consent agreements between DTV station licensees and multi-channel video programming distributors and modified several sections of the rules accordingly. The FNPRM sought additional comments on carriage requirements relating to digital television stations generally, as proposed in the initial NPRM.