Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals

Federal Register: June 13, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 115)

Notices

Page 33819-33820

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

DOCID:fr13jn08-56

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Being Reviewed by the

Federal Communications Commission, Comments Requested

June 6, 2008.

SUMMARY: The Federal Communications Commission, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to (PRA) of 1995 (PRA), Public Law 104-13. An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. Subject to the PRA, no person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information 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 PRA comments should be submitted on or before August 12, 2008. 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: Interested parties may submit all PRA comments by e-mail or

U.S. post mail. To submit your comments by e-mail, send them to

PRA@fcc.gov and/or Cathy.Williams@fcc.gov. To submit your comments by

U.S. mail, mark them to the attention of Cathy Williams, Federal

Communications Commission, Room 1-C823, 445 12th Street, SW.,

Washington, DC 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information about the information collection(s), contact Cathy Williams at (202) 418-2918 or send an e-mail to PRA@fcc.gov and/or Cathy.Williams@fcc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control Number: 3060-1117.

Title: Viewer Notification Requirements in Third DTV Periodic

Report and Order, FCC 07-228.

Form Number: Not applicable.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

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

Number of Respondents/Responses: 1,000 respondents; 120,000 responses.

Estimated Hours per Response: 0.01-0.33 hours.

Frequency of Response: Recordkeeping requirement; third party disclosure requirement; on occasion reporting requirement.

Obligation To Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits.

Statutory authority for this collection of information is contained in

Section 154(i) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

Total Annual Burden: 8,380 hours.

Total Annual Costs: $200,000.

Confidentiality: No need for confidentiality required.

Privacy Impact Assessment(s): No impact(s).

Needs and Uses: Congress has mandated that after February 17, 2009, full-power television broadcast stations must transmit only in digital signals, and may no longer transmit analog signals. On December 22, 2007, the Commission adopted a Report and Order, In the Matter of the

Third Periodic Review of the Commission's Rules and Policies Affecting the Conversion to Digital Television, MB Docket No. 07-91, FCC 07-228

(``Third DTV Periodic Report and Order'') to establish the rules, policies and procedures necessary to complete the nation's transition to DTV. In the Report and Order, the Commission adopted rules to ensure that, by the February 17, 2009 transition date, all full-power television broadcast stations (1) cease analog broadcasting and (2) complete construction of, and begin operations on, their final, full- authorized post-transition (DTV) facility. The Commission recognized that broadcasters may need regulatory flexibility in order to achieve these goals. Accordingly, the Commission affords broadcasters the opportunity for regulatory flexibility, if necessary, to meet their DTV construction deadlines. The Commission, however, must also ensure that no consumers are left behind in the DTV transition. Therefore, the

Commission requires broadcasters that choose to reduce or terminate TV service to comply with viewer notification requirements.

Specifically, as a result of the Third DTV Periodic Report and

Order, stations must comply with a viewer notification requirement

(i.e., stations must notify viewers about their planned service reduction or termination) if:

(1) The station will permanently reduce or terminate analog or pre- transition digital service before the transition date; or

(2) The station will not serve at least the same population that receives their current analog TV and DTV service after the transition date.

Viewer notifications must occur every day on-air at least four times a day including at least once in primetime for the 30 days prior to the station's termination of full, authorized analog service. These notifications must include: (1) The station's call sign and community of license; (2) the fact that the station must delay the construction and operation of its post-transition (DTV) service or the fact that the station is planning to or has reduced or terminated its analog or digital operations before the transition date; (3) information about the nature, scope, and anticipated duration of the station's post- transition service limitations; (4) what viewers can do to continue to receive the station, i.e., how and when the station's digital signal can be received; (5) information about the availability of digital-to- analog converter boxes in their service area; and (6) the street address, e-mail address (if available), and phone number of the station where viewers may register comments or request information.

Page 33820

Federal Communications Commission.

Marlene H. Dortch,

Secretary.

FR Doc. E8-13262 Filed 6-12-08; 8:45 am

BILLING CODE 6712-01-P