[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 82 (Friday, April 26, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18595-18596]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-10297]



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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


Notice of Public Information Collections being Reviewed by the 
Federal Communications Commission; Comments Requested

April 18, 1996.

SUMMARY: The Federal Communications, 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

[[Page 18596]]

following proposed and/or continuing information collections, 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 
Commissions 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.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted on or before June 25, 1996. 
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.

ADDRESS: Direct all comments to Dorothy Conway, Federal Communications, 
Room 234, 1919 M St., NW., Washington, DC 20554 or via internet to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or copies 
of the information collections contact Dorothy Conway at 202-418-0217 
or via internet at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Approval Number: 3060-0573.
    Form No.: FCC Form 394 Application for Franchise Autohority 
(``LFA'') Consent to Assignment or Transfer of Control of Cable 
Television Franchise.
    Type of Review: Revision of existing collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 2,000 (1,000 system owners + 1,000 LFAs).
    Estimated Time Per Response: 1-5 hours. Burden to cable system 
owners is estimated to be an average of 5 hours per application. We 
estimate that 50% owners will contract out the burden of filing and 
that it will take 1 hour to coordinate information with those 
contractors. The remaining 50% will employ in house staff to complete 
the application. 500 applications (50% contracted out) x 1 hour = 500 
hours. 500 applications (50% in house) x 5 hours = 2,500 hours. Burden 
for owners = 500 + 2,500 = 3,000 hours.
    Burden to LFAs is estimated to be an average of 4 hours to review 
each application. This burden was previously treated as a third party 
requirement and was not reported by the Commission. We now include this 
burden in this collection's inventory. 1,000 applications x 4 hours = 
4,000 hours.
    Total Annual Burden: Total burden for all respondents: 3,000 + 
4,000 = 7,000 hours.
    Cost to respondents: $377,000. Printing and postage costs are 
estimated at $2 per application x 1,000 = $2,000. Assistance by outside 
legal counsel will be paid at an average of $150/hour for 50% of the 
Form 394 applications. $150/hour x 500 applications x 5 hours per 
application = $375,000. Total annual cost burden to respondents = 
$2,000 + $375,000 = $377,000.
    Needs and Uses: On 3/15/96, the Commission adopted an Order in CS 
Docket No. 96-56, Implementation of Sections 202(f), 202(i) and 301(i) 
of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Among other things, this order 
eliminates the three-year holding requirement of cable systems and 
reduces ownership restrictions for cable systems. Though there are no 
revisions necessary to FCC Form 394 to reflect the Commission's new 
rules, its use as an information collection requirement has been 
modified because potential respondents now may include broadcasters and 
multichannel multipoint distribution service providers other than cable 
operators. The FCC Form 394 is used to apply for LFA approval to assign 
or transfer control of a cable television system. The data are used by 
the LFAs to restrict profiteering transactions and other transfers that 
are likely to adversely affect cable rates or service in the franchise 
area.

Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-10297 Filed 4-25-96; 8:45 am]
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