[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 91 (Thursday, May 9, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21181-21182]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-11526]



-----------------------------------------------------------------------


FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

Notice of Public Information Collections Submitted to OMB for 
Review and Approval

April 30, 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 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;

[[Page 21182]]

(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 10, 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] and Timothy Fain, OMB Desk Officer, 10236 NEOB 725 17th 
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503 or [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: 3060-0571.
    Title: Determination of Maximum Initial Permitted Rates for 
Regulated Cable Programming Services and Equipment.
    Form Number: FCC Form 393.
    Type of Review: Revision of existing collection.
    Respondents: Businesses or other for-profit entities; state, local 
and tribal governments.
    Number of Respondents: 120 (80 cable operators + 40 LFAs).
    Estimated Time Per Response: 1-40 hours. FCC Form 393 has an 
estimated average burden of 40 hours for cable operators to complete. 
Cable operators who contract out the burden of filing will take 1 hour 
to coordinate information with those contractors. In addition, there is 
an estimated average burden of 15 hours for each FCC Form 393 filing 
that LFAs must review.
    Total Annual Burden: 3,020 hours (2,420 for operators + 600 for 
LFAs). For cable operators: we estimate approximately 80 FCC Form 393 
filings will be made this year, 50% with the Commission and 50% with 
LFAs. We estimate that 25% of cable operators will contract out the 
burden of filing and that it will take 1 hour to coordinate information 
with those contractors. The remaining 75% of operators will employ in 
house staff to complete the application. 20 filings (25% contracted 
out) x 1 hour = 20 hours. 60 filings (75% in house) x 40 hours = 2,400 
hours. Total burden for operators = 2,420 hours.
    For LFAs: we estimate 40 (50%) of remaining FCC Form 393 filings 
will be reviewed by LFAs. This third party disclosure was not 
previously reported by the Commission. 40 FCC Form 393s reviewed by 
LFAs at 15 hours each = 600 hours.
    In the prior Federal Register notice soliciting public comment for 
this collection, the Commission initially estimated a total burden of 
12,000 hours (300 annual filings @ 40 hours each). Based on current 
information, we further reduce the estimated number of annual FCC Form 
393 filings to now be 80 per year, with 50% of filings being reviewed 
by LFAs. The burden for LFA review of FCC Form 393s @ 15 hours per 
review was not reported in the prior Federal Register summary 
soliciting initial public comment.
    Costs for respondents: $80,160. Printing and postage costs are 
estimated at $2 per Form 393 filing. 80 annual filings x $2 = $160. We 
estimate assistance will be performed by outside accounting/legal 
assistance at an average of $100/hour for 25% of the Form 393 filings. 
$100/hour x 20 filings (25% of Form 393 filings) x 40 hours = $80,000. 
Total annual cost for respondents = $160 + $80,000 = $80,160.
    In the prior Federal Register notice soliciting public comment for 
this collection, the Commission did not report costs to respondents for 
complying with this information collection. We now report the various 
costs for printing, postage and contracting out for legal/accounting 
assistance in completing FCC Form 393 filings.
    Needs and Uses: The data are used by FCC staff and LFAs to 
determine whether cable rates in effect prior to May 15, 1994 for basic 
service, cable programming service and associated equipment are 
reasonable under FCC regulations. Cable operators use FCC Form 393 to 
submit their basic rate schedule to LFAs certified prior to May 15, 
1994 or the FCC (in situations where the FCC has assumed jurisdiction). 
Cable operators also file FCC Form 393 with the FCC when responding to 
a complaint filed with the Commission about cable programming service 
rates and associated equipment in effect prior to May 15, 1994. FCC 
Form 393 is a one-time only filing requirement for operators. Local 
franchise authority (``LFA'') certifications to regulate rates are not 
granted retroactively. Rate complaints are also not permitted to 
retroactively challenge rates in effect prior to May 15, 1994; 
therefore, no future entities will be impacted by this filing 
requirement. In fact, the Form 393 filing process is nearly exhausted. 
The only remaining entities impacted by this requirement are those 
initially required to file but have not yet done so, and those who 
filed incorrect or incomplete FCC Form 393s.

Federal Communications Commission
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-11526 Filed 5-8-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-F