[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 200 (Tuesday, October 15, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53733-53734]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-26242]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


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

October 7, 1996.
SUMMARY: The Federal Communications Commission, 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 clarify 
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: Persons wishing to comment on this information collection should 
submit comments by December 16, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Direct all comments to Dorothy Conway, Federal 
Communications Commission, Room 234, 1919 M St., N.W., 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: 3060-0343.
    Title: Section 25.140--Qualifications of Satellite Space Station 
Licensees.
    Form No.: N/A.
    Type of Review: Revision to existing collection.
    Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business or other for-
profit; Small businesses and organizations.
    Number of Respondents: 25.
    Estimated Time per Response: 10 hours.
    Total Annual Burden: 2500 hours.
    Estimated Cost per Respondent: Based on the assumption that 
applicants will hire outside counsel at an approximate cost of $150 per 
hour, it is estimated that the cost per submission will be $150,000.00.
    Needs and Uses: On January 19, 1996, the Commission adopted a 
Report and Order revising its rules and policies regarding satellite 
space and earth station licensing. Amendment of the Commission's 
Regulatory Policies Governing Domestic Fixed Satellite and Separate 
International Satellite Systems, IB Docket No. 95-41, 61 FR 9946 (March 
12, 1996). The Commission sought emergency approval of this voluntary 
collection, OMB Number 0380-0343, at 61 FR 37896 (July 22, 1996). The 
revisions to this information collection will permit all U.S.-licensed 
satellite operators to provide both domestic and international service 
via U.S.-licensed facilities. The revisions adopted in the Report and 
Order removes all reference to ``domestic'' in Section 25.140 of the 
rules, 47 CFR 25.140. A one-step financial showing policy was adopted 
which broadly applies the existing policy to all applicants for space 
station facilities. Exceptions to the one-step showing may be granted 
upon appropriate request by applicants seeking authority to operate in 
an uncongested portion of the orbital arc. Applicants with pending 
applications for separate systems authorizations will be afforded time 
to bring their applications into conformance with the one-step 
financial showing policy or to request authority for processing under 
the existing two-step policy.
    The collections of information contained in Part 25 are used by 
Commission staff in carrying out its duties as set forth in Section 308 
and 309 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 
Section 308 and 309, to determine the technical, legal and other 
qualifications of an applicant to operate a satellite space station. 
The one-step financial showings, including amendments to pending 
applications filed under this policy, will be used by the Commission to 
determine whether applicants are qualified to construct, launch and 
operate satellite space station facilities in order to provide timely 
service to the public. The

[[Page 53734]]

information collected is used to determine whether the public interest, 
convenience and necessity will be served, in accordance with Section 
309 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 USC 309.
    OMB Approval Number: 3060-0383.
    Title: Part 25--Satellite Communications.
    Form No.: N/A.
    Type of Review: Revision to existing collection.
    Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business or other for-
profit; Small businesses and organizations.
    Number of Respondents: 2500.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 1.5 hours.
    Total Annual Burden: 3,750 hours.
    Estimated Cost Per Respondent: Based on the assumption that 
applicants will hire outside counsel at an approximate cost of $150 per 
hour, it is estimated that the cost per submission will be $450.00.
    Needs and Uses: On January 19, 1996, the Commission adopted a 
Report and Order revising its rules and policies regarding satellite 
space and earth station licensing. Amendment of the Commission's 
Regulatory Policies Governing Domestic Fixed Stellite and Separate 
International Satellite Systems, IB Docket No. 95-41, 61 FR 9946 (March 
12, 1996). The Commission sought emergency approval of this voluntary 
collection, OMB Number 0380-0383, at 61 FR 37897 (July 22, 1996).
    The revisions to this information collection will permit all U.S.-
licensed satellite operators to provide both domestic and international 
service via U.S.-licensed facilities without submitting modification 
applications. In addition, applicants may designate whether their 
services will be offered on a common carrier or non-common carrier 
basis in the initial application for service. Should their service 
requirements change, a letter indicating a change in status will be 
submitted, rather than an application to modify the license.
    An increase in the Intelsat Article XIV(d) consultation submissions 
may occur as applicants and licensees entering the international 
service market will be required to consult their operations with 
Intelsat under Article XIV(d).
    The collections of information contained in Part 25 are used by 
Commission staff in carrying out its duties as set forth in Section 308 
and 309 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 
Section 308 and 309, to determine the technical, legal and other 
qualifications of an applicant to operate a station. Article XIV(d) 
consultations will be used by the Commission to verify that licensees 
are fully coordinated with other users in the band. The information 
collected is used to determine whether the public interest, convenience 
and necessity will be served, in accordance with Section 309 of the 
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 USC 309.

Federal Communications Commission.
William Caton,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-26242 Filed 10-11-96; 8:45 am]
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