[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 150 (Tuesday, August 5, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42125-42127]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-20548]


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

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


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

July 29, 1997.

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

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(s), 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

[[Page 42126]]

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 September 4, 
1997. 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 Judy Boley, 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 collection(s) contact Judy Boley at 202-418-0214 or 
via internet at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    OMB Approval Number: 3060-0771.
    Title: Section 5.56, Procedure for Obtaining a Special Temporary 
Authorization in the Experimental Radio Service.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit; not-for-profit 
institutions; state or local or tribal government.
    Number of Respondents: 500.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 1 hour.
    Cost to Respondents: N/A.
    Total Annual Burden: 500 hours.
    Needs and Uses: In cases where a need is shown for operation of an 
authorized experimental station for a limited time only, a request for 
a Special Temporary Authorization (STA) to operate transmitting 
equipment will be accepted under the conditions set for in 47 CFR 5.56 
(a), (b), and (c). The request may be filed as an informal application, 
normally by letter from the applicant, and shall contain the 
information specified in Section 5.56. The data supplied by the 
applicant is used by the staff of the Experimental Licensing Branch, 
Office of Engineering and Technology, to determine: (1) If the 
applicant is eligible for an experimental STA; (2) the purpose of the 
experiment; (3) compliance with the requirement of part 5 of the rules; 
and (4) if the proposed operation will cause interference to existing 
stations. An experimental STA could not be granted without the 
information collected under Section 5.56(b).

    OMB Approval Number: 3060-0298.
    Title: Tariffs (Other than Tariff Review Plan)--part 61.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 2,000.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 202 hours (avg).
    Cost to Respondents: $2,878,200.
    Total Annual Burden: 682,555 hours.
    Needs and Uses: Part 61 is designed to ensure that all tariffs 
filed by common carriers are formally sound, well organized, and 
provide the Commission and the public with sufficient information to 
determine the justness and reasonableness as required by the Act, of 
the rates, terms and conditions in those tariffs. Consideration is 
being given to examine the technical and legal feasibility of filing by 
electronic means for all carriers. Currently, all nondominant carriers, 
both domestic and international, are required to file tariffs on 
diskettes. Further, pursuant to an order In the Matter of 
Implementation of Section 402(b)(1)(A) of the Telecommunications Act of 
1996, CC Docket No. 96-187, adopted January 29, 1997, released January 
31, 1997, FCC 97-23, the Commission established a mandatory electronic 
filing system for all local exchange carriers. Authority was delegated 
to the Chief, Common Carrier Bureau to establish a program to implement 
this electronic filing system. (See OMB control number 3060-0745).

    OMB Approval Number: 3060-0764.
    Title: Regulation of International Accounting Rates (CC Docket No. 
90-337).
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 30.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 16 hours.
    Cost to Respondents: $180,000.
    Total Annual Burden: 480 hours.
    Needs and Uses: CC Docket No. 90-337 implemented rules making it 
easier for U.S. carriers engaged in international telecommunications to 
negotiate lower accounting rates. Any carrier that interconnects an 
international private line to the U.S. public switched network will 
report on an annual basis its arrangements for the interconnection of 
such private lines except those private lines that terminate in 
countries that have been determined to offer equivalent private line 
resale opportunities to U.S. carriers. The information collection will 
provide the Commission with data to make a determination whether or not 
to allow a carrier to enter into an agreement that is outside the scope 
of its current rules. The information will be used by the Commission in 
reviewing the impact, if any, that alternative settlement arrangements 
have on its international settlements policy. Additionally, the 
information will also enhance the ability of the Commission and 
interested parties to monitor for anticompetitive effects in the U.S. 
market for international service, thus increasing competitive options 
for U.S. carriers and resulting in lower prices and greater choices for 
U.S. consumers. The information collection will enable the Commission 
to promote competitive behavior, improve economic performance, and 
preserve the integrity of its accounting rate policies. The information 
collection also will enable the Commission and interested parties to 
determine whether or not the competitive safeguards are sufficient to 
protect U.S. carriers and consumers against harmful discriminatory 
practices by foreign carriers.

    OMB Approval Number: 3060-0106.
    Title: Section 43.61, Reports of Overseas Telecommunications 
Traffic.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 248.
    Estimated Time Per Response: Semi-Annual report #1-40 hours per 
response; Semi-Annual report #2-40 hours per response; Minutes of 
Inbound/Outbound Traffic--8 hours per response; Existing collection--15 
hours per response.
    Cost to Respondents: $96,000.
    Total Annual Burden: 7,554 hours.
    Needs and Uses: The telecommunications traffic data report is an 
annual reporting requirement imposed on common carriers engaged in the 
provision of overseas telecommunications services. The reported data is 
useful for international planning, facility authorization, monitoring 
emerging developments in communications services, analyzing market 
structures, tracking the balance

[[Page 42127]]

of payments in international communications services, and market 
analysis purposes. The reported data enables the Commission to fulfill 
its regulatory responsibilities.

Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-20548 Filed 8-4-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P