[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 193 (Monday, October 6, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52101-52102]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-26419]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


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

September 30, 1997.

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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 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 December 5, 
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 
Commissions, 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 Judy Boley at 202-418-0214 or 
via internet at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    OMB Approval No.: 3060-0027.
    Title: Application for Construction Permit for Commercial Broadcast 
Station.
    Form No.: FCC Form 301.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

[[Page 52102]]

    Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.
    Number of Respondents: 1,996.
    Estimated Hour Per Response: 37--159 hours (average) per response.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement.
    Cost to Respondents: $23,118,660.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 8,071 hours.
    Needs and Uses: On 4/3/97, the Commission adopted a Fifth Report 
and Order in MM Docket No. 87-268. This Order adopted several rules 
with the following objectives: (1) to promote the success of free, 
universally available, local broadcast television in a digital world, 
thereby preserving free, widely accessible programming that serves the 
public interest; and (2) to attract consumers swiftly to digital 
broadcast service, thus allowing the NTSC spectrum to be recovered and 
turned to use for other beneficial purposes more rapidly.
    Section 336 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 requires that the 
Commission limit the initial eligibility for digital television (DTV) 
licenses to persons that, as of the date of such issuance, are licensed 
to operate a television broadcast station or hold a permit to construct 
a television broadcast station. The Commission has issued a license to 
all eligible licensees and permittees in the form of an Appendix to the 
Fifth Report and Order in MM Docket No. 87-268. By issuing these DTV 
licenses with the Fifth Report and Order, the Commission has frozen 
initial eligibility and allowed the completion of the Table of 
Allotments. The license that we issued is a general instrument of 
authorization for licensees/permittees to receive and hold a second 6 
MHz channel for the purpose of concerting to DTV. It is not an 
authorization to begin construction or operation.
    To receive authorization for commencement of DTV operation, 
commercial broadcast licensees must file FCC 301 for a construction 
permit. This application may be filed anytime after receiving the 
initial DTV license but must be filed before the mid-point in a 
particular applicant's required construction period. The Commission has 
developed a new Section V-D for DTV engineering which will be added to 
the FCC 301. The Commission will consider these applications as minor 
changes in facilities. Applicants will not have to supply full legal or 
financial qualification information.

Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-26419 Filed 10-3-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P