[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 17, 1998)] [Notices] [Pages 7786-7787] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-3774] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Notice of Public Information Collections Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission February 5, 1998. SUMMARY: 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 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 Commission's burden estimate; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, 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 information techniques or other forms of information technology. DATES: Written comments should be submitted on or before April 20, 1998. 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, 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 Judy Boley at 202-418-0214 or via internet at [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OMB Approval Number: 3060-0501. Title: Section 76.206, Candidate rates. Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection. Respondents: Business and other for-profit entities. Number of Respondents: 10,750 Estimated Time Per Response: .5-10 hours. Total Annual Burden to Respondents: 139,750 hours, calculated as follows: There are approximately 10,750 cable systems in the nation. We estimate that in any given year, candidates for public office will be interested in seeking origination cablecast time from approximately half of these systems (5,375). We estimate that these cable systems will be required to make the various advertising rate disclosures set forth in Section 76.206 to an average of 4 candidates. The average burden on systems to disclose this information is estimated to be .5 hours per candidate. 5,375 systems x 4 candidates x .5 hours = 10,750 hours. We estimate that each cable system will calculate its lowest unit charge semi-annually with an average burden of 10 hours per station. 5,375 systems x 2 calculations x 10 hours = 107,500 hours. Systems are also required to periodically review their advertising records throughout the election period to determine whether compliance with Section 76.206 requires that candidates receive rebates or credits. We estimate that cable systems will review their records an average of 2 times throughout the election period, undergoing a burden of 2 hours per review. 5,375 systems x 2 reviews x 2 hours = 21,500 hours. Total Annual Cost to Respondents: Postage and stationery costs associated with the various requirements contained in Section 76.206 are estimated to be $5 per system. 5,375 systems x $5 = $26,875. Needs and Uses: On December 12, 1991, the Commission adopted Report and Order, FCC 91-403, MM Docket No. 91-168, in the matter of codification of the Commission's political programming policies. The Report and Order adopted affirmative disclosure requirements obliging cable television systems to disclose and make available to candidates all discount privileges available to commercial advertisers, including the lowest unit charge for the different classes of time sold. The Report and Order added Section 76.206 to the Commission's rules. Section 76.206 requires cable television systems to disclose any station practices offered to commercial advertisers that enhance the value of advertising spots and different classes of time (immediately preemptible, preemptible with notice, fixed, fire sale, and make good). It also requires cable systems to calculate the lowest unit charge. The disclosure requirements contained in Section 76.206 serve to ensure that cable system licensees provide timely, accurate and complete information on rates and sales practices to legally qualified candidates for public office who are interested in origination cablecasting. OMB Approval Number: 3060-0313. Title: Section 76.207, Political file. Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection. Respondents: Business and other for-profit entities. Number of Respondents: 5,375. Estimated Time Per Response: .5-10 hours. Total Annual Burden to Respondents: 5,375 hours, calculated as follows: There are approximately 10,750 cable systems in the nation. We estimate that in any given year, candidates for public office will be interested in seeking origination cablecast time from approximately half of these systems (5,375). We estimate these systems will be required to keep a political file for an average of 4 candidates at an estimated recordkeeping burden of .25 hours per candidate. 5,375 systems x 4 candidates x .25 hours = 5,375 hours. [[Page 7787]] Total Annual Cost to Respondents: $10,750. The photocopying and stationery costs associated with this recordkeeping requirement are estimated to be $2 per system. 5,375 systems x $2 = $10,750. Needs and Uses: Section 76.207 requires every cable television system to keep and permit public inspection of a complete record (political file) of all requests for cablecast time made by or on behalf of candidates for public office, together with an appropriate notation showing the disposition made by the system of such requests, and the charges made, if any, if the request is granted. The disposition includes the schedule of time purchased, when the spots actually aired, the rates charged, and the classes of time purchased. Also, when free time is provided for use by or on behalf of candidates, a record of the free time provided is to be placed in the political file. The data are used by the public in order to assess the amount of money expended and time allotted to a political candidate to ensure that equal access was afforded to other legally qualified candidates for public office. OMB Approval Number: 3060-0595. Title: FCC Form 1210 Updating Maximum Permitted Rates for Regulated Services and Equipment. Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection. Respondents: Business and other for-profit entities; State, local and tribal governments. Number of Respondents: 6,000 (4,000 filings and 2,000 LFA reviews) Estimated Time Per Response: 2-15 hours. Total Annual Burden to Respondents: 54,000 hours, calculated as follows: We estimate that approximately 4,000 FCC Form 1210s will be filed in the next year, approximately 50% with the Commission and 50% with LFAs. The average burden for cable operators to complete FCC Form 1210 is estimated to be 15 hours. The average burden for local franchise authorities to review Form 1210 filings is estimated to be 10 hours per filing. Cable operators are estimated to use in-house staff to complete approximately 50% of the filings. When using outside assistance to complete to other 50%, we estimate operators undergo a burden of 2 hours per filing to coordinate information with the outside assistance. 2,000 (50% of 4,000) filings completed with in-house staff x 15 hours per filing = 30,000 hours. 2,000 (50% of 4,000) filings coordinated with outside assistance x 2 hours per filing = 4,000 hours. 2,000 filings reviewed by LFAs at an average burden of 10 hours per filing = 2,000 x 10 hours per filing = 20,000 hours. Total Annual Cost to all Respondents: $3,008,000 calculated as follows: Printing, photocopying and postage costs incurred by respondents are estimated to be $2 per filing. 4,000 annual filings x $2 per filing = $8,000. We estimate cable operators that use legal and accounting contractors will pay for services at an average rate of $100/hour. 2,000 filings x 15 hours per filing x $100/hour = $3,000,000. Needs and Uses: FCC Form 1210 is used by cable operators to file for adjustments in maximum permitted rates for regulated services to reflect external costs. Regulated cable operators submit this form to local franchising authorities or the Commission (in situations where the FCC has assumed jurisdiction). It is also filed with the Commission when responding to a complaint filed with the Commission concerning cable programming service rates and associated equipment. The filings are used by the Commission and local franchising authorities (``LFAs'') to adjudicate permitted rates for regulated cable services and equipment, for the addition of new programming tiers and to account for the addition and deletion of channels, and for the allowance for pass throughs of external costs and costs due to inflation. Federal Communications Commission. Magalie Roman Salas, Secretary. [FR Doc. 98-3774 Filed 2-13-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6712-01-F