[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]


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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