[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 102 (Thursday, May 28, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29216-29217]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-14094]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


Notice of Public Information Collections Being Reviewed by the 
Federal Communications Commission, Comments Requested

May 20, 1998.

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 July 27, 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 Les Smith, Federal Communications 
Commission, 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 collection(s), contact Les Smith at 202-418-0217 or 
via internet at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
OMB Approval Number: 3060-0287.
    Title: Section 78.69 Station records.
    Form No.: N/A
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business and other for-profit entities; State, local 
and tribal governments.
    Number of Respondents: 1,800.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 26 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On Occasion.
    Cost to Respondents: $0.
    Total Annual Burden:  46,800 hours.
    Needs and Uses:  Section 78.69 requires that licensees of cable 
CARS stations maintain various records, including but not limited to 
records pertaining to transmissions, unscheduled interruptions to 
transmissions, maintenance, observations, inspections and repairs. 
Station records are required to be maintained for a period of not less 
than two years. The records kept pursuant to Section 78.69 provide for 
a history of station operations and are reviewed by Commission staff 
during field investigations to ensure that proper operation of the 
stations is being conducted.
OMB Approval Number: 3060-0667.
    Title: Section 76.630 Compatibility with consumer electronic 
equipment.
    Form No.: N/A
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business and other for-profit entities.
    Number of Respondents: 11,000.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 1 - 3 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On Occasion.
    Cost To Respondents: $19,300 ($960 filing fee, plus stationery and 
postage costs).
    Total Annual Burden: 11,160 hours.
    Needs and Uses:  Section 76.630(a) states that cable system 
operators shall not scramble or otherwise encrypt signals carried on 
the basic service tier, though operators may file requests for waivers 
of this prohibition with the Commission. When filing requests for 
waivers of this prohibition, operators must notify subscribers by mail 
of waiver requests. Section 76.630(c) states

[[Page 29217]]

that cable system operators that use scrambling, encryption or similar 
techniques shall offer to supply each subscriber with special equipment 
that will enable the simultaneous reception of multiple signals. This 
offer of special equipment must be made to new subscribers at the time 
they subscribe, to all subscribers at least once each year, and to 
subscribers that make such requests at any time. Section 76.630(d) 
states that cable system operators shall provide a consumer education 
program on compatibility matters to their subscribers in writing. The 
information shall be provided to subscribers at the time that they 
first subscribe and at least once a year thereafter, and may be 
included in one of the cable system's regular subscriber billings. The 
Commission has set forth these disclosure requirements for consumer 
protection purposes, to inform subscribers of compatibility matters, 
and notify subscribers of cable operators' requests to waive the 
prohibition on signal encryption.

Federal Communications Commission.
Magalie Roman Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-14094 Filed 5-27-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-F