[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 186 (Friday, September 25, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 51353]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-25679]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


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

September 14, 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, 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 October 26, 
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, 
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 Les Smith at 202-418-0217 or via 
internet at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    OMB Approval Number: 3060-0667.
    Title: Section 76.630, Compatibility with Consumer Electronics 
Equipment.
    Form Number: 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 reporting requirements; Third 
party disclosure.
    Total Annual Burden: 11,160 hours.
    Cost to Respondents: $19,300 ($960 filing fee/request; stationery 
and postage costs).
    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 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.

    OMB Approval Number: 3060-XXXX.
    Title: Commercial Availability of Navigation Devices.
    Type of Review: New collection.
    Respondents: Businesses or other for-profit entities.
    Number of Respondents: 200.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 10 minutes to 40 hours.
    Frequency of Response: Semi-annual and on occasion reporting 
requirements; Third party disclosure.
    Total Annual Burden to Respondents: 3,266 hours.
    Total Annual Cost to Respondents: $29,632.
    Needs and Uses: The disclosure requirements set forth in this 
proceeding will ensure that consumers can make informed decisions about 
the purchase and proper installation of navigation devices. The Section 
76.1207 petition process will give providers of multichannel video 
programming and equipment providers a forum in which to request relief 
from regulations adopted under this part for a limited time, provided 
that there is an appropriate showing that such a waiver is necessary to 
assist the development or introduction of a new or improved 
multichannel video programming or other service offered over 
multichannel video programming systems, technology, or products. The 
Section 76.1208 petition process allows interested parties to petition 
the Commission to provide for a sunset of navigation devices 
regulations. The semiannual reports will be used by the Commission to 
monitor the progress of key industry entities of their efforts to 
assure the commercial availability of navigation devices.

Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-25679 Filed 9-24-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-U