[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 230 (Tuesday, December 1, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66170-66172]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-31849]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Being Reviewed by the 
Federal Communications Commission for Extension Under Delegated 
Authority 5 CFR 1320 Authority, Comments Requested

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 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,

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including the use of automated information techniques or other forms of 
information technology.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted on or before February 1, 
1999. 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., N.W., Washington, DC 20554 or via the 
Internet to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or copies 
of the information collections contact Les Smith at 202-418-0127 or via 
the Internet at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    OMB Control Number: 3060-0567.
    Title: Section 76.962, Implementation and Certification of 
Compliance.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Businesses or other for-profit entities.
    Number of Respondents: 500.
    Estimated Time per Response: .5 hours (30 minutes).
    Frequency of Response: Once.
    Total Annual Burden: 250 hours.
    Total Annual Costs: $1,000 (photocopying and stationary).
    Needs and Uses: Section 76.962 requires any cable operator that has 
been deemed subject to remedial requirements to certify to the 
Commission its compliance with the Commission order requiring 
prospective rate reductions, refunds, or other remedial relief to 
subscribers. The certification must be filed with the Commission within 
90 days from the date the Commission released the order mandating a 
remedy. These certifications are used by the Commission to monitor a 
cable operator's compliance with Commission rate orders.

    OMB Control Number: 3060-0638.
    Title: Section 76.934(g), Alternative Rate Regulation Agreements.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.
    Number of Respondents: 100.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 0.5 hours (30 minutes).
    Frequency of Response: Once.
    Total Annual Burden: 50 hours.
    Total Annual Costs: $300 (postage and photocopying).
    Needs and Uses: Section 76.934(g) states that certified local 
franchising authorities and small systems owned by small cable 
companies may enter into alternative rate regulation agreements 
affecting the basic service tier and the cable programming service 
tier. Small systems must file with the Commission a copy of the 
operative alternative rate agreement within 30 days after its effective 
date. Alternative rate regulation agreements are filed with the 
Commission so that verification can be made such that agreements have 
been entered into and executed pursuant to Commission rules.

    OMB Control Number: 3060-0644.
    Title: Establishing Maximum Permitted Rates for Regulated Cable 
Services on Small Cable Systems.
    Form Number: FCC 1230.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business and other for-profit entities; State, local 
and tribal governments.
    Number of Respondents: 350 (250 cable systems and 100 local 
franchise authorities).
    Estimated Time Per Response: 2.0 to 2.25 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirements.
    Total Annual Burden: 763 hours.
    Total Annual Costs: $500.
    Needs and Uses: On May 5, 1995, the Commission adopted rules that 
allow a small cable system owned by a small cable company to use a 
simplified cost-of-service procedure to set its maximum permitted rate. 
Pursuant to these rules, a cable system is eligible to set its maximum 
permitted rate with FCC form 1230 if it is a system with 15,000 or 
fewer subscribers, and it is not owned by a cable company with more 
than 400,000 subscribers. The data collected are used by the Commission 
and local franchise authorities to determine whether cable rates for 
basic service, cable programming service, and associated equipment are 
reasonable under Commission regulations.

    OMB Control Number: 3060-0673.
    Title: Section 76.956, Cable Operator Response.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.
    Number of Respondents: 50.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 4 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirements.
    Total Annual Burden: 200 hours.
    Total Annual Costs: $250.
    Needs and Uses: Section 76.956 states that unless the Commission 
notifies a cable operator to the contrary, the cable operator must file 
with the Commission a response to a rate complaint, filed on the 
applicable form, within 30 days of the date of service of the 
complaint. In addition to responding to the merits of a complaint, the 
cable operator may also move for dismissal of the complaint for failure 
to meet the minimum showing requirement. Any such motion for dismissal 
must state with particularity the reasons the cable operator believes 
the complaint is defective and shall not relieve the cable operator of 
its obligation to respond to the merits of the complaint. The 
Commission has clearance for use of its cable rate regulation forms 
under each form's respective OMB control number. This collection, OMB 
3060-0673, is designed to account for the burden to respondents when 
filing motions for dismissal of rate complaints. The Commission 
sponsors this information collection requirement in order to ensure a 
process for cable operators to file a motion to dismiss a rate 
complaint filed against them if they feel that the complaint fails to 
meet the minimum showing.

    OMB Control Number: 3060-0668.
    Title: 76.936, Written Decisions.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: State, local or tribal governments.
    Number of Respondents: 1,200.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 1 hour.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirements.
    Total Annual Burden: 1,200 hours
    Total Annual Costs: $12,000.
    Needs and Uses: Section 76.936 states a franchising authority must 
issue a written decision in a rate-making proceeding whenever it 
disapproves an initial rate for the basic service tier or associated 
equipment in whole or in part, disapproves a request for a rate 
increase in whole or in part, or approves a request for an increase in 
whole or in part over the objections of interested parties. Public 
notice must be given of any written decision required in this section, 
including releasing the text of any written decision to the public. 
Franchising authorities are required to issue a written decision in 
rate-making proceedings pursuant to Section 76.936 so that cable 
operators and the public are made aware of the results of the 
proceeding.


[[Page 66172]]


Federal Communications Commission.
Magalie Roman Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-31849 Filed 11-30-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-10-M