[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 7, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12000-12002]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-5411]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Being Reviewed by the 
Federal Communications Commission, Comments Requested

February 29, 2000.
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, 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

[[Page 12001]]

collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted on or before May 8, 2000. 
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 
Commissions, 445 12th Street, S.W., Room 1-A804, 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) 418-0217 or 
via the Internet at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    OMB Approval No.: 3060-0027.
    Title: Application for Construction Permit for Commercial Broadcast 
Station.
    Form No.: FCC 301.
    Type of Review: Revision.
    Respondents: Businesses or other for-profit, not-for-profit 
institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 3,370.
    Estimated Hours Per Response: 37-121 hours (time varies between 
contracting time and respondent burden dependent on the type of 
application submitted).
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Cost to Respondents: $35,485,300.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 7,427.
    Needs and Uses: FCC 301 is used to apply for authority to construct 
a new commercial AM, FM or TV broadcast station, or to make changes in 
the existing facilities of such a station. In addition, FM licensees or 
permittees may request, by application on FCC 301, upgrades on adjacent 
and co-channels, modifications to adjacent channels of the same class 
and downgrades to adjacent channels without first submitting a petition 
for rulemaking. All applicants using this one-step process must 
demonstrate that a suitable site exists which would comply with 
allotment standards with respect to minimum distance separation and 
city-grade coverage and which would be suitable for tower construction.
    To receive authorization for commencement of Digital Television 
(``DTV'') operation, commercial broadcast licensees must file FCC 301 
for a construction permit. This application may be filed anytime after 
receiving the initial DTV allotment but must be filed before the mid-
point in a particular applicant's required construction period. The 
Commission will consider these applications as minor changes in 
facilities. Applicants will not have to supply full legal or financial 
qualification information.
    This collection also includes the third party disclosure 
requirement of Section 73.3580. This section requires local public 
notice in a newspaper of general circulation of the filing of all 
applications for new or major changes in facilities. This notice must 
be completed within 30 days of the tendering of the application. This 
notice must be published at least twice a week for two consecutive 
weeks in a three-week period. A copy of this notice must be placed in 
the public inspection file along with the application.
    On January 20, 2000, the Commission adopted a Report and Order in 
MM Docket Nos. 98-204 and 96-16 in the Matter of Review of the 
Commission's Broadcast and Cable Equal Employment Opportunity Rules and 
Policies and Termination of the EEO Streamlining Proceeding. This 
Report and Order modified the Commission's broadcast and cable EEO 
rules and policies consistent with the D.C. Circuit's decision in 
Lutheran Church. The new EEO rules ensure equal employment opportunity 
in the broadcast industry through vigorous outreach and prevention of 
discrimination. With the adoption of this Report and Order, the 
Commission reinstates the requirement that broadcast permittees file 
the FCC Form 396-A at the time they file an application for a new 
construction permit. The Commission has revised the FCC 301 to add a 
question to advise respondents that they are required to submit a 396-A 
at the time that they apply for a new construction permit.
    The data is used by FCC staff to determine whether an applicant 
meets basic statutory requirements to become a Commission licensee and 
to ensure that the public interest would be served by grant of the 
application.
    OMB Approval No.: 3060-0032.
    Title: Application for Consent to Transfer Control of Entity 
Holding Broadcast Station License Construction Permit or License.
    Form No.: FCC 315.
    Type of Review: Revision of currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Businesses or other for-profit, not-for-profit 
institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 1,591.
    Estimated Hours Per Response: 12--48 hours (the burden hour time 
and contracting time varies depending on the type of application 
filed).
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Cost to Respondents: $12,236,878.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 2,546.
    Needs and Uses: FCC Form 315 and applicable exhibits/explanations 
are required to be filed when applying for transfer of control of a 
corporation holding an AM, FM or TV broadcast station construction 
permit or license. In addition, the applicant must notify the 
Commission when an approved transfer of control of a broadcast station 
construction permit or license has been consummated.
    This collection also includes the third party disclosure 
requirement of Section 73.3580. This section requires local public 
notice in a newspaper of general circulation of the filing of all 
applications for transfer of control of license/permit. This notice 
must be completed within 30 days of the tendering of the application. 
This notice must be published at least twice a week for two consecutive 
weeks in a three-week period. A copy of this notice must be placed in 
the public inspection file along with the application. Additionally, an 
applicant for transfer of control of license must broadcast the same 
notice over the station at least once daily on four days in the second 
week immediately following the tendering for filing of the application.
    On January 20, 2000, the Commission adopted a Report and Order in 
MM Docket Nos. 98-204 and 96-16 in the Matter of Review of the 
Commission's Broadcast and Cable Equal Employment Opportunity Rules and 
Policies and Termination of the EEO Streamlining Proceeding. This 
Report and Order modified the Commission's broadcast and cable EEO 
rules and policies consistent with the D.C. Circuit's decision in 
Lutheran Church. The new EEO rules ensure equal employment opportunity 
in the broadcast industry through vigorous outreach and prevention of 
discrimination. With the adoption of this Report and Order, the 
Commission reinstates the requirement that broadcast permittees and 
licensees file the FCC Form 396-A at the time they file a transfer 
application. The Commission has revised the FCC 315 to add a question 
to advise respondents that they are required to submit a 396-A at the 
time that they apply for a transfer of a construction permit or 
license.
    The data is used by FCC staff to determine whether the applicants 
meet basic statutory requirements to become a Commission licensee/
permittee and to assure that the public interest would be served by 
grant of the application.
    OMB Approval No.: 3060-0031.
    Title: Application for Consent to Assignment of Broadcast License 
Construction Permit or License.
    Form No.: FCC 314.

[[Page 12002]]

    Type of Review: Revision of currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Businesses or other for-profit, not-for-profit 
institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 1,591.
    Estimated Hours Per Response: 12-48 hours (the burden hour time and 
contracting time varies depending on the type of application filed).
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Cost to Respondents: $12,236,878.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 2,546.
    Needs and Uses: FCC Form 314 and applicable exhibits/explanations 
are required to be filed when applying for consent for assignment of an 
AM, FM or TV broadcast station construction permit or license, along 
with applicable exhibits and explanations. In addition, the applicant 
must notify the Commission when an approved assignment of a broadcast 
station construction permit or license has been consummated.
    This collection also includes the third party disclosure 
requirement of Section 73.3580. This section requires local public 
notice in a newspaper of general circulation of the filing of all 
applications for assignment of license/permit. This notice must be 
completed within 30 days of the tendering of the application. This 
notice must be published at least twice a week for two consecutive 
weeks in a three-week period. A copy of this notice must be placed in 
the public inspection file along with the application. Additionally, an 
applicant for assignment of license must broadcast the same notice over 
the station at least once daily on four days in the second week 
immediately following the tendering for filing of the application.
    On January 20, 2000, the Commission adopted a Report and Order in 
MM Docket Nos. 98-204 and 96-16 in the Matter of Review of the 
Commission's Broadcast and Cable Equal Employment Opportunity Rules and 
Policies and Termination of the EEO Streamlining Proceeding. This 
Report and Order modified the Commission's broadcast and cable EEO 
rules and policies consistent with the D.C. Circuit's decision in 
Lutheran Church. The new EEO rules ensure equal employment opportunity 
in the broadcast industry through vigorous outreach and prevention of 
discrimination. With the adoption of this Report and Order, the 
Commission reinstates the requirement that broadcast permittees and 
licensees file the FCC Form 396-A at the time they file an assignment 
application. The Commission has revised the FCC 314 to add a question 
to advise respondents that they are required to submit a 396-A at the 
time that they apply for an assignment of a construction permit or 
license.
    The data is used by FCC staff to determine whether the applicants 
meet basic statutory requirements to become a Commission licensee/
permittee and to assure that the public interest would be served by 
grant of the application.

Federal Communications Commission.
Magalie Roman Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-5411 Filed 3-6-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-U