[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 209 (Friday, October 27, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64439-64441]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-27674]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


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

October 20, 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 collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted on or before December 26, 
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, SW, 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.: 3060-0405.
    Title: Application for Authority to Construct or Make Changes in an 
FM Translator or FM Booster Station.
    Form No.: FCC 349.
    Type of Review: Extension of currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Businesses or other for-profit, Not-for-profit 
institutions.

[[Page 64440]]

    Number of Respondents: 1,050.
    Estimated Hours Per Response: 5-19 hours depending on application 
type (1-3 hours applicant burden; 4-17 hours contract costs).
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Cost to Respondents: $2,689,500.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2750.
    Needs and Uses: FCC 349 is used to apply for authority to construct 
a new FM translator or FM booster broadcast station, or to make changes 
in the existing facilities of such stations. 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 change 
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. In addition, all mutually exclusive NCE proposals for 
the reserved band currently on file with the Commission will be 
required to supplement their applications with portions of the revised 
FCC 349 necessary to make a selection under the new point system. The 
Commission will issue a public notice announcing the procedures to be 
used in this process. The data are used by FCC staff to ensure that the 
applicant meets basic statutory requirements and will not cause 
interference to other licensed broadcast services. In the case of 
mutually exclusive qualified applicants, the information will be used 
to determine which proposal would best serve the public interest.

    OMB Approval No.: 3060-0034.
    Title: Application for Construction Permit for Reserved Channel 
Noncommercial Educational Broadcast Station.
    Form No.: FCC 340.
    Type of Review: Extension of currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 1970.
    Estimated Hours Per Response: 15-76 hours depending on application 
type (2-4 hours applicant burden; 13-68 hours contract costs).
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Cost to Respondents: $8,200,645.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 4370.
    Needs and Uses: FCC 340 is used to apply for authority to construct 
a new noncommercial educational (NCE) FM, TV and DTV broadcast station, 
or to make changes in the existing facilities of such a station. The 
FCC 340 is to be used for channels that are reserved exclusively for 
NCE use. This collection also includes the third party disclosure 
requirement of Section 73.3580 which requires local public notice in a 
newspaper of general circulation of the filing of all applications for 
new or major changes in facilities. In addition, all mutually exclusive 
NCE proposals for the reserved band currently on file with the 
Commission will be required to supplement their applications with 
portions of the revised FCC 340 necessary to make a selection under the 
new point system. The Commission will issue a public notice announcing 
the procedures to be used in this process. The data are used by FCC 
staff to determine whether the applicant meets basic statutory 
requirements to become or remain a Commission licensee and to ensure 
that the public interest would be served by grant of the application. 
In the case of mutually exclusive qualified applicants, the information 
will be used to determine which proposal would best serve the public 
interest.

    OMB Approval No.: 3060-0948.
    Title: MM Docket No. 95-31--Noncommercial Rules.
    Form No.: None.
    Type of Review: Extension of currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 435.
    Estimated Hours Per Response: 0.25-3 hours (depending on 
application type (0.25-2 hours applicant burden; 1-2 hours contract 
costs).
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Cost to Respondents: $33,750.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 485.
    Needs and Uses: On April 4, 2000, the Commission adopted a Report 
and Order in MM Docket No. 95-31 in the Matter of Reexamination of the 
Comparative Standards for Noncommercial Educational Applicants. This 
Report and Order adopted new procedures to select among competing 
applicants for noncommercial educational (NCE) broadcast channels. The 
Commission will use a point system to select among mutually exclusive 
applicants on reserved channels, to streamline the current selection 
process and make it faster and simpler for applicants and for the 
Commission. The Commission will use filing windows for new and major 
changes to NCE stations. In addition, the following rule sections were 
revised that include new information collections:
    Section 73.202 was revised to provide that entities that would be 
eligible to operate a noncommercial educational broadcast station can 
request that a nonreserved FM channel be allotted as reserved only for 
NCE broadcasting. This request must include a demonstration as 
specified in (a)(1)(i) and (ii) of this rule section.
    Section 73.3527 was revised to include that documentation of any 
points claimed in an application for a NCE broadcast station in the 
reserved band must be kept in the public inspection file.
    Section 73.3572 was revised to require an application for a NCE 
broadcast station on a reserved channel to submit to the FCC's public 
reference room supporting documentation of the points claimed in its 
application form.
    The demonstration provided with the request for an allotment is 
used by FCC staff to determine whether there is a greater need for a 
noncommercial channel versus a commercial channel. The availability of 
supporting documentation concerning points claimed will enable any 
involved party to verify and/or dispute that claim and will enable the 
Commission to do random audits of the applicant point certifications.

    OMB Approval No.: 3060-0897.
    Title: MDS and ITFS Two-Way Transmissions.
    Form No.: None.
    Type of Review: Extension of currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Businesses or other for-profit, not-for-profit 
institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 130,888.
    Estimated Hours Per Response: 0.083-41 hours (depending on 
application type (0.166-40 hours applicant burden; 0.166-5.25 hours 
contract costs).
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Cost to Respondents: $5,431,032.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 223,355.
    Needs and Uses: This collection includes rules that collectively 
form the MDS and ITFS two-way services. The rules for two-way 
transmissions for MDS and ITFS will allow two-way licensing and provide 
greater flexibility in the use of the allotted spectrum to licensees. 
The Commission will use this information to ensure that MDS and ITFS 
applicants, conditional licensees and licensees have considered 
properly under the Commission's rules the potential for harmful 
interference from their facilities.


[[Page 64441]]


Federal Communications Commission.
Magalie Roman Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-27674 Filed 10-26-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-U