[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 66 (Thursday, April 5, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18089-18090]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-8314]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


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

March 28, 2001.
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 June 4, 2001. 
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 Control No.: 3060-0787.
    Title: Implementation of the Subscriber Carrier Selection Changes 
Provisions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996; Policies and Rules 
Concerning unauthorized Changes of Consumers Long Distance Carriers.
    Form No.: FCC Form 478.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Respondents: Business or Other for Profit.
    Number of Respondents: 28,414.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 4.7 hours (avg.); 2-10 hours per 
response.
    Total Annual Burden: 135,126 hours.
    Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: $0.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion; Semi-Annually; Recordkeeping; 
Third party disclosures.
    Needs and Uses: The goal of 47 U.S.C. 258 is to eliminate the 
practice of ``slamming'' which is the unauthorized change of a 
subscriber's preferred carrier. The modifications and additions adopted 
in the Third Report and Order, as modified in a subsequent Order, will 
improve the carrier change process for consumers and carriers alike, 
while making it more difficult for unscrupulous carriers to perpetrate 
slams. The Commission, among other things, amended the current carrier 
change authorization and verification rules to expressly permit the use 
of Internet letters of agency in a manner consistent with the new E-
Sign Act; and, requires each telephone exchange and/or telephone toll 
provider to submit a semi-annual report on the number of slamming 
complaints it receives.

    OMB Approval No.: 3060-0211.
    Title: Section 73.1943 Political File.
    Form No.: n/a.

[[Page 18090]]

    Type of Review: Extension of currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Businesses or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 16,597.
    Estimated Hours Per Response: 0.25 hours per request (each station 
is estimated to have 25 political broadcasts per year).
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Cost to Respondents: $0.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 104,744.
    Needs and Uses: Section 73.1943 requires licensees of broadcast 
stations to keep and permit public inspection of a complete record 
(political file) of all requests for broadcast time made by or on 
behalf of candidates for public office, together with an appropriate 
notation showing the disposition made by the licensee of such request. 
The data is used by the public to assess money expended and time 
allotted to a political candidate and to ensure that equal access was 
afforded to other qualified candidates.

    OMB Approval No.: 3060-0502.
    Title: Section 73.1942 Candidate rates.
    Form No.: n/a.
    Type of Review: Extension of currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Businesses or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 11,878.
    Estimated Hours Per Response: 0.5 hours per disclosure of lowest 
unit charge; 20 hours for calculation of lowest unit charge; 2 hours 
for review of records.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Cost to Respondents: $0.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 671,107 hours.
    Needs and Uses: Section 315(b) of the Communications Act directs 
broadcast stations to charge political candidates the ``lowest unit 
charge of the station'' for the same class and amount of time for the 
same period, during the 45 days preceding a primary or runoff election 
and the 60 days preceding a general or special election.
    Section 73.1942 requires broadcast licensees to disclose any 
station practices offered to commercial advertisers that enhance the 
value of advertising spots and different classes of time (immediately 
preemptible, preemptible with notice, fixed, fire sale, and make good). 
Section 73.1942 also requires licensees to calculate the lowest unit 
charge. Stations are also required to review their advertising records 
throughout the election period to determine whether compliance with 
this section requires that candidates receive rebates or credits.
    The disclosures would assure candidates that they are receiving the 
same lowest unit charge as other advertisers.

Federal Communications Commission
Magalie Roman Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-8314 Filed 4-4-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-U