[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 126 (Friday, June 29, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34670-34671]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-16424]



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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


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

June 22, 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 August 28, 
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 
Commission, 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 Number: 3060-0548.
    Title: Section 76.1709 and Section 76.1620 Availability of Signals.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Extension of currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.
    Number of Respondents: 11,000.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 0.5-1.0 hour.
    Total Annual Costs: $110,000.
    Needs and Uses: Section 76.1709 was previously reported as section 
76.302, which requires the operator of every cable television system to 
maintain a public inspection file containing a list of all broadcast 
television stations carried by its system in fulfillment of the must-
carry requirements pursuant to Section 76.1620 and the designation and 
location of its principal headend. Sections 76.1709 and 76.1620 state 
that upon written request from any person, a cable operator is required 
to provide the lists of must-carried signals in writing within 30 days 
of receipt of such request. Additionally, Section 76.1620 states that 
if a cable operator authorizes subscribers to install additional 
receiver connections, but does not provide the subscriber with such 
connections, or with the equipment and materials for such connections, 
the operator shall notify such subscribers of all broadcast stations 
carried on the cable system which cannot be viewed via cable without a 
converter box and shall offer to sell or lease such a converter box to 
such subscribers. The notice, which may be included in routine billing 
statements, shall identify the signals that are unavailable without an 
additional connection, the manner for obtaining such additional 
connection, and instructions for installation. These notification and 
recordkeeping requirements ensure that subscribers are aware of which 
channels cannot be viewed without converter boxes and which channels 
are defined as must-carry. The records kept by cable television systems 
are reviewed by Commission staff during field inspections and by local 
public officials to assess the system's compliance with applicable 
rules and regulations.

    OMB Control Number: 3060-0652.
    Title: Section 76.1603 Customer service--rate and service changes.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Extension of currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.
    Number of Respondents: 11,375.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 10 minutes to 1.0 hour.
    Total Annual Costs: $100,000.
    Needs and Uses: Section 76.1603 was previously cited as 76.309, 
which sets forth various customer service obligations and notification 
requirements for changes in rates, programming services and channel 
positions. Section 76.1603 states that franchise authorities must 
provide affected operators 90 days written notice of its intent to 
enforce customer service standards. In addition, section 76.1603 states 
that cable operators shall provide written information on each of the 
following areas at the time of installation of service, at least 
annually to all subscribers, and at any time upon request: (1) Products 
and services offered; (2) Prices and options for programming services 
and conditions of subscription to programming and other services; (3) 
Installation and service maintenance policies; (4) Instructions on how 
to use the cable service; (5) Channel positions programming carried on 
the system; and (6) Billing complaint procedures, including the address 
and telephone number of the local franchise authority's cable office. 
Section 76.1603 states that customers will be notified of any changes 
in rates, programming services or channel positions as soon as possible 
in writing. Notice must be given to subscribers a minimum of thirty 
(30) days in advance of such changes if the change is within the 
control of the cable operator. In addition, the cable operator shall 
notify subscribers 30 days in advance of any significant changes in the 
other information required by section 76.1603. Section 76.1603 states 
that in addition to the requirements regarding advanced notification to 
customers of any changes in rates, programming services or channel 
positions, cable systems shall give 30 days written notice to both 
subscribers and local franchising authorities before implementing any 
rate or service change. Such notice shall state the precise amount of 
any rate change and briefly explain in readily understandable fashion 
the cause of the rate change (e.g. inflation, changes in external costs 
or the addition/deletion of channels). When the change involves the 
addition or deletion of channels, each channel added or deleted must be 
separately identified. Notices to subscribers shall inform them of 
their right to file complaints about changes in cable programming 
service tier rates and services, shall state that the subscriber may 
file the complaint within 90 days of the effective date of the rate 
change, and shall provide the address and phone number of the local 
franchising authority. Section 76.1603 states that in case of a billing 
dispute, the cable operator must respond to a written complaint within 
30 days. The Commission requires the various disclosure and 
notifications contained in this collection as a means of consumer 
protection to ensure that

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subscribers and franchising authorities are knowledgeable of cable 
operators' business practices, current rates, rate changes for 
programming service and equipment, and channel line-up changes.

    OMB Control Number: 3060-0419.
    Title: Section 76.94, 76.95, 76.155, 76.156, 76.157 and 76.159, 
Syndicated Exclusivity and network Non-Duplication Rights.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Extension of currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.
    Number of Respondents: 5,392 (1,141 commercial television stations 
+ 4,251 cable television stations).
    Estimated Time Per Response: 0.5-2.0 hours.
    Total Annual Costs: $192,132.
    Needs and Uses: Commission rules, as listed above, require 
television stations, broadcast television stations and program 
distributors to notify cable television system operators of non-
duplication protection and exclusivity rights being sought within 
prescribed limitations and terms of contractual agreements. The purpose 
of the various notification and disclosure requirements accounted for 
in this information collection is to protect broadcasters who purchase 
the exclusive rights to transmit syndicated programming in their 
recognized markets.

    OMB Control Number: 3060-0287.
    Title: Section 78.69 Cable Relay Station Records.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Extension of currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.
    Number of Respondents: 1,800.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 26 hours.
    Total Annual Costs: $9,000.
    Needs and Uses: Section 78.69 requires that licensees of cable CARS 
stations maintain various records, including but not limited to records 
pertaining to transmissions, unscheduled interruptions to 
transmissions, maintenance, observations, inspections and repairs. 
Station records are required to be maintained for a period of not less 
than two years. The records kept pursuant to Section 78.69 provide for 
a history of station operations and are reviewed by Commission staff 
during field investigations to ensure that proper operation of the 
stations is being conducted.

    OMB Control Number: 3060-0849.
    Title: Commercial Availability of Navigation Devices.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Extension of currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.
    Number of Respondents: 200.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 10 minutes to 40 hours.
    Total Annual Costs: $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 commercial availability of navigation devices.

Federal Communications Commission.
Magalie Roman Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-16424 Filed 6-28-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P