[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 232 (Wednesday, December 3, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67674-67675]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-30003]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


Public Information Collection(s) Requirement Submitted to OMB for 
Emergency Review and Approval

November 24, 2003.
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(s), as required by the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 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 January 2, 
2004. 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 contacts listed below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Direct all comments to Kim A. Johnson, Office of Management 
and Budget, Room 10236 NEOB, Washington, DC 20503, (202) 395-3562 or 
via Internet at [email protected], and Les Smith, Federal 
Communications Commission, Room 1-A804, 445 12th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20554 or via Internet to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or copies 
of the information collection(s) contact Les Smith at 202-418-0217 or 
via Internet at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission has requested emergency OMB 
review of this collection with an approval by December 31, 2003.
    OMB Control Number: 3060-XXXX.
    Title: Digital Broadcast Content Protection, MB Docket No. 02-230.
    Type of Review: New collection.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.
    Number of Respondents: 1,520.
    Estimated Time per Response: 2 to 40 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirements.
    Total Annual Burden: 3,800 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: None.
    Needs and Uses: On November 4, 2003, the FCC released the Report 
and

[[Page 67675]]

Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (``Order''), In the 
Matter of Digital Broadcast Content Protection, MB Docket No. 02-230, 
FCC 03-273. The Order establishes a redistribution control content 
protection system for digital broadcast television in order to prevent 
the widespread indiscriminate redistribution of high value digital 
broadcast content and to assure the continued availability of such 
content to broadcast outlets. The Order adopts use of an ATSC flag, 
which can be imbedded in DTV content to signal to consumer electronics 
devices to protect such content from indiscriminate redistribution.
    In order for this protection system to work, demodulators 
integrated within, or produced for use in, DTV reception devices, 
including PC and IT products, (``Covered Demodulator Products'') must 
recognize and give effect to the ATSC flag pursuant to certain 
compliance and robustness rules. In particular, content that is marked 
with the ATSC flag must be handled in a protected fashion through the 
use of digital content protection and recording technologies. In order 
to ensure that digital content is being adequately protected, such 
technologies must be reviewed and approved for use. The Order 
establishes interim procedures by which proponents of digital content 
protection and recording technologies can certify to the Commission 
that such technologies are appropriate for use in Covered Demodulator 
Products, subject to public notice and comment.
    To facilitate enforcement and compliance, the Order adopts a 
written commitment regime whereby manufacturers or importers of ATSC 
demodulators obtain from buyers of such products a written commitment 
that they will incorporate such demodulators into compliant and robust 
devices or sell or distribute to third parties that have also made such 
written commitment. The Order also adopts a written commitment regime 
to ensure that manufacturers or importers of Peripheral TSP Products 
(products where the demodulator and transport stream processor are 
physically separate) will abide by the Demodulator Products compliance 
and robustness rules.
    The interim approval process for digital content protection and 
recording technologies and the written commitment regime are essential 
components of the Commission's redistribution control content 
protection system for digital broadcast television. These information 
collections ensure objectivity and transparency as a part of this 
process.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-30003 Filed12-2-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-M