[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 13, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1981-1982]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-664]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


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

December 22, 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 (PRA) 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

[[Page 1982]]

a collection of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act 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 Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) comments should be 
submitted on or before March 15, 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 contact 
listed below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Direct all Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) comments to Les 
Smith, Federal Communications Commission, Room 1-A804, 445 12th Street, 
SW., Washington, DC 20554 or via the 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 the Internet at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    OMB Control Number: 3060-0034.
    Title: Application for Construction Permit for Reserved Channel 
Noncommercial Educational Broadcast Station.
    Form Number: FCC 340.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Businesses or other for-profit entities.
    Number of Respondents: 672.
    Estimated Time per Response: 2-4 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirements; Third 
party disclosure.
    Total Annual Burden: 2,158 hours.
    Total Annual Costs: $7,084,430.
    Needs and Uses: FCC Form 340 is used to apply for authority to 
construct a new noncommercial educational (NCE) FM, TV, DTV broadcast 
station, or to make changes in the existing facilities of such a 
station. 47 CFR 73.3580 requires third party notification--public 
notice in a newspaper of general circulation-- when applications are 
filed for new facilities or major changes in existing facilities. The 
Commission uses a point system to compare objective characteristics of 
applicants for full-service radio or television stations on channels 
reserved for NCE use and also on non-reserved channels if the only 
applicants competing propose to build NCE stations. The Commission uses 
the auction procedures to select among mutually exclusive commercial 
applications on non-reserved (commercial) channels.
    OMB Control Number: 3060-0948.
    Title: Noncommercial Educational Applicants.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Extension of currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 630.
    Estimated Time per Response: 0.25-2 hours.
    Frequency of Response: Recordkeeping; On occasion reporting 
requirements.
    Total Annual Burden: 534.
    Total Annual Cost: $92,000.
    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 procedures to select among competing 
applicants for noncommercial educational (NCE) broadcast channels, 
including a point system to select among mutually exclusive applicants 
on reserved channels and filing windows for new and major changes to 
NCE stations. 47 CFR Section 73.202 provides that entities eligible to 
operate an NCE broadcast station can request that a non-reserved 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. 47 CFR Section 73.3527 requires 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. 47 CFR 
Section 73.3572 requires an applicant for a NCE broadcast station on a 
reserved channel to submit supporting documentation of the points 
claimed on the application form. The FCC staff use this documentation 
to determine whether there is a greater need for a noncommercial 
channel versus a commercial channel and to perform random audits of the 
application point certifications. This supporting documentation also 
enables competing applicants to verify and/or dispute other applicants' 
claims.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 04-664 Filed 1-12-04; 8:45 am]
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