[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 12 (Tuesday, January 20, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 2754]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-1077]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange 
Commission, Office of Filings and Information Services, Washington, 
DC 20549.
Extension: Rule 1(c) and Form U5S; SEC File No. 270-168; OMB Control 
No. 3235-0164.

    Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``Commission'') is soliciting comments on the collections of 
information summarized below. The Commission plans to submit these 
existing collections of information to the Office of Management and 
Budget (``OMB'') for extension and approval.
    Under rule 1(c) and section 14 of the Public Utility Holding 
Company Act of 1935 (``Act''), Form U5S must be filed annually by all 
registered holding companies. Form U5S contains broad ranging 
information such as a description of system companies, acquisitions and 
sales of utility assets, securities transactions, and other information 
necessary for the staff to ascertain compliance with the Act. The 
Commission estimates that the total annual reporting and recordkeeping 
burden is 445.5 (28 original annual responses plus 5 amendments x 13.5 
hours = 445.5 burden hours). This represents an increase of 189 hours 
annually in the paperwork burden from the prior estimate, and this 
increase was caused by an increase in the number of registered holding 
companies over the period as well as the need for some registrants to 
make a subsequent amendment to the Form U5S due to the inadequacy of 
their original filing. The Commission needs the information because 
rule 1(c) requires it. The Commission uses this information to 
determine the existence of detriment to the interests the Act was 
designed to protect. Compliance with the requirements to provide the 
information is mandatory. The information will not be kept 
confidential.
    The estimate of average burden hours is made solely for the 
purposes of the Paperwork Reduction Act. The estimate is not derived 
from a comprehensive or even a representative survey or study of the 
costs of Commission rules and forms.
    Written comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the agency, including whether the information will 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of 
the burden of the collection of information; (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 
respondents, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology. Consideration will 
be given to comments and suggestions submitted in writing within 60 
days of this publication.
    Please direct your written comments to Kenneth A. Fogash, Acting 
Associate Executive Director/CIO, Office of Information Technology, 
Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 5th Street, NW., Washington, DC 
20549.

    Dated: January 7, 2004.
Margaret H. McFarland,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 04-1077 Filed 1-16-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P