[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 167 (Monday, August 30, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 52948]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E4-1965]


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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 71, Form U-12(I)-A and Form U-12(I)-B; SEC File No. 270-61; 
OMB Control No. 3235-0173

    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 collection of 
information summarized below. The Commission plans to submit this 
existing collection of information to the Office of Management and 
Budget (``OMB'') for extension and approval.
    Rule 71 [17 CFR 250.71], under the Public Utility Holding Company 
Act of 1935, as amended (``Act''), (15 U.S.C. 79 et seq.), requires 
that certain information be filed by employees of registered holding 
companies who represent the companies' interests before Congress, the 
Commission or the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on either Form 
U-12(I)-A or Form U-12(I)-B. The filings must provide, among other 
things, the identity of the representative, the person's position and 
compensation and a quarterly statement of those expenses not incurred 
in the ordinary course of business. Employees appearing for the first 
time must file this information on Form U-12(I)-A within ten days of an 
appearance. Employees appearing on a regular basis may file the 
information in advance on Form U-12(I)-B, which will remain valid for 
the remainder of the year in which it was first filed and for the 
following two calendar years. Thereafter, it may be renewed for 
additional three-year periods within thirty days of the expiration of 
the prior filing.
    The information collection prescribed by Form U-12(I)-A and Form U-
12(I)-B is required by rule 71 under the Act. Rule 71 implements 
section 12(i) of the Act, which expressly requires the filing of the 
prescribed disclosure information with the Commission in the interest 
of investors and consumers. The Commission estimates that the total 
annual reporting burden of collections under rule 71 is 167 hours (250 
responses x forty minutes = 167 burden hours).
    The estimates of average burden hours are made for the purposes of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act and are 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: (1) 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; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of 
the burden of the collection of information; (3) ways to enhance the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (4) 
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 R. Corey Booth, Director/
Chief Information Officer, Office of Information Technology, Securities 
and Exchange Commission, 450 5th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549.

    August 23, 2004.
Jill M. Peterson,
Assistant Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E4-1965 Filed 8-27-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P