[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 138 (Wednesday, July 20, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41808-41809]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-14233]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary

[Docket No. OST-95-177]


Notice of Request for Extension of Previously Approved Collection

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the Department of Transportation's (DOT) intention to 
request extension of a previously approved information collection.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by September 19, 2005.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT-DMS Docket Number 
OST-95-177 by any of the following methods.
     Web site: http://dms.dot.gov. Follow the instructions for 
submitting comments on the DOT electronic docket site.
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on Federal holidays.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and 
docket number or Regulatory Identification Number (RIN) for this 
information collection. For detailed instructions on submitting 
comments and additional information, see the Public Participation 
heading of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document. Note 
that all comments received will be posted without change to http://dms.dot.gov including any personal information provided. Please see the 
Privacy Act heading under Regulatory Notes.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to http://dms.dot.gov at any time or to Room PL-
401, on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, 
SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 
except on Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jack Schmidt, Office of Aviation 
Analysis, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation, 
400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590, (202) 366-5420.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Disclosure of Change-of-Gauge Services.
    OMB Control Number: 2105-0538.
    Expiration Date: September 30, 2005.
    Type of Request: Extension of a previously approved collection.
    Abstract: Change-of-gauge service is scheduled passenger air 
transportation for which the operating carrier uses one single flight 
number even though passengers do not travel in the same aircraft from 
origin to destination but must change planes at an intermediate stop. 
In addition to one-flight-to-one-flight change-of-gauge services, 
change-of-gauge services can also involve aircraft changes between 
multiple flights on one side of the change point and one single flight 
on the other side. As with one-for-one-change-of-gauge services, the 
carrier assigns a single flight number for the passenger's entire 
itinerary even though the passenger changes planes, but in addition, 
the single flight to or from the exchange point itself has multiple 
numbers, one for each segment with which it connects and one for the 
local market in which it operates. The Department recognizes various 
public benefits that can flow from change-of-gauge services, such as a 
lowered likelihood of missed connections. However, although change-of-
gauge flights can offer valuable consumer benefits, they can be 
confusing and misleading unless consumers are given reasonable and 
timely notice that they will be required to change planes during their 
journey.
    Section 41712 of Title 49 of the U.S. code authorizes the 
Department to decide if a U.S. air carrier or foreign air carrier or 
ticket agent (including travel agents) has engaged in unfair or

[[Page 41809]]

deceptive practices and to prohibit such practices. Under this 
authority, the Department has adopted various regulations and policies 
to prevent unfair or deceptive practices or unfair methods of 
competition. Among these are the CRS regulations contained in 14 CFR 
part 255.
    The Department's current CRS rules, adopted in September of 1992, 
required that CRS displays give notice of any flight that involves a 
change of aircraft en route. In addition, the Department requires as a 
matter of policy that consumers be given notice of aircraft changes for 
change-of-gauge flights. (See Department Order 89-1-31, page 5.) The 
Department proposed to adopt the extant regulations, however, because 
it was not convinced that these rules and policies resulted in 
effective disclosure all of the time.
    Respondents: U.S. air carriers, foreign air carriers, ticket agents 
(including travel agents), and the traveling public.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 205,908 to 617,736 
hours.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 33,898 excluding travelers.
    Most of this data collection (third party notification) is 
accomplished through highly automated computerized systems.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether this 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 burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of information to be collected; and (d) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on the 
respondents, including through the use of automated techniques or other 
forms of information technology. All responses to this notice will be 
summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments 
will also become a matter of public record.

    Issued in Washington, DC on July 12, 2005.
Randall D. Bennett,
Director, Office of Aviation Analysis.
[FR Doc. 05-14233 Filed 7-19-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-62-P