[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 206 (Thursday, October 25, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 60626]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-21029]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


Submission for OMB Review

    The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of 
information under the emergency provisions of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).
    Agency: National Telecommunications and Information Administration 
(NTIA).
    Title: NTIA Message Testing Focus Groups for the Digital-to-Analog 
Converter Box Coupon Program.
    Agency Form Number: None.
    Type of Request: Emergency submission.
    Burden: 352 hours.
    Average Time Per Response: 2 hours.
    Needs and Uses: Congress directed the National Telecommunications 
and Information Administration (NTIA) to create and implement a program 
to provide coupons for consumers to purchase digital-to-analog 
converter boxes. (See Title III of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, 
Pub. L. No. 109-171, 120 Stat. 4, 21 (Feb. 8, 2006)). These converter 
boxes are necessary for consumers who wish to continue receiving 
broadcast programming over the air using analog-only television sets 
after February 18, 2009--the date that television stations are required 
by law to cease analog broadcasting. The regulations permit consumers 
to submit applications to NTIA for coupons beginning January 1, 2008. 
See 47 CFR 301.3(b).
    An effective consumer education campaign, including the development 
of a campaign identity, messages, and consumer materials, is essential 
to the Coupon Program. Of particular importance is the development of 
an application for consumers that is easy to understand and to submit 
to NTIA. In an effort to ensure that the materials and messages 
developed for the campaign resonate with all target audiences, these 
items will be tested with representatives from targeted audiences. The 
targeted audiences, identified as the more reliant on over-the-air 
television, include the following: (1) Economically disadvantaged 
households; (2) rural residents; (3) minorities; (4) people with 
disabilities; and (5) seniors. Representatives from the target 
audiences will participate in ``focus groups'' to assist NTIA in 
determining the clarity of the message; identifying difficulty or ease 
in presenting and receiving pertinent information; and improving the 
presentation of the information.
    Nineteen (19) focus groups are scheduled in eight cities and via 
teleconference. Five additional participants will be interviewed who 
are deaf or hard of hearing for a total number of 176 participants. The 
information will be collected by Ketchum, Inc., a global public 
relations firm, that is leading the consumer education program as a 
subcontractor to IBM, NTIA's prime contractor. NTIA awarded a contract 
to IMB in August 2007 to administer the diverse operational elements of 
the Coupon Program. The information will be used to develop a consumer 
application as well as other consumer education materials related to 
the Coupon Program.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    OMB Desk Officer: Jasmeet K. Seehra, (202) 395-3123.
    Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained 
by calling or writing Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance 
Officer, (202) 482-0266, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230.
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 7 days of publication of this notice 
to Jasmeet Seehra, OMB Desk Officer, FAX number (202) 395-5167 or via 
the Internet at [email protected].

    Dated: October 19, 2007.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E7-21029 Filed 10-24-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-60-P