[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 15, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 2442]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-488]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    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: Converter Box Coupon Program-Consumer and Retailer Pilot 
Test Surveys.
    OMB Control Number: None.
    Agency Form Number: None.
    Type of Request: Emergency.
    Burden Hours: 150.
    Average Time per Response: 15 minutes.
    Number of Respondents: 1,100.
    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, February 8, 2006).
    The 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. On March 15, 
2007, NTIA published a Final Rule establishing the parameters of the 
Coupon Program and describing the rights and responsibilities of 
interested parties (See Rules to Implement and Administer a Coupon 
Program for Digital-to-Analog Converter Boxes, 72 FR 12097 (codified at 
47 CFR 301)). Among other things, the regulations permit consumers to 
submit applications to NTIA for coupons beginning January 1, 2008. See 
47 CFR 301.3(b).
    One critical aspect of testing the coupon program, prior to full 
launch in all markets in early February 2008, is a ``live pilot'' test 
in which a limited number of volunteers will apply for the coupon, 
receive the coupon through the U.S. mail, and attempt to redeem the 
coupon at a local retailer for an ``eligible'' converter box. A 
material part of the pilot test is that the volunteers (consumers) will 
be asked to complete a survey regarding their experience in applying 
for and receiving the coupon and purchasing the converter box at a 
participating retail outlet. The retailers will be asked to complete a 
survey to provide feedback on such matters as their experience in 
redeeming the coupons, inventory issues, and employee training support. 
The information gathered from the surveys is intended to resolve 
potential problems in the system at the earliest stage possible. Only 
the data supplied by actual consumers and retailers through the surveys 
can accurately identify flaws in the process.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; business or other for-
profit organizations.
    Frequency: One-time only.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    OMB Desk Officer: Jasmeet K. Seehra, (202) 395-5167.
    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, or via the Internet at 
[email protected].
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent by January 25, 2008 to Jasmeet Seehra, OMB 
Desk Officer, FAX number (202) 395-5167 or via the Internet at 
[email protected].

    Dated: January 9, 2008.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E8-488 Filed 1-14-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-60-P