[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 199 (Tuesday, October 14, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60688-60689]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-24316]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Being Reviewed by the 
Federal Communications Commission, Comments Requested

October 7, 2008.
SUMMARY: The Federal Communications Commission, as part of its 
continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, invites the general 
public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment 
on the following information collection(s), as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Public Law No. 104-13. An agency 
may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it 
displays a currently valid control number. Subject to the PRA, no 
person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a 
collection of information that does not display a valid control number. 
Comments are requested concerning (a) Whether the proposed collection 
of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions 
of the Commission, including whether the information shall have 
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's burden 
estimate; (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 the respondents, including the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.

DATES: Written PRA comments should be submitted on or before December 
15, 2008. If you anticipate that you will be submitting comments, but 
find it difficult to do so within the period of time allowed by this 
notice, you should advise the contact listed below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties may submit all PRA comments by e-mail or 
U.S. post mail. To submit your comments by e-mail, send them to 
[email protected] and/or to [email protected]. To submit your comments 
by U.S. mail, mark them to the attention of Cathy Williams, Federal 
Communications Commission, Room 1-C823, 445 12th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information about the 
information collection(s), contact Cathy Williams at (202) 418-2918 or 
send an e-mail to [email protected] and/or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    OMB Control Number: 3060-0991.
    Title: AM Measurement Data.
    Form Number: Not applicable.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for profit entities.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 1,900 respondents; 4,568 
responses.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain benefits. The statutory 
authority for this collection of information is contained in Sections 
1, 4(i) 303, 308, 309, 310, and 319 of the Communications Act of 1934, 
as amended.
    Estimated Time per Response: 0.5--25 hours.
    Frequency of Response: Recordkeeping requirement; Third party 
disclosure requirement; On occasion reporting requirement.
    Total Annual Burden: 30,795 hours.
    Total Annual Costs: $829,000.
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: There is no need for 
confidentiality with this information collection.
    Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).
    Needs and Uses: On September 24, 2008, the Commission adopted the 
Second Report and Order and Second Further Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking, In the Matter of An Inquiry Into the Commission's Policies 
and Rules Regarding AM Radio Service Directional Antenna Performance 
Verification, MM Docket No. 93-177, FCC 08-228. The Second Report and 
Order permits AM stations using directional antennas to use computer 
modeling techniques to verify AM directional antenna performance, 
thereby reducing the regulatory burden on these stations.
    Directional AM stations use antennas which suppress radiated field 
in some directions and enhance it in others. Under our current rules, 
an AM licensee operating with a directional antenna must perform a 
proof of performance to demonstrate that the antenna pattern conforms 
to the station's authorization. An AM station must perform a full proof 
to verify the pattern shape when a new directional antenna system is 
authorized. Partial proofs, which require fewer measurements, are 
occasionally necessary to show that an array continues to operate 
properly. Typically, a full proof requires measurement of the AM 
station's field strength on six to 12 critical bearings, ranging to 
distances of 15 kilometers or more from the antenna. Subsequent 
graphical analysis of proof measurements also requires substantial time 
and expense. In contrast, the computer modeling techniques authorized 
in the Second Report and Order are based on internal measurements, 
making the proof process less time-consuming and expensive for AM 
licensees.
    In order to control interference between stations and assure 
adequate community coverage, AM stations must conduct various 
engineering measurements to demonstrate that the antenna system 
operates as authorized. The following rule sections are included in 
this collection.
    The revised information collection requirements are as follows:
    47 CFR 73.61(a) states each AM station using a directional antenna 
with monitoring point locations specified in the instrument of 
authorization must make field strength measurements at the monitoring 
point locations specified in the instrument of authorization, as often 
as necessary to ensure that the field at those points does not exceed 
the values specified in the station authorization. Additionally, 
stations not having an approved sampling system must make the 
measurements once each calendar quarter at intervals not exceeding 120 
days. The provision of this paragraph supersedes any schedule specified 
on a station license issued prior to January 1, 1986. The results of 
the measurements are to be entered into the station log pursuant to the 
provisions of Sec. Sec.  73.1820.
    47 CFR 73.61(b) states if the AM license was granted on the basis 
of field strength measurements performed pursuant to Sec. 73.151(a), 
partial proof of performance measurements using the procedures 
described in Sec. 73.154 must be made whenever the licensee has reason 
to believe that the radiated field may be exceeding the limits for 
which the station was most recently authorized to operate.
    47 CFR 73.68(c) states a station having an antenna sampling system 
constructed according to the specifications given in paragraph (a) of 
this section may obtain approval of that system by submitting an 
informal letter request to the FCC in Washington, DC, Attention: Audio 
Division, Media Bureau. The request for approval, signed by the 
licensee or authorized representative, must contain sufficient 
information to show that the sampling system is in compliance with all 
requirements of paragraph (a) of this section.
    47 CFR 73.68(d) states in the event that the antenna monitor 
sampling

[[Page 60689]]

system is temporarily out of service for repair or replacement, the 
station may be operated, pending completion of repairs or replacement, 
for a period not exceeding 120 days without further authority from the 
FCC if all other operating parameters and the field monitoring point 
values are within the limits specified on the station authorization.
    47 CFR 73.68(e)(1) Special Temporary Authority (see Sec. 73.1635) 
shall be requested and obtained from the Commission's Audio Division, 
Media Bureau in Washington to operate with parameters at variance with 
licensed values pending issuance of a modified license specifying 
parameters subsequent to modification or replacement of components.
    47 CFR 73.68(e)(4) states request for modification of license shall 
be submitted to the FCC in Washington, DC, within 30 days of the date 
of sampling system modification or replacement. Such request shall 
specify the transmitter plate voltage and plate current, common point 
current, base currents and their ratios, antenna monitor phase and 
current indications, and all other data obtained pursuant to this 
paragraph.
    47 CFR 73.68(f) states if an existing sampling system is found to 
be patently of marginal construction, or where the performance of a 
directional antenna is found to be unsatisfactory, and this deficiency 
reasonably may be attributed, in whole or in part, to inadequacies in 
the antenna monitoring system, the FCC may require the reconstruction 
of the sampling system in accordance with requirements specified above.
    47 CFR 73.151(c)(1)(ix) states the orientation and distances among 
the individual antenna towers in the array shall be confirmed by a 
post-construction certification by a land surveyor (or, where permitted 
by local regulation, by an engineer) licensed or registered in the 
state or territory where the antenna system is located.
    47 CFR 73.151(c)(2)(i) describes techniques for moment method 
modeling, sampling system construction, and measurements that must be 
taken as part of a moment method proof. A description of the sampling 
system and the specified measurements must be filed with the license 
application.
    47 CFR 73.151(c)(3) states reference field strength measurement 
locations shall be established in directions of pattern minima and 
maxima. On each radial corresponding to a pattern minimum or maximum, 
there shall be at least three measurement locations. The field strength 
shall be measured at each reference location at the time of the proof 
of performance. The license application shall include the measured 
field strength values at each reference point, along with a description 
of each measurement location, including GPS coordinates and datum 
reference.
    47 CFR 73.155 states a station licensed with a directional antenna 
pattern pursuant to a proof of performance using moment method modeling 
and internal array parameters as described in Sec.  73.151(c) shall 
recertify the performance of that directional antenna pattern at least 
once within every 24 month period.
    47 CFR 73.155(c) states the results of the periodic directional 
antenna performance recertification measurements shall be retained in 
the station's public inspection file. The existing information 
collection requirements for this information collection are as follows:
    47 CFR Section 73.54(c) requires that AM licensees file a letter 
notification with the FCC when determining power by the direct method. 
In addition, Section 73.54(c) requires that background information 
regarding antenna resistance measurement data for AM stations must be 
kept on file at the station.
    47 CFR Section 73.54(d) requires AM stations using direct reading 
power meters to either submit the information required by (c) or submit 
a statement indicating that such a meter is being used.
    47 CFR Section 73.61(c) requires a station may be directed to make 
a partial proof of performance by the FCC whenever there is an 
indication that the antenna is not operating as authorized.
    47 CFR Section 73.62(b) requires an AM station with a directional 
antenna system to measure and log every monitoring point at least once 
for each mode of directional operation within 24 hours of detection of 
variance of operating parameters from allowed tolerances.
    47 CFR Section 73.69(c) requires AM station licensees with 
directional antennas to file an informal request to operate without 
required monitors with the Media Bureau in Washington, D.C., when 
conditions beyond the control of the licensee prevent the restoration 
of an antenna monitor to service within a 120 day period. This request 
is filed in conjunction with Section 73.3549.
    47 CFR Section 73.69(d)(1) requires that AM licensees with 
directional antennas request to obtain temporary authority to operate 
with parameters at variance with licensed values when an authorized 
antenna monitor is replaced pending issuance of a modified license 
specifying new parameters.
    47 CFR Section 73.69(d)(5) requires AM licensees with directional 
antennas to submit an informal request for modification of license to 
the FCC within 30 days of the date of antenna monitor replacement.
    47 CFR Section 73.154 requires the result of the most recent 
partial proof of performance measurements and analysis to be retained 
in the station records and made available to the FCC upon request. Maps 
showing new measurement points shall be associated with the partial 
proof in the station's records and shall be made available to the FCC 
upon request.
    47 CFR Section 73.158(b) requires a licensee of an AM station using 
a directional antenna system to file a request for a corrected station 
license when the description of monitoring point in relation to nearby 
landmarks as shown on the station license is no longer correct due to 
road or building construction or other changes. A copy of the 
monitoring point description must be posted with the existing station 
license.
    47 CFR Section 73.3538(b) requires a broadcast station to file an 
informal application to modify or discontinue the obstruction marking 
or lighting of an antenna supporting structure.
    47 CFR Section 73.3549 requires licensees to file with the FCC 
requests for extensions of authority to operate without required 
monitors, transmission system indicating instruments, or encoders and 
decoders for monitoring and generating the Emergency Alert System 
codes. Such requests must contain information as to when and what steps 
were taken to repair or replace the defective equipment and a brief 
description of the alternative procedures being used while the 
equipment is out of service.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E8-24316 Filed 10-10-08; 8:45 am]
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