[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 164 (Thursday, August 23, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51024-51025]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-20710]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal 
Communications Commission

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden 
and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3501-3520), the Federal Communications Commission invites the general 
public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment 
on the following information collection(s). Comments are requested 
concerning: 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; the 
accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; ways to enhance the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; 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; and ways to further reduce the 
information burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 
employees.
    The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. No person 
shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection 
of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) that does 
not display a valid OMB control number.

DATES: Written Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) comments should be 
submitted on or before October 22, 2012. If you anticipate that you 
will be submitting PRA comments, but find it difficult to do so within 
the period of time allowed by this notice, you should advise the FCC 
contact listed below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Submit your PRA comments to Judith B. Herman, Federal 
Communications Commission, via the Internet at [email protected]. 
To submit your PRA comments by email send them to: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Judith B. Herman, Office of Managing 
Director, (202) 418-0214.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

    OMB Control Number: 3060-0718.
    Title: Part 101 Rule Sections Governing the Terrestrial Microwave 
Fixed Radio Service.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities, not-for-profit 
institutions, federal government and state, local or tribal government.
    Number of Respondents: 27,342 respondents; 27,342 responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 1.2962475 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion and 10 year reporting 
requirements, recordkeeping requirement and third party disclosure 
requirement.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. 
Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47 
U.S.C. Sections 151, 154(i), 301, 303(f), 303(g), 303(r), 307, 308, 
309, 310 and 316.
    Total Annual Burden: 35,442 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: $810,000.
    Privacy Impact Assessment: N/A.
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: No questions of a 
confidential nature are asked.
    Needs and Uses: The Commission is seeking OMB approval for revision 
of this information collection. There is a minor change to the 
Commission's previous burden estimates. The Commission is increasing 
the hourly burden by 200 hours and the annual cost by $50,000.
    On August 3, 2012, the FCC adopted and released a Backhaul Second 
Report and Order, FCC 12-87, WT Docket No. 10-153, adopting a Rural 
Microwave Flexibility Policy directing the Commission's Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau to favorably consider waivers of the payload 
capacity requirements if Fixed Service (FS) applicants demonstrate 
compliance with certain criteria, which is adding new reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements to this information collection.
    In order to accommodate the consideration of waivers of the payload 
capacity of FS applicants pursuant to the Rural Microwave Flexibility 
Policy requirement, there is an increase in the total annual burden 
hours from 35,242 to 35,442 hours; an increase in the number of 
respondents and responses from 27,292 to 27,342; and an annual

[[Page 51025]]

cost increase from $760,000 to $810,000 because of the new respondents, 
i.e., Fixed Service (FS) operators who choose to file under the Rural 
Microwave Flexibility Policy. The Policy directs the Bureau to 
favorably consider waivers of the requirements for payload capacity of 
equipment if the applicants demonstrate equipment compliance with the 
following criteria:
     The interference environment would allow the applicant to 
use a less stringent Category B antenna (although the applicant could 
choose to sue a higher performance Category A antenna);
     The applicant specifically acknowledges its duty to 
upgrade to a Category A antenna and come into compliance with the 
applicable efficiency standard if necessary to resolve an interference 
conflict with a current or future microwave link pursuant to 47 CFR 
101.115(c);
     The applicant uses equipment that is capable of readily 
being upgraded to comply with the applicable payload capacity 
requirement, and provide a certification in its application that its 
equipment complies with this requirement;
     Each end of the link is located in a rural area (county or 
equivalent having a population density of 100 persons per square mile 
or less);
     Each end of the link is in a county with a low density of 
links in the 4, 6, 11, 18 and 23 GHz bands;
     Neither end of the link is contained within a recognized 
antenna farm; and
     The applicant describes its proposed service and explains 
how relief from the efficiency standards will facilitate providing that 
service (e.g., by eliminating the need for an intermediate hop) as well 
as the steps needed to come into compliance should an interference 
conflict emerge.
    There is no change to the existing third party disclosure 
requirements.
    Additionally, Part 101 rule sections requires various information 
to be reported to the Commission; coordinated with third parties; 
posting requirements; notification requirements to the public; and 
recordkeeping requirements maintained by the respondent to determine 
the technical, legal and other qualifications of applications to 
operate a station in the public and private operational fixed services.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Office of Managing Director.
[FR Doc. 2012-20710 Filed 8-22-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P