[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 21 (Tuesday, February 2, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 5380-5381]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-01321]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 73

[MB Docket No. 13-249; FCC 15-142]


Revitalization of the AM Radio Service

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule; announcement of effective date.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Commission announces that the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) approved on January 19, 2016, for a period 
for three years, an information collection for FCC Form 338, AM Station 
Modulation Dependent Carrier Level (MDCL) Notification Form and 47 CFR 
73.1560 contained in the Report and Order, FCC 15-142. This document is 
consistent with the Report and Order, which stated that the Commission 
would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing OMB 
approval and the effective date of the requirements.

DATES: The amendment to 47 CFR 73.1560 in the final rule published at 
81 FR 2751, January 19, 2016, is effective on March 3, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information contact 
Cathy Williams, [email protected], (202) 418-2918.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document announces that, on January 19, 
2016, OMB approved the information collection requirements for FCC Form 
338, AM Station Modulation Dependent Carrier Level (MDCL) Notification 
Form and 47 CFR 73.1560, published at 81 FR2751 on January 19, 2016. 
The OMB Control Number is 3060-1194. The Commission publishes this 
document as an announcement of the effective date of the requirements. 
If you have any comments on the burden estimates listed below, or how 
the Commission can improve the collections and reduce any burdens 
caused thereby, please contact Cathy Williams, Federal Communications 
Commission, Room 1-C823, 445 12th Street SW., Washington, DC 20554. 
Please include the OMB Control Number, 3060-1194, in your 
correspondence. The Commission will also accept your comments via the 
Internet if you send them to [email protected].
    To request materials in accessible formats for people with 
disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), 
send an email to [email protected] or call the Consumer and Governmental 
Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-0432 (TTY).

Synopsis

    As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3507), the FCC is notifying the public that it received OMB approval on 
January 19, 2016, for the information collection requirements contained 
in the information collection 3060-1194.
    Under 5 CFR 1320, an agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection 
of information unless it displays a current, 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 
that does not display a current, valid OMB Control Number. The OMB 
Control Number is 3060-1194. The foregoing document is required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13, October 1, 1995, 
and 44 U.S.C. 3507. The total annual reporting burdens and costs for 
the respondents are as follows:
    OMB Control Number: 3060-1194.
    OMB Approval Date: January 19, 2016.
    OMB Expiration Date: January 31, 2019.
    Title: AM Station Modulation Dependent Carrier Level (MDCL) 
Notification Form; FCC Form 338.
    Form Number: FCC Form 338.
    Type of Review: New information collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities; Not-for-profit 
institutions.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 100 respondents and 100 
responses.
    Estimated Hours per Response: 1 hour.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement.
    Total Annual Burden: 100 hours.
    Total Annual Costs: None.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The 
statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 
Sections 154(i), 303, 310 and 533 of the Communications Act of 1934, as 
amended.
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: There is no need for 
confidentiality required with this collection of information.
    Privacy Impact Assessment: No impact(s).
    Needs and Uses: On October 31, 2013, the Commission released the 
Notice of Proposed Rule Making, Revitalization of the AM Radio Service 
(NPRM), FCC 13-139, MB Docket No. 13-249. In the NPRM, the Commission 
recognized that in September 2011, the Media Bureau (Bureau) had 
released an MDCL Public Notice, in which it stated that it would permit 
AM stations, by rule waiver or experimental authorization, to use 
transmitter control techniques that vary either the carrier power level 
or both the carrier and sideband power levels as a function of the 
modulation level. This allows AM licensees to reduce power consumption 
while maintaining audio quality and their licensed station

[[Page 5381]]

coverage areas. These techniques are known as Modulation Dependent 
Carrier Level (MDCL) control technologies.
    There are two basic types of MDCL control technologies. In one 
type, the carrier power is reduced at low modulation levels and 
increased at higher modulation levels. In the other type, there is full 
carrier power at low modulation levels and reduced carrier power and 
sideband powers at higher modulation levels. Use of any of these MDCL 
control technologies reduces the station's antenna input power to 
levels not permitted by 47 CFR 73.1560(a).
    The MDCL Public Notice permitted AM station licensees wanting to 
use MDCL control technologies to seek either a permanent waiver of 47 
CFR 73.1560(a) for those licensees already certain of the particular 
MDCL control technology to be used, or an experimental authorization 
pursuant to 47 CFR 73.1510 for those licensees wishing to determine 
which of the MDCL control technologies would result in maximum cost 
savings and minimum effects on the station's coverage area and audio 
quality. Since release of the MDCL Public Notice, 33 permanent waiver 
requests and 20 experimental requests authorizing use of MDCL control 
technologies have been granted by the Bureau.
    AM station licensees using MDCL control technologies have reported 
significant savings on electrical power costs and few, if any, 
perceptible effects on station coverage area and audio quality. 
Accordingly, the NPRM tentatively concluded that use of MDCL control 
technologies reduces AM broadcasters' operating costs while maintaining 
a station's current level of service to the public, without 
interference to other stations. The Commission therefore, proposed 
wider implementation of MDCL control technologies by amending 47 CFR 
73.1560(a), to provide that an AM station may commence operation using 
MDCL control technology without prior Commission authority, provided 
that the AM station licensee notifies the Commission of the station's 
MDCL control operation within 10 days after commencement of such 
operation using the Bureau's Consolidated Database System (CDBS). The 
NPRM solicited comments on the proposed rule change, as well as on the 
potential adverse effects of allowing AM stations to commence MDCL 
control technology operation without prior Commission authority. The 
NPRM also sought comment as to the potential adverse effects, if any, 
of MDCL control technology implementation on other AM stations.
    AM broadcasters are allowed to implement MDCL technologies without 
prior authorization, by electronic notification within 10 days of 
commencing MDCL operations, the Commission created FCC Form 338, AM 
Station Modulation Dependent Carrier Level (MDCL) Notification. In 
addition to the standard general contact information, FCC Form 338 
solicits minimal technical data, as well as the date that MDCL control 
operation commenced.
    The following rule section is also covered by this information 
collection:
    47 CFR 73.1560(a)(1) specifies the limits on antenna input power 
for AM stations. AM stations using MDCL control technologies are not 
required to adhere to these operating power parameters. AM stations 
may, without prior Commission authority, commence MDCL control 
technology use, provided that within ten days after commencing such 
operation, the licensee submits an electronic notification of 
commencement of MDCL operation using FCC Form 338. OMB preapproved the 
information collection requirements contained in FCC 13-139 on January 
28, 2014. The final information collection requirements were adopted as 
proposed in FCC 15-142. OMB approved the final information collection 
requirements on January 19, 2016.

    Federal Communications Commission.
Gloria J. Miles,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-01321 Filed 2-1-16; 8:45 am]
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