[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 195 (Friday, October 7, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69816-69817]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-24275]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[OMB 3060-1211]


Information Collection Requirement Being Submitted to the Office 
of Management and Budget for Emergency Review and Approval

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, 
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. 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 collection burden on 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 control number. No person shall be 
subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of 
information subject to the PRA that does not display a valid Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) control number.

DATES: Written PRA comments should be submitted on or before October 
28, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Direct all PRA comments to Nicholas A. Fraser, OMB, via 
email [email protected]; and to Cathy Williams, FCC, via 
email [email protected] and to [email protected]. Include in the 
comments the Title as shown in the ``Supplementary Information'' 
section below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information about the 
information collection, contact Cathy Williams at (202) 418-2918.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission is requesting emergency OMB 
processing of the information collection requirement(s) contained in 
this notice and has requested OMB approval no later than 26 days after 
the collection is received at OMB. To view a copy of this information 
collection request (ICR) submitted to OMB: (1) Go to the Web page 
http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain, (2) look for the section of 
the Web page called ``Currently Under Review,'' (3) click on the 
downward-pointing arrow in the ``Select Agency'' box below the 
``Currently Under Review'' heading, (4) select ``Federal Communications 
Commission'' from the list of agencies presented in the ``Select 
Agency'' box, (5) click the ``Submit'' button to the right of the 
``Select Agency'' box, (6) when the list of FCC ICRs currently under 
review appears, look for the Title of this ICR and then click on the 
ICR Reference Number. A copy of the FCC submission to OMB will be 
displayed.
    OMB Control Number: 3060-1211.
    Title: Sections 96.17; 96.21; 96.23; 96.33; 96.35; 96.39; 96.41; 
96.43; 96.45; 96.51; 96.57; 96.59; 96.61; 96.63; 96.67,

[[Page 69817]]

Commercial Operations in the 3550-3650 MHz Band.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities, not-for-profit 
institutions, and state, local or tribal governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents and Responses: 110,782 respondents 
and 146,432 responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 0.25-1 hour.
    Frequency of Response: One time and on occasion reporting 
requirements; other reporting requirements--as needed basis for the 
equipment safety certification, and consistently (likely daily) 
responses automated via the device.
    Obligation To Respond: Statutory authority for this currently 
approved information collection is contained in Sections 1, 2, 4(i), 
4(j), 5(c), 302(a), 303, 304, 307(e), and 316 of the Communications Act 
of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 151, 152, 154(i), 154(j), 155(c), 
302(a), 303, 304, 307(e), and 316. Statutory authority for the revised 
information collection is contained in Sections 1, 2, 4(i), 4(j), 5(c), 
302(a), 303, 304, 307(e), and 316 of the Communications Act of 1934, as 
amended, 47 U.S.C. 151, 152, 154(i), 154(j), 155(c), 302(a), 303, 304, 
307(e), and 316.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 52,977 hours.
    Total Annual Costs: $8,818,100.
    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: In the 3.5 GHz Order, the Commission adopted rules 
to protect existing licensees' registered base stations in the 3650-
3700 MHz band from harmful interference from Citizens Broadband Radio 
Service users for a fixed transition period. Pursuant to Section 
96.21(a)(1) and (2) of the Commission's rules, during the transition 
period, existing licensees will receive protection for operations that 
are within their Grandfathered Wireless Protection Zone, provided that: 
(1) The stations were registered in the Commission's Universal 
Licensing System (ULS) on or before April 17, 2015; and (2) as of April 
17, 2016 the stations were constructed, in service, and fully compliant 
with the relevant operating rules.
    The 3.5 GHz Order established rules for commercial use of 150 
megahertz in the 3.5 GHz Band and creates a new Citizens Broadband 
Radio Service. The rules create additional capacity for wireless 
broadband by adopting a new approach to spectrum management to 
facilitate more intensive spectrum sharing between commercial and 
federal users and among multiple tiers of commercial users. Freeing 
additional spectrum is one of the Commission's core spectrum policy 
goals and the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology 
recommended that this band would be particularly well suited for 
spectrum sharing.
    Before the release of the 3.5 GHz Order, the band segment was 
currently reserved for use by Department of Defense (DoD) radar systems 
and commercial fixed satellite service (FSS) earth stations (in the 
3600-3650 MHz portion of the band), as well as Grandfathered Wireless 
Broadband Radio Services. The 3.5 GHz Order established a roadmap for 
making the entirety of the 3.5 GHz band available for commercial use in 
a phased manner. This sharing arrangement is part of a broader three-
tiered sharing framework enabled by a Spectrum Access System (SAS). The 
SAS incorporates a dynamic spectrum database and serves as an advanced, 
highly automated frequency coordinator across the band.
    Incumbent users represent the highest tier in this framework and 
receive interference protection from Citizens Broadband Radio Service 
users. Protected incumbents include the federal operations and FSS 
earth stations described above and, for a finite period, Grandfathered 
Wireless Broadband Licensees. Non-federal incumbents must register the 
parameters of their operations with the Commission and/or an SAS to 
receive protection from Citizens Broadband Radio Service users.
    On August 19, 2016, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) 
and Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) released a Public Notice 
adopting the final methodology for determining Grandfathered Wireless 
Protection Zones for existing licensees in the 3650-3700 MHz band, 
establishing a baseline contour used to protect these areas. See 47 CFR 
96.3 (Grandfathered Wireless Protection Zone), Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau and Office of Engineering and Technology 
Announce Methodology for Determining the Protected Contours for 
Grandfathered 3650-3700 MHz Licensees, GN Docket No. 12-354, Public 
Notice, FCC 16-946 (Aug. 19, 2016). The Public Notice reiterated that 
licensees are required to certify which of their base stations were 
constructed, in service, and in full compliance with the rules by April 
17, 2016. At the same time that licensees certify to the above they 
must identify whether or not that base station has unregistered 
Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) and the distance to the furthest 
registered CPE for each sector.
    The Commission's rules establishing registration and construction 
requirements for Grandfathered Wireless Broadband Licensees are 
intended to distinguish between ``real'' networks that that have 
received substantial investment and provide socially productive service 
from ``paper networks'' whose only effect is to restrict spectrum 
accessible by the Citizens Broadband Radio Service. The revised 
information collection under sections 96.21(a)(1) and (2) will help the 
Commission and the SASs protect these existing networks from 
interference during the transition period while promoting spectral 
access and efficiency by new users in the band and is an important step 
in making this band available for commercial use. Further, the 
information will allow the licensees that have invested in such 
networks to receive interference protection as afforded by the rules.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary. Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-24275 Filed 10-6-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6712-01-P