[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 117 (Monday, June 18, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28228-28231]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-13022]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[OMB 3060-0207, OMB 3060-0233]


Information Collections Being Reviewed by the Federal 
Communications Commission

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, the 
Federal Communications Commission (FCC or the Commission) invites the 
general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to 
comment on the following information collection.

[[Page 28229]]

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 August 17, 
2018. 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: Direct all PRA comments to Nicole Ongele, FCC, via email 
[email protected] and to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information about the 
information collection, contact Nicole Ongele at (202) 418-2991.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 
(FCC or Commission) invites the general public and other Federal 
agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following 
information collections. 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.
    OMB Control Number: 3060-0207.
    Title: Part 11--Emergency Alert System (EAS), Order, FCC 16-32.
    Form No.: N/A.
    Type of Review: Revision of currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-profit 
institutions; State, Local, or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 63,084 respondents; 3,588,240 
responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 0.017 hours-100 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement, annual 
reporting requirement, recordkeeping requirement and third-party 
disclosure requirements.
    Obligation to Respond: Mandatory. Statutory authority for this 
information collection is contained in 47 U.S.C. 154(i) and 606 of the 
Communications Act of 1934, as amended.
    Total Annual Burden: 140,606 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: No Cost.
    Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No Impact(s).
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: State EAS Plan data and any 
aggregation of such data will have the same level of confidentiality as 
data filed in the ETRS, i.e., the Commission will share individual and 
aggregated data on a confidential basis with other federal agencies and 
state governmental emergency management agencies that have 
confidentiality protection at least equal to that provided by the 
Freedom of Information Act.
    Needs and Uses: Part 11 contains rules and regulations addressing 
the nation's Emergency Alert System (EAS). The Emergency Alert System 
(EAS) provides the President with the capability to provide immediate 
communications and information to the general public during periods of 
national emergency over broadcast television and radio, cable, direct 
broadcast radio and other EAS Participants, as defined in Section 
11.11(a) of the Commission's rules. The EAS also provides state and 
local governments and the National Weather Service with the capability 
to provide immediate communications and information to the public 
concerning emergency situations posing a threat to life and property. 
The manner in which the EAS delivers alerts to the public is set forth 
in State EAS Plans, which are drafted by State Emergency Communications 
Committees (SECCs), the entities required to submit State EAS Plans to 
the Commission's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) 
under Section 11.21 of the Commission's rules.
    In this Order, the Commission adopts a rule obligating SECCs to 
file State EAS Plans electronically through the new Alert Reporting 
System (ARS), rather than in paper-based filings, the method currently 
approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for this 
collection. For the required electronic filing, the Commission has 
developed a proposed reporting template, attached as Appendix D to the 
April 10, 2018 Order, and seeks Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
approval of the proposed template as a modification of a previously 
approved information collection. The proposed template will decrease 
the paperwork burden associated with this collection over time, and 
there is no change to any other reporting obligation in this 
collection. The information sought in this collection is necessary and 
vital to the effective electronic filing of State EAS Plans in the ARS, 
which will replace paper-based filing requirements, minimize the 
burdens on SECCs, and allow the Commission, the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency (FEMA), and other authorized entities to better 
access and use up-to-date information about the EAS, thus increasing 
its value as a tool to protect life and property for all Americans.
    The following information collections contained in Part 11 may be 
impacted by this rule amendment: To establish a mandatory electronic 
test reporting system that EAS participants must utilize to file 
identifying and test result data as part of their participation in the 
national EAS test. The Commission noted that this electronic submission 
system would impose a lesser burden on EAS test participants because 
they could input electronically (via a web-based interface) the same 
information into a confidential database that the Commission would use 
to monitor and assess the test. This information would include 
identifying information such as station call letters, license 
identification number, geographic coordinates, EAS designation (Local 
Primary, National Primary, etc), EAS monitoring assignment, as well as 
a 24/7 emergency contact for the EAS Participant. The only difference, 
other than the electronic nature of the filing, would be the timing of 
the collections. Test participants would submit the identifying data.
    These rules may impact currently existing paperwork collection 
requirements as discussed below.
    Section 11.15 requires a copy of the EAS operating handbook to be 
located at normal duty positions or EAS

[[Page 28230]]

equipment locations when an operator is required to be on duty. The 
handbook must be immediately available to staff responsible for 
authenticating messages and initiating actions. Copies of the handbook 
are posted on the Commission's website and can be obtained at https://www.fcc.gov/general/emergency-alert-system-eas.
    Section 11.21 requires that state and local EAS plans be reviewed 
and approved by the Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security, prior 
to implementation to ensure that they are consistent with national 
plans, FCC regulations, and EAS operation.
    Section 11.34 requires manufacturers to include instructions and 
information on how to install, operate and program an EAS Encoder, EAS 
Decoder, or combined unit and a list of all State and county FIPS 
numbers with each unit sold or marketed in the U.S. This requirement 
would be done in the normal course of doing business.
    All EAS Participants are responsible for ensuring that EAS 
Encoders/Decoders and Attention Signal generating and receiving 
equipment used as part of the EAS are installed so that the monitoring 
and transmitting functions are available during the times the stations/
systems are in operation. EAS Participants must determine the cause of 
any failure to receive the required tests or activations. When the EAS 
is not operating properly, section 11.35 requires appropriate entries 
be made in the station/system logs indicating why any tests were not 
received for all broadcast streams and cable systems. All other EAS 
Participants must also keep record indicating reasons why any tests 
were not received and these records must be retained for two years, 
maintained at the EAS Participant's headquarters, and made available 
for public inspection upon reasonable request.
    Section 11.35 also requires that entries be made in the station/
system logs, and records of other EAS Participants, when the EAS 
Encoder/Decoder becomes defective showing the date and time the 
equipment was removed and restored to service. If replacement of 
defective equipment is not completed within 60 days, an informal 
request shall be submitted to the District Director of the FCC field 
office. For DBS and SDARS providers, this informal request shall be 
submitted to the District Director of the FCC field office serving the 
area where their headquarters is located. This request must explain 
what steps have been taken to repair or replace the defective 
equipment, the alternative procedures being used while the defective 
equipment is out of service and when the defective equipment will be 
repaired or replaced.
    Section 11.41 allows all EAS Participants to submit a written 
request to the FCC asking to be a Non-Participating National source. In 
addition, a Non-Participating National source that wants to become a 
Participating National source must submit a written request to the FCC.
    Section 11.42 allows a communications common carrier to participate 
in the national level EAS, without charge. A communications common 
carrier rendering free service is required to file with the FCC, on or 
before July 31st and January 31st of each year, reports covering the 
six months ending on June 30th and December 31st respectively. These 
reports shall state what free service was rendered under this rule and 
the charges in dollars which would have accrued to the carrier for this 
service if charges had been collected at the published tariff rates if 
such carriers are required to file tariffs.
    Section 11.43 allows entities to voluntarily participate in the 
national level EAS after submission of a written request to the Chief, 
Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau.
    Section 11.51 requires that EAS equipment be operational, ready to 
monitor, transmit and receive EAS electronic signals. Cable and 
wireless cable systems, both analog and digital, can elect not to 
interrupt EAS messages from broadcast stations based upon a written 
agreement between all concerned. Furthermore, cable and wireless cable 
systems, both analog and digital, can elect not to interrupt the 
programming of a broadcast station carrying news or weather-related 
emergency information with state and local EAS messages based upon a 
written agreement between all concerned. These written agreements are 
contained in state and local franchise agreements.
    Section 11.51 also requires all actions to be logged when manual 
interruption of programming and transmission of EAS messages is used. 
Estimates for testing are included in the estimate for section 11.61.
    Section 11.52 requires all EAS Participants to monitor two EAS 
sources. If the required EAS sources cannot be received, alternate 
arrangements or a waiver may be obtained by written request to the 
FCC's EAS office. In an emergency, a waiver may be issued over the 
telephone with a follow-up letter to confirm temporary or permanent 
reassignment. In addition, EAS Participants are required to interrupt 
normal programming either automatically or manually when they receive 
an EAS message in which the header code contains the event codes for 
emergency action notification, emergency action termination and 
required monthly test for their state or state/county location.
    Section 11.54 requires EAS Participants to enter into their logs/
records the time of receipt of an emergency alert notice and an 
emergency action termination messages during a national level 
emergency.
    Section 11.55 requires EAS participants to monitor their emergency 
alert system upon receipt of a state or local area EAS message. 
Stations/systems must also enter into their logs/records the time of 
receipt of an emergency alert message. If an SDARS licensee or DBS 
provider is unable to receive and transmit state and local EAS 
messages, it must inform its subscribers, on its website, and in 
writing on an annual basis of which channels are and are not capable of 
supplying state and local EAS messages.
    Section 11.61 requires EAS Participants to conduct periodic EAS 
tests. Tests of the EAS header codes, attention signal, test script and 
EOM code are required to be performed monthly. Tests of the EAS header 
codes and end of message codes are made at least once a week. National 
primary sources shall participate in tests as appropriate. DBS 
providers, Class D non-commercial educational FM stations and low power 
TV stations are not required to transmit this test but must log receipt 
of the test. The FCC may request a report of the tests of the national 
primary sources. In addition, entries must be made in stations/systems 
logs/records as previously stated.
    This information is used by FCC staff as part of routine 
inspections of EAS Participants. Accurate recordkeeping of this data is 
vital in determining the location and nature of possible equipment 
failure on the part of the transmitting or receiving entity. 
Furthermore, since the national level EAS is solely for the President's 
use, its proper operation must be assured.
    OMB Control Number: 3060-0233.
    Title: Part 54--High-Cost Loop Support Reporting to National 
Exchange Carrier Association (NECA).
    Form Number(s): FCC Form 507, FCC Form 508 and FCC Form 509.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 1,095 respondents; 3,616 
responses.

[[Page 28231]]

    Estimated Time per Response: 1-22 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion and annual reporting 
requirements, recordkeeping requirement.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. 
Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47 
U.S.C. 151-154, 214, 218-220, 221(c), 254, and 303(r).
    Total Annual Burden: 41,070 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: No Cost. Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No 
impact(s).
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: No assurance of 
confidentiality has been given regarding the information. However, 
respondents may request materials or information submitted to the 
Commission be withheld from public inspection under 47 CFR 0.459 of the 
FCC's rules.
    Needs and Uses: In order to determine which carriers are entitled 
to universal service support, all rate-of-return regulated (rate-of-
return) incumbent local exchange carriers (LECs) must provide the 
National Exchange Carrier Association (NECA) with the loop cost and 
loop count data required by section 54.1305 for each of its study areas 
and, if applicable, for each wire center as that term is defined in 47 
CFR part 54. See 47 CFR 54.1305 and 54.5. The loop cost and loop count 
information is to be filed annually with NECA by July 31st of each 
year, and may be updated occasionally pursuant to section 54.1306. See 
47 CFR 54.1306. Pursuant to section 54.1307, the information filed on 
July 31st of each year will be used to calculate universal service 
support for each study area and is filed by NECA with the Commission on 
October 1 of each year. See 47 CFR 54.1307. An incumbent LEC is defined 
as a carrier that meets the definition of ``incumbent local exchange 
carrier'' in section 51.5 of the Commission's rules. See 47 CFR 51.5.
    In March 2016, the Commission adopted the Rate-of-Return Reform 
Order to continue modernizing the universal service support mechanisms 
for rate-of-return carriers. Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket No. 
10-90 et al., Report and Order, Order and Order on Reconsideration and 
Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 31 FCC Rcd 3087 (2016) (Rate-of-
Return Reform Order and Further Notice). The Rate-of-Return Reform 
Order replaces the Interstate Common Line Support (ICLS) mechanism with 
the Connect America Fund--Broadband Loop Support (CAF-BLS) mechanism. 
While ICLS supported only lines used to provide traditional voice 
service (including voice service bundled with broadband service), CAF-
BLS also supports consumer broadband-only loops. FCC Forms 507, 508, 
and 509 include additional line counts, forecasted cost and revenues, 
and actual cost and revenue data associated with consumer broadband-
only loops necessary for the calculation of CAF-BLS. We propose to move 
the requirements associated with FCC Form 507, FCC Form 508, FCC Form 
509 under OMB Control Number 3060-0986 into this collection.
    The Commission therefore proposes to revise this information 
collection. Any increased burdens are associated with the moving of 
these requirements and forms into this information collection.

Federal Communications Commission.
Katura Jackson,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-13022 Filed 6-15-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6712-01-P