[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 245 (Friday, December 20, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 70037-70040]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-27390]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 73

[MB Docket Nos. 17-105, 18-202, FCC 19-67; FRS 16308]


Children's Television Programming Rules

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) has approved, for a period of three years, 
the information collections associated with the rules adopted in the 
Report and Order in MB Docket Nos. 18-202 and 17-105, FCC 19-67, In the 
Matter of Children's Television Programming Rules; Modernization of 
Media Regulation Initiative, which stated that the Commission would 
publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective 
date of those rules.

DATES: The amendments to 47 CFR 73.671(c)(5) and (7) and (e)(1) and (2) 
(amendatory instruction 3), 73.673 (amendatory instruction 4), and 
73.3526(e)(11)(ii) and (iii) (amendatory instruction 5) published at 84 
FR 41917, August 16, 2019, are effective January 21, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathy Berthot, [email protected], 
Media Bureau, Policy Division, at (202) 418-7454, or email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document announces that OMB approved 
the information collection requirements in Sec. Sec.  73.671(c)(5) and 
(7) and (e)(1) and (2), 73.673, and

[[Page 70038]]

73.3526(e)(11)(ii) and (iii) on December 3, 2019 and December 5, 2019. 
These rules were modified in the Report and Order in MB Docket Nos. 18-
202 and 17-105, FCC 19-67, In the Matter of Children's Television 
Programming Rules; Modernization of Media Regulation Initiative, 
published 84 FR 41917, August 16, 2019. The Commission publishes this 
document as an announcement of the compliance date of the rules. The 
other rule amendments adopted in the Report and Order, which did not 
require OMB approval, became effective on September 16, 2019.
    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, 
regarding OMB Control Numbers 3060-0214, 3060-0316, 3060-0750, and 
3060-1065. Please include the applicable OMB Control Number(s) in your 
correspondence. The Commission will also accept your comments via email 
at [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 final OMB 
approval on December 3, 2019 and December 5, 2019, for the information 
collection requirements contained in Sec. Sec.  73.671(c)(5) and (7) 
and (e)(1) and (2), 73.673, and 73.3526(e)(11)(ii) and (iii). Under 5 
CFR part 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 Numbers for the information collection requirements in these 
rules are 3060-0214, 3060-0316, 3060-0750, and 3060-1065.
    The foregoing notice 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: 3060-0214.
    OMB Approval Date: December 3, 2019.
    OMB Expiration Date: December 31, 2022.
    Title: Sections 73.3526 and 73.3527, Local Public Inspection Files; 
Sections 73.1212, 76.1701 and 73.1943, Political Files.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities; Not for profit 
institutions; State, Local or Tribal government; Individuals or 
households.
    Number of Respondents: 23,984 respondents; 62,839 responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 1-52 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement, 
Recordkeeping requirement, Third party disclosure requirement.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. 
Statutory authority for these collections is contained in Sections 151, 
152, 154(i), 303, 307 and 308 of the Communications Act of 1934, as 
amended.
    Total Annual Burden: 2,043,805 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: None.
    Privacy Impact Assessment: The Commission prepared a system of 
records notice (SORN), FCC/MB-2, ``Broadcast Station Public Inspection 
Files,'' that covers the PII contained in the broadcast station public 
inspection files located on the Commission's website. The Commission 
will revise appropriate privacy requirements as necessary to include 
any entities and information added to the online public file in this 
proceeding.
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: Most of the documents 
comprising the public file consist of materials that are not of a 
confidential nature. Respondents complying with the information 
collection requirements may request that the information they submit be 
withheld from disclosure. If confidentiality is requested, such 
requests will be processed in accordance with the Commission's rules, 
47 CFR 0.459.
    In addition, the Commission has adopted provisions that permit 
respondents subject to the information collection requirement for 
Shared Service Agreements to redact confidential or proprietary 
information from their disclosures
    Needs and Uses: On July 10, 2019, the Commission adopted a Report 
and Order in MB Docket Nos. 18-202 and 17-105, FCC 19-67, In the Matter 
of Children's Television Programming Rules; Modernization of Media 
Regulation Initiative, which modernizes the children's television 
programming rules in light of changes to the media landscape that have 
occurred since the rules were first adopted. The Report and Order 
revises the following information collection requirements:
    Pursuant to 47 CFR 73.3526(e)(11)(ii), commercial TV and Class A TV 
broadcast stations must maintain records sufficient to permit 
substantiation of the station's certification, in its license renewal 
application, of compliance with the commercial limits on children's 
programming established in 47 U.S.C. Section 303a and 47 CFR 73.670. In 
the Report and Order, the Commission revises this rule to permit these 
stations to place such records in their public files annually rather 
than quarterly and to permit the filing of these records within 30 days 
after the end of the calendar year. The Commission also revises 47 CFR 
73.3526(e)(11)(iii) to require commercial television stations to place 
in their public files the Children's Television Programming Report 
(Report) (FCC Form 2100 Schedule H) on an annual rather than quarterly 
basis, within 30 days after the end of the calendar year and to 
eliminate the requirement to publicize the existence and location of 
the Report.
    All other information collection requirements contained under 47 
CFR 73.1212, 73.3526, 73.3527, 73.1943, and 76.1701 are still a part of 
the information collection and remain unchanged since last approved by 
OMB.

    OMB Control Number: 3060-0316.
    OMB Approval Date: December 3, 2019.
    OMB Expiration Date: December 31, 2022.
    Title: 47 CFR 76.5, Definitions, 76.1700, Records to Be Maintained 
Locally by Cable System Operators; 76.1702, Equal Employment 
Opportunity; 76.1703, Commercial Records on Children's Programs; 
76.1707, Leased Access; 76.1711, Emergency Alert System (EAS) Tests and 
Activation.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.
    Number of Respondents: 3,000 respondents/3,000 responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 14 hours.

[[Page 70039]]

    Frequency of Response: Recordkeeping requirements.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The 
statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 
sections 151, 152, 153, 154, 301, 302, 302a, 303, 303a, 307, 308, 309, 
312, 315, 317, 325, 339, 340, 341, 503, 521, 522, 531, 532, 534, 535, 
536, 537, 543, 544, 544a, 545, 548, 549, 552, 554, 556, 558, 560, 561, 
571, 572, 573 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.
    Total Annual Burden: 42,000 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: None.
    Privacy Impact Assessment: No impacts.
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: There is no need for 
confidentiality with this collection of information.
    Needs and Uses: On July 10, 2019, the Commission adopted a Report 
and Order in MB Docket Nos. 18-202 and 17-105, FCC 19-67, In the Matter 
of Children's Television Programming Rules; Modernization of Media 
Regulation Initiative, which modernizes the children's television 
programming rules in light of changes to the media landscape that have 
occurred since the rules were first adopted. The Report and Order 
revises the following information collection requirements:
    Pursuant to 47 CFR 76.1703, cable operators that air children's 
programming must maintain records sufficient to verify compliance with 
47 CFR 76.225 and make such records available to the public. Such 
records must be maintained for a period sufficient to cover the 
limitations period specified in 47 U.S.C. Section 503(b)(6)(B). In the 
Report and Order, the Commission revises the rules to permit cable 
television operators to file their certifications of compliance with 
the commercial limits in children's programming annually rather than 
quarterly and to permit the filing of these certifications within 30 
days after the end of the calendar year.
    All other information collection requirements contained under 47 
CFR 76.5, 76.1700, 76.1702, 76.1703, 76.1707, and 76.1711 are still a 
part of the information collection and remain unchanged since last 
approved by OMB.

    OMB Control Number: 3060-0750.
    OMB Approval Date: December 5, 2019.
    OMB Expiration Date: December 31, 2022.
    Title: 47 CFR 73.671, Educational and Informational Programming for 
Children; 47 CFR 73.673, Public Information Initiatives Regarding 
Educational and informational Programming for Children.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.
    Number of Respondents: 1,770 respondents/1,125,720 responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 0.017-0.084 hours.
    Frequency of Response: Third-party disclosure requirements.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The 
statutory authority for this collection is contained in Sections 
154(i), 303, and 336 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.
    Total Annual Burden: 57,560 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: None.
    Privacy Impact Assessment: No impacts.
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: There is no need for 
confidentiality with this collection of information.
    Needs and Uses: On July 10, 2019, the Commission adopted a Report 
and Order in MB Docket Nos. 18-202 and 17-105, FCC 19-67, In the Matter 
of Children's Television Programming Rules; Modernization of Media 
Regulation Initiative, which modernizes the children's television 
programming rules in light of changes to the media landscape that have 
occurred since the rules were first adopted. The Report and Order 
revises the following information collection requirements:
    Pursuant to 47 CFR 73.671(c)(5), each commercial television 
broadcast station must identify programming as specifically designed to 
educate and inform children by the display on the television screen 
throughout the program of the symbol E/I. This requirement is intended 
to assist parents in identifying educational and informational 
programming for their children. Noncommercial television broadcast 
stations are no longer be required to identify Core Programming by 
displaying the E/I symbol throughout the program.
    Pursuant to 47 CFR 73.671(e), each television broadcast station 
that preempts an episode of a regularly scheduled weekly Core Program 
on its primary stream will be permitted to count the episode toward the 
Core Programming processing guidelines if it reschedules the episode on 
its primary stream in accordance with the requirements of 47 CFR 
73.671(e). Similarly, each television broadcast station that preempts 
an episode of a regularly scheduled weekly Core Program on a multicast 
stream will be permitted to count the episode toward the Core 
Programming processing guidelines if it reschedules the episode on the 
multicast stream in accordance with the requirements of 47 CFR 
73.671(e). Among other requirements, the station must make an on-air 
notification of the schedule change during the same time slot as the 
preempted episode. The on-air notification must include the alternate 
date and time when the program will air. This requirement will help to 
ensure that parents and children are able to locate the rescheduled 
program.
    Pursuant to 47 CFR 73.673, each commercial television broadcast 
station licensee must provide information identifying programming 
specifically designed to educate and inform children to publishers of 
program guides. This requirement is intended to improve the information 
available to parents regarding programming specifically designed for 
children's educational and informational needs. Commercial television 
broadcast station licensees are no longer be required to provide 
program guide publishers an indication of the age group for which the 
programming is intended. The Report and Order finds that very few 
program guides include this information.

    OMB Control Number: 3060-1065.
    OMB Approval Date: December 3, 2019.
    OMB Expiration Date: December 31, 2022.
    Title: Section 25.701 of the Commission's Rules, Direct Broadcast 
Satellite Public Interest Obligations.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.
    Number of Respondents: 2 respondents; 2 responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 1-10 hours.
    Frequency of Response: Recordkeeping requirement; on occasion 
reporting requirement; one-time reporting requirement; annual reporting 
requirement; Third party disclosure requirement.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The 
statutory authority which covers this information collection is 
contained in Section 335 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.
    Total Annual Burden: 48 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: None.
    Privacy Impact Assessment: No impacts.
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: Although the Commission does 
not believe that any confidential information will need to be disclosed 
in order to comply with the information

[[Page 70040]]

collection requirements, applicants are free to request that materials 
or information submitted to the Commission be withheld from public 
inspection. (See 47 CFR 0.459).
    Needs and Uses: On July 10, 2019, the Commission adopted a Report 
and Order in MB Docket Nos. 18-202 and 17-105, FCC 19-67, In the Matter 
of Children's Television Programming Rules; Modernization of Media 
Regulation Initiative, which modernizes the children's television 
programming rules in light of changes to the media landscape that have 
occurred since the rules were first adopted. The Report and Order 
revises the following information collection requirements:
    Pursuant to 47 CFR 25.701(e)(3), DBS providers that air children's 
programming must maintain records sufficient to verify compliance with 
this rule and make such records available to the public. Such records 
must be maintained for a period sufficient to cover the limitations 
period specified in 47 U.S.C. Section 503(b)(6)(B). In the Report and 
Order, the Commission revises the rules to permit DBS operators to file 
their certifications of compliance with the commercial limits in 
children's programming annually rather than quarterly and to permit the 
filing of these certifications within 30 days after the end of the 
calendar year.
    All other information collection requirements contained under 47 
CFR 25.701 are still a part of the information collection and remain 
unchanged since last approved by OMB.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-27390 Filed 12-19-19; 8:45 am]
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