[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 227 (Tuesday, November 24, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75013-75014]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-25882]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[OMB 3060-1034; FRS 17250]


Information Collection 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 of 1995 (PRA), 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.
    The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) 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 OMB control number.

DATES: Written PRA comments should be submitted on or before January 
25, 2021. 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 Cathy Williams, FCC, via email to 
[email protected] and to [email protected].

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    OMB Control Number: 3060-1034.
    Title: Digital Audio Broadcasting Systems and their Impact on the 
Terrestrial Radio Broadcast Service; Digital Notification, FCC Form 
335.
    Form Number: FCC Form 335.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 270 respondents; 270 
responses.
    Estimated Hours per Response: 1 hour-8 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement.
    Total Annual Burden: 490 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: $197,000.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The 
statutory authority for this collection of information is contained in 
Sections 154(i), 303, 310, and 553 of the Communications Act of 1934, 
as amended.
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: There is no need for 
confidentiality with this collection of information.
    Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).
    Needs and Uses: On October 27, 2020, the Commission released the 
All-Digital AM Broadcasting Report and Order, FCC 20-154, MB Dkts. 19-
311, 13-249, where it adopts rules to allow AM radio stations, on a 
voluntary basis, to broadcast an all-digital signal using the HD radio 
in-band on-channel (IBOC) mode name MA3. This action benefits AM 
stations and their listeners by improving reception quality and 
listenable signal coverage in stations' service areas and by advancing 
the Commission's goal of improving the AM service, thereby helping to 
ensure the future of the service. AM broadcast station licensees are 
required to notify the Commission of a change to all-digital operations 
using Digital Notification Form, FCC Form 335-AM.
    Specifically pertaining to this Information Collection, in the All-
Digital AM Broadcasting Report and Order, the Commission requires AM 
broadcast stations to electronically file a digital notification using 
the existing FCC Form 335-AM Digital Notification (or any successor 
notification form) to notify the Commission of the following changes: 
(1) The commencement of new all-digital operation; (2) an increase in 
nominal power of an all-digital AM station; or (3) a transition from 
core-only to enhanced operating mode. Although we direct broadcasters 
to use the current Form 335-AM for all-digital notifications, 
additional information is required for notification of AM all-digital 
operations specifically. Therefore, until the Form 335-AM is updated to 
display the new all-digital operation requirements, we direct filers to 
select ``N/A'' as appropriate within the form and submit an attachment 
containing the following information. These new all-digital AM 
notification requirements have been added to new section 73.406 of the 
Commission's rules.
    (a) The type of notification (all-digital notification, increase in 
nominal power, reduction in nominal power, transition from core-only to 
enhanced, transition from enhanced to core-only, reversion from all-
digital to hybrid or analog operation);
    (b) the date that new or modified all-digital operation will 
commence or has ceased;
    (c) a certification that the all-digital operations will conform to 
the relevant nominal power and spectral emissions limits;
    (d) the nominal power of the all-digital station;
    (e) a certification that the all-digital station complies with all 
EAS requirements; and
    (f) if a notification of commencement of new all-digital service or 
a nominal power change, whether the station is operating in core-only 
or enhanced mode.
    The All-Digital AM Broadcasting Report and Order also revises and 
reorganizes the digital notification requirements formally contained in 
section 73.404(e) of the rules by removing paragraph 73.404(e) and 
adding new section 73.406 Notification.

The Notification Requirements Contained Under 47 CFR 73.406 Are as 
Follows

    Hybrid AM and FM licensees must electronically file a digital 
notification to the Commission in Washington, DC, within 10 days of 
commencing IBOC digital operation. All-digital licensees must file a 
digital notification within 10 days of the following changes: (1) Any 
reduction in nominal power of an all-digital AM station; (2) a 
transition from enhanced to core-only operating mode; or (3) a 
reversion from all-digital to

[[Page 75014]]

hybrid or analog operation. All-digital licensees will not be permitted 
to commence operation sooner than 30 calendar days from public notice 
of digital notification of the following changes: (1) The commencement 
of new all-digital operation; (2) an increase in nominal power of an 
all-digital AM station; or (2) a transition from core-only to enhanced 
operating mode.
    (a) Every digital notification must include the following 
information:
    (1) The call sign and facility identification number of the 
station;
    (2) If applicable, the date on which the new or modified IBOC 
operation commenced or ceased;
    (3) The name and telephone number of a technical representative the 
Commission can call in the event of interference;
    (4) A certification that the operation will not cause human 
exposure to levels of radio frequency radiation in excess of the limits 
specified in Sec.  1.1310 of this chapter and is therefore 
categorically excluded from environmental processing pursuant to Sec.  
1.1306(b) of this chapter. Any station that cannot certify compliance 
must submit an environmental assessment (``EA'') pursuant to Sec.  
1.1311 of this chapter and may not commence IBOC operation until such 
EA is ruled upon by the Commission.
    (b) Each AM digital notification must also include the following 
information:
    (1) A certification that the IBOC DAB facilities conform to 
applicable nominal power limits and emissions mask limits;
    (2) The nominal power of the station; if separate analog and 
digital transmitters are used, the nominal power for each transmitter;
    (3) If applicable, the amount of any reduction in an AM station's 
digital carriers;
    (4) For all-digital stations, the type of notification (all-digital 
notification, increase in nominal power, reduction in nominal power, 
transition from core-only to enhanced, transition from enhanced to 
core-only, reversion from all-digital to hybrid or analog operation);
    (5) For all-digital stations, if a notification of commencement of 
new all-digital service or a nominal power change, whether the station 
is operating in core-only or enhanced mode; and
    (6) For all-digital stations, a certification that the all-digital 
station complies with all EAS requirements.
    (c) Each FM digital notification must also include the following 
information:
    (1) A certification that the IBOC DAB facilities conform to the HD 
Radio emissions mask limits;
    (2) FM digital effective radiated power used and certification that 
the FM analog effective radiated power remains as authorized;
    (3) If applicable, the geographic coordinates, elevation data, and 
license file number of the auxiliary antenna employed by an FM station 
as a separate digital antenna; and
    (4) If applicable, for FM systems employing interleaved antenna 
bays, a certification that adequate filtering and/or isolation 
equipment has been installed to prevent spurious emissions in excess of 
the limits specified in Sec.  73.317.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-25882 Filed 11-23-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P