[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 27 (Thursday, February 11, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9066-9068]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-02771]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[OMB 3060-1189; FRS 17460]


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

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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 April 12, 
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: 3060-1189.
    Title: Signal Boosters, Sections 1.1307(b)(1), 20.3, 20.21(a)(2), 
20.21(a)(5), 20.21(e)(2), 20.21(e)(8)(I)(G), 20.21(e)(9)(I)(H), 
20.21(f), 20.21(h), 22.9, 24.9, 27.9. 90.203, 90.219(b)(l)(I), 
90.219(d)(5), and 90.219(e)(5).
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities, Not for profit 
institutions and Individuals or household.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 632,534 respondents and 
635,214 responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: .5 hours-40 hours.
    Frequency of Response: Recordkeeping requirement, On occasion 
reporting requirement and Third-party disclosure requirement.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The 
statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47 
U.S.C. 154(i), 303(g), 303(r) and 332.
    Total Annual Burden: 324,465 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: No cost.
    Privacy Impact Assessment: This information collection affects 
individuals or households; thus, there are impacts under the Privacy 
Act. However, the government is not directly collecting this 
information and the R&O directs carriers to protect the information to 
the extent it is considered Customer Proprietary Network Information 
(CPNI).
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: There is no need for 
confidentiality with this collection of information.
    Needs and Uses: The Commission is seeking approval from the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for a three-year time period 
for this information collection requirements approved under this 
collection. The following information collection requirements are 
approved under this collection:
    Labeling Requirements: Sections 20.21(a)(5), 20.21(f), 
90.219(e)(5)--In order to avoid consumer confusion and provide 
consumers with needed information, the Commission adopted labeling 
requirements for Consumer and Industrial Signal Boosters. Consumer 
Signal Boosters must be labeled to identify the device as a 
``consumer'' device and make the consumer aware that the device must be 
registered; may only be operated with the consent of the consumer's 
wireless provider; may only be operated with approved antennas and 
cables; and that E911 communications may be affected for calls served 
by using the device. Industrial Signal Boosters must include a label 
stating that the device is not a consumer device, is designed for 
installation by FCC licensees or a qualified installer, and the 
operator must have a FCC license or consent of a FCC licensee to 
operate the device. Accordingly, all signal boosters marketed on or 
after March 1, 2014, must include the advisories (1) in on-line point-
of-sale marketing materials; (2) in any print or on-line owner's manual 
and installation instructions; (3) on the outside packaging of the 
device; and (4) on a label affixed to the device. Part 90 signal 
boosters marketed or sold on or after March 1, 2014, must include a 
label stating that the device is not a consumer device; the operator 
must have a FCC license or consent of a FCC licensee to operate the 
device; the operator must register Class B signal boosters; and 
unauthorized use may result in significant forfeitures.
    Section 20.21(f)(1)(iv)(A)(2)--In order to ensure that consumers 
are properly informed about which devices are suitable for their use 
and how to comply with our rules, the Commission required that all 
Consumer Signal Boosters certified for fixed, in-building operation 
include a label directing consumers that the device may only be 
operated in a fixed, in-building location. The Verizon Petitioners 
state that this additional labeling requirement is necessary to inform 
purchasers of fixed Consumer Signal Boosters that they may not lawfully 
be installed and operated in a moving vehicle or outdoor location. We 
recognize that our labeling requirement imposes additional costs on 
entities that manufacture Consumer Signal Boosters; however, on 
balance, we find that such costs are outweighed by the benefits of 
ensuring that consumers purchase appropriate devices. Accordingly, all 
fixed Consumer Signal Boosters, both Provider-Specific and Wideband, 
manufactured or imported on or after one year from the effective date 
of the rule change must include the following advisory (1) in on-line 
point-of-sale marketing materials, (2) in any print or on-line owner's 
manual and installation instructions, (3) on the outside packaging of 
the device, and (4) on a label affixed to the device: ``This device may 
be operated ONLY in a fixed location for in-building use.''
    Section 1.1307(b)(1)--Radiofrequency (RF). This rule requires that 
a label is affixed to the transmitting antenna that provides adequate 
notice regarding potential RF safety hazards and references the 
applicable FCC-adopted limits for RF exposure. Provider Reporting 
Requirement: In order to facilitate review of wireless providers' 
behavior regarding Consumer Signal Boosters, the R&O requires that on 
March 1, 2015, and March 1, 2016, all nationwide wireless providers 
publicly indicate their status regarding consent for each Consumer 
Signal Booster that has received FCC certification as listed in a 
Public Notice to be released by the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau 
30 days prior to each reporting date. For each listed Consumer Signal 
Booster, wireless providers should publicly indicate whether they (1) 
consent to use of the device; (2) do not consent to use of the device; 
or (3) are still considering whether or not they will consent to the 
use of the device.
    Registration Requirements: Section 20.21(a)(2)--The rules require 
signal booster operators to register Consumer Signal Boosters, existing 
and new, with their serving wireless providers prior to operation. This 
is a mandatory requirement to continue or begin operation of a Consumer 
Signal Booster. The registration requirement will aid in interference 
resolution and facilitate provider control over Consumer Signal 
Boosters. The information collection contained in Section 20.21(a)(2) 
affects individuals or households; thus, there are impacts under the 
Privacy Act. However, the government is not directly collecting this 
information and the R&O directs carriers to protect the information to 
the extent it is considered Customer Proprietary Network Information 
(CPNI).
    Section 20.21(h)--By March 1, 2014, all providers who voluntarily 
consent to the use of Consumer Signal Boosters on their networks must 
establish a free registration system for their subscribers. At a 
minimum, providers must collect (1) the name of the Consumer Signal 
Booster owner and/or operator, if different individuals; (2) the make, 
model, and serial number of the device;

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(3) the location of the device; and (4) the date of initial operation. 
Otherwise, the Commission permits providers to develop their own 
registration systems to facilitate provider control and interference 
resolution, providers should collect only such information that is 
reasonably related to achieving these dual goals. Wireless providers 
may determine how to collect such information and how to keep it up-to-
date. Section 90.219(d)(5)--This rule requires operators of Part 90 
Class B signal boosters to register these devices in a searchable on-
line database that will be maintained and operated by the Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau via delegated authority from the Commission. 
The Commission believes this will be a valuable tool to resolve 
interference should it occur.
    Certification Requirements: Sections 20.3, 20.21(e)(2), 
20.21(e)(8)(i)(G), 20.21(e)(9)(i)(H), 90.203--These rules, in 
conjunction with the R&O, require that signal booster manufacturers 
demonstrate that they meet the new technical specifications using the 
existing and unchanged equipment authorization application, including 
submitting a technical document with the application for FCC equipment 
authorization that shows compliance of all antennas, cables and/or 
coupling devices with the requirements of Sec.  20.21(e). The R&O 
further provides that manufacturers must make certain certifications 
when applying for device certification. Manufacturers must provide an 
explanation of all measures taken to ensure that the technical 
safeguards designed to inhibit harmful interference and protect 
wireless networks cannot be deactivated by the user. The R&O requires 
that manufacturers of Provider-Specific Consumer Signal Boosters may 
only be certificated with the consent of the licensee so the 
manufacturer must certify that it has obtained such consent as part of 
the equipment certification process. The R&O also requires that if a 
manufacturer claims that a device will not affect E911 communications, 
the manufacturer must certify this claim during the equipment 
certification process. Note: The ``application for equipment'' 
certification requirements are met under OMB Control Number 3060-0057, 
FCC Form 731.
    Antenna Kitting Documentation Requirement: Sections 
20.21(e)(8)(i)(G), 20.21(e)(9)(i)(H)--The rules require that all 
consumer boosters must be sold with user manuals specifying all 
antennas and cables that meet the requirements of this section. Part 90 
Licensee Consent Documentation Requirement: Section 90.219(b)(1)(i)--
This rule requires that non-licensees seeking to operate part 90 signal 
boosters must obtain the express consent of the licensee(s) of the 
frequencies for which the device or system is intended to amplify. The 
rules further require that such consent must be maintained in a 
recordable format that can be presented to a FCC representative or 
other relevant licensee investigating interference.
    Cross-reference to Other Rule Parts: Sections 22.9, 24.9, and 
27.9--Operation of a consumer signal booster under Parts 22, 24, and 27 
of the Commission's rules must also comply with section 20.21 of the 
Commission's rules, including all relevant information collections.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-02771 Filed 2-10-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P