[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 75 (Wednesday, April 21, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20694-20695]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-08190]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[OMB 3060-1048; OMB 3060-1194; FRS 21248]


Information Collections Being Reviewed by the Federal 
Communications Commission Under Delegated Authority

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 June 21, 
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: 3060-1048.
    Title: Section 1.929(c)(1), Composite Interference Contour (CIC).
    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 state, local or tribal government.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 50 respondents; 50 responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 2 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. 
Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47 
U.S.C. 309(j).
    Total Annual Burden: 100 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: No cost.
    Privacy Impact Assessment: No impact(s).
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: There is no need for 
confidentiality with this collection of information.
    Needs and Uses: The Commission will submit this expiring 
information collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
approval of an extension request.
    Under 47 CFR 1.929(c)(1) of the Commission's rules, any increase in 
the composite interference contour (CIC) of a site-based licensee in 
the Paging and Radiotelephone Service, Rural Radiotelephone Service, or 
800 MHz Specialized Mobile Radio Service is a major modification of a 
license that requires prior Commission approval.
    However, in February 2005, the Commission adopted and released 
final rules which amended section 1.929(c)(1) to specify that expansion 
of a composite interference contour (CIC) of a site-based licensee in 
the Paging and

[[Page 20695]]

Radiotelephone Service--as well as the Rural Radiotelephone Service and 
800 MHz Specialized Mobile Radio Service--over water on a secondary, 
non-interference basis should be classified as a minor (rather than 
major) modification of a license. Such reclassification has eliminated 
the filing requirements associated with these license modifications, 
but requires site-based licensees to provide the geographic area 
licensee (on the same frequency) with the technical and engineering 
information necessary to evaluate the site-based licensee's operations 
over water.

    OMB Control Number: 3060-1194.
    Title: AM Station Modulation Dependent Carrier Level (MDCL) 
Notification Form; FCC Form 338.
    Form Number: FCC Form 338.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities; Not-for-profit 
institutions.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 100 respondents and 100 
responses.
    Estimated Hours per Response: 1 hour.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement.
    Total Annual Burden: 100 hours.
    Total Annual Costs: None.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The 
statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 
Sections 154(i), 303, 310 and 533 of the Communications Act of 1934, as 
amended.
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: There is no need for 
confidentiality required with this collection of information.
    Privacy Impact Assessment: No impact(s).
    Needs and Uses: On October 23, 2015, the Commission released the 
First Report and Order, Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making, and 
Notice of Inquiry, Revitalization of the AM Radio Service (First R&O), 
FCC 15-142, MB Docket 13-249. In the First R&O, the Commission adopted 
its proposal for wider implementation of Modulation Dependent Carrier 
Level (MDCL) control technologies by amending Section 73.1560(a) of the 
rules, to provide that an AM station may commence operation using MDCL 
control technology without prior Commission authority, provided that 
the AM station licensee notifies the Commission of the station's MDCL 
control operation within 10 days after commencement of such operation 
using the Bureau's Consolidated Database System (CDBS).
    In September 2011, the Commission's Media Bureau (Bureau) had 
released an MDCL Public Notice, in which it stated that it would permit 
AM stations, by rule waiver or experimental authorization, to use MDCL 
control technologies, which are transmitter control techniques that 
vary either the carrier power level or both the carrier and sideband 
power levels as a function of the modulation level. This allows AM 
licensees to reduce power consumption while maintaining audio quality 
and their licensed station coverage areas.
    There are two basic types of MDCL control technologies. In one 
type, the carrier power is reduced at low modulation levels and 
increased at higher modulation levels. In the other type, there is full 
carrier power at low modulation levels and reduced carrier power and 
sideband powers at higher modulation levels. Use of any of these MDCL 
control technologies reduces the station's antenna input power to 
levels not permitted by Section 73.1560(a) of the Commission's rules.
    The MDCL Public Notice permitted AM station licensees wanting to 
use MDCL control technologies to seek either a permanent waiver of 
Section 73.1560(a) for those licensees already certain of the 
particular MDCL control technology to be used, or an experimental 
authorization pursuant to Section 73.1510 of the Rules for those 
licensees wishing to determine which of the MDCL control technologies 
would result in maximum cost savings and minimum effects on the 
station's coverage area and audio quality. Between release of the MDCL 
Public Notice and release of the Notice of Proposed Rule Making in MB 
Docket No. 13-249, FCC 13-139 (NPRM), 33 permanent waiver requests and 
20 experimental requests authorizing use of MDCL control technologies 
had been granted by the Bureau.
    AM station licensees using MDCL control technologies have reported 
significant savings on electrical power costs and few, if any, 
perceptible effects on station coverage area and audio quality. 
Accordingly, the NPRM tentatively concluded that use of MDCL control 
technologies reduces AM broadcasters' operating costs while maintaining 
a station's current level of service to the public, without 
interference to other stations. The Commission, therefore, proposed to 
allow an AM station to commence operation using MDCL control technology 
by notification to the Commission, without prior Commission authority. 
Consistent with the Commission's new rule allowing AM broadcasters to 
implement MDCL technologies without prior authorization, by electronic 
notification within 10 days of commencing MDCL operations, the 
Commission created FCC Form 338, AM Station Modulation Dependent 
Carrier Level (MDCL) Notification. In addition to the standard general 
contact information, FCC Form 338 solicits minimal technical data, as 
well as the date that MDCL control operation commenced. This 
information collection regarding FCC Form 338 needs OMB review and 
approval.
    The following rule section is covered by this information 
collection: 47 CFR 73.1560(a)(1) specifies the limits on antenna input 
power for AM stations. AM stations using MDCL control technologies are 
not required to adhere to these operating power parameters. AM stations 
may, without prior Commission authority, commence MDCL control 
technology use, provided that within ten days after commencing such 
operation, the licensee submits an electronic notification of 
commencement of MDCL operation using FCC Form 338.
    The Commission is now requesting a three-year extension for this 
collection from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-08190 Filed 4-20-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P