[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 242 (Tuesday, December 19, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 87766-87767]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-27819]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[OMB 3060-1034; OMB 3060-1103; FR ID 190583]


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 February 
20, 2024. 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; Form 2100, Schedule 335-FM--FM 
Digital Notification; Form 2100, Schedule 335-AM--AM Digital 
Notification.
    Form Number: Form 2100, Schedule 335-FM--FM Digital Notification; 
Form 2100, Schedule
    335-AM--AM Digital Notification.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities and nonprofit 
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.
    Needs and Uses: FM and AM broadcast station licensees are required 
to notify the Commission of certain changes in digital operations using 
the Digital Notification Forms, FCC Form 2100, Schedules 335-FM and 
335-AM (or any successor notification forms).
    Specifically pertaining to this Information Collection, in the All-
Digital AM Broadcasting Report and Order, FCC 20-154, MB Dockets 19-311 
and 13-249, released on October 27, 2020, the Commission revised and 
reorganized 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 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

[[Page 87767]]

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.
    OMB Control Number: 3060-1103.
    Title: Section 76.41 Franchise Application Process.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Respondents: State, local or tribal government, Business or other 
for-profit entities.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 22 respondents and 40 
responses.
    Estimated Hours per Response: 0.5 to 4 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirements; Third 
party disclosure requirement.
    Total Annual Burden: 90 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: No cost.
    Needs and Uses: The information collection requirements are as 
follows: 47 CFR 76.41(b) requires a competitive franchise applicant to 
include the following information in writing in its franchise 
application, in addition to any information required by applicable 
state and local laws:
    (1) The applicant's name;
    (2) The names of the applicant's officers and directors;
    (3) The business address of the applicant;
    (4) The name and contact information of a designated contact for 
the applicant;
    (5) A description of the geographic area that the applicant 
proposes to serve;
    (6) The PEG channel capacity and capital support proposed by the 
applicant;
    (7) The term of the agreement proposed by the applicant;
    (8) Whether the applicant holds an existing authorization to access 
the public rights-of-way in the subject franchise service area;
    (9) The amount of the franchise fee the applicant offers to pay; 
and
    (10) Any additional information required by applicable state or 
local laws.
    The information collection requirements contained in 47 CFR 
76.41(d) states when a competitive franchise applicant files a 
franchise application with a franchising authority and the applicant 
has existing authority to access public rights-of-way in the geographic 
area that the applicant proposes to serve, the franchising authority 
grant or deny the application within 90 days of the date the 
application is received by the franchising authority. If a competitive 
franchise applicant does not have existing authority to access public 
rights-of-way in the geographic area that the applicant proposes to 
serve, the franchising authority must perform grant or deny the 
application within 180 days of the date the application is received by 
the franchising authority. A franchising authority and a competitive 
franchise applicant may agree in writing to extend the 90-day or 180-
day deadline, whichever is applicable.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-27819 Filed 12-18-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P