Notice of Public Information Collections being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission; Comments Requested

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

Notice of Public Information Collections being Reviewed by the

Federal Communications Commission; Comments Requested

April 18, 1996.

SUMMARY: The Federal Communications, as part of its continuing effort

to reduce paperwork burden invites the general public and other Federal

agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the

[[Page 18596]]

following proposed and/or continuing information collections, as

required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. An

agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it

displays a currently valid 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 (PRA) that does not display a

valid control number. Comments are requested concerning (a) 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; (b) the accuracy of the

Commissions burden estimates; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility,

and clarity of the information collected and (d) 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.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted on or before June 25, 1996.

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.

ADDRESS: Direct all comments to Dorothy Conway, Federal Communications,

Room 234, 1919 M St., NW., Washington, DC 20554 or via internet to

[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or copies

of the information collections contact Dorothy Conway at 202-418-0217

or via internet at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Approval Number: 3060-0573.

Form No.: FCC Form 394 Application for Franchise Autohority

(``LFA'') Consent to Assignment or Transfer of Control of Cable

Television Franchise.

Type of Review: Revision of existing collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 2,000 (1,000 system owners + 1,000 LFAs).

Estimated Time Per Response: 1-5 hours. Burden to cable system

owners is estimated to be an average of 5 hours per application. We

estimate that 50% owners will contract out the burden of filing and

that it will take 1 hour to coordinate information with those

contractors. The remaining 50% will employ in house staff to complete

the application. 500 applications (50% contracted out) x 1 hour = 500

hours. 500 applications (50% in house) x 5 hours = 2,500 hours. Burden

for owners = 500 + 2,500 = 3,000 hours.

Burden to LFAs is estimated to be an average of 4 hours to review

each application. This burden was previously treated as a third party

requirement and was not reported by the Commission. We now include this

burden in this collection's inventory. 1,000 applications x 4 hours =

4,000 hours.

Total Annual Burden: Total burden for all respondents: 3,000 +

4,000 = 7,000 hours.

Cost to respondents: $377,000. Printing and postage costs are

estimated at $2 per application x 1,000 = $2,000. Assistance by outside

legal counsel will be paid at an average of $150/hour for 50% of the

Form 394 applications. $150/hour x 500 applications x 5 hours per

application = $375,000. Total annual cost burden to respondents =

$2,000 + $375,000 = $377,000.

Needs and Uses: On 3/15/96, the Commission adopted an Order in CS

Docket No. 96-56, Implementation of Sections 202(f), 202(i) and 301(i)

of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Among other things, this order

eliminates the three-year holding requirement of cable systems and

reduces ownership restrictions for cable systems. Though there are no

revisions necessary to FCC Form 394 to reflect the Commission's new

rules, its use as an information collection requirement has been

modified because potential respondents now may include broadcasters and

multichannel multipoint distribution service providers other than cable

operators. The FCC Form 394 is used to apply for LFA approval to assign

or transfer control of a cable television system. The data are used by

the LFAs to restrict profiteering transactions and other transfers that

are likely to adversely affect cable rates or service in the franchise

area.

Federal Communications Commission.

William F. Caton,

Acting Secretary.

[FR Doc. 96-10297 Filed 4-25-96; 8:45 am]

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