Notice of Public Information Collections Submitted to OMB for Review and Approval

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

Notice of Public Information Collections Submitted to OMB for

Review and Approval

June 21, 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 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 July 29, 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] and Timothy Fain, OMB Desk Officer, 10236 NEOB 725 17th

Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503 or [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 No.: 3060-0666.

Title: Section 64.703(a) - Consumer Information--Branding by

Operator Service Providers.

Form No.: N/A.

Type of Review: Revised Collection.

Respondents: Businesses or other for profit, including small

businesses.

Number of Responses: 436.

Estimated Hour Per Response: 1,529 hours per response.

Total Annual Burden: 666,666.

Needs and Uses: As required by 47 U.S.C. Section 226(b)(1), 47 CFR

Section 64.703(a) provides that operator service

[[Page 33742]]

providers disclose to consumers at the outset of operator assisted

calls their identity, and, upon request, rates for the call, collection

methods, and complaint procedures. In CC Docket No. 94-158, the

Commission modified the term consumer thereby requiring that operator

service providers disclose their identities to both parties, rather

than one party to a collect call.

OMB Approval Number: 3060-0573.

Title: Application for Franchise Autohority (``LFA'') Consent to

Assignment or Transfer of Control of Cable Television Franchise.

Form: FCC 394.

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. 96-16518 Filed 6-27-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6712-01-F