Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Submitted to OMB for Review and Approval

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Submitted to OMB for

Review and Approval

July 29, 1997.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Communications Commission, 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 information collection(s), 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

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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 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 Commission's burden estimate; (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 September 4,

1997. 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 comments to Judy Boley, Federal Communications

Commission, Room 234, 1919 M St., N.W., Washington, DC 20554 or via

internet to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or copies

of the information collection(s) contact Judy Boley at 202-418-0214 or

via internet at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Approval Number: 3060-0771.

Title: Section 5.56, Procedure for Obtaining a Special Temporary

Authorization in the Experimental Radio Service.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit; not-for-profit

institutions; state or local or tribal government.

Number of Respondents: 500.

Estimated Time Per Response: 1 hour.

Cost to Respondents: N/A.

Total Annual Burden: 500 hours.

Needs and Uses: In cases where a need is shown for operation of an

authorized experimental station for a limited time only, a request for

a Special Temporary Authorization (STA) to operate transmitting

equipment will be accepted under the conditions set for in 47 CFR 5.56

(a), (b), and (c). The request may be filed as an informal application,

normally by letter from the applicant, and shall contain the

information specified in Section 5.56. The data supplied by the

applicant is used by the staff of the Experimental Licensing Branch,

Office of Engineering and Technology, to determine: (1) If the

applicant is eligible for an experimental STA; (2) the purpose of the

experiment; (3) compliance with the requirement of part 5 of the rules;

and (4) if the proposed operation will cause interference to existing

stations. An experimental STA could not be granted without the

information collected under Section 5.56(b).

OMB Approval Number: 3060-0298.

Title: Tariffs (Other than Tariff Review Plan)--part 61.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 2,000.

Estimated Time Per Response: 202 hours (avg).

Cost to Respondents: $2,878,200.

Total Annual Burden: 682,555 hours.

Needs and Uses: Part 61 is designed to ensure that all tariffs

filed by common carriers are formally sound, well organized, and

provide the Commission and the public with sufficient information to

determine the justness and reasonableness as required by the Act, of

the rates, terms and conditions in those tariffs. Consideration is

being given to examine the technical and legal feasibility of filing by

electronic means for all carriers. Currently, all nondominant carriers,

both domestic and international, are required to file tariffs on

diskettes. Further, pursuant to an order In the Matter of

Implementation of Section 402(b)(1)(A) of the Telecommunications Act of

1996, CC Docket No. 96-187, adopted January 29, 1997, released January

31, 1997, FCC 97-23, the Commission established a mandatory electronic

filing system for all local exchange carriers. Authority was delegated

to the Chief, Common Carrier Bureau to establish a program to implement

this electronic filing system. (See OMB control number 3060-0745).

OMB Approval Number: 3060-0764.

Title: Regulation of International Accounting Rates (CC Docket No.

90-337).

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 30.

Estimated Time Per Response: 16 hours.

Cost to Respondents: $180,000.

Total Annual Burden: 480 hours.

Needs and Uses: CC Docket No. 90-337 implemented rules making it

easier for U.S. carriers engaged in international telecommunications to

negotiate lower accounting rates. Any carrier that interconnects an

international private line to the U.S. public switched network will

report on an annual basis its arrangements for the interconnection of

such private lines except those private lines that terminate in

countries that have been determined to offer equivalent private line

resale opportunities to U.S. carriers. The information collection will

provide the Commission with data to make a determination whether or not

to allow a carrier to enter into an agreement that is outside the scope

of its current rules. The information will be used by the Commission in

reviewing the impact, if any, that alternative settlement arrangements

have on its international settlements policy. Additionally, the

information will also enhance the ability of the Commission and

interested parties to monitor for anticompetitive effects in the U.S.

market for international service, thus increasing competitive options

for U.S. carriers and resulting in lower prices and greater choices for

U.S. consumers. The information collection will enable the Commission

to promote competitive behavior, improve economic performance, and

preserve the integrity of its accounting rate policies. The information

collection also will enable the Commission and interested parties to

determine whether or not the competitive safeguards are sufficient to

protect U.S. carriers and consumers against harmful discriminatory

practices by foreign carriers.

OMB Approval Number: 3060-0106.

Title: Section 43.61, Reports of Overseas Telecommunications

Traffic.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 248.

Estimated Time Per Response: Semi-Annual report #1-40 hours per

response; Semi-Annual report #2-40 hours per response; Minutes of

Inbound/Outbound Traffic--8 hours per response; Existing collection--15

hours per response.

Cost to Respondents: $96,000.

Total Annual Burden: 7,554 hours.

Needs and Uses: The telecommunications traffic data report is an

annual reporting requirement imposed on common carriers engaged in the

provision of overseas telecommunications services. The reported data is

useful for international planning, facility authorization, monitoring

emerging developments in communications services, analyzing market

structures, tracking the balance

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of payments in international communications services, and market

analysis purposes. The reported data enables the Commission to fulfill

its regulatory responsibilities.

Federal Communications Commission.

William F. Caton,

Acting Secretary.

[FR Doc. 97-20548 Filed 8-4-97; 8:45 am]

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