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

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

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

for Review and Approval

September 30, 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 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 December 5,

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

Commissions, 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 collections contact Judy Boley at 202-418-0214 or

via internet at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Approval No.: 3060-0027.

Title: Application for Construction Permit for Commercial Broadcast

Station.

Form No.: FCC Form 301.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

[[Page 52102]]

Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.

Number of Respondents: 1,996.

Estimated Hour Per Response: 37--159 hours (average) per response.

Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement.

Cost to Respondents: $23,118,660.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: 8,071 hours.

Needs and Uses: On 4/3/97, the Commission adopted a Fifth Report

and Order in MM Docket No. 87-268. This Order adopted several rules

with the following objectives: (1) to promote the success of free,

universally available, local broadcast television in a digital world,

thereby preserving free, widely accessible programming that serves the

public interest; and (2) to attract consumers swiftly to digital

broadcast service, thus allowing the NTSC spectrum to be recovered and

turned to use for other beneficial purposes more rapidly.

Section 336 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 requires that the

Commission limit the initial eligibility for digital television (DTV)

licenses to persons that, as of the date of such issuance, are licensed

to operate a television broadcast station or hold a permit to construct

a television broadcast station. The Commission has issued a license to

all eligible licensees and permittees in the form of an Appendix to the

Fifth Report and Order in MM Docket No. 87-268. By issuing these DTV

licenses with the Fifth Report and Order, the Commission has frozen

initial eligibility and allowed the completion of the Table of

Allotments. The license that we issued is a general instrument of

authorization for licensees/permittees to receive and hold a second 6

MHz channel for the purpose of concerting to DTV. It is not an

authorization to begin construction or operation.

To receive authorization for commencement of DTV operation,

commercial broadcast licensees must file FCC 301 for a construction

permit. This application may be filed anytime after receiving the

initial DTV license but must be filed before the mid-point in a

particular applicant's required construction period. The Commission has

developed a new Section V-D for DTV engineering which will be added to

the FCC 301. The Commission will consider these applications as minor

changes in facilities. Applicants will not have to supply full legal or

financial qualification information.

Federal Communications Commission.

William F. Caton,

Acting Secretary.

[FR Doc. 97-26419 Filed 10-3-97; 8:45 am]

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