Notice of Public Information Collections(s) being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

Notice of Public Information Collections(s) being Reviewed by the

Federal Communications Commission

November 20, 1997.

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, Pub. L. 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 January 27,

1998. 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 Control No.: 3060-0108.

Title: Emergency Alert System, EAS Activation Report.

[[Page 63339]]

Form No.: FCC 201.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

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

institutions; state, local or tribal government.

Number of Respondents: 1,300.

Estimated Time Per Response: .084 hours.

Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement and upon

system activation.

Cost to Respondents: N/A.

Total Annual Burden: 43 hours.

Needs and Uses: The Emergency Broadcast System (EBS) has been

changed to the Emergency Alert System (EAS). The change required that

all EBS collections/forms be revised to reflect the name change. The

EAS Activation Report (FCC Form 201) is part of the EAS planning

program. The program is a tri-agency agreement between the Commission,

the NOAA National Weather Service, and the Federal Emergency Management

Agency (FEMA) The FCC 201 postcard was recommended for use in the

program by the National Industry Advisory Committee (NIAC). The

postcard allows the three agencies to assess the success of the program

and identify the areas of the country that need further assistance in

developing their local EAS plan.

OMB Control No.: 3060-0629.

Title: Section 76.987, New Product Tiers.

Form No.: N/A.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Businesses or other for profit.

Number of Respondents: 500.

Estimated Time Per Response: .5 hours.

Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement.

Cost to Respondents: Postage and stationery costs are estimated to

be $1 per filing. Therefore, 500 filings x $1=$500.

Total Annual Burden: The Commission estimates that approximately

500 NPT filings will be received in the next year. The average burden

to cable operators to comply with this filing requirement is estimated

to be .5 hours per filing. 500 filings x .5=250 total annual burden

hours.

Needs and Uses: Section 76.987(g) states that within 30 days of the

offering of a new product tier (``NPT''), operators shall file with the

Commission, a copy of the new rate card that contains the following

information on their basic service tiers (``BSTs''), able programming

service tiers (``CPSTs''), and NPTs: (1) The names of the programming

services contained on each tier; and (2) the price of each tier.

Operators also must file with the Commission, copies of notifications

that were sent to subscribers regarding the initial offering of NPTs.

After this initial filing, cable operators must file updated rate cards

and copies of customer notifications with the Commission within 30 days

of rate or service changes affecting the NPT.

The information contained in NPT filings is used by the Commission

to ensure that cable operators are complying with conditions set forth

for NPTs, i.e., that operators are not making fundamental changes to

what they offer on their tiers of service, and that subscribers are

given due notice of NPT offerings.

Federal Communications Commission.

Magalie Roman Salas,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 97-31216 Filed 11-26-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6712-01-M