Notice of Public Information Collections Being Reviewed by FCC For Extension Under Delegated Authority 5 CFR 1320 authority, comments requested

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

Notice of Public Information Collections Being Reviewed by FCC

For Extension Under Delegated Authority 5 CFR 1320 authority, comments

requested

March 10, 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 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.

The FCC is reviewing the following information collection

requirements for possible 3-year extension under delegated authority 5

CFR 1320, authority delegated to the Commission by the Office of

Management and Budget (OMB).

DATES: Written comments should be submitted on or before May 16, 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 Dorothy Conway, Federal

Communications Commission, 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: 3060-0563.

Title: Section 76.915 Change in status of cable operator.

Type of Review: Extension of existing collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities; state and local

governments.

Number of Respondents: 105.

Estimated Time Per Response: 2-20 hours. We estimate that cable

operators annually file 30 petitions for change in regulatory status,

approximately half being filed with the Commission and half being filed

with the operators' respective LFAs. The average hour burden to cable

operators attributed to all aspects of the petition process is

estimated to be 20 hours per petition. The average hour burden to LFAs

attributed to all aspects of the review and decision process, including

the burden to LFAs to file their decisions with the Commission, is also

estimated to be 20 hours per petition. We estimate that cable operators

annually file 10 petitions for revocation of an LFA's certification to

regulate rates. The average hour burden to cable operators attributed

to all aspects of the petition for revocation process is estimated to

be 20 hours per petition. The average hour burden to LFAs attributed to

all aspects of the petition for revocation process is also estimated to

be 20 hours per petition. We estimate cable operators and LFAs annually

file 25 joint statements that effective competition exist. The average

hour burden to draft and submit each joint statement is estimated to be

2 hours per statement.

30 Petitions for change in regulatory status filed by cable

operators x 20 per petition = 600.

15 Petitions for change in regulatory status reviewed by LFAs x 20

per petition = 300.

10 Petitions for revocation filed by cable operators x 20 hours per

petition = 200.

10 Petitions for revocations responded to by LFAs x 20 hours per

petition = 200.

25 joint statements x 2 hours = 50.

Total Annual Burden: 1,350 hours.

Total Cost to Respondents: $450 estimated as follows: Postage and

stationery costs are estimated to be $5 per party for each petition for

change in regulatory status and petition for revocation. 40 total

petitions x 2 parties x $5 each = $400. Postage and stationery costs

are estimated to be $1 per party for each joint statement. 25 joint

statements x 2 parties x $1 for each joint statement = $50.

Needs and Uses: Section 76.915 enables cable operators that become

subject to effective competition to petition their respective local

franchise authority (``LFA'') for a change in regulatory status. In

cases where LFAs have not been certified to regulate rates, cable

operators may petition the Commission for a change in regulatory

status. Section 76.915 also provides that cable operators and LFAs may

submit joint statements to the Commission

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stating that effective competition exists. Also, Section 76.915

provides that if cable operators have been denied a change in status by

their respective LFAs, then operators may seek reviews of those

findings at the Commission by filing petitions for revocation. The

information is used by the Commission and LFAs to examine potential

changes in the regulatory status of cable systems resulting from the

presence of effective competition in the systems' franchise areas.

OMB Number: 3060-0414.

Title: Terrain Shielding Policy.

Form Number: None.

Type of Review: Extension of an existing collection.

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

institutions, state, local or tribal government.

Number of Respondents: 300.

Estimated time per response: 10 hours (1 hours respondent/9 hours

consulting engineer).

Total annual burden: 300.

Needs and Uses: The terrain shielding policy requires respondents

to submit either a detailed terrain study, or to submit letters of

assent from all potentially affected parties and graphic depiction of

the terrain when intervening terrain prevents a low power television

applicant from interferring with other low power television or full-

power television stations. The data is used by FCC staff to determine

if adequate interference protection can be provided by terrain

shielding and if a waiver of Sections 74.705 and 74.707 of the Rules is

warranted.

Federal Communications Commission.

William F. Caton,

Acting Secretary.

[FR Doc. 97-6552 Filed 3-14-97; 8:45 am]

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