Notice of Public Information Collections Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission, Comments Requested

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

Notice of Public Information Collections Being Reviewed by the

Federal Communications Commission, Comments Requested

May 20, 1998.

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 July 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 Les Smith, 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 collection(s), contact Les Smith at 202-418-0217 or

via internet at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Approval Number: 3060-0287.

Title: Section 78.69 Station records.

Form No.: N/A

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business and other for-profit entities; State, local

and tribal governments.

Number of Respondents: 1,800.

Estimated Time Per Response: 26 hours.

Frequency of Response: On Occasion.

Cost to Respondents: $0.

Total Annual Burden: 46,800 hours.

Needs and Uses: Section 78.69 requires that licensees of cable

CARS stations maintain various records, including but not limited to

records pertaining to transmissions, unscheduled interruptions to

transmissions, maintenance, observations, inspections and repairs.

Station records are required to be maintained for a period of not less

than two years. The records kept pursuant to Section 78.69 provide for

a history of station operations and are reviewed by Commission staff

during field investigations to ensure that proper operation of the

stations is being conducted.

OMB Approval Number: 3060-0667.

Title: Section 76.630 Compatibility with consumer electronic

equipment.

Form No.: N/A

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business and other for-profit entities.

Number of Respondents: 11,000.

Estimated Time Per Response: 1 - 3 hours.

Frequency of Response: On Occasion.

Cost To Respondents: $19,300 ($960 filing fee, plus stationery and

postage costs).

Total Annual Burden: 11,160 hours.

Needs and Uses: Section 76.630(a) states that cable system

operators shall not scramble or otherwise encrypt signals carried on

the basic service tier, though operators may file requests for waivers

of this prohibition with the Commission. When filing requests for

waivers of this prohibition, operators must notify subscribers by mail

of waiver requests. Section 76.630(c) states

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that cable system operators that use scrambling, encryption or similar

techniques shall offer to supply each subscriber with special equipment

that will enable the simultaneous reception of multiple signals. This

offer of special equipment must be made to new subscribers at the time

they subscribe, to all subscribers at least once each year, and to

subscribers that make such requests at any time. Section 76.630(d)

states that cable system operators shall provide a consumer education

program on compatibility matters to their subscribers in writing. The

information shall be provided to subscribers at the time that they

first subscribe and at least once a year thereafter, and may be

included in one of the cable system's regular subscriber billings. The

Commission has set forth these disclosure requirements for consumer

protection purposes, to inform subscribers of compatibility matters,

and notify subscribers of cable operators' requests to waive the

prohibition on signal encryption.

Federal Communications Commission.

Magalie Roman Salas,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 98-14094 Filed 5-27-98; 8:45 am]

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