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

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

Notice of Public Information Collections Being Reviewed by the

Federal Communications Commission

June 30, 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, 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.

[[Page 36906]]

DATES: Persons wishing to comment on this information collection should

submit comments by September 8, 1998.

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 collections contact Les Smith at 202-418-0217 or via

internet at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Approval Number: 3060-0139.

Title: Application for Antenna Structure Registration.

Form No.: FCC 854, and FCC 854 ULS.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Individuals; Businesses or other for-profit entities;

Not-for-profit institutions; State, Local or Tribal Government.

Number of Respondents: 4,500.

Estimated Time Per Response: 30 minutes.

Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirements.

Cost to Respondents: $0.

Total Annual Burden: 2,250 hours

Needs and Uses: Section 303(q) of the Communications Act, as

amended, authorizes the Commission to require the painting and/or

illumination of radio towers in cases where there is a reasonable

possibility that an antenna structure may cause a hazard to air

navigation. The data collected is required by the Communications Act of

1934, as amended; FCC Rules Section 1.61(a), 17.4, 21.11(g), 25.113(c),

73.3533(c), 74.551(c), 74.651(d), 74.1251(d), 78.109(c), 95.83(a)(3),

97.15(d).

This FCC form is to be used for the purpose of registering

structures used for wire or radio communication services within the

United States, or to make changes to an existing registered structure,

or to notify the Commission of the dismantlement of a structure. The

Commission staff will evaluate the antenna data submitted by the tower

owner and determine if Part 17 rule requirements are met and if any

obstruction painting and/or lighting will be necessary. The tower owner

will receive notification that the Commission has registered the

structure, modification or dismantlement on FCC Form 854R, Antenna

Structure Registration. Owners of new and modified towers must notify

the Commission within 24 hours of construction completion and/or

disposition of structure, using a portion of the FCC Form 854R which is

detachable.

The Commission has completed the final phase of the initial two

year registration period for the revised antenna structure registration

process. We estimate a significant decrease (adjustment) in the number

of total respondents from 43,000 to 4,500 and a decrease in the total

annual burden from 21,500 hours to 2,250 hours as a result of a re-

evaluation of receipts due to the program change implemented two years

ago.

The Commission is currently developing a Universal Licensing System

(ULS) which combines 11 separate databases into one. The databases are

gradually being converted to ULS and use is subsequently being phased

in. Antenna Structure Registration will be part of the ULS and Form 854

is being re-designed for use with ULS. We will need to maintain

approval on both the current Form 854 and the Form 854ULS until ULS is

fully implemented. At that time, we will submit a modification to the

collection to reflect the obsolescence of the current FCC Form 854.

The Form 854ULS differs from the Form 854 as follows: ULS will

assign a sequential file number to each filing for tracking purposes.

The purpose of ``Registration of an existing antenna structure'' has

been deleted and purposes of ``Duplicate'', ``Withdraw pending'',

``Amendment'' and ``Cancel'' have been added. When applicable, FCC

854ULS will collect ``file number of pending application for antenna

structure registration on file''; coordinates for center of structure

array; contact representative information; overall height above mean

sea level; and FAA notification issue date. Form 854ULS will collect

only NAD83 datum of coordinates (no longer a NAD27 option). FCC 854ULS

will not collect ``issue date of most current registration''; nature of

modification; FAA Regional Office name; ``Date FAA Notification was

filed''; or ``FCC Painting and Lighting Paragraphs''.

FCC 854ULS will collect Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) of the

antenna structure owner. For individuals, TIN is your Social Security

Number; for other entities, it is Employer Identification Number (EIN).

In order to use ULS, each antenna structure owner will be required to

register their Taxpayer Identification Number and any associated

registration numbers with the Commission. TIN will provide a ``link''

to all antenna structure registrations associated to any one owner. Use

of Taxpayer Identification Number in the Universal Licensing System

will allow pre-filling of data by searching the database and displaying

all pertinent data associated to any given TIN, as well as for Debt

Collection purposes. It will also improve and lessen the burden of the

volume of data the public will have to enter for later filings.

Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TINS) will not be displayed to the

public. Additionally, we have updated the privacy act and public burden

statements and the FAA Regional Office names and addresses.

The number of respondents is not being adjusted due to the new

form. Antenna structure owners will be required to file either the

current form or the new form, depending upon the timeframe in which the

Antenna Structure Registration database is converted to ULS. Owners

will be required to file the current form 854 until such time as a

public notice is issued announcing conversion to ULS and requirements

to begin using the Form 854ULS. Once Antenna Structure Registration is

implemented in ULS, the current Form 854 process will no longer be

available.

The estimated burden per form remains at 30 minutes. As users of

ULS become more familiar with using the system, this burden estimate

may need to be adjusted to reflect the electronic filing process. We

encourage the use of electronic filing for antenna structure

registration. ULS will provide many enhancements which are not

available in the current interactive/electronic filing process.

Federal Communications Commission.

Magalie Roman Salas,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 98-18041 Filed 7-7-98; 8:45 am]

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