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

December 23, 1998.

SUMMARY: The Federal Communications Commissions, 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, 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 March 1, 1999.

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, 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20554 or via the

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 the Internet at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control Number: 3060-0862.

Title: Handling Confidential Information.

Form Number: N/A.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Businesses or other for-profit entities; Not-for-

profit institutions; State, Local or Tribal Governments.

[[Page 72313]]

Number of Respondents: 600.

Estimated Time Per Response: 1 hr./log; 3 hrs./confidentiality

submission.

Frequency of Response: Recordkeeping; On occasion reporting

requirement.

Total Annual Burden: 800 hours.

Total Annual Costs: $23,000.

Needs and Uses: The Commission adopted a Model Protective Order

(MPO) which can be used when it is appropriate to grant limited access

to information that the Commission determines should not be routinely

available for public inspection. The MPO requires that the party

granted access to the confidential materials keep a written record of

all copies made and to provide this record to the submitter of the

confidential materials on request. Order para. 27. This approach was

adopted to facilitate the use of confidential materials under an MPO,

instead of restricting access to the materials. The copy log under the

MPO will be used to help assure the party submitting the confidential

materials that there is limited access to the materials. Without the

copy log for MPOs, the submitter of confidential information would not

be assured that there is limited distribution of sensitive information.

The Commission also amended 47 C.F.R. 0.459(b) to set forth the type of

information that should be included when a party submits information to

the Commission for which it seeks confidential treatment. Order para.

13. This listing of the types of information to be submitted was

adopted to provide guidance to the public for confidentiality requests.

The information provided under amended Section 0.459(b) will help the

Commission determine whether a request for confidential treatment

should be granted. Without the guidelines for submissions requesting

confidential treatment of materials, the Commission would not have the

information it requires to make an informed decision concerning such

requests.

Federal Communications Commission.

William F. Caton,

Deputy Secretary.

[FR Doc. 98-34628 Filed 12-30-98; 8:45 am]

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