Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Submitted to OMB for Review and Approval

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Submitted to OMB for

Review and Approval

February 27, 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 April 6, 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.

Form No.: FCC Form 201.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

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

institutions, state, local, or tribal government.

[[Page 11258]]

Number of Respondents: 1,300.

Estimated Time Per Response: .084 hours.

Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement.

Cost to Respondents: N/A.

Total Annual Burden: 109 hours.

Needs and Uses: The Emergency Broadcast System (EBS) was changed to

the Emergency Alert System (EAS) effective January 1, 1997. This change

required that all EBS collections/forms be corrected to reflect the

name change. The EAS Activation Report postcard was developed as part

of the EAS planning program. The program is a tri-agency agreement

between the FCC, the NOAA National Weather Service, and the Federal

Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The 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: Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 500.

Estimated Time Per Response: .5 hours.

Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement and third

party disclosure requirement.

Cost to Respondents: $500.

Total Annual Burden: 250 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 the BSTs, 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.

OMB Control No.: 3060-0685.

Title: Annual Updating of Maximum Permitted Rates for Regulated

Cable Services.

Form No.: FCC Form 1240.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit, state, local, or tribal

government.

Number of Respondents: 4,500.

Estimated Time Per Response: 10.5 hours (avg.).

Frequency of Response: Annual reporting requirement.

Cost to Respondents: $1,134,000.

Total Annual Burden: 47,250 hours.

Needs and Uses: FCC Form 1240 is used by cable operators to file

for annual rate adjustments to maximum permitted rates for regulated

services to reflect external costs. The FCC Form 1240 implements an

optional rate methodology where cable operators are permitted to make

annual rate adjustments, as opposed to quarterly FCC Form 1210 rate

adjustments. Cable operators' initial FCC Form 1240 filings are

permitted to include projected rate changes attributable to the period

between the last date for which historical cost data is available and

the effective date of the new rates.

Federal Communications Commission.

Magalie Roman Salas,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 98-5810 Filed 3-5-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6712-01-P