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

April 27, 1999.

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 July 6, 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., Room 1-A804, 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: 3060-0716.

Title: Proposed Section 73.1630 Blanketing Interference.

Form Number: N/A.

Type of Review: Extension of currently approved collection.

Respondents: Individual or households; Business of other for-profit

entities; Not-for-profit institutions.

Number of Respondents: 21,000.

Estimated Time per Response: 1 to 2 hours.

Frequency of response: On occasion reporting requirements.

Total Annual Burden: 41,000 hours

Total Annual Cost: None.

Needs and Uses: This rulemaking proceeding proposed to provide

detailed clarification of the AM, FM, and TV licensee's

responsibilities in resolving/eliminating blanketing interference

caused by their individual stations. Under the current rules (section

73.88 (AM), section 73.318 (FM), section 73.685(d) (TV)), the licensee

is financially responsible for resolving complaints of interference

within one year of program test authority when certain conditions are

met. After the first year, a licensee is only required to provide

technical assistance in determining the cause of the interference. In

this NPRM, we proposed to consolidate all blanketing interference rules

under a new section 73.1630, Blanketing Interference. This new rule was

designed to facilitate the resolution of broadcast interference

problems and set forth all responsibilities of the licensee/permittee

of a broadcast station.

For one year after the broadcast station commences program tests,

the licensee is financially responsible for resolving blanketing

interference complaints. After the first year, the licensee is

obligated to provide technical assistance to resolve complaints of

blanketing interference. The information provided to complainants will

be used to facilitate the resolution of complaints of blanketing

interference.

Federal Communications Commission.

Magalie Roman Salas,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 99-11209 Filed 5-4-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6712-01-P