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.

January 27, 1999.

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, 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 8, 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

Commissions, 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-XXXX.

Title: Direct Broadcast Satellite Public Interest Obligations.

Form Number: N/A.

Type of Review: New collection.

Respondents: Businesses or other for-profit entities; Individuals

or households.

Number of Respondents: 8.

Estimated Time per Response: 12 hours.

Frequency of Response: Recordkeeping.

Total Annual Burden: 96 hours.

Total Annual Costs: $1,440.

Needs and Uses: The Commission imposes public interest obligations

upon providers of Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) Services, to grant

access for political candidate advertising and to reserve four per cent

of channel capacity for educational and informational programming. Once

the Report and Order comes into effect, every DBS licensee will be

required to maintain a public file at its headquarters that contains:

(i) annual measurements of channel capacity and average calculations on

which it bases its four percent reservation; (ii) a record of entities

to which educational and informational programming capacity is

provided, the amount of capacity provided to each entity, the

conditions under which it is being provided, and the rates, if any,

being paid by each entity; (iii) a record of the entities that have

requested capacity and the disposition of those requests; and (iv) a

record of all requests for channel time made by political candidates

and the disposition of those requests.

Statutory authority for collection of this information is contained

in 47 U.S.C. Sections 335, 315, and 312 (a)(7).

The information will be used by the FCC and interested members of

the public to monitor DBS providers' compliance with public interest

obligations. Without such information, the FCC could not determine

whether DBS providers have compiled with their obligations.

Federal Communications Commission.

Magalie Roman Salas,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 99-2776 Filed 2-4-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6712-01-P