82_FR_29895 82 FR 29770 - Transition Progress Report Form and Filing Requirements for Stations Not Eligible for Reimbursement From the TV Broadcast Relocation Fund

82 FR 29770 - Transition Progress Report Form and Filing Requirements for Stations Not Eligible for Reimbursement From the TV Broadcast Relocation Fund

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 125 (June 30, 2017)

Page Range29770-29772
FR Document2017-13765

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) describes the information that must be provided in periodic progress reports (FCC Form 2100--Schedule 387 (Transition Progress Report)) by full power and Class A television stations that are not eligible to receive payment of relocation expenses from the TV Broadcast Relocation Fund in connection with their being assigned to a new channel through the Incentive Auction.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 125 (Friday, June 30, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 125 (Friday, June 30, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 29770-29772]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-13765]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 73

[MB Docket No. 16-306, GN Docket No. 12-268; DA 17-484]


Transition Progress Report Form and Filing Requirements for 
Stations Not Eligible for Reimbursement From the TV Broadcast 
Relocation Fund

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In this document, the Federal Communications Commission 
(Commission) describes the information that must be provided in 
periodic progress reports (FCC Form 2100--Schedule 387 (Transition 
Progress Report)) by full power and Class A television stations that 
are not eligible to receive payment of relocation expenses from the TV 
Broadcast Relocation Fund in connection with their being assigned to a 
new channel through the Incentive Auction.

DATES: Effective June 30, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joyce Bernstein, 
[email protected], (202) 418-1647, or Kevin Harding, 
[email protected], (202) 418-7077.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's 
document, DA 17-484, MB Docket No. 16-306, GN Docket No. 12-268, 
adopted and released May 18, 2017. The complete text of this document 
is available for inspection and copying during normal business hours in 
the FCC Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street SW., 
Room CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554. The complete text of this document 
is also available for download at http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2017/db0518/DA-17-484A1.pdf.

Synopsis

    The Incentive Auction Task Force and Media Bureau (collectively, 
the Commission) previously determined that stations that are eligible 
for reimbursement from the TV Broadcast Relocation Fund in connection 
with their being assigned to a new channel through the Incentive 
Auction must file reports showing how the disbursed funds have been 
spent and what portion of the stations' construction in complete, and 
sought comment on whether non-reimbursable stations should also file 
reports to show what portion of the stations' construction is complete. 
These Transition Progress Reports will help the Commission, 
broadcasters, those involved in construction of broadcast facilities, 
other interested parties, and the public to monitor the construction of 
stations.
    The Commission announces that each full power and Class A 
television station that will be changing channels during the post-
incentive auction transition and is not eligible for reimbursement of 
its relocation costs from the TV Broadcast Relocation Fund established 
by the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 must follow 
the same progress reporting requirements as reimbursable stations and 
periodically file an FCC Form 2100--Schedule 387 (Transition Progress 
Report) that is attached as Appendix A to the Public Notice DA 17-34. 
The appendix is available at https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-17-34A1.docx. Non-Reimbursable stations must file 
Transition Progress Reports using the Commission's electronic filing 
system starting with first full calendar quarter after close of the 
Incentive Auction, which occurred on April 13, 2017, and on a quarterly 
basis thereafter. In addition to these quarterly reports, Non-
Reimbursable stations must file the reports: (1) 10 weeks before the 
end of their assigned construction deadline; (2) 10 days after they 
complete all work related to construction of their post-auction 
facilities; and (3) five days after they cease broadcasting on their 
pre-auction channel. Once a station has filed a Transition Progress 
Report certifying that it has completed all work related to 
construction of its post-auction facilities and has ceased operating on 
its pre-auction channel, it will no longer be required to file reports. 
The Commission will automatically line the Transition Progress Reports 
to non-reimbursable stations' online local public inspection file on 
the Commission's Web site.

[[Page 29771]]

    Some commenters proposed changes to questions in the Transition 
Progress Report Form adopted for reimbursable stations and certain 
filing procedures, which the Commission treated as requests for 
reconsideration and declined to adopt. The Commission declined to 
incorporate the response of ``unknown at this time'' into the form for 
each question, to change the wording of a question dealing with 
auxiliary antenna systems, to require a more detailed level of 
reporting with respect to a number of questions, to require reports to 
be filed on a less frequent basis, or to allow group owners to file a 
single report for all of their stations.
    Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 Analysis: This document contains 
new or modified information collection requirements. The Commission, as 
part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, has invited 
the general public and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to 
comment on the information collection requirements contained in this 
document in a separate Federal Register Notice, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13, see 44 U.S.C. 3507.
    The Commission will send a copy of the document, DA 17-484, in a 
report to be sent to Congress and the Government Accountability Office 
pursuant to the Congressional Review Act, see 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).

Appendix B: Final Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis

    As required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, as amended 
(``RFA''), an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (``IRFA'') was 
incorporated in the Transition Progress Report Public Notice. The 
Incentive Auction Task Force and Media Bureau sought written public 
comments on the proposals in the Transition Progress Report Public 
Notice, including comment on the IRFA. Because we adopt filing 
requirements for stations in the Public Notice, we have included this 
Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (``FRFA''), which conforms to the 
RFA.
    Need for, and Objectives of, the Rule Changes. The Federal 
Communications Commission (Commission) adopted a 39-month transition 
period during which television stations that are assigned to new 
channels in the incentive auction must construct their new facilities. 
The Commission determined that reassigned television stations that are 
eligible for reimbursement from the TV Broadcast Relocation Fund are 
required, on a regular basis, to provide progress reports to the 
Commission showing how the disbursed funds have been spent and what 
portion of construction is complete. In the Transition Progress Report 
Public Notice, the Media Bureau adopted a form for such progress 
reports and set the filing deadlines for such reports. The Public 
Notice requires that that reassigned television stations that are not 
eligible for reimbursement from the TV Broadcast Relocation Fund (Non-
Reimbursable Stations) provide the same progress reports to the 
Commission on the same schedule as that specified for stations eligible 
for reimbursement. The Transition Progress Report Form requires all 
reassigned stations to certify that certain steps toward construction 
of their post-auction channel either have been completed or are not 
required, and to identify potential problems which they believe may 
make it difficult for them to meet their construction deadlines. The 
information in the progress reports will be used by the Commission, 
stations, and other interested parties to monitor the status of 
reassigned stations' construction during the 39-month transition 
period.
    Summary of Significant Issues Raised by Public Comments in Response 
to the IRFA. No formal comments were filed on the IRFA.
    Response to Comments by the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small 
Business Administration. No comments were filed on the IRFA by the 
Small Business Administration.
    Description and Estimate of the Number of Small Entities to Which 
the Rules Will Apply. The RFA directs agencies to provide a description 
of, and where feasible, an estimate of the number of small entities 
that may be affected by the proposed rules, if adopted. The RFA 
generally defines the term ``small entity'' as having the same meaning 
as the terms ``small business,'' ``small organization,'' and ``small 
governmental jurisdiction.'' In addition, the term ``small business'' 
has the same meaning as the term ``small business concern'' under the 
Small Business Act. A small business concern is one which: (1) Is 
independently owned and operated; (2) is not dominant in its field of 
operation; and (3) satisfies any additional criteria established by the 
SBA. Below, we provide a description of such small entities, as well as 
an estimate of the number of such small entities, where feasible.
    Television Broadcasting. This Economic Census category ``comprises 
establishments primarily engaged in broadcasting images together with 
sound.'' These establishments also produce or transmit visual 
programming to affiliated broadcast television stations, which in turn 
broadcast the programs to the public on a predetermined schedule. 
Programming may originate in their own studio, from an affiliated 
network, or from external sources. The SBA has created the following 
small business size standard for such businesses: those having $38.5 
million or less in annual receipts. The 2012 Economic Census reports 
that 751 firms in this category operated in that year. Of that number, 
656 had annual receipts of $25,000,000 or less, 25 had annual receipts 
between $25,000,000 and $49,999,999 and 70 had annual receipts of 
$50,000,000 or more. Based on this data we therefore estimate that the 
majority of commercial television broadcasters are small entities under 
the applicable SBA size standard.
    The Commission has estimated the number of licensed commercial 
television stations to be 1,384. Of this total, 1,264 stations (or 
about 91 percent) had revenues of $38.5 million or less, according to 
Commission staff review of the BIA Kelsey Inc. Media Access Pro 
Television Database (BIA) on February 24, 2017, and therefore these 
licensees qualify as small entities under the SBA definition. In 
addition, the Commission has estimated the number of licensed 
noncommercial educational (NCE) television stations to be 394. 
Notwithstanding, the Commission does not compile and otherwise does not 
have access to information on the revenue of NCE stations that would 
permit it to determine how many such stations would qualify as small 
entities.
    We note, however, that in assessing whether a business concern 
qualifies as small under the above definition, business (control) 
affiliations must be included. Our estimate, therefore, likely 
overstates the number of small entities that might be affected by our 
action, because the revenue figure on which it is based does not 
include or aggregate revenues from affiliated companies. In addition, 
an element of the definition of ``small business'' is that the entity 
not be dominant in its field of operation. We are unable at this time 
to define or quantify the criteria that would establish whether a 
specific television station is dominant in its field of operation. 
Accordingly, the estimate of small businesses to which rules may apply 
does not exclude any television station from the definition of a small 
business on this basis and is therefore possibly over-inclusive to that 
extent.
    Class A TV Stations. The same SBA definition that applies to 
television broadcast stations would apply to licensees of Class A 
television stations. As noted above, the SBA has created the following 
small business size standard

[[Page 29772]]

for this category: Those having $38.5 million or less in annual 
receipts. The Commission has estimated the number of licensed Class A 
television stations to be 417. Given the nature of these services, we 
will presume that these licensees qualify as small entities under the 
SBA definition.
    Description of Projected Reporting, Recordkeeping, and Other 
Compliance Requirements. The Public Notice adopted the following new 
reporting requirements. Non-Reimbursable Stations must file the 
Transition Progress Report on a quarterly basis, with the first Report 
being filed beginning for the first full quarter after the release of a 
public notice announcing the completion of the incentive auction. The 
deadline for filing the first Report is October 10, 2017. We further 
require that Non-Reimbursable Stations file Transition Progress 
Reports: (1) 10 weeks before the end of their assigned construction 
deadline; (2) 10 days after they complete all work related to 
construction of their post-auction facilities; and (3) five days after 
they cease broadcasting on their pre-auction channel. The Transition 
Progress Reports will be filed electronically using the Commission's 
electronic filing system, and the Commission will make the filings 
viewable in stations' online public inspection files. All reassigned 
stations are assigned to one of 10 Post-Auction Transition Plan Phase 
with construction deadline requirements ranging from November 30, 2018 
to July 3, 2020. Once a station has ceased operating on its pre-auction 
channel, it no longer needs to file reports.
    Steps Taken to Minimize Significant Impact on Small Entities, and 
Significant Alternatives Considered. The RFA requires an agency to 
describe any significant alternatives that it has considered in 
reaching its proposed approach, which may include the following four 
alternatives (among others): (1) The establishment of differing 
compliance or reporting requirements or timetables that take into 
account the resources available to small entities; (2) the 
clarification, consolidation, or simplification of compliance or 
reporting requirements under the rule for small entities; (3) the use 
of performance, rather than design, standard; and (4) an exemption from 
coverage of the rule, or any part thereof, for small entities.
    The reporting requirement adopted in the Public Notice will allow 
the Commission, broadcasters (including those filing the Reports), and 
other interested parties to more closely monitor the status of 
construction during the transition, and focus resources on ensuring 
successful completion of the transition by all reassigned stations and 
continuity of over-the-air television service. In addition, the burdens 
of the reporting requirements are minimal and we believe the benefits 
of the reporting requirements, which will facilitate the successful 
post-incentive auction transition, outweigh any burdens associated with 
compliance.
    Federal Rules that May Duplicate, Overlap, or Conflict With the 
Proposed Rule. None.
    Report to Congress. The Commission will send a copy of the Public 
Notice, including this FRFA, in a report to be sent to Congress and the 
Government Accountability Office pursuant to the Congressional Review 
Act. A copy (or summary thereof) will also be published in the Federal 
Register.
    Report to Small Business Administration. The Commission will send a 
copy of the Public Notice, including this FRFA, to the Chief Counsel 
for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration.

Federal Communications Commission.
Thomas Horan,
Chief of Staff.
[FR Doc. 2017-13765 Filed 6-29-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P



                                                29770                Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 125 / Friday, June 30, 2017 / Rules and Regulations

                                                   Number of Respondents and                            circumstances, the Commission requires                 Daily_Business/2017/db0518/DA-17-
                                                Responses: 991 respondents; 991                         the applicant to provide copies of their               484A1.pdf.
                                                responses.                                              agreements. The Commission did not
                                                                                                                                                               Synopsis
                                                   Estimated Time per Response: 0.5–1                   anticipate that these revisions will
                                                hours.                                                  impact the collection filing burden.                      The Incentive Auction Task Force and
                                                   Frequency of Response:                               OMB therefore approved the FCC                         Media Bureau (collectively, the
                                                Recordkeeping requirement, on                           revision of its currently approved                     Commission) previously determined
                                                occasion reporting requirement and                      information collection on FCC Form 608                 that stations that are eligible for
                                                periodic reporting requirement.                         to revise FCC Form 608 accordingly.                    reimbursement from the TV Broadcast
                                                   Obligation to Respond: Required to                                                                          Relocation Fund in connection with
                                                                                                        Federal Communications Commission.
                                                obtain or retain benefits. Statutory                                                                           their being assigned to a new channel
                                                authority for this collection of                        Marlene H. Dortch,                                     through the Incentive Auction must file
                                                information is contained in 47 U.S.C.                   Secretary, Office of the Secretary.                    reports showing how the disbursed
                                                154, 155, 158, 161, 301, 303(r), 308, 309,              [FR Doc. 2017–12954 Filed 6–29–17; 8:45 am]            funds have been spent and what portion
                                                310 and 332.                                            BILLING CODE 6712–01–P                                 of the stations’ construction in
                                                   Total Annual Burden: 996 hours.                                                                             complete, and sought comment on
                                                   Total Annual Cost: $1,282,075.                                                                              whether non-reimbursable stations
                                                   Nature and Extent of Confidentiality:                FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS                                 should also file reports to show what
                                                In general there is no need for                         COMMISSION                                             portion of the stations’ construction is
                                                confidentiality with this collection of                                                                        complete. These Transition Progress
                                                information.                                            47 CFR Part 73                                         Reports will help the Commission,
                                                   Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No                    [MB Docket No. 16–306, GN Docket No. 12–               broadcasters, those involved in
                                                impact(s).                                              268; DA 17–484]                                        construction of broadcast facilities,
                                                   Needs and Uses: FCC Form 608 is a                                                                           other interested parties, and the public
                                                multipurpose form. It is used to provide                Transition Progress Report Form and                    to monitor the construction of stations.
                                                notification or request approval for any                Filing Requirements for Stations Not                      The Commission announces that each
                                                spectrum leasing arrangement                            Eligible for Reimbursement From the                    full power and Class A television station
                                                (‘‘Leases’’) entered into between an                    TV Broadcast Relocation Fund                           that will be changing channels during
                                                existing licensee (‘‘Licensee’’) in certain                                                                    the post-incentive auction transition
                                                wireless services and a spectrum lessee                 AGENCY:  Federal Communications
                                                                                                                                                               and is not eligible for reimbursement of
                                                (‘‘Lessee’’). This form also is required to             Commission.
                                                                                                                                                               its relocation costs from the TV
                                                notify or request approval for any                      ACTION: Final rule.
                                                                                                                                                               Broadcast Relocation Fund established
                                                spectrum subleasing arrangement                         SUMMARY:    In this document, the Federal              by the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job
                                                (‘‘Sublease’’). The data collected on the               Communications Commission                              Creation Act of 2012 must follow the
                                                form is used by the FCC to determine                    (Commission) describes the information                 same progress reporting requirements as
                                                whether the public interest would be                    that must be provided in periodic                      reimbursable stations and periodically
                                                served by the Lease or Sublease. The                    progress reports (FCC Form 2100—                       file an FCC Form 2100—Schedule 387
                                                form is also used to provide notification               Schedule 387 (Transition Progress                      (Transition Progress Report) that is
                                                for any Private Commons Arrangement                     Report)) by full power and Class A                     attached as Appendix A to the Public
                                                entered into between a Licensee, Lessee,                television stations that are not eligible to           Notice DA 17–34. The appendix is
                                                or Sublessee and a class of third-party                 receive payment of relocation expenses                 available at https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_
                                                users (as defined in Section 1.9080 of                  from the TV Broadcast Relocation Fund                  public/attachmatch/DA-17-34A1.docx.
                                                the Commission’s Rules).                                in connection with their being assigned                Non-Reimbursable stations must file
                                                   The OMB approved revisions to the                    to a new channel through the Incentive                 Transition Progress Reports using the
                                                previously approved collection of                       Auction.                                               Commission’s electronic filing system
                                                information under OMB Control                                                                                  starting with first full calendar quarter
                                                                                                        DATES: Effective June 30, 2017.
                                                Number 3060–1058 to permit the                                                                                 after close of the Incentive Auction,
                                                collection of the additional information                ADDRESSES: Federal Communications                      which occurred on April 13, 2017, and
                                                for Commission licenses and permits,                    Commission, 445 12th Street SW.,                       on a quarterly basis thereafter. In
                                                pursuant to the rules and information                   Washington, DC 20554.                                  addition to these quarterly reports, Non-
                                                collection requirements adopted by the                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                       Reimbursable stations must file the
                                                Commission in the Part 1 R&O and the                    Joyce Bernstein, Joyce.Bernstein@                      reports: (1) 10 weeks before the end of
                                                Mobile Spectrum Holdings R&O. As part                   fcc.gov, (202) 418–1647, or Kevin                      their assigned construction deadline; (2)
                                                of the collection, the Commission is                    Harding, Kevin.Harding@fcc.gov, (202)                  10 days after they complete all work
                                                seeking approval for the information                    418–7077.                                              related to construction of their post-
                                                collection and recordkeeping                            SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a                   auction facilities; and (3) five days after
                                                requirements associated with FCC Form                   summary of the Commission’s                            they cease broadcasting on their pre-
                                                608.                                                    document, DA 17–484, MB Docket No.                     auction channel. Once a station has
                                                   In addition, OMB approved various                    16–306, GN Docket No. 12–268, adopted                  filed a Transition Progress Report
                                                other, non-substantive editorial/                       and released May 18, 2017. The                         certifying that it has completed all work
                                                consistency edits and updates to FCC                    complete text of this document is                      related to construction of its post-
                                                Form 608 that corrected inconsistent                    available for inspection and copying                   auction facilities and has ceased
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                                                capitalization of words and other                       during normal business hours in the                    operating on its pre-auction channel, it
                                                typographical errors, and better align                  FCC Reference Information Center,                      will no longer be required to file reports.
                                                the text on the form with the text in the               Portals II, 445 12th Street SW., Room                  The Commission will automatically line
                                                Commission rules both generally and in                  CY–A257, Washington, DC 20554. The                     the Transition Progress Reports to non-
                                                connection with recent non-substantive,                 complete text of this document is also                 reimbursable stations’ online local
                                                organizational amendments to the                        available for download at http://                      public inspection file on the
                                                Commission’s rules. Also, in certain                    transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/                     Commission’s Web site.


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                                                                     Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 125 / Friday, June 30, 2017 / Rules and Regulations                                        29771

                                                   Some commenters proposed changes                     disbursed funds have been spent and                    stations, which in turn broadcast the
                                                to questions in the Transition Progress                 what portion of construction is                        programs to the public on a
                                                Report Form adopted for reimbursable                    complete. In the Transition Progress                   predetermined schedule. Programming
                                                stations and certain filing procedures,                 Report Public Notice, the Media Bureau                 may originate in their own studio, from
                                                which the Commission treated as                         adopted a form for such progress reports               an affiliated network, or from external
                                                requests for reconsideration and                        and set the filing deadlines for such                  sources. The SBA has created the
                                                declined to adopt. The Commission                       reports. The Public Notice requires that               following small business size standard
                                                declined to incorporate the response of                 that reassigned television stations that               for such businesses: those having $38.5
                                                ‘‘unknown at this time’’ into the form                  are not eligible for reimbursement from                million or less in annual receipts. The
                                                for each question, to change the wording                the TV Broadcast Relocation Fund (Non-                 2012 Economic Census reports that 751
                                                of a question dealing with auxiliary                    Reimbursable Stations) provide the                     firms in this category operated in that
                                                antenna systems, to require a more                      same progress reports to the                           year. Of that number, 656 had annual
                                                detailed level of reporting with respect                Commission on the same schedule as                     receipts of $25,000,000 or less, 25 had
                                                to a number of questions, to require                    that specified for stations eligible for               annual receipts between $25,000,000
                                                reports to be filed on a less frequent                  reimbursement. The Transition Progress                 and $49,999,999 and 70 had annual
                                                basis, or to allow group owners to file                 Report Form requires all reassigned                    receipts of $50,000,000 or more. Based
                                                a single report for all of their stations.              stations to certify that certain steps                 on this data we therefore estimate that
                                                   Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995                      toward construction of their post-                     the majority of commercial television
                                                Analysis: This document contains new                    auction channel either have been                       broadcasters are small entities under the
                                                or modified information collection                      completed or are not required, and to                  applicable SBA size standard.
                                                requirements. The Commission, as part                   identify potential problems which they                    The Commission has estimated the
                                                of its continuing effort to reduce                      believe may make it difficult for them to              number of licensed commercial
                                                paperwork burdens, has invited the                      meet their construction deadlines. The                 television stations to be 1,384. Of this
                                                general public and the Office of                        information in the progress reports will               total, 1,264 stations (or about 91
                                                Management and Budget (OMB) to                          be used by the Commission, stations,                   percent) had revenues of $38.5 million
                                                comment on the information collection                   and other interested parties to monitor                or less, according to Commission staff
                                                requirements contained in this                          the status of reassigned stations’                     review of the BIA Kelsey Inc. Media
                                                document in a separate Federal Register                 construction during the 39-month                       Access Pro Television Database (BIA) on
                                                Notice, as required by the Paperwork                    transition period.                                     February 24, 2017, and therefore these
                                                Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104–                     Summary of Significant Issues Raised                licensees qualify as small entities under
                                                13, see 44 U.S.C. 3507.                                 by Public Comments in Response to the                  the SBA definition. In addition, the
                                                   The Commission will send a copy of                   IRFA. No formal comments were filed                    Commission has estimated the number
                                                the document, DA 17–484, in a report to                 on the IRFA.                                           of licensed noncommercial educational
                                                be sent to Congress and the Government                     Response to Comments by the Chief                   (NCE) television stations to be 394.
                                                Accountability Office pursuant to the                   Counsel for Advocacy of the Small                      Notwithstanding, the Commission does
                                                Congressional Review Act, see 5 U.S.C.                  Business Administration. No comments                   not compile and otherwise does not
                                                801(a)(1)(A).                                           were filed on the IRFA by the Small                    have access to information on the
                                                                                                        Business Administration.                               revenue of NCE stations that would
                                                Appendix B: Final Regulatory                               Description and Estimate of the
                                                Flexibility Act Analysis                                                                                       permit it to determine how many such
                                                                                                        Number of Small Entities to Which the                  stations would qualify as small entities.
                                                   As required by the Regulatory                        Rules Will Apply. The RFA directs                         We note, however, that in assessing
                                                Flexibility Act of 1980, as amended                     agencies to provide a description of, and              whether a business concern qualifies as
                                                (‘‘RFA’’), an Initial Regulatory                        where feasible, an estimate of the                     small under the above definition,
                                                Flexibility Analysis (‘‘IRFA’’) was                     number of small entities that may be                   business (control) affiliations must be
                                                incorporated in the Transition Progress                 affected by the proposed rules, if                     included. Our estimate, therefore, likely
                                                Report Public Notice. The Incentive                     adopted. The RFA generally defines the                 overstates the number of small entities
                                                Auction Task Force and Media Bureau                     term ‘‘small entity’’ as having the same               that might be affected by our action,
                                                sought written public comments on the                   meaning as the terms ‘‘small business,’’               because the revenue figure on which it
                                                proposals in the Transition Progress                    ‘‘small organization,’’ and ‘‘small                    is based does not include or aggregate
                                                Report Public Notice, including                         governmental jurisdiction.’’ In addition,              revenues from affiliated companies. In
                                                comment on the IRFA. Because we                         the term ‘‘small business’’ has the same               addition, an element of the definition of
                                                adopt filing requirements for stations in               meaning as the term ‘‘small business                   ‘‘small business’’ is that the entity not
                                                the Public Notice, we have included this                concern’’ under the Small Business Act.                be dominant in its field of operation. We
                                                Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis                   A small business concern is one which:                 are unable at this time to define or
                                                (‘‘FRFA’’), which conforms to the RFA.                  (1) Is independently owned and                         quantify the criteria that would
                                                   Need for, and Objectives of, the Rule                operated; (2) is not dominant in its field             establish whether a specific television
                                                Changes. The Federal Communications                     of operation; and (3) satisfies any                    station is dominant in its field of
                                                Commission (Commission) adopted a                       additional criteria established by the                 operation. Accordingly, the estimate of
                                                39-month transition period during                       SBA. Below, we provide a description of                small businesses to which rules may
                                                which television stations that are                      such small entities, as well as an                     apply does not exclude any television
                                                assigned to new channels in the                         estimate of the number of such small                   station from the definition of a small
                                                incentive auction must construct their                  entities, where feasible.                              business on this basis and is therefore
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                                                new facilities. The Commission                             Television Broadcasting. This                       possibly over-inclusive to that extent.
                                                determined that reassigned television                   Economic Census category ‘‘comprises                      Class A TV Stations. The same SBA
                                                stations that are eligible for                          establishments primarily engaged in                    definition that applies to television
                                                reimbursement from the TV Broadcast                     broadcasting images together with                      broadcast stations would apply to
                                                Relocation Fund are required, on a                      sound.’’ These establishments also                     licensees of Class A television stations.
                                                regular basis, to provide progress reports              produce or transmit visual programming                 As noted above, the SBA has created the
                                                to the Commission showing how the                       to affiliated broadcast television                     following small business size standard


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                                                29772                Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 125 / Friday, June 30, 2017 / Rules and Regulations

                                                for this category: Those having $38.5                   during the transition, and focus                       framework process; establishes
                                                million or less in annual receipts. The                 resources on ensuring successful                       spawning SMZs off North Carolina,
                                                Commission has estimated the number                     completion of the transition by all                    South Carolina, and Florida; establishes
                                                of licensed Class A television stations to              reassigned stations and continuity of                  transit and anchoring provisions in the
                                                be 417. Given the nature of these                       over-the-air television service. In                    spawning SMZs; and establishes a
                                                services, we will presume that these                    addition, the burdens of the reporting                 sunset provision for most of the
                                                licensees qualify as small entities under               requirements are minimal and we                        spawning SMZs. This final rule also
                                                the SBA definition.                                     believe the benefits of the reporting                  moves the boundary of the existing
                                                   Description of Projected Reporting,                  requirements, which will facilitate the                Charleston Deep Artificial Reef Marine
                                                Recordkeeping, and Other Compliance                     successful post-incentive auction                      Protected Area (MPA). The purpose of
                                                Requirements. The Public Notice                         transition, outweigh any burdens                       this final rule is to protect spawning
                                                adopted the following new reporting                     associated with compliance.                            snapper-grouper species and the habitat
                                                requirements. Non-Reimbursable                             Federal Rules that May Duplicate,                   where they spawn, and to reduce
                                                Stations must file the Transition                       Overlap, or Conflict With the Proposed                 bycatch and bycatch mortality for
                                                Progress Report on a quarterly basis,                   Rule. None.                                            snapper-grouper species, including
                                                with the first Report being filed                          Report to Congress. The Commission                  speckled hind and warsaw grouper.
                                                beginning for the first full quarter after              will send a copy of the Public Notice,                 DATES: This final rule is effective July
                                                the release of a public notice                          including this FRFA, in a report to be                 31, 2017.
                                                announcing the completion of the                        sent to Congress and the Government                    ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of
                                                incentive auction. The deadline for                     Accountability Office pursuant to the                  Amendment 36 may be obtained from
                                                filing the first Report is October 10,                  Congressional Review Act. A copy (or                   www.regulations.gov or the Southeast
                                                2017. We further require that Non-                      summary thereof) will also be published                Regional Office Web site at http://
                                                Reimbursable Stations file Transition                   in the Federal Register.                               sero.nmfs.noaa.gov. Amendment 36
                                                Progress Reports: (1) 10 weeks before                      Report to Small Business                            includes an environmental assessment,
                                                the end of their assigned construction                  Administration. The Commission will
                                                deadline; (2) 10 days after they complete                                                                      Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)
                                                                                                        send a copy of the Public Notice,                      analysis, regulatory impact review, and
                                                all work related to construction of their               including this FRFA, to the Chief
                                                post-auction facilities; and (3) five days                                                                     fishery impact statement.
                                                                                                        Counsel for Advocacy of the Small                      FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                after they cease broadcasting on their                  Business Administration.
                                                pre-auction channel. The Transition                                                                            Frank Helies, NMFS Southeast Regional
                                                Progress Reports will be filed                          Federal Communications Commission.                     Office, telephone: 727–824–5305, or
                                                electronically using the Commission’s                   Thomas Horan,                                          email: frank.helies@noaa.gov.
                                                electronic filing system, and the                       Chief of Staff.                                        SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
                                                Commission will make the filings                        [FR Doc. 2017–13765 Filed 6–29–17; 8:45 am]            snapper-grouper fishery in the South
                                                viewable in stations’ online public                     BILLING CODE 6712–01–P                                 Atlantic region is managed under the
                                                inspection files. All reassigned stations                                                                      FMP and includes speckled hind and
                                                are assigned to one of 10 Post-Auction                                                                         warsaw grouper, along with other
                                                Transition Plan Phase with construction                 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE                                 snapper-grouper species. The FMP was
                                                deadline requirements ranging from                                                                             prepared by the Council and is
                                                November 30, 2018 to July 3, 2020.                      National Oceanic and Atmospheric                       implemented by NMFS through
                                                Once a station has ceased operating on                  Administration                                         regulations at 50 CFR part 622 under the
                                                its pre-auction channel, it no longer                                                                          authority of the Magnuson-Stevens
                                                needs to file reports.                                  50 CFR Part 622                                        Fishery Conservation and Management
                                                   Steps Taken to Minimize Significant                                                                         Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).
                                                Impact on Small Entities, and                           [Docket No. 161020986–7352–02]                            On January 4, 2017, NMFS published
                                                Significant Alternatives Considered. The                                                                       a notice of availability of Amendment
                                                                                                        RIN 0648–BG38
                                                RFA requires an agency to describe any                                                                         36 and requested public comment (82
                                                significant alternatives that it has                    Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of                    FR 810). On January 18, 2017, NMFS
                                                considered in reaching its proposed                     Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper-                   published the proposed rule to
                                                approach, which may include the                         Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic                  implement Amendment 36 and
                                                following four alternatives (among                      Region; Amendment 36                                   requested public comment (82 FR 5512).
                                                others): (1) The establishment of                                                                              The proposed rule and Amendment 36
                                                differing compliance or reporting                       AGENCY:  National Marine Fisheries                     outline the rationale for the actions
                                                requirements or timetables that take into               Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and                   contained in this final rule. A summary
                                                account the resources available to small                Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),                     of the actions implemented by
                                                entities; (2) the clarification,                        Commerce.                                              Amendment 36 and this final rule is
                                                consolidation, or simplification of                     ACTION: Final rule.                                    provided below.
                                                compliance or reporting requirements
                                                under the rule for small entities; (3) the              SUMMARY:   NMFS issues regulations to                  Management Measures Contained in
                                                use of performance, rather than design,                 implement Amendment 36 to the                          This Final Rule
                                                standard; and (4) an exemption from                     Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the                     This final rule modifies the FMP
                                                coverage of the rule, or any part thereof,              Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South                   framework procedures to allow
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with RULES




                                                for small entities.                                     Atlantic Region as prepared and                        spawning SMZs to be established or
                                                   The reporting requirement adopted in                 submitted by the South Atlantic Fishery                modified through the framework
                                                the Public Notice will allow the                        Management Council (Council). This                     process; establishes spawning SMZs off
                                                Commission, broadcasters (including                     final rule modifies the FMP framework                  North Carolina, South Carolina, and
                                                those filing the Reports), and other                    procedures to allow spawning special                   Florida; establishes transit and
                                                interested parties to more closely                      management zones (SMZs) to be                          anchoring provisions in the spawning
                                                monitor the status of construction                      established or modified through the                    SMZs; establishes a sunset provision for


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Document Created: 2017-06-30 06:01:40
Document Modified: 2017-06-30 06:01:40
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionFinal rule.
DatesEffective June 30, 2017.
ContactJoyce Bernstein, [email protected], (202) 418-1647, or Kevin Harding, [email protected], (202) 418-7077.
FR Citation82 FR 29770 

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