83 FR 12274 - Revitalization of the AM Radio Service

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 55 (March 21, 2018)

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved, for a period of three years, information collection requirements adopted in the Commission's Third Report and Order, FCC 17-119. This document is consistent with the Third Report and Order, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing OMB approval and the effective date of the rules.

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 21, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12274-12275]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-05741]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 73

[MB Docket No. 13-249; FCC 17-119]


Revitalization of the AM Radio Service

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule; announcement of effective date.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Federal Communications Commission 
(Commission) announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
has approved, for a period of three years, information collection 
requirements adopted in the Commission's Third Report and Order, FCC 
17-119. This document is consistent with the Third Report and Order, 
which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the 
Federal Register announcing OMB approval and the effective date of the 
rules.

DATES: The rule amendments to 47 CFR 73.151(c)(1)(ix) and (x) and 
(c)(3), 47 CFR 73.154(a), and 47 CFR 73.155, published at 82 FR 51161, 
November 3, 2017, are effective on March 21, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cathy Williams by email at 
[email protected] and telephone at (202) 418-2918.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document announces that, on March 8, 
2018, OMB approved information collection requirements contained in the 
Commission's Report and Order, FCC 17-119, published at 82 FR 51161. 
The OMB Control Number is 3060-0991. The Commission publishes this 
notice as an announcement of the effective date of those information 
collection requirements.

Synopsis

    As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3507), the FCC is notifying the public that it received OMB approval on 
March 8, 2018, for the information collection requirements contained in 
47 CFR 73.151(c)(1)(ix) and (x) and (c)(3), 47 CFR 73.154(a), and 47 
CFR 73.155, as amended, in the Commission's Report and Order, FCC 17-
119. Under 5 CFR part 1320, an agency may not conduct or sponsor a 
collection of information unless it displays a current, valid OMB 
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 that does not display a current, valid OMB Control 
Number. The OMB Control Number is 3060-0991. The foregoing notice is 
required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13, 
October 1, 1995, and 44 U.S.C. 3507.
    The total annual reporting burdens and costs for the respondents 
are as follows:
    OMB Control Number: 3060-0991.
    OMB Approval Date: March 8, 2018.
    OMB Expiration Date: March 31, 2021.
    Title: AM Measurement Data.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 1,800 respondents; 3,135 
responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 0.50 hours-25 hours.
    Frequency of Response: Recordkeeping requirement, Third Party 
disclosure requirement, On occasion reporting requirement.
    Obligation To Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The 
statutory authority for this collection of information is contained in 
Sections 151, 152, 154(i), 303, and 307 of the Communications Act of 
1934, as amended.
    Total Annual Burden: 20,200 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: $1,131,500.
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: There is no need for 
confidentiality treatment with this collection of information.
    Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).
    Needs and Uses: The Commission revised this information collection 
to reflect the September 22, 2017, adoption of the Third Report and 
Order in MB Docket No. 13-249, FCC 17-119, In the Matter of 
Revitalization of AM Radio

[[Page 12275]]

Service (AMR Third R&O). Specifically, the AMR Third R&O removed 
certain requirements and associated burdens contained in 47 CFR 73.151, 
73.154, and 73.155. To the extent the revisions affect reporting or 
record-keeping requirements, they reduce those burdens for AM 
broadcasters operating with directional antenna arrays. The Commission 
received approval for the revised information collection requirements 
contained under this collection from the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB).
    In the 2015 AM revitalization proceeding, the FCC proposed 
streamlining certain technical requirements to assist AM broadcasters 
in providing radio service to consumers. For example, almost 40 percent 
of all AM broadcast stations must employ directional antenna arrays 
during some or all of the broadcast day in order to avoid interference 
with other AM stations. Maintaining a directional signal pattern can be 
technically complex, time-consuming, and expensive. Such stations are 
subject to a variety of rules requiring signal strength measurements 
and other engineering analyses to ensure compliance with their 
authorizations.
    In the AMR Third R&O, the FCC eliminated, clarified, or eased 
several of the rules governing AM stations using directional antenna 
arrays. First, the FCC revises 47 CFR 73.154(a) to relax the rule on 
submission of partial proofs of performance of directional AM antenna 
arrays by eliminating the requirement to take measurements on non-
monitored radials adjacent to monitored radials. Next, the FCC modified 
several rules pertaining to AM stations that use Method of Moments 
(MoM) models of directional array performance. MoM modeling allows 
broadcasters to verify antenna system performance through computer 
modeling, as opposed to sending engineers into the field to take field 
strength measurements. Thus, a proof using a MoM model is less 
expensive than taking field strength measurements of an AM station's 
directional pattern. Specifically, the FCC: (1) Revised 47 CFR 
73.151(c)(1)(ix) to eliminate the requirement of obtaining a registered 
surveyor's certification, provided that no new towers are being added 
to an existing AM array and the tower geometry is not changed; (2) 
added 47 CFR 73.151(c)(1)(x) to extend the exemption from having to 
file a new proof with the FCC to any AM tower modification that does 
not affect the modeled values used in the previously submitted license 
proof; (3) revised 47 CFR 73.151(c)(3) to retain the current 
requirement for submission of reference field strength measurements in 
the initial license application, but to eliminate the requirement to 
submit additional reference field strength measurements in subsequent 
license applications; and (4) revised 47 CFR 73.155 to eliminate the 
requirement for biennial recertification of the performance of a 
directional pattern licensed pursuant to a MoM proof, except when 
system components have been repaired or replaced.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-05741 Filed 3-20-18; 8:45 am]
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