83_FR_50116 83 FR 49924 - Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission

83 FR 49924 - Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 192 (October 3, 2018)

Page Range49924-49926
FR Document2018-21476

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collections. Comments are requested concerning: 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; the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; 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; and ways to further reduce the information collection burden on small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees. The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the PRA that does not display a valid OMB control number.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 192 (Wednesday, October 3, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 192 (Wednesday, October 3, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49924-49926]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-21476]



[[Page 49924]]

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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[OMB 3060-0207]


Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal 
Communications Commission

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, 
and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the 
Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) invites the 
general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to 
comment on the following information collections. Comments are 
requested concerning: 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; the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; 
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; and ways to further reduce the 
information collection burden on small business concerns with fewer 
than 25 employees.
    The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for 
failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the PRA 
that does not display a valid OMB control number.

DATES: Written PRA comments should be submitted on or before December 
3, 2018. 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 PRA comments to Nicole Ongele, FCC, via email 
[email protected] and to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information about the 
information collection, contact Nicole Ongele, (202) 418-2991.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    OMB Control Number: 3060-0207.
    Title: Part 11--Emergency Alert System (EAS), Orders, FCC 18-94.
    Form No.: N/A.
    Type of Review: Revision of currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-profit 
institutions; State, Local, or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 63,084 respondents; 3,588,830 
responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 0.017 hours--100 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement, annual 
reporting requirement, one-time reporting requirement, recordkeeping 
requirement and third-party disclosure requirements.
    Obligation to Respond: Mandatory. Statutory authority for this 
information collection is contained in 47 U.S.C. 154(i) and 606 of the 
Communications Act of 1934, as amended.
    Total Annual Burden: 140,751 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: No Cost.
    Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No Impact(s).
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: For false alert information 
filed with the Commission via email to the FCC Ops Center at 
[email protected], the Commission will share individual and aggregated 
data on a confidential basis with other federal agencies and state 
governmental emergency management agencies that have confidentiality 
protection at least equal to that provided by the Freedom of 
Information Act. State EAS Plan data and any aggregation of such data 
will have the same level of confidentiality as data filed in the ETRS, 
i.e., the Commission will share individual and aggregated data on a 
confidential basis with other federal agencies and state governmental 
emergency management agencies that have confidentiality protection at 
least equal to that provided by the Freedom of Information Act.
    Needs and Uses: Part 11 contains rules and regulations addressing 
the nation's Emergency Alert System (EAS). The EAS provides the 
President with the capability to provide immediate communications and 
information to the general public during periods of national emergency 
over broadcast television and radio, cable, direct broadcast radio and 
other EAS Participants, as defined in Section 11.11(a) of the 
Commission's rules. The EAS also provides state and local governments 
and the National Weather Service with the capability to provide 
immediate communications and information to the public concerning 
emergency situations posing a threat to life and property. The manner 
in which the EAS delivers alerts to the public is set forth in State 
EAS Plans, which are drafted by State Emergency Communications 
Committees (SECCs), the entities required to submit State EAS Plans to 
the Commission's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) 
under Section 11.21 of the Commission's rules.
    In the Order, PS Dockets 15-94, 15-91, FCC 18-94, the Commission 
amended Section 11.45 of its rules to require that no later than 
twenty-four (24) hours of an EAS Participant's discovery that it has 
transmitted or otherwise sent a false alert to the public, the EAS 
Participant send an email to the FCC Ops Center (at [email protected]), 
informing the Commission of the event and of any details that the EAS 
Participant may have concerning the event. In addition, the Commission 
amended Section 11.61 of the rules to include ``Live Code Tests'' as a 
separate category of alerting exercise that EAS Participants may 
undertake voluntarily, provided such live code tests are conducted in 
accordance with specific parameters, including: (1) Notifying the 
public before the test that live event codes will be used, but that no 
emergency is, in fact, occurring; (2) to the extent technically 
feasible, stating in the test message that the event is only a test; 
and (3) consistent with the Commission's rules, providing in widely 
accessible formats the required notification to the public that the 
test is not, in fact, a warning about an actual emergency.
    The Commission seeks Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval 
of these rule amendments as a modification of a previously approved 
information collection. The false alert reporting obligation is 
essential to provide the Commission, FEMA and other affected 
stakeholders with the information necessary to identify and mitigate 
problems with the EAS, and benefits ongoing EAS reliability. The false 
alert reporting rules also will provide a significant public safety 
benefit by allowing the Commission to detect whether there are trends 
and patterns in false alerts that may indicate weaknesses that require 
further Commission study and action to strengthen the alerting system. 
The ``Live Code Testing'' provisions remove regulatory obstacles and 
reduce time and cost burdens on EAS Participants by eliminating the 
need to obtain a waiver to conduct such tests. These testing rules will 
promote greater proficiency in the use of EAS, both by EAS alert 
initiators and EAS Participants, which will help address potential gaps 
in alert originator training.
    In the Order, PS Docket No. 15-94, FCC 18-39, the Commission 
adopted a

[[Page 49925]]

rule obligating SECCs to file State EAS Plans electronically through 
the new Alert Reporting System (ARS), rather than in paper-based 
filings, the method currently approved by OMB for this collection. For 
the required electronic filing, the Commission has developed a proposed 
reporting template, attached as Appendix D to the Order, and seeks OMB 
approval of the proposed template as a modification of a previously 
approved information collection. The proposed template will decrease 
the paperwork burden associated with this collection over time, and 
there is no change to any other reporting obligation in this 
collection. The information sought in this collection is necessary and 
vital to the effective electronic filing of State EAS Plans in the ARS, 
which will replace paper-based filing requirements, minimize the 
burdens on SECCs, and allow the Commission, the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency (FEMA), and other authorized entities to better 
access and use up-to-date information about the EAS, thus increasing 
its value as a tool to protect life and property for all Americans.
    The following information collections contained in Part 11 may be 
impacted by the rule amendments described herein. With respect to the 
establishment of a false alert reporting obligation, the Commission 
found such obligation to be minimally burdensome, affecting 
approximately 290 EAS Participants annually, with each successive year 
likely involving a different group of EAS Participants, and requiring 
no more than 15 minutes to email the required information to the FCC 
Ops Center. With respect to the establishment of ``Live Code Test'' 
rules, which codified requirements that were previously imposed on 
waivers granted by the Commission, the Commission found that such 
action reduced time and cost burdens on EAS Participants by eliminating 
the need to obtain a waiver.
    With respect to the establishment of a mandatory electronic test 
reporting system that EAS participants must utilize to file identifying 
and test result data, the Commission noted that this electronic 
submission system would impose a lesser burden on EAS test participants 
because they could input electronically (via a web-based interface) the 
same information into a confidential database that the Commission would 
use to monitor and assess the test. This information would include 
identifying information such as station call letters, license 
identification number, geographic coordinates, EAS designation (Local 
Primary, National Primary, etc.), EAS monitoring assignment, as well as 
a 24/7 emergency contact for the EAS Participant. The only difference, 
other than the electronic nature of the filing, would be the timing of 
the collections. Test participants would submit the identifying data. 
These rules may impact currently existing paperwork collection 
requirements as discussed below.
    Section 11.15 requires a copy of the EAS operating handbook to be 
located at normal duty positions or EAS equipment locations when an 
operator is required to be on duty. The handbook must be immediately 
available to staff responsible for authenticating messages and 
initiating actions. Copies of the handbook are posted on the 
Commission's website and can be obtained at https://www.fcc.gov/general/emergency-alert-system-eas.
    Section 11.21 requires that state and local EAS plans be reviewed 
and approved by the Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security, prior 
to implementation to ensure that they are consistent with national 
plans, FCC regulations, and EAS operation.
    Section 11.34 requires manufacturers to include instructions and 
information on how to install, operate and program an EAS Encoder, EAS 
Decoder, or combined unit and a list of all U.S., State, Territory and 
Offshore (Marine Area) ANSI number codes with each unit sold or 
marketed in the U.S. This requirement would be done in the normal 
course of doing business.
    Section 11.35 requires that all EAS Participants are responsible 
for ensuring that EAS Encoders/Decoders and Attention Signal generating 
and receiving equipment used as part of the EAS are installed so that 
the monitoring and transmitting functions are available during the 
times the stations/systems are in operation. EAS Participants must 
determine the cause of any failure to receive the required tests or 
activations. When the EAS is not operating properly, section 11.35 
requires appropriate entries be made in the station/system logs 
indicating why any tests were not received for all broadcast streams 
and cable systems. All other EAS Participants must also keep record 
indicating reasons why any tests were not received and these records 
must be retained for two years, maintained at the EAS Participant's 
headquarters, and made available for public inspection upon reasonable 
request.
    Section 11.35 also requires that entries be made in the station/
system logs, and records of other EAS Participants, when the EAS 
Encoder/Decoder becomes defective showing the date and time the 
equipment was removed and restored to service. If replacement of 
defective equipment is not completed within 60 days, an informal 
request shall be submitted to the District Director of the FCC field 
office. For DBS and SDARS providers, this informal request shall be 
submitted to the District Director of the FCC field office serving the 
area where their headquarters is located. This request must explain 
what steps have been taken to repair or replace the defective 
equipment, the alternative procedures being used while the defective 
equipment is out of service and when the defective equipment will be 
repaired or replaced.
    Section 11.41 allows all EAS Participants to submit a written 
request to the FCC asking to be a Non-Participating National source. In 
addition, a Non-Participating National source that wants to become a 
Participating National source must submit a written request to the FCC.
    Section 11.42 allows a communications common carrier to participate 
in the national level EAS, without charge. A communications common 
carrier rendering free service is required to file with the FCC, on or 
before July 31st and January 31st of each year, reports covering the 
six months ending on June 30th and December 31st respectively. These 
reports shall state what free service was rendered under this rule and 
the charges in dollars which would have accrued to the carrier for this 
service if charges had been collected at the published tariff rates if 
such carriers are required to file tariffs.
    Section 11.43 allows entities to voluntarily participate in the 
national level EAS after submission of a written request to the Chief, 
Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau.
    Section 11.51 requires that EAS equipment be operational, ready to 
monitor, transmit and receive EAS electronic signals. Cable and 
wireless cable systems, both analog and digital, can elect not to 
interrupt EAS messages from broadcast stations based upon a written 
agreement between all concerned. Furthermore, cable and wireless cable 
systems, both analog and digital, can elect not to interrupt the 
programming of a broadcast station carrying news or weather-related 
emergency information with state and local EAS messages based upon a 
written agreement between all concerned. These written agreements are 
contained in state and local franchise agreements.
    Section 11.51 also requires all actions to be logged when manual 
interruption of programming and transmission of EAS messages is used. 
Estimates for

[[Page 49926]]

testing are included in the estimate for section 11.61.
    Section 11.52 requires all EAS Participants to monitor two EAS 
sources. If the required EAS sources cannot be received, alternate 
arrangements or a waiver may be obtained by written request to the 
FCC's EAS office. In an emergency, a waiver may be issued over the 
telephone with a follow-up letter to confirm temporary or permanent 
reassignment. In addition, EAS Participants are required to interrupt 
normal programming either automatically or manually when they receive 
an EAS message in which the header code contains the event codes for 
emergency action notification, emergency action termination and 
required monthly test for their state or state/county location.
    Section 11.54 requires EAS Participants to enter into their logs/
records the time of receipt of an emergency alert notice and an 
emergency action termination messages during a national level 
emergency.
    Section 11.55 requires EAS participants to monitor their emergency 
alert system upon receipt of a state or local area EAS message. 
Stations/systems must also enter into their logs/records the time of 
receipt of an emergency alert message. If an SDARS licensee or DBS 
provider is unable to receive and transmit state and local EAS 
messages, it must inform its subscribers, on its website, and in 
writing on an annual basis of which channels are and are not capable of 
supplying state and local EAS messages.
    Section 11.61 requires EAS Participants to conduct periodic EAS 
tests. Tests of the EAS header codes, attention signal, test script and 
EOM code are required to be performed monthly. Tests of the EAS header 
codes and end of message codes are made at least once a week. National 
primary sources shall participate in tests as appropriate. DBS 
providers, Class D non-commercial educational FM stations and low power 
TV stations are not required to transmit this test but must log receipt 
of the test. The FCC may request a report of the tests of the national 
primary sources. In addition, entries must be made in stations/systems 
logs/records as previously stated.
    This information is used by FCC staff as part of routine 
inspections of EAS Participants. Accurate recordkeeping of this data is 
vital in determining the location and nature of possible equipment 
failure on the part of the transmitting or receiving entity. 
Furthermore, since the national level EAS is solely for the President's 
use, its proper operation must be assured.

Federal Communications Commission.
Katura Jackson,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-21476 Filed 10-2-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6712-01-P



                                               49924                      Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 192 / Wednesday, October 3, 2018 / Notices

                                               FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS                                     Form No.: N/A.                                     Communications Committees (SECCs),
                                               COMMISSION                                                 Type of Review: Revision of currently              the entities required to submit State
                                                                                                       approved collection.                                  EAS Plans to the Commission’s Public
                                               [OMB 3060–0207]                                            Respondents: Business or other for-                Safety and Homeland Security Bureau
                                                                                                       profit; Not-for-profit institutions; State,           (PSHSB) under Section 11.21 of the
                                               Information Collection Being Reviewed
                                                                                                       Local, or Tribal Government.                          Commission’s rules.
                                               by the Federal Communications                              Number of Respondents and                             In the Order, PS Dockets 15–94, 15–
                                               Commission                                              Responses: 63,084 respondents;                        91, FCC 18–94, the Commission
                                               AGENCY: Federal Communications                          3,588,830 responses.                                  amended Section 11.45 of its rules to
                                               Commission.                                                Estimated Time per Response: 0.017                 require that no later than twenty-four
                                               ACTION: Notice and request for                          hours—100 hours.                                      (24) hours of an EAS Participant’s
                                               comments.                                                  Frequency of Response: On occasion                 discovery that it has transmitted or
                                                                                                       reporting requirement, annual reporting               otherwise sent a false alert to the public,
                                               SUMMARY:    As part of its continuing effort            requirement, one-time reporting                       the EAS Participant send an email to the
                                               to reduce paperwork burdens, and as                     requirement, recordkeeping requirement                FCC Ops Center (at FCCOPS@fcc.gov),
                                               required by the Paperwork Reduction                     and third-party disclosure requirements.              informing the Commission of the event
                                               Act of 1995 (PRA), the Federal                             Obligation to Respond: Mandatory.                  and of any details that the EAS
                                               Communications Commission (FCC or                       Statutory authority for this information              Participant may have concerning the
                                               Commission) invites the general public                  collection is contained in 47 U.S.C.                  event. In addition, the Commission
                                               and other Federal agencies to take this                 154(i) and 606 of the Communications                  amended Section 11.61 of the rules to
                                               opportunity to comment on the                           Act of 1934, as amended.                              include ‘‘Live Code Tests’’ as a separate
                                               following information collections.                         Total Annual Burden: 140,751 hours.                category of alerting exercise that EAS
                                               Comments are requested concerning:                         Total Annual Cost: No Cost.                        Participants may undertake voluntarily,
                                               Whether the proposed collection of                         Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No                  provided such live code tests are
                                               information is necessary for the proper                 Impact(s).                                            conducted in accordance with specific
                                                                                                          Nature and Extent of Confidentiality:              parameters, including: (1) Notifying the
                                               performance of the functions of the
                                                                                                       For false alert information filed with the            public before the test that live event
                                               Commission, including whether the
                                                                                                       Commission via email to the FCC Ops                   codes will be used, but that no
                                               information shall have practical utility;
                                                                                                       Center at FCCOPS@fcc.gov, the                         emergency is, in fact, occurring; (2) to
                                               the accuracy of the Commission’s
                                                                                                       Commission will share individual and                  the extent technically feasible, stating in
                                               burden estimate; ways to enhance the
                                                                                                       aggregated data on a confidential basis               the test message that the event is only
                                               quality, utility, and clarity of the
                                                                                                       with other federal agencies and state                 a test; and (3) consistent with the
                                               information collected; ways to minimize
                                                                                                       governmental emergency management                     Commission’s rules, providing in
                                               the burden of the collection of
                                                                                                       agencies that have confidentiality                    widely accessible formats the required
                                               information on the respondents,
                                                                                                       protection at least equal to that provided            notification to the public that the test is
                                               including the use of automated
                                                                                                       by the Freedom of Information Act.                    not, in fact, a warning about an actual
                                               collection techniques or other forms of
                                                                                                       State EAS Plan data and any aggregation               emergency.
                                               information technology; and ways to
                                                                                                       of such data will have the same level of                 The Commission seeks Office of
                                               further reduce the information
                                                                                                       confidentiality as data filed in the ETRS,            Management and Budget (OMB)
                                               collection burden on small business
                                                                                                       i.e., the Commission will share                       approval of these rule amendments as a
                                               concerns with fewer than 25 employees.
                                                 The FCC may not conduct or sponsor                    individual and aggregated data on a                   modification of a previously approved
                                               a collection of information unless it                   confidential basis with other federal                 information collection. The false alert
                                               displays a currently valid Office of                    agencies and state governmental                       reporting obligation is essential to
                                               Management and Budget (OMB) control                     emergency management agencies that                    provide the Commission, FEMA and
                                               number. No person shall be subject to                   have confidentiality protection at least              other affected stakeholders with the
                                               any penalty for failing to comply with                  equal to that provided by the Freedom                 information necessary to identify and
                                               a collection of information subject to the              of Information Act.                                   mitigate problems with the EAS, and
                                                                                                          Needs and Uses: Part 11 contains                   benefits ongoing EAS reliability. The
                                               PRA that does not display a valid OMB
                                                                                                       rules and regulations addressing the                  false alert reporting rules also will
                                               control number.
                                                                                                       nation’s Emergency Alert System (EAS).                provide a significant public safety
                                               DATES: Written PRA comments should
                                                                                                       The EAS provides the President with                   benefit by allowing the Commission to
                                               be submitted on or before December 3,                   the capability to provide immediate                   detect whether there are trends and
                                               2018. If you anticipate that you will be                communications and information to the                 patterns in false alerts that may indicate
                                               submitting comments, but find it                        general public during periods of                      weaknesses that require further
                                               difficult to do so within the period of                 national emergency over broadcast                     Commission study and action to
                                               time allowed by this notice, you should                 television and radio, cable, direct                   strengthen the alerting system. The
                                               advise the contact listed below as soon                 broadcast radio and other EAS                         ‘‘Live Code Testing’’ provisions remove
                                               as possible.                                            Participants, as defined in Section                   regulatory obstacles and reduce time
                                               ADDRESSES: Direct all PRA comments to                   11.11(a) of the Commission’s rules. The               and cost burdens on EAS Participants
                                               Nicole Ongele, FCC, via email PRA@                      EAS also provides state and local                     by eliminating the need to obtain a
                                               fcc.gov and to Nicole.ongele@fcc.gov.                   governments and the National Weather                  waiver to conduct such tests. These
                                               FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For                    Service with the capability to provide                testing rules will promote greater
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES




                                               additional information about the                        immediate communications and                          proficiency in the use of EAS, both by
                                               information collection, contact Nicole                  information to the public concerning                  EAS alert initiators and EAS
                                               Ongele, (202) 418–2991.                                 emergency situations posing a threat to               Participants, which will help address
                                               SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                              life and property. The manner in which                potential gaps in alert originator
                                                 OMB Control Number: 3060–0207.                        the EAS delivers alerts to the public is              training.
                                                 Title: Part 11—Emergency Alert                        set forth in State EAS Plans, which are                  In the Order, PS Docket No. 15–94,
                                               System (EAS), Orders, FCC 18–94.                        drafted by State Emergency                            FCC 18–39, the Commission adopted a


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                                                                          Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 192 / Wednesday, October 3, 2018 / Notices                                            49925

                                               rule obligating SECCs to file State EAS                 contact for the EAS Participant. The                  replacement of defective equipment is
                                               Plans electronically through the new                    only difference, other than the                       not completed within 60 days, an
                                               Alert Reporting System (ARS), rather                    electronic nature of the filing, would be             informal request shall be submitted to
                                               than in paper-based filings, the method                 the timing of the collections. Test                   the District Director of the FCC field
                                               currently approved by OMB for this                      participants would submit the                         office. For DBS and SDARS providers,
                                               collection. For the required electronic                 identifying data. These rules may                     this informal request shall be submitted
                                               filing, the Commission has developed a                  impact currently existing paperwork                   to the District Director of the FCC field
                                               proposed reporting template, attached                   collection requirements as discussed                  office serving the area where their
                                               as Appendix D to the Order, and seeks                   below.                                                headquarters is located. This request
                                               OMB approval of the proposed template                      Section 11.15 requires a copy of the               must explain what steps have been
                                               as a modification of a previously                       EAS operating handbook to be located at               taken to repair or replace the defective
                                               approved information collection. The                    normal duty positions or EAS                          equipment, the alternative procedures
                                               proposed template will decrease the                     equipment locations when an operator                  being used while the defective
                                               paperwork burden associated with this                   is required to be on duty. The handbook               equipment is out of service and when
                                               collection over time, and there is no                   must be immediately available to staff                the defective equipment will be repaired
                                               change to any other reporting obligation                responsible for authenticating messages               or replaced.
                                               in this collection. The information                     and initiating actions. Copies of the                    Section 11.41 allows all EAS
                                               sought in this collection is necessary                  handbook are posted on the                            Participants to submit a written request
                                               and vital to the effective electronic filing            Commission’s website and can be                       to the FCC asking to be a Non-
                                               of State EAS Plans in the ARS, which                    obtained at https://www.fcc.gov/general/              Participating National source. In
                                               will replace paper-based filing                         emergency-alert-system-eas.                           addition, a Non-Participating National
                                               requirements, minimize the burdens on                      Section 11.21 requires that state and              source that wants to become a
                                               SECCs, and allow the Commission, the                    local EAS plans be reviewed and                       Participating National source must
                                               Federal Emergency Management Agency                     approved by the Chief, Public Safety                  submit a written request to the FCC.
                                               (FEMA), and other authorized entities to                and Homeland Security, prior to
                                                                                                                                                                Section 11.42 allows a
                                               better access and use up-to-date                        implementation to ensure that they are
                                                                                                                                                             communications common carrier to
                                               information about the EAS, thus                         consistent with national plans, FCC
                                                                                                                                                             participate in the national level EAS,
                                               increasing its value as a tool to protect               regulations, and EAS operation.
                                                                                                          Section 11.34 requires manufacturers               without charge. A communications
                                               life and property for all Americans.                                                                          common carrier rendering free service is
                                                  The following information collections                to include instructions and information
                                                                                                       on how to install, operate and program                required to file with the FCC, on or
                                               contained in Part 11 may be impacted                                                                          before July 31st and January 31st of each
                                               by the rule amendments described                        an EAS Encoder, EAS Decoder, or
                                                                                                       combined unit and a list of all U.S.,                 year, reports covering the six months
                                               herein. With respect to the
                                                                                                       State, Territory and Offshore (Marine                 ending on June 30th and December 31st
                                               establishment of a false alert reporting
                                                                                                       Area) ANSI number codes with each                     respectively. These reports shall state
                                               obligation, the Commission found such
                                                                                                       unit sold or marketed in the U.S. This                what free service was rendered under
                                               obligation to be minimally burdensome,
                                                                                                       requirement would be done in the                      this rule and the charges in dollars
                                               affecting approximately 290 EAS
                                                                                                       normal course of doing business.                      which would have accrued to the carrier
                                               Participants annually, with each
                                                                                                          Section 11.35 requires that all EAS                for this service if charges had been
                                               successive year likely involving a
                                                                                                       Participants are responsible for ensuring             collected at the published tariff rates if
                                               different group of EAS Participants, and
                                                                                                       that EAS Encoders/Decoders and                        such carriers are required to file tariffs.
                                               requiring no more than 15 minutes to
                                               email the required information to the                   Attention Signal generating and                          Section 11.43 allows entities to
                                               FCC Ops Center. With respect to the                     receiving equipment used as part of the               voluntarily participate in the national
                                               establishment of ‘‘Live Code Test’’ rules,              EAS are installed so that the monitoring              level EAS after submission of a written
                                               which codified requirements that were                   and transmitting functions are available              request to the Chief, Public Safety and
                                               previously imposed on waivers granted                   during the times the stations/systems                 Homeland Security Bureau.
                                               by the Commission, the Commission                       are in operation. EAS Participants must                  Section 11.51 requires that EAS
                                               found that such action reduced time and                 determine the cause of any failure to                 equipment be operational, ready to
                                               cost burdens on EAS Participants by                     receive the required tests or activations.            monitor, transmit and receive EAS
                                               eliminating the need to obtain a waiver.                When the EAS is not operating properly,               electronic signals. Cable and wireless
                                                  With respect to the establishment of a               section 11.35 requires appropriate                    cable systems, both analog and digital,
                                               mandatory electronic test reporting                     entries be made in the station/system                 can elect not to interrupt EAS messages
                                               system that EAS participants must                       logs indicating why any tests were not                from broadcast stations based upon a
                                               utilize to file identifying and test result             received for all broadcast streams and                written agreement between all
                                               data, the Commission noted that this                    cable systems. All other EAS                          concerned. Furthermore, cable and
                                               electronic submission system would                      Participants must also keep record                    wireless cable systems, both analog and
                                               impose a lesser burden on EAS test                      indicating reasons why any tests were                 digital, can elect not to interrupt the
                                               participants because they could input                   not received and these records must be                programming of a broadcast station
                                               electronically (via a web-based                         retained for two years, maintained at the             carrying news or weather-related
                                               interface) the same information into a                  EAS Participant’s headquarters, and                   emergency information with state and
                                               confidential database that the                          made available for public inspection                  local EAS messages based upon a
                                               Commission would use to monitor and                     upon reasonable request.                              written agreement between all
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                                               assess the test. This information would                    Section 11.35 also requires that                   concerned. These written agreements
                                               include identifying information such as                 entries be made in the station/system                 are contained in state and local
                                               station call letters, license identification            logs, and records of other EAS                        franchise agreements.
                                               number, geographic coordinates, EAS                     Participants, when the EAS Encoder/                      Section 11.51 also requires all actions
                                               designation (Local Primary, National                    Decoder becomes defective showing the                 to be logged when manual interruption
                                               Primary, etc.), EAS monitoring                          date and time the equipment was                       of programming and transmission of
                                               assignment, as well as a 24/7 emergency                 removed and restored to service. If                   EAS messages is used. Estimates for


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                                               49926                      Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 192 / Wednesday, October 3, 2018 / Notices

                                               testing are included in the estimate for                EAS is solely for the President’s use, its            ADDRESSES:    Direct all PRA comments to
                                               section 11.61.                                          proper operation must be assured.                     Nicholas A. Fraser, OMB, via email
                                                  Section 11.52 requires all EAS                       Federal Communications Commission.                    Nicholas_A._Fraser@omb.eop.gov; and
                                               Participants to monitor two EAS                         Katura Jackson,
                                                                                                                                                             to Nicole Ongele, FCC, via email PRA@
                                               sources. If the required EAS sources                                                                          fcc.gov and to Nicole.Ongele@fcc.gov.
                                                                                                       Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the
                                               cannot be received, alternate                           Secretary.
                                                                                                                                                             Include in the comments the OMB
                                               arrangements or a waiver may be                                                                               control number as shown in the
                                                                                                       [FR Doc. 2018–21476 Filed 10–2–18; 8:45 am]
                                               obtained by written request to the FCC’s                                                                      SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below.
                                                                                                       BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
                                               EAS office. In an emergency, a waiver                                                                         FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
                                               may be issued over the telephone with                                                                         additional information or copies of the
                                               a follow-up letter to confirm temporary                 FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS                                information collection, contact Nicole
                                               or permanent reassignment. In addition,                 COMMISSION                                            Ongele at (202) 418–2991. To view a
                                               EAS Participants are required to                                                                              copy of this information collection
                                               interrupt normal programming either                                                                           request (ICR) submitted to OMB: (1) Go
                                               automatically or manually when they                     [OMB 3060–0806]
                                                                                                                                                             to the web page http://www.reginfo.gov/
                                               receive an EAS message in which the                     Information Collection Being                          public/do/PRAMain, (2) look for the
                                               header code contains the event codes for                Submitted for Review and Approval to                  section of the web page called
                                               emergency action notification,                          the Office of Management and Budget                   ‘‘Currently Under Review,’’ (3) click on
                                               emergency action termination and                                                                              the downward-pointing arrow in the
                                               required monthly test for their state or                AGENCY: Federal Communications                        ‘‘Select Agency’’ box below the
                                               state/county location.                                  Commission.                                           ‘‘Currently Under Review’’ heading, (4)
                                                  Section 11.54 requires EAS                           ACTION: Notice and request for                        select ‘‘Federal Communications
                                               Participants to enter into their logs/                  comments.                                             Commission’’ from the list of agencies
                                               records the time of receipt of an                                                                             presented in the ‘‘Select Agency’’ box,
                                               emergency alert notice and an                           SUMMARY:    As part of its continuing effort          (5) click the ‘‘Submit’’ button to the
                                               emergency action termination messages                   to reduce paperwork burdens, and as                   right of the ‘‘Select Agency’’ box, (6)
                                               during a national level emergency.                      required by the Paperwork Reduction                   when the list of FCC ICRs currently
                                                  Section 11.55 requires EAS                           Act (PRA) of 1995, the Federal                        under review appears, look for the OMB
                                               participants to monitor their emergency                 Communications Commission (FCC or                     control number of this ICR and then
                                               alert system upon receipt of a state or                 the Commission) invites the general                   click on the ICR Reference Number. A
                                               local area EAS message. Stations/                       public and other Federal agencies to                  copy of the FCC submission to OMB
                                               systems must also enter into their logs/                take this opportunity to comment on the               will be displayed.
                                               records the time of receipt of an                       following information collection.                     SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As part of
                                               emergency alert message. If an SDARS                    Comments are requested concerning:                    its continuing effort to reduce
                                               licensee or DBS provider is unable to                   whether the proposed collection of                    paperwork burdens, and as required by
                                               receive and transmit state and local EAS                information is necessary for the proper               the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of
                                               messages, it must inform its subscribers,               performance of the functions of the                   1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501–3520), the Federal
                                               on its website, and in writing on an                    Commission, including whether the                     Communications Commission (FCC or
                                               annual basis of which channels are and                  information shall have practical utility;             the Commission) invites the general
                                               are not capable of supplying state and                  the accuracy of the Commission’s                      public and other Federal agencies to
                                               local EAS messages.                                     burden estimate; ways to enhance the                  take this opportunity to comment on the
                                                  Section 11.61 requires EAS                           quality, utility, and clarity of the                  following information collection.
                                               Participants to conduct periodic EAS                    information collected; ways to minimize               Comments are requested concerning:
                                               tests. Tests of the EAS header codes,                   the burden of the collection of                       whether the proposed collection of
                                               attention signal, test script and EOM                   information on the respondents,                       information is necessary for the proper
                                               code are required to be performed                       including the use of automated                        performance of the functions of the
                                               monthly. Tests of the EAS header codes                  collection techniques or other forms of               Commission, including whether the
                                               and end of message codes are made at                    information technology; and ways to                   information shall have practical utility;
                                               least once a week. National primary                     further reduce the information                        the accuracy of the Commission’s
                                               sources shall participate in tests as                   collection burden on small business                   burden estimate; ways to enhance the
                                               appropriate. DBS providers, Class D                     concerns with fewer than 25 employees.                quality, utility, and clarity of the
                                               non-commercial educational FM                             The Commission may not conduct or                   information collected; ways to minimize
                                               stations and low power TV stations are                  sponsor a collection of information                   the burden of the collection of
                                               not required to transmit this test but                  unless it displays a currently valid                  information on the respondents,
                                               must log receipt of the test. The FCC                   Office of Management and Budget                       including the use of automated
                                               may request a report of the tests of the                (OMB) control number. No person shall                 collection techniques or other forms of
                                               national primary sources. In addition,                  be subject to any penalty for failing to              information technology; and ways to
                                               entries must be made in stations/                       comply with a collection of information               further reduce the information
                                               systems logs/records as previously                      subject to the PRA that does not display              collection burden on small business
                                               stated.                                                 a valid OMB control number.                           concerns with fewer than 25 employees.
                                                  This information is used by FCC staff                DATES: Written comments should be                        OMB Control Number: 3060–0806.
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                                               as part of routine inspections of EAS                   submitted on or before November 2,                       Title: Universal Service-Schools and
                                               Participants. Accurate recordkeeping of                 2018. If you anticipate that you will be              Libraries Universal Service Program,
                                               this data is vital in determining the                   submitting comments, but find it                      FCC Forms 470 and 471.
                                               location and nature of possible                         difficult to do so within the period of                  Form Number(s): FCC Forms 470 and
                                               equipment failure on the part of the                    time allowed by this notice, you should               471.
                                               transmitting or receiving entity.                       advise the contacts listed below as soon                 Type of Review: Revision of a
                                               Furthermore, since the national level                   as possible.                                          currently approved collection.


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Document Created: 2018-10-03 02:30:31
Document Modified: 2018-10-03 02:30:31
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice and request for comments.
DatesWritten PRA comments should be submitted on or before December 3, 2018. 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.
ContactFor additional information about the information collection, contact Nicole Ongele, (202) 418-2991.
FR Citation83 FR 49924 

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