[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 230 (Tuesday, December 1, 1998)] [Notices] [Pages 66170-66172] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-31849] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission for Extension Under Delegated Authority 5 CFR 1320 Authority, Comments Requested
Summary
The Federal Communications Commission, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) that does not display a valid control number. Comments are requested concerning: (a) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, clarity of the information collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents,
including the use of automated information techniques or other forms of information technology.
Dates
Written comments should be submitted on or before February 1, 1999. If you anticipate that you will be submitting comments, but find it difficult to do so within the period of time allowed by this notice, you should advise the contact listed below as soon as possible.
Addresses
Direct all comments to Les Smith, Federal Communications Commission, Room 234, 1919 M St., N.W., Washington, DC 20554 or via the Internet to lesmith@fcc.gov.
For Further Information Contact
For additional information or copies of the information collections contact Les Smith at 202-418-0127 or via the Internet at lesmith@fcc.gov.
Supplementary Information
OMB Control Number: 3060-0567. Title: Section 76.962, Implementation and Certification of Compliance. Form Number: N/A. Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection. Respondents: Businesses or other for-profit entities. Number of Respondents: 500. Estimated Time per Response: .5 hours (30 minutes). Frequency of Response: Once. Total Annual Burden: 250 hours. Total Annual Costs: $1,000 (photocopying and stationary). Needs and Uses: Section 76.962 requires any cable operator that has been deemed subject to remedial requirements to certify to the Commission its compliance with the Commission order requiring prospective rate reductions, refunds, or other remedial relief to subscribers. The certification must be filed with the Commission within 90 days from the date the Commission released the order mandating a remedy. These certifications are used by the Commission to monitor a cable operator's compliance with Commission rate orders.
OMB Control Number: 3060-0638. Title: Section 76.934(g), Alternative Rate Regulation Agreements. Form Number: N/A. Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection. Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities. Number of Respondents: 100. Estimated Time Per Response: 0.5 hours (30 minutes). Frequency of Response: Once. Total Annual Burden: 50 hours. Total Annual Costs: $300 (postage and photocopying). Needs and Uses: Section 76.934(g) states that certified local franchising authorities and small systems owned by small cable companies may enter into alternative rate regulation agreements affecting the basic service tier and the cable programming service tier. Small systems must file with the Commission a copy of the operative alternative rate agreement within 30 days after its effective date. Alternative rate regulation agreements are filed with the Commission so that verification can be made such that agreements have been entered into and executed pursuant to Commission rules.
OMB Control Number: 3060-0644. Title: Establishing Maximum Permitted Rates for Regulated Cable Services on Small Cable Systems. Form Number: FCC 1230. Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection. Respondents: Business and other for-profit entities; State, local and tribal governments. Number of Respondents: 350 (250 cable systems and 100 local franchise authorities). Estimated Time Per Response: 2.0 to 2.25 hours. Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirements. Total Annual Burden: 763 hours. Total Annual Costs: $500. Needs and Uses: On May 5, 1995, the Commission adopted rules that allow a small cable system owned by a small cable company to use a simplified cost-of-service procedure to set its maximum permitted rate. Pursuant to these rules, a cable system is eligible to set its maximum permitted rate with FCC form 1230 if it is a system with 15,000 or fewer subscribers, and it is not owned by a cable company with more than 400,000 subscribers. The data collected are used by the Commission and local franchise authorities to determine whether cable rates for basic service, cable programming service, and associated equipment are reasonable under Commission regulations.
OMB Control Number: 3060-0673. Title: Section 76.956, Cable Operator Response. Form Number: N/A. Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection. Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities. Number of Respondents: 50. Estimated Time Per Response: 4 hours. Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirements. Total Annual Burden: 200 hours. Total Annual Costs: $250. Needs and Uses: Section 76.956 states that unless the Commission notifies a cable operator to the contrary, the cable operator must file with the Commission a response to a rate complaint, filed on the applicable form, within 30 days of the date of service of the complaint. In addition to responding to the merits of a complaint, the cable operator may also move for dismissal of the complaint for failure to meet the minimum showing requirement. Any such motion for dismissal must state with particularity the reasons the cable operator believes the complaint is defective and shall not relieve the cable operator of its obligation to respond to the merits of the complaint. The Commission has clearance for use of its cable rate regulation forms under each form's respective OMB control number. This collection, OMB 3060-0673, is designed to account for the burden to respondents when filing motions for dismissal of rate complaints. The Commission sponsors this information collection requirement in order to ensure a process for cable operators to file a motion to dismiss a rate complaint filed against them if they feel that the complaint fails to meet the minimum showing.
OMB Control Number: 3060-0668. Title: 76.936, Written Decisions. Form Number: N/A. Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection. Respondents: State, local or tribal governments. Number of Respondents: 1,200. Estimated Time Per Response: 1 hour. Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirements. Total Annual Burden: 1,200 hours Total Annual Costs: $12,000. Needs and Uses: Section 76.936 states a franchising authority must issue a written decision in a rate-making proceeding whenever it disapproves an initial rate for the basic service tier or associated equipment in whole or in part, disapproves a request for a rate increase in whole or in part, or approves a request for an increase in whole or in part over the objections of interested parties. Public notice must be given of any written decision required in this section, including releasing the text of any written decision to the public. Franchising authorities are required to issue a written decision in rate-making proceedings pursuant to Section 76.936 so that cable operators and the public are made aware of the results of the proceeding.
Federal Communications Commission. Magalie Roman Salas, Secretary. [FR Doc. 98-31849 Filed 11-30-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6712-10-M