Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission Under Delegated Authority

AGENCY:

Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), the Federal Communications Commission invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection(s). Comments are requested concerning: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and (e) ways to further reduce the information burden for 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 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 (PRA) that does not display a valid OMB control number.

DATES:

Written Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) comments should be submitted on or before October 4, 2011. If you anticipate that you will be submitting PRA comments, but find it difficult to do so within the period of time allowed by this notice, you should advise the FCC contact listed below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your PRA comments to Nicholas A. Fraser, Office of Management and Budget, via fax at 202-395-5167 or via Internet at Nicholas_A._Fraser@omb.eop.gov and to Benish Shah, Federal Communications Commission, via the Internet at Benish.Shah@fcc.gov. To submit your PRA comments by e-mail send them to: PRA@fcc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Benish Shah, Office of Managing Director, (202) 418-7866.

OMB Control No.: 3060-0093.

Title: Application for Renewal of Radio Station License for Experimental Radio Service, FCC Form 405.

Form No.: FCC Form 405.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit and not-for-profit institutions.

Number of Respondents and Responses: 300 respondents and 300 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 2.25 hours.

Frequency of Response: On occasion and every two year reporting requirements.

Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. Statutory authority for this information collection (IC) is contained in sections 4(i), 301, 302, 303(e), 303(f), and 303(r), of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended; 47 U.S.C. Sections 154(i), 301, 302, 303(e), 303(f) and 303(r).

Total Annual Burden: 675 hours.

Total Annual Cost: $100,500.

Privacy Act Impact Assessment: This information collection affects individuals or households. The Commission has a System of Records, FCC/OET-1 “Experimental Radio Station License Files” which cover the personally identifiable information (PII) that individual applicants may include in their submissions for experimental radio authorizations. The system of records notice (SORN) was published in the Federal Register on April 5, 2006, see 71 FR 17234, 17241. The SORN may be viewed at http://www.fcc.gov/omd/privacyact/records-systems.html.

Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: Applicants may request that any information supplied be withheld from public inspection, e.g., granted confidentiality, pursuant to 47 CFR Section 0.459 of the Commission's rules.

Needs and Uses: This collection will be submitted as an extension (no change in reporting and third party disclosure requirements), after this 60 day comment period in order to obtain the full 3-year clearance from the OMB. There are adjustment increases to the annual burden hours (+128 hours) and annual cost burden (+37,320).

FCC Form 405 is used by the Experimental Radio Service to apply for renewal of radio station licenses at the FCC. Section 307 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, limits the term of radio licenses to 5 years and requires that written applications be submitted for renewal. The regular license period for stations in the Experimental Radio Service is either 2 or 5 years.

The information submitted on FCC Form 405 is used by the Commission staff to evaluate the applicant/licensee's need for a license renewal. In performing this function, staff performs analysis of the renewal request as compared to the original license grant to ascertain if any changes are requested. If so, additional analysis is performed to determine if such changes met the requirements of the rules of the Experimental Radio Service for interference free operation. If needed, the collected information is used to coordinate such operation with other Commission bureaus or other Federal Agencies. All applications are also analyzed on their merits regarding whether they meet the general requirements for an Experimental license. These requirements are set out in 47 CFR part 5.