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 collection(s). 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 comments should be submitted on or before August 16, 2021. 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 contacts below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all PRA comments to Cathy Williams, FCC, via email to PRA@fcc.gov and to Cathy.Williams@fcc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For additional information about the information collection, contact Cathy Williams at (202) 418-2918.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control Number: 3060-XXXX.

Title: FCC Authorization for Radio Service License—3.45 GHz Band Service.

Form Number: N/A.

Type of Review: New collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities, state, local, or tribal government, and not for profit institutions.

Number of Respondents and Responses: 52 respondents, 8,197 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 5-20 hours.

Frequency of Response: Third party disclosure requirement; on occasion reporting requirement and periodic reporting requirement.

Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. Statutory authority for these collections are contained in 47 U.S.C. 151, 152, 154, 154(i), 155(c), 157, 201, 202, 208, 214, 301, 302a, 303, 307, 308, 309, 310, 311, 314, 316, 319, 324, 331, 332, 333, 336, 534, 535, and 554 of the Communications Act of 1934.

Total Annual Burden: 9,198 hours.

Total Annual Cost: $10,353,000.

Privacy Impact Assessment: No impacts.

Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: In general, there is no need for confidentiality with this collection of information. Insofar as confidential information is submitted to the Department of Defense as part of the coordination by 3.45 GHz Service licensees with Federal incumbents, the Department of Defense will ensure that information remains confidential.

Needs and Uses: On March 17, 2021, the Federal Communications Commission (“Commission” or “FCC”) adopted a Second Report and Order, FCC 21-32, GN Docket No. WT-19-348 (Second Report and Order) that establishes rules for flexible-use wireless access to the 100 megahertz in the 3450-3550 MHz (3.45 GHz) band, creating the new 3.45 GHz Service. The rules will create additional capacity for wireless broadband allowing full-power operations across the band in the entire contiguous United States, while also ensuring full protection of incumbent Federal operations remaining in particular locations. As part of this process, the Commission also adopted rules related to the relocation of incumbent non-Federal radiolocation operations, and reimbursement of expenses related to such relocation.

Sections 2.016 and 27.1603 require a 3.45 GHz Service licensee whose license area overlaps with a Cooperative Planning Area or Periodic Use Area, as defined in those sections, to coordinate deployments pursuant to those licenses in those areas with relevant Federal agencies. This coordination may take the form of a mutually acceptable operator-to-operator coordination agreement between the licensee and the relevant Federal agency. In the absence of such an agreement, this coordination will include a formal request for access through a Department of Defense online portal, which will include the submission of information related to the technical characteristics of the base stations and associated mobile units to be used in the covered area. It does not require a revision to the FCC Form 601.

Section 27.1605 requires non-Federal, secondary radiolocation operations which are relocating from the 3.45 GHz band to alternate spectrum to clear the band for new flexible-use wireless operations to submit certain information to a clearinghouse in order to ensure their relocation costs are fairly reimbursed. It does not require a revision to the FCC Form 601.

Section 27.1607 requires 3.45 GHz Service licensees to share certain information about their network operations in that band with operators in the adjacent Citizens Broadband Radio Service in order to enable the latter to synchronize their operations to reduce the risk of harmful interference. In response to a request by a Citizens Broadband Radio Service operator, a 3.45 GHz Service licensee must provide information to enable Time Division Duplex synchronization. The exact nature of the information to be provided will be determined by a negotiation between the two entities, conducted on a good faith basis. The 3.45 GHz Service licensee must keep the information current as its network operations change. This does not require a revision to the FCC Form 601.

Section 27.14(w) requires 3.45 GHz Service licensees to provide information on the extent to which they provide service in their license areas. Licensees are required to file two such reports: The first four (4) years after its initial license grant and the second eight (8) years after such grant, unless they failed to meet the first set of performance requirements, in which case the second report is due seven (7) years after the initial grant. These reports are filed alongside the Form 601 and require no revisions to it.