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 (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or the Commission) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection. 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 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 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number.

DATES:

Written PRA comments should be submitted on or before February 13, 2017. 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 PRA@fcc.gov and to Nicole.Ongele@fcc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For additional information about the information collection, contact Nicole Ongele at (202) 418-2991.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control Number: 3060-xxxx.

Title: Expanding the Economic and Innovation Opportunities of Spectrum Through Incentive Auctions.

Form Number: N/A.

Type of Review: New collection.

Respondents: Businesses or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents and Responses: 832 respondents and 832 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 1 hour.

Frequency of Response: Wireless licensees who are required to conduct an interference study will be required to produce the study upon request and when an interference complaint occurs.

Obligation to Respond: Mandatory. The statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47 U.S.C. 151, 154, 301, 303, 307, 308, 309, 316, 319, 332, 403, 1452 and 1454.

Total Annual Burden: 832 hours.

Total Annual Costs: $10

Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: There is no need for confidentiality. However, applicants may request that any information supplied be withheld from public inspection, pursuant to 47 CFR 0.459 of the FCC's rules. This request must be justified pursuant to 47 CFR 0.457.

Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).

Needs and Uses: The Commission will submit this new information collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) after this 60 day comment period in order to obtain the three-year clearance.

On October 26, 2015 the Federal Communications Commission released a Third Report and Order, OET Seeks to Supplement the Incentive Auction Proceeding Record Regarding Potential Interference Between Broadcast Television and Wireless Services, ET Docket Nos. 13-26 and 14-14, which resolved the remaining technical issues affecting the operation of 600 MHz wireless licenses and broadcast television stations in areas where they operate on the same or adjacent channels in geographic proximity. Specifically, the Commission adopted a rule requiring wireless licensees to conduct an interference study prior to deploying or operating a wireless base station within a specified distance of a broadcast television station that is co-channel or adjacent channel to their spectrum. A wireless licensee is required to provide this interference study to the Commission upon request or to the broadcast television station when there is an interference complaint.