Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission

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 collection(s), 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, and 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 collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

DATES:

Written comments should be submitted on or before April 3, 2000. 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 Judy Boley, Federal Communications Commission, Room 1-C804, 445 12th Street, SW, DC 20554 or via the Internet to jboley@fcc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For additional information or copies of the information collection(s), contact Judy Boley at 202-418-0214 or via the Internet at jboley@fcc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control No.: 3060-0716.

Title: Blanketing Interference.

Form No.: Not applicable.

Type of Review: Extension to a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Individuals or households, business or other for-profit, not-for-profit institutions.

Number of Respondents: 21,000.

Estimated Time Per Response: 1-hours.

Frequency of Response: Third party disclosure requirement.

Total Annual Burden: 41,000 hours.

Total Annual Cost: N/A.

Needs and Uses: Under Sections 72.88 (AM), 73.318 (FM), AND 73.685(d) (TV), the licensee is financially responsible for resolving complaints of interference within one year of program test authority when certain conditions are met. After the first year, a licensee is only required to provide technical assistance in determining the cause of the interference.

The Commission has an outstanding Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in MM Docket No. 96-62, In the Matter of Amendment of Part 73 of the Commission's Rules to More Effectively Resolve Broadcast Blanketing Interference, Including Interference to Consumer Electronics and Other Communications Devices. This rulemaking proceeding proposed to provide detailed clarification of the AM, FM and TV licensee's responsibilities in resolving/eliminating blanketing interference cause by their individual stations. This NPRM proposed to consolidate all blanketing interference rules under a new section 73.1630, Blanketing Interference. This new rule was designed to facilitate the resolution of broadcast interference problems and set forth all responsibilities of the licensee/permittee of a broadcast station. To date, final rules have not been adopted.