Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission, 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 collection(s), as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Pub. L. No. 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 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 Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) comments should be submitted on or before September 20, 2004. 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 Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) comments to Les Smith, Federal Communications Commission, Room 1-A804, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554 or via the Internet to Leslie.Smith@fcc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For additional information or copies of the information collection(s), contact Les Smith at (202) 418-0217 or via the Internet at Leslie.Smith@fcc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control Number: 3060-0788.

Title: DTV Showings/Interference Agreements.

Form Number: FCC Form 301 and FCC Form 340.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

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

Number of Respondents: 300.

Estimated Time per Response: 5 hours.

Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement; and third party disclosure.

Total Annual Burden: 1,500 hours.

Total Annual Cost: $2,400,000.

Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).

Needs and Uses: Section III-D of the FCC Form 301 and Section VII of the FCC Form 340 begin with a “Certification Checklist.” This checklist contains a series of questions by which applicants may certify compliance with key processing requirements. The first certification requires conformance with the DTV Table of Allotments. The Commission allows flexibility for DTV facilities to be constructed at locations within five kilometers of the reference allotment sites without consideration of additional interference to analog or DTV service, provided the DTV service does not exceed the allotment reference height above average terrain or effective radiated power. In order for the Commission to process applications that cannot certify affirmatively, 47 CFR Section 73.623(c) requires applicants to submit a technical showing to establish that their proposed facilities will not result in additional interference to TV broadcast and DTV operations.

Additionally, the Commission permits broadcasters to agree to proposed DTV facilities that do not conform to the initial allotment parameters, even though they might be affected by potential new interference. The Commission will consider granting applications on the basis of interference agreements if it finds that such grants will serve the public interest. These agreements must be signed by all parties to the agreement. In addition, the Commission needs the following information to enable such public interest determinations: a list of parties predicted to receive additional interference from the proposed facility, a showing as to why a grant based on the agreements would serve the public interest, and technical studies depicting the additional interference.

In 2001, the Commission removed from this collection all references to industry frequency coordination committees. These committees did not evolve. Respondents have been using consulting engineers and attorneys to prepare the technical showings and interference agreements.