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, 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 24, 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 Les Smith, Federal Communications Commissions, 445 12th Street, S.W., Room 1-A804, Washington, DC 20554 or via the Internet to lesmith@fcc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For additional information or copies of the information collections contact Les Smith at (202) 418-0217 or via the Internet at lesmith@fcc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Approval Number: 3060-0758.

Title: Amendment of Part 5 of the Commission's Rules to Revise the Experimental Radio Service Regulations.

Form No.: N/A.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Individuals or households, Not-for-profit institutions; Business or other for-profit; and State, Local or Tribal Government.

Number of Respondents: 428.

Estimated Time Per Response: 1 hour.

Total Annual Burden: 681 hours.

Total Estimated Cost: None.

Needs and Uses: The collection of information contained in Part 5 are made necessary by Sections 5.75, 5.85(d), 5.85(e), and 5.93(b) of the Commission's Rules governing the Experimental Radio Service. They are as follows: (1) Pursuant to Section 5.75, if a blanket license is granted, licensees are required to notify the Commission of the specific details of each individual experiment, including location, number of base and mobile units, power, emission designator, and any other pertinent technical information not specified by the blanket license; (2) pursuant to Section 5.85(d), when applicants are using public safety frequencies to perform experiments of a public safety nature, the license may be conditioned to require coordination between the experimental licensee and appropriate frequency coordinator and/or all public safety licensees in its area of operation; (3) pursuant to Section 5.85(e), the Commission may, at its discretion, condition any experimental license or special temporary authority (STA) on the requirement that before commencing operation, the new licensee coordinate its proposed facility with other licensees that may receive interference as a result of the new licensee's operations; and (4) pursuant to Section 5.93(b), unless otherwise stated in the instrument of authorization, licenses granted for the purpose of limited market studies requires the licensee to inform anyone participating in the experiment that the service or device is granted under an experimental authorization and is strictly temporary. In all cases, it is the responsibility of the licensee to coordinate with other users.

OMB Approval Number: 3060-0397.

Title: Special Temporary Authority—Section 15.7(a).

Form Number: N/A.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 6.

Frequency of Response: One time reporting requirement.

Estimated Hours Per Response: 2 hours.

Total Annual Burden: 12 hours.

Total Annual Cost: $150.

Needs and Uses: In exceptional situations, a special temporary authorization to operate a radio frequency device not conforming to the subject rules will be issued. An applicant must show that the proposed operation is in the public interest, but cannot be feasibly conducted under the applicable rules.

OMB Approval Number: 3060-xxxx.

Title: Maritime Mobile Service Indentity (MMSI).

Form Number: N/A.

Type of Review: New collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit, individuals, or households.

Number of Respondents: 2,000.

Estimated Time Per Response: .5 hours.

Total Annual Burden: 1,000 hours.

Total Annual Cost: No annual cost burden on respondents from either capital or start-up costs.

Needs and Uses: The information collection requirement is needed to collect, search and rescue information about each vessel issued an MMSI. An MMSI is a unique nine-digit number that functions similar to a “phone number” for contacting a specific vessel. Upon receiving a distress alert containing an MMSI, authorities such as the U.S. Coast Guard may use the MMSI to find out background information about the vessel (e.g., owner's name, intended route, and other radio equipment on board) and to help determine whether the alert is false. Thus, an accurate MMSI database can help to protect lives and property at sea by reducing the time it takes to locate vessels in distress.