Public Information Collection(s) Requirement Submitted to OMB for Emergency Review and Approval

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 August 2, 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 contacts listed below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all comments to Kristy L. LaLonde, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Room 10236 NEOB, Washington, DC 20503, (202) 395-3087 or via the Internet at Kristy_L._LaLonde@omb.eop.gov, and Les Smith, Federal Communications Commission, Room 1-A804, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554 or via Internet to Leslie.Smith@fcc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Commission has requested approval of these two information collections under the emergency processing provisions of the PRA by July 16, 2004.

OMB Control Number: 3060-0095.

Title: Multi-Channel Video Progamming Distributors Annual Employment Report, FCC Form 395-A.

Type of Review: Revision of currently approved collection.

Form Number: FCC 395-A.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.

Number of Respondents: 2,500.

Estimated Time per Response: 53 minutes (0.88 hours).

Frequency of Response: Recordkeeping; Annual reporting requirement.

Total Annual Burden: 2,200 hours.

Total Annual Cost: None.

Privacy Impact Assessment: No impact(s).

Needs and Uses: FCC Form 395-A, “The Multi-Channel Video Programming Distributor Annual Employment Report,” is a data collection device used to assess industry employment trends and provide reports to Congress. The report identifies employees by gender and race/ethnicity in fifteen job categories. FCC Form 395-A contains a grid which collects data on full and part-time employees and requests a list of employees by job title, indicating the job category and full or part-time status of the position. Every cable entity with 6 or more full-time employees and all Satellite Master Antenna Television Systems (SMATV) serving 50 or more subscribers and having 6 or more full-time employees must complete Form 395-A in its entirety and file it by September 30 each year. However, cable entities with 5 or fewer full-time employees are not required to file but if they do, they need to complete and file only Sections I, II and VIII of the FCC Form 395-A, and thereafter need not file again unless their employment increases. In addition, cable entities with 6 or more full-time employees will file a Supplemental Investigation Sheet once every 5 years.

On June 4, 2004, the FCC released the Third Report and Order and Fourth Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (3rd R&O), In the Matter of Review of the Commission's Broadcast and Cable Equal Employment Opportunity Rules and Policies, MM Docket No. 98-204, FCC 04-103, in which it considers issues relating to the Annual Employment Report forms, including FCC Form 395-A, “The Multi-Channel Video Programming Distributor Annual Employment Report.” In the 3rd R&O, the Commission is adopting revised rules for MVPDs to file FCC Form 395-A, which cable and other MVPDs will use to file annual employment reports. The intent of this 3rd R&O is to update rules for MVPDs to file Form 395-A consistent with new rules adopted in the 2nd R&O. The intent of the Fourth Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is to provide time for cable and other MVPDs and the public to address the issue of whether the Commission should keep these forms confidential after they are filed. With the effective date of the rule revisions adopted in the 3rd R&O, MVPDs and broadcasters must start keeping records of their employees so they can prepare their annual employment reports due to be filed on September 30, 2004.

OMB Control Number: 3060-0390.

Title: Broadcast Station Annual Employment Report, FCC Form 395-B.

Form Number: FCC Form 395-B.

Type of Review: Extension of currently approved collection.

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

Number of Respondents: 14,000.

Estimated Time per Response: 0.88 hours.

Frequency of Response: Annual reporting requirement.

Total annual burden: 12,320 hours.

Total Annual Costs: None.

Privacy Impact Assessment: No impact(s).

Needs and Uses: FCC Form 395-B, “The Broadcast Station Annual Employment Report,” is used to assess industry employment trends and provide reports to Congress. Licensees with five or more full-time employees are required to file Form 395-B on or before September 30th of each year. The form is a data collection device used to compile statistics on the workforce employed by broadcast licensees/permittees. The report identifies each staff member by gender and race/ethnicity in each of the nine major job categories. On June 4, 2004, the FCC released the Third Report and Order and Fourth Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (3rd R&O), In the Matter of Review of the Commission's Broadcast and Cable Equal Employment Opportunity Rules and Policies, MM Docket No. 98-204, FCC 04-103, in which it considers issues relating to the Annual Employment Report forms, including Form 395-B, “The Broadcast Station Annual Employment Report.” In the 3rd R&O, the Commission is adopting revised rules requiring broadcasters and multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) to file annual employment reports. Radio and television broadcasters will use Form 395-B to file annual employment reports. The intent of this 3rd R&O is to reinstate and update requirements for broadcasters and MVPDs to file annual employment reports. The intent of the Fourth Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is to provide time for MVPDs, broadcast licensees, and the public to address the issue of whether the Commission should keep these forms confidential after they are filed. With the effective date of the rule revisions adopted in the 3rd R&O, MVPDs and broadcasters must start keeping records of their employees so they can prepare their annual employment reports due to be filed on or before September 30, 2004.