3060-0202
September 2006
SUPPORTING STATEMENT
A. Justification:
1. The annual reporting requirement contained in Section 87.37 necessary to enable the FCC to gather data on the results of developmental programs conducted in the Aviation Service for which developmental authorizations have been issued. The data is required to determine whether such developmental authorizations should be renewed and/or whether rule making proceedings should be initiated to provide generally for such operations in the Aviation Service. This rule is needed to implement the FCC's responsibilities under Section 303(g) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 303(g). A copy of the rule is attached.
Statutory authority for this collection of information is contained in Sections 47 U.S.C. 154, 303 and 307(e), unless otherwise noted.
2. The information is used by Commission personnel to determine the merits of the program for which a developmental authorization was granted. If such information was not collected, the value of developmental programs in the Aviation Service would be severely limited. The Commission would have little, if any information available regarding the advantages and disadvantages of the subject developmental operations and, therefore, would be handicapped in determining whether developmental authorizations should be renewed or rule making initiated to accommodate new operations in this radio service.
3. Prior to finalizing rule makings the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau conducts an analysis to insure that improved information technology cannot be used to reduce the burden on the public. This analysis considers the possibility of obtaining and/or computer‑generating the required data from existing data bases in the Commission or other Federal agencies.
4. This agency does not impose a similar information collection on the respondents. There are no similar data available.
5. In conformance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Commission is making an effort to minimize the burden on all respondents, regardless of size. The Commission has limited the information requirements to those absolutely necessary for evaluating and processing each application and to deter against possible abuses of the processes.
6. The information collection is conducted at the expiration of a developmental authorization or at the time a renewal of a developmental authorization is requested. Therefore, a less frequent collection interval equates to no collection of such information. This result would deprive the FCC of valuable data regarding the merits and demerits of developmental operations and limit its ability to make informed decisions concerning the renewal of developmental authorizations.
7. Current data collection is consistent with 5 CFR 1320.6.
8. The Commission initiated a 60-day public comment period which appeared in the Federal Register on December 14, 2005 (70 FR 74005). No comments were received as a result of the notice. A copy of the Federal Register notice is attached.
9. Respondents will not receive any payments.
10. There is no need for confidentiality.
11. There are no requests of a sensitive nature considered or those considered a private matter being sought from the applicants on this collection.
12. Approximately twelve reports on developmental operations in the Aviation Service are filed each year. Such a report must be submitted at the end of the one year developmental license term. Essentially the subject report contains the results of the program, the licensee's analysis and the need for continuation of the operation. Since the licensee's purpose in conducting the developmental program is to gather this very information, the estimated burden is based on the approximate time required for the licensee or a competent engineer to draft the subject report. The majority of these reports are in the form of a standard business letter a few pages long. Based on a review of such reports, it is estimated that eight hours of an engineer's time would be required to prepare and submit the subject report.
Estimate of cost to respondents:
$50 per hour (engineer)
x 8 hours preparation of report
x 12 reports filed per year
+10% overhead
$5,280
13. Estimate of cost to respondents – None.
a. There are no capital or start-up costs.
b. There are no operational or maintenance costs.
14. Estimated annual cost to the Federal Government:
$ 35.32 per hour (GS‑12 engineer)
X 3 hours per report examined
X 12 reports reviewed per year
+ 10% overhead
$ 1, 399
15. No adjustment or program change was made.
16. The data will not be published for statistical use.
17. We do not seek approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection.
18. There were no exceptions to Item 19.
B. Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods:
No statistical methods are employed.
| File Type | application/msword |
| File Title | 3060-0202 |
| Author | JSHAFFER |
| File Modified | 2006-09-12 |
| File Created | 2006-09-12 |