OMB Control Number: 3060-1034 January 2007
Title: Digital Audio Broadcasting Systems and their Impact on the Terrestrial Radio Broadcast Service
SUPPORTING STATEMENT
A. Justification:
1. In October 2002, the Commission released the First Report and Order, Digital Audio Broadcasting Systems and Their Impact on the Terrestrial Radio Broadcast Service (“Order”), FCC 02-286, MM Docket 99-325, (67 FR 78193). Pursuant to this Order, the Commission selected in-band, on-channel (IBOC)1 as the technology that permits AM and FM radio broadcasters to introduce digital operations efficiently and rapidly. In addition, provisions of the Order require radio station licensees to provide information necessary for the implementation of interim hybrid digital operations. Implementation of hybrid digital operations is entirely voluntary. Commercial and noncommercial AM and FM radio stations that choose to begin hybrid digital transmissions shall notify the Commission within 10 days of the commencement of digital operations. This “notification letter” shall certify that the digital operations conform to applicable rule and standards. Furthermore, implementation of the notification letter will eliminate both the need for the FCC staff to issue a Special Temporary Authority (STA) to the broadcaster and for the broadcaster to file and pay the initial and any subsequent filing fees.
The Commission is requesting an extension of this information collection in order to receive the full three year OMB approval/clearance for this information collection.
As noted on the OMB Form 83-I, this information collection does not affect individuals; therefore, there are no impacts under the Privacy Act.
Statutory authority for this collection of information is contained in Sections 154(i), 303, 310, and 533 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.
2. The data are used by the FCC staff to track the rate at which radio stations make the transition from analog to digital operation; to confirm continuing compliance with radio frequency radiation (RFR) exposure restrictions; to provide updated transmitter output power (TPO) levels for FM stations; and to assist in the resolution of interference complaints, if any, which may result from digital operations.
3. The “digital notification letter” may be downloaded by licensees from the Commission’s web site. However, applicants/licenses must file this letter via regular mail, since the Commission does not have a system in place for receipt of these notification letters electronically.
4. No other agency imposes 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. Therefore, this information collection will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities/businesses.
6. Foregoing the digital notification would deprive Commission staff of the means to assess the rate of digital conversion in the radio broadcasting service. In addition, the Commission would not be able to resolve expeditiously any cases of interference from digital operations without the information included in the digital notification letter.
7. There are no special circumstances associated with this collection of information.
8. The Commission published a Notice in the Federal Register on November 29, 2006 (71 FR 69120). No comments were generated as a result of the Notice.
9. No payment or gift was provided to the respondent.
10. There is no need for confidentiality.
11. This collection of information does not address any private matters of a sensitive nature.
12. The following estimates are provided for annual public burden:
Total Number of Annual Respondents: 1,200 AM and FM Radio Stations
Total Number of Annual Responses: 1,200 Notification Letters
Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,200 notification letters x 2 hours/letter = 2,400 hours
Annual “In-House” Cost: We assume that the respondent’s radio station manager or other staff would complete and file the notification letter. We estimate that these respondents would have an average annual salary of $100,000 ($48.08/hour).
1,200 notification letters x $48.08/hour = $57,696.00
Total Annual “In House” Cost: $57,696.00
These estimates are based on FCC staff’s knowledge and familiarity with the availability of data required.
13. Annual Cost Burden to Respondents:
(a) Total annualized capital/startup costs: None
Total annual costs (O&M): None
(c) Total annualized cost requested: None
14. Cost to the Federal Government: The Commission will use professional staff at the GS-14, step 5 level ($50.95/hour) to review and record the notification letters.
1,200 notification letters x 1 hour x $50.95 = $61,140.00
30% overhead = $18,342.00
Total Cost to the Federal Government = $79,482.00
15. We have adjusted the annual burden hours. This adjustment is due to an increase in the total number of respondents. There are no program changes.
16. The data will not be published.
17. A waiver not to publish the expiration date is requested, because this information does not involve an FCC form. OMB approval of the expiration date of the information collection will be displayed at 47 CFR § 0.408.
18. We note an error in the Commission’s initial 60-day Federal Register Notice. The frequency of response is corrected to read “on occasion reporting” instead of “one-time reporting requirement.” There are no other exceptions to the Certification Statement in Item 19.
B. Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods.
No statistical methods are employed.
1 IBOC stand for “In-band, on-channel.”
| File Type | application/msword |
| File Title | OMB 3060-XXXX |
| Author | agallaghe |
| Last Modified By | Cathy.Williams |
| File Modified | 2007-01-31 |
| File Created | 2006-10-25 |