The Commission adopted on April 23, 2008, an Order of Reconsideration, In the Matter of DTV Consumer Education Initiative, MB Docket 07-148, FCC 08-119. In this Order, we modify our requirements regarding the timing, scope, and content of manufacturer notices and the method of delivery of eligible telecommunications carriers (ETC) notices, and clarify other manufacturer requirements. The revised requirements are as follows:
a. Consumer Electronics Manufacturer Notices (47 CFR 15.124).
The Âresponsible party, as defined the CommissionÂs rules, has to include a notice about the digital television (DTV) transition on television receivers and related devices manufactured between May 30, 2008 and March 31, 2009. The notices themselves must include the CommissionÂs contact information (rather than the manufacturerÂs), convey information about the DTV transition, and must be included with covered devices.
b. Eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) Federal Universal Service Low-Income Program Participant Notices (47 CFR 54.418).
ETCs that receive federal universal service funds shall provide their Lifeline or Link-up customers (low-income customers) with notices about the transition for over-the-air full power broadcasting from analog to digital service (the ÂDTV TransitionÂ) in monthly bills, bill notices, or as a monthly stand-alone mailer (e.g., postcard, brochure), beginning May 30, 2008 through March 31, 2009.
Congress has established February 17, 2009 as the deadline for the transition from analog to digital television service. After that date full power television stations will not be permitted to broadcast an analog television signal. Consequently, people with analog-only televisions will not be able to receive an over-the-air broadcast signal unless they purchase a digital TV or digital-to-analog converter box or subscribe to a pay TV service. In light of this transition, the Commission adopted a number of requirements suggested in a letter from the Honorable John D. Dingell, Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the Honorable Edward J. Markey, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, U.S. House of Representatives (ÂLetterÂ). These requirements were made available for public comment and approved by OMB.
The revisions that we propose to adopt will reduce the burden of this collection on the respondents to which they apply. Under the existing rules, manufacturers of television receivers and related devices are required to provide notice to consumers of the transitionÂs impact on that equipment. These revised rules narrow the list of devices that are covered by these rules, provide additional time to prepare to include the required notices, and remove the requirement for the manufacturerÂs contact information to be contained in those notices, replacing it with the CommissionÂs contact information. They also limit the parties responsible for inclusion of the notices, and push back the point in the manufacturing process at which the requirement begins. Under the existing rules, eligible telecommunications carriers (ÂETCsÂ) that receive federal universal service funds must provide monthly notices of the transition in the bills of their low income customers. These revised rules permit ETCs to instead provide monthly notice via postcards or other methods, at their discretion. As with the previously adopted collections, these requirements will be in place for a limited time only.
Beginning January 1, 2008, television viewers were able to request coupons to subsidize the purchase of digital-to-analog converter boxes to attach to their analog televisions so that they can continue to work after analog broadcasting ends on February 17, 2009. Given this ongoing program, it is essential that consumer education continue in as effective a manner as possible. Record evidence shows nearly 69 million televisions in current use are analog-only, including 24 million in homes that also have cable or satellite subscription television service. 19.6 million U.S. households (17%) receive only over-the-air, broadcast signals. These are the households that will be most affected by the digital television transition and need consumer education to provide the information to enable them to obtain the equipment they need to continue receiving television service after the transition. Television service is essential not only for news, sports and entertainment, but also for emergency information, including weather alerts.
Emergency OMB approval is necessary for this collection to ensure that all consumers are aware of the transition from analog to digital television service as early as possible to minimize the burden to the public. The effective date proposed by the Commission provides for these consumer education efforts to commence as early as possible. Due to the limited period of time for which the requirements will be in effect, the urgent need to ensure that all television viewers are made aware of the upcoming digital transition, and the fact that more burdensome versions of these collections were very recently provided for public review and comment, we find there is good cause to obtain emergency OMB approval for this modified collection on the following schedule, so that the requirements may take effect immediately thereafter.
As a result of the CommissionÂs action adopted on April 23, 2008, FCC 08-119, the annual hour burden has decreased -423 hours. This decrease is due to the manufacturer notices not having to be included in as many products. Also, the notices do not need to contain contact information for the manufacturer. These two changes with the notices allow them to be more standardized across the industry, and have less of a burden impact on manufacturers.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Form FCC Form388 DTV Consumer Education Initiative
Supporting Statement OMB 3060-1115( May 2008)(due to order on recon)doc.doc
Emergency Justification Letter (3060-1115).pdf
DTV Consumer Education Initiative