March 2009
New Collection Entitled: Section 80.231, Technical Requirements for Class B Automatic Identification System (AIS) Equipment
SUPPORTING STATEMENT
A. Justification:
1. The Commission adopted and released a Second Report and Order, FCC 08-208, which added a new section 80.231. The Commission is seeking OMB approval of this new information collection described below.
The information collection contained in section 80.231 requires manufacturers of Class B Automatic Identification System (AIS) transmitters for the Maritime Radio Service must include with each transmitting device a statement explaining how to enter static information accurately and to affix a warning that entering inaccurate information is prohibited. The requirements will ensure that advance marine vessel tracking and navigation information transmitted from Class B AIS devise are accurate and reliable thereby promoting marine safety. The rule also requires manufacturers to obtain a letter from the U.S. Coast Guard stating the AIS device satisfies all of the requirements specified in IEC 62287-1, and to submit the letter to the Commission with its certification application for a Class B AIS device.
Prior to submitting a certification application (FCC Form 731) for a Class B AIS device, the following information must be submitted in duplicate to the Commandant (CG_521), U.S. Coast Guard, 2100 2nd Street, SW, Washington, DC 20593-0001:
the name of the manufacturer or grantee and the model number of the AIS device; and
copies of the test report and test data obtained from the test facility showing that the device complies with the environmental and operational requirements identified in IEC 62287-1.
After reviewing the information described in the certification application, the U.S. Coast Guard will issue a letter stating whether the AIS device satisfies all of the requirements specified in IEC 62287-1. A certification application for an AIS device submitted to he Commission must contain a copy of the U.S. Coast Guard letter stating that the device satisfies all of the requirements specified in IEC 62287-1, a copy of the technical test data and the instruction manual(s).
The certification application will take the form of FCC Form 731, which is already approved by OMB under OMB Control Number 3060-0057. Upon OMB approval of this revision, the Commission will update the number of respondents/responses for 3060-0057 (20 respondents) to account for those Class B AIS manufacturers.
Statutory authority for this collection of information is contained in 47 U.S.C. 154, 303, 307(e), 309, and 332 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.
As noted on the Form OMB 83-I, this information collection does not affect individuals or households; thus, there are no impacts under the Privacy Act.
2. The information collection requires that manufacturers of AIS transmitters produce and affix a label each transmitting device with a statement explaining how to enter static information and the following statement: “WARNING: It is a violation of the rules of the Federal Communications Commission to input an MMSI that has not been properly assigned to the end user, or to otherwise input any inaccurate data in this device.” The information collection also requires manufacturers to assure device meets standards set forth in IEC 62287-1 and is used by FCC engineers to determine the interference potential of the proposed device’s operation.
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 that absolutely necessary for evaluating and processing each application and to deter against possible abuses of the processes.
6. This information is considered essential to the implementation of the Act as described above.
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 October 9, 2008 (73 FR 59627). No comments were received as a result of the notice. The notice is referenced in this submission to the OMB.
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. Estimate of respondent hourly burden: Approximately 20 manufacturers will be required to label AIS radio devices. Informal consultation and past experience was used to arrive at the estimate of 1 hour per year per manufacturer to label AIS transmitters for a total annual burden of 20 hours.
Approximately 20 manufacturers will be required to obtain from U.S. Coast Guard and submit to the FCC a letter stating the AIS radio device satisfies requirements specified in IEC 62287-1. Based on a review of the subject records, it is estimated that an average of 1 hour per year per manufacturer is required to maintain this documentation.
13. Estimate of cost to respondents:
Informal consultation was used to arrive at an estimate of $ .50 for the 20 manufacturers to include a label on the AIS radio devices.
50,000 devices x .50 per label to produce and attach = $25,000.
We also assume that the respondents would use engineering personnel to obtain the information from the U.S. Coast Guard and prepare the letter to the FCC. We estimate $150/hour x 20 responses x 1 hour = $3,000.
Therefore, $25,000 + $3,000 = $28,000 total annual cost.
14. Estimate of cost to Federal Government: None.
15. This is a new collection resulting in a program change increase of 20 burden hours and $28,000 in annual costs.
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 Modified | 0000-00-00 |
| File Created | 0000-00-00 |