OMB Control Number: 3060-0176 November 2008
Title: Section 73.1510, Experimental Authorizations
SUPPORTING STATEMENT
Justification:
1. 47 CFR Section 73.1510 requires that a licensee of an AM, FM and TV broadcast station file an informal application with the FCC to request an experimental authorization to conduct technical experimentation directed toward improvement of the technical phases of operation and service. This request shall describe the nature and purpose of experimentation to be conducted, the nature of the experimental signal to be transmitted, and the proposed schedule of hours and duration of the experimentation.
The Commission is requesting an extension of this information collection in order to receive the full three year OMB approval/clearance.
As noted on the OMB Form 83-I, this information collection does not affect individuals or households; thus, there are no impacts under the Privacy Act.
Statutory authority for this collection of information is contained in Section 154(i) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.
2. The data is used by FCC staff to maintain complete technical information about a broadcast station and to ensure that such experimentation will not cause interference to other stations.
3. This is an informal filing. We do not believe the use of information technology is feasible in this situation.
4. This agency does not impose a similar information collection on the respondents. There is 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 collection of information will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities/businesses.
6. The frequency for this collection of information is determined by respondents, as necessary.
7. This collection of information is consistent with 5 CFR 1320.5(d)(2).
8. The Commission published a Notice (73 FR 51299) in the Federal Register on September 2, 2008. No comments were generated as a result of the Notice.
9. No payment or gift was provided to respondents.
10. There is no need for confidentiality with this collection of information.
11. This information collection does not address any private matters of a sensitive nature.
12. We estimate that 250 informal applications for experimental authorizations will be filed with the Commission and processed. The average burden is 2.25 hours for an AM station, 4.25 hours for
a FM station and 5.25 hours for a TV station. This estimate is based on FCC staff's knowledge and familiarity with the availability of the data required.
Total Number of Annual Respondents: 10 AM Broadcast Stations
45 TV Broadcast Stations
195 FM Broadcast Stations
250 Stations
Total Number of Annual Responses:
250 Informal Applications for Experimental Authorizations (responses)
Number of Burden Hours:
10 AM stations x 2.25 hrs./stations = 22.50 hrs.
45 TV stations x 5.25 hrs./station = 236.25 hrs.
195 FM stations x 4.25 hrs./stations = 828.75 hrs.
Total Number of Burden Hours = 1,087.50 hrs. rounded to 1,088 hours
Annual “In-House” Cost: We assume that the respondents would contract out with a consulting engineer to prepare and file the experimental authorizations. We estimate that the respondents would spend approximately 15 minutes conferring with these consulting engineers. We also estimate that the respondent would have an average salary of $100,000/year @ $48.08/hour.
250 informal applications x 0.25 hours x $48.08 = $3,005.00
Total Annual “In-House” Cost: $3,005.00
13. Annual Cost Burden: We assume that the respondents would use a consulting engineer to prepare and file the request for experimental authorizations. This consulting engineer is estimated to have an average salary of $175/hour.
45 TV applications x 5 hours x $150 = $117,000
Total Annual Cost Burden: $153,750
14. Cost to the Federal Government: The Commission will use clerical staff at the GS-5/5 level ($16.08/hour) and professional staff at the GS-11/5 level ($29.47/hour) to process these requests for experimental authorizations.
0.5 hours x $16.08 x 250 applications = $ 2,155.00
2.0 hours x $29.47 x 250 applications = $15,805.00
$17,960.00
Total Cost to the Federal Government: $17,960.00
15. There is an adjustment -$25,250 to the annual cost burden. This adjustment is due to a decrease in consulting engineer’s hourly salary. The Commission over-estimated the salary in its submission to OMB in 2006. The salary is more accurately estimated with this submission. There are no program changes.
16. The data will not be published.
17. OMB approval of the expiration of the information collection will be displayed at 47 C.F.R. Section 0.408.
18. There are no exceptions to Item 19 of the Certification Statement.
B. Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods
No statistical methods are employed.
| File Type | application/msword |
| File Title | OMB 3060-0176 |
| Author | JSWANK |
| Last Modified By | cathy.williams |
| File Modified | 2008-09-02 |
| File Created | 2008-08-26 |