1. 47 CFR 73.686 describes a method for measuring signal strength at a household so that the satellite and broadcast industries would have a uniform method for making an actual determination of the signal strength that a household received. The information gathered as part of the Grade B contour1 signal strength tests will be used to indicate whether a household is “unserved” by over-the-air network signals.
Satellite and broadcast industries making field strength measurements for formal submission to the Commission in rulemaking proceedings,2 or making such measurements upon the request of the Commission, shall follow the procedure for making and reporting such measurements which shall be included in a report to the Commission and submitted in affidavit form, in triplicate. The report shall contain the following information:
(a) Tables of field strength measurements, which for each measuring location; (b) U.S. Geological Survey topographic maps; (c) All information necessary to determine the pertinent characteristics of the transmitting installation; (d) A list of calibrated equipment used in the field strength survey; (e) A detailed description of the calibration of the measuring equipment, and (f) Terrain profiles in each direction in which measurements were made.
47 CFR 73.686 also requires satellite and broadcast companies to maintain a written record describing, for each location, factors which may affect the recorded field (i.e., the approximate time or measurement, weather, topography, overhead wiring, heights and types of vegetation, buildings and other structures, the orientation of the measuring location, objects of such shape and size that cause shadows or reflections, signals received that arrived from a direction other than that of the transmitter, survey, list of the measured value field strength, time and date of the measurements and signature of the person making the measurements).
History:
On November 17, 1998, the Commission released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, In the Matter of Satellite Delivery of Network Signals to Unserved Households for Purposes of the Satellite Home Viewer Act; and Definition and Measurements of Signals of Grade B Intensity (“NPRM”). This proceeding originated with the Petitions filed by the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative and by EchoStar Communications Corporation, two direct-to-home (“DTH”) satellite companies. The petitions asked the Commission to examine the way it defines, measures, and predicts signal intensity under the Satellite Home Viewer Act (“SHVA”). We sought to promote competition among multichannel video programming distributors (”MPVDs”) where that is possible under SHVA, and we recognized the important role that network affiliates play in their local communities.
On February 2, 1999, the Commission released a Report and Order, In the Matter of Satellite Delivery of Network Signals to Unserved Households for Purposes of the Satellite Home Viewer Act, Part 73 Definition and Measurement of Signals of Grade B Intensity, FCC 99-14, that adopted a rule describing a method for measuring signal strength at a household so that the satellite and broadcast industries and consumers would have a uniform method for making an actual determination of the signal strength that a household received. The Commission also endorsed a computer model to predict whether a household is likely to be able to receive a signal of the required strength.
On May 26, 2000, the Commission’s Office of Engineering and Technology, released a First Report and Order, Establishment of an Improved Model for Predicting the Broadcast Television Field Strength Received at Individual Locations, ET Docket No. 00-11, 15 FCC Rcd 1843 (2002). The First Report and Order prescribed an improved point-to-point predictive model (Individual Location Longley-Rice (ILLR)) for determining the ability of locations to receive an over-the-air television broadcast signal of a specific intensity through the use of a conventional, outdoor rooftop receiving antenna. In the absence of on-site measurements of signal intensity, this model provided a reliable and presumptive means for determining whether the over-the-air signal of a network affiliated television station can be received at an individual location. We also provided for the model’s continued refinement by the use of additional data as it becomes available. In prescribing the improved predictive model, we complied with statutory requirements set forth in the Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act of 1999 (SHVIA).
The Commission is seeking 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 action is contained in the Satellite Home Viewer Act, 17 U.S.C. § 119. The Satellite Home Viewer Act is an amendment of the Copyright Act.
2. The information gathered as part of the Grade B signal strength tests will be used to indicate whether consumers are “unserved” by over-the-air network signals. The written records of test results will be made after testing and predicting the strength of a television station’s signal.
3. The Commission has not yet implemented automated technological collection techniques for this collection of information. We will look into automating this collection of information in the future.
4. The Commission does not impose a similar information collection on the respondents. Therefore, the collection of information is not duplicative.
5. We do not anticipate that this collection of information collection will impact small businesses or other small entities. Therefore, this information collection will not have a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities/businesses.
6. If the Commission did not sponsor this information collection, it would not be in compliance with the Satellite Home Viewer Act.
7. There are no special circumstances that apply to this collection of information.
8. The Commission published a Notice (73 FR 65309) in the Federal Register on November 5, 2008. No comments were generated as a result of the Notice.
9. There will be no payment or gifts given to respondents.
10. There is no need for confidentiality with this collection of information.
11. This collection of information does not address matters of a sensitive nature.
12. The estimated public burden is as follows:
Total Number of Annual Respondents: 848 Satellite/Broadcast Companies
Total Number of Annual Responses: 250,000 Written Reports (responses)
Total Annual Burden Hours:
250,000 written reports of test results x 0.50 hours/written report = 125,000 hours
Total Annual “In-house costs”: We estimate a field technician earning $25.00/hour will test results of signal strength measurements and predictive models and will take one hour per written report.
250,000 written reports of test results x 0.50 hours/written report x $25.00/hour = $3,125,000
13. Annual Cost Burden:
(a) Total annualized capital/startup costs: None
(b) Total annual costs (O&M): None
(c) Total annualized cost requested: None
14. Cost to the Federal Government: The Commission will use staff at the GS-11 step 5 grade level, $31.61/hr. to process reports received from satellite and broadcast companies.
250,000 written reports of test results x $31.61/hour x 1 hour/report = $7,902,500
Total Cost to the Federal Government: $7,902,500
15. There are no adjustments or program changes to this information collection.
16. The data will not be published for statistical use.
17. The Commission does not seek approval to not display the expiration date for this collection of information.
18. There are no exceptions to the Certification Statement.
B. Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods
No statistical methods are employed.
1 Grade B contour generally refers to a geographic area within which viewers normally will be able to receive service from a broadcast station.
2 Except as provided for in 47 CFR 73.612, television broadcast stations shall not be protected from any type of interference or propagation effect. Persons desiring to submit testimony, evidence or data to the Commission for the purpose of showing that the technical standards in 47 CFR Section 73.686 do not properly reflect the levels of any given type of interference or propagation effect may so only so only in appropriate rulemaking proceedings concerning the amendment of such technical standards.
| File Type | application/msword |
| Author | SGERMAN |
| Last Modified By | cathy.williams |
| File Modified | 2009-01-09 |
| File Created | 2008-10-21 |