This non-substantial change request is
being submitted to OMB for approval in the event that the change in
the nationwide DTV Transition date is enacted into law. On February
5, 2009, the United States Congress passed legislation, known as
the DTV Delay Act, that would extend the date for the completion
of the DTV transition from February 17, 2009, to June 12, 2009.
This submission will cover information collection requirements
through the new transition date (June 12, 2009 or whatever final
DTV Transition date is ultimately established by Congress and
enacted into law) and, where required by FCC Order, a specified
amount of time after such date. This submission applies only if the
DTV Delay Act is enacted into law. The Short-term Analog Flash and
Emergency Readiness Act (Analog Nightlight Act or Act),
requires the Commission to develop and implement a program by
January 15, 2009, to encourage and permit continued analog TV
service after the February 17, 2009 DTV transition date, where
technically feasible, for the purpose of providing public safety
information and DTV transition information to viewers who may
not obtain the necessary equipment to receive digital broadcasts
after the transition date. The statute imposes a deadline of
January 15, 2009.
The Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) requests approval under the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, and in accordance with OMBs
emergency processing rules (5 CFR 1320.13), for a revision to an
existing information collection. The revision will allow the filing
of DTV notifications to the FCC via CDBS), in order to implement
the Congressional mandate for the FCC to develop and implement a
program by January 15, 2009, to encourage and permit TV broadcast
stations to use this opportunity to provide public safety
information and DTV transition information. Specifically, the
Commission must establish a program that will allow full power
television stations (at their option) to continue to provide analog
service for a period of 30 days after the digital transition
deadline of February 17, 2009 for the sole purposes of offering
public safety and digital transition information. We believe there
is good cause for requesting emergency PRA approval from OMB
because of the January 15, 2009 statutory deadline for implementing
the Nightlight Act, which was enacted by Congress only this month,
as well as the brief 30-day period during which the Acts
provisions will be in force, circumstances which make the use of
normal OMB clearance procedures reasonably likely to cause the
Acts statutory deadlines to be missed. In addition, any delay in
implementing this Congressional mandate can result in harm to TV
stations, and, in turn, to their viewers. Due to the short time
frame provided for us to act in the Analog Nightlight Act, and
because PRA approval is needed to allow stations to make filings
immediately (including during the NPRM comment period), we request
OMB to waive Federal Register notice for this emergency request
under the PRA. See 5 C.F.R. § 1320.13(d). We request OMB approval
by December 31, 2008.
There are program changes to
this information collection of +530 annual burden hours and
+$63,000 annual cost burden due to the information collection
requirements contained in FCC 08-281. There are no adjustments to
this information collection.
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.