This approval follows-up on the informal OMB approval given on February 11th, 2009.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
08/31/2009
6 Months From Approved
06/30/2009
4,980
0
4,410
5,025
0
4,550
992,890
0
3,984,890
Stations that wish to terminate their analog signal transmission on February 17, 2009 must file a notification to the Commission no later than Monday, February 9, 2009 (11:59 p.m. EST), of their intention to terminate analog service,as planned, on the previous nationwide transition date of February 17. Stations must file these notifications through the FCCÂs Consolidated Database System (ÂCDBSÂ) using the Informal Application Filing Form. Stations also were required to indicate whether they would provide Âanalog nightlightÂ-type service for up to 30 days after February 17.
For stations intending to terminate analog service on February 17, 2009, the Commission required stations to support and supplement their initial February 17 Termination Notifications by February 13 by either (1) certifying compliance with several public interest conditions; or (2) showing Âthat extraordinary, exigent circumstances, such as the unavoidable loss of their analog site or extreme economic hardship, require that they terminate their analog service on February 17th the public interest.Â
On February 11, 2009, the DTV Delay Act was signed by the President and enacted into law, extending the nationwide DTV transition date from February 17 until June 12, 2009. As a result, after June 12, 2009, full-power television broadcast stations must transmit only digital signals, and may no longer transmit analog signals, except for limited analog Ânightlight service. The DTV Delay Act directs the Commission to take any actions Ânecessary or appropriate to implement the provisions, and carry out the purposes of the DTV Delay Act, and to do so within 30 days. Congress extended the transition date in order to permit analog service to continue until consumers have had additional time to prepare. But Congress also directed the Commission to provide flexibility for stations wanting to transition prior to the new date. Stations may have made extensive preparations for a February 17 digital transition and some may have difficulty altering their commitments at this time. The CommissionÂs challenge is to provide opportunities for some stations to end analog broadcasting early without sacrificing the goal of giving consumers additional time to prepare.
On February 5, 2009, the Commission released a Public Notice, FCC 09-6 (ÂFebruary 5 Public NoticeÂ), in which it granted a partial waiver of the Third DTV Periodic Report and Order, FCC 07-228 (2007), to permit television broadcast stations to cease analog broadcasting on February 17, 2009, despite the extension of the national DTV transition deadline to June 12, 2009 pursuant to the DTV Delay Act. This public notice contained revised information collection 3060-0386 to require stations wanting to terminate analog service on February 17, 2009 (the previous nationwide transition date)to submit notifications (ÂFebruary 17 Termination NotificationsÂ) to the FCC of their intent to terminate analog service on February 17, 2009.
On February 11, 2009, after review of the 491 February 17 Termination Notifications (due February 9), the Commission released a Public Notice, FCC 09-7 (ÂFebruary 11 Public NoticeÂ), in which it reconsidered the partial waiver granted in the February 5 Public Notice with regard to 123 stations intending to terminate analog service on February 17, 2009, based on the conclusion that termination by such stations posed a significant risk of substantial public harm. As a result, the Commission required these 123 stations to support and supplement their initial February 17 Termination Notifications by February 13 by either (1) certifying compliance with several public interest conditions; or (2) showing Âthat extraordinary, exigent circumstances, such as the unavoidable loss of their analog site or extreme economic hardship, require that they terminate their analog service on February 17th the public interest.Â
There are program changes to the annual burden hours +475 hours and annual cost burden +$57,750. These program changes are due to the Commission releasing two public notices, FCC 09-6 and FCC 09-7 which contained revised information collection requirements which impacted this collection.
The Commission also had an adjustment of -3,049,750 to the total annual cost burden for this information collection which was the result of a miscalculation to the cost with the CommissionÂs last submission to OMB. The calculation has been corrected with this submission.
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.
Emergency Justification Letter (DTV Notifications February 2009).pdf
FCC-09-7.DOC
Section 73.1635, Special Temporary Authorizations (STAs), Section 73.1635, Notifications, Section 73.1615; and Part 73, Information Filings