The Federal Communications Commission (âthe Commissionâ) is seeking approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a new information collection entitled Section 97.303(g)(3), Notification Requirement.
On March 29, 2017 the Federal Communications Commission released a Report and Order, Amendment of Parts 2, 15, 80, 90, 97, and 101 of the Commissionâs Rules Regarding Implementation of the Final Acts of the World Radiocommunication Conference (Geneva, 2012) (WRC-12), Other Allocation Issues, and Related Rule Updates, ET Docket No. 15-99, FCC 17-33, which, inter alia, amends the Commissionâs rules for the Amateur Radio Service to provide for frequency sharing requirements in the 135.7-137.8 kHz (2200 meter) and 472-479 kHz (630 meter) bands.
Electric utilities operate Power Line Carrier (PLC) systems in the 9-490 kHz band on power transmission lines for communications important to the reliability and security of electric service to the public. As a result of this amendment, the Amateur Radio Service will share
135.7-137.8 kHz and 472-479 kHz bands with PLC systems. To support the operations of both the Amateur Radio Service and PLC systems in these bands, the Commission adopted a minimum horizontal separation distance of one kilometer between the transmission line and the amateur station when operating in these bands. Prior to commencement of operations in these bands, amateur operators must notify the Utilities Telecom Council (UTC) of their intent by submitting their call signs, intended band or bands of operation, and the coordinates of their antenna's fixed location. Amateur stations will be permitted to commence operations after the 30-day period unless UTC notifies the station that its fixed location is located within one kilometer of PLC systems operating in the same or overlapping frequencies.
This information collection affect only individuals who are licensees in the Amateur Radio Service, i.e., amateur operators. We note that the coordinates of an applicantâs fixed site can be determined at no cost to the applicant through the use of commonly available means, i.e., the applicant can use a dedicated Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, a mobile phone that also provides GPS capability, or an internet-based location service. Because the call signs of amateur operators are publicly available on the Commissionâs website, the collection of this information does not cause any additional impact under the Privacy Act and a Privacy Impact Assessment is not required.
Section 97.303(g)(2) states prior to commencement of operations in the 135.7-137.8 kHz (2200 m) and/or 472-479 kHz (630 m) bands, amateur operators shall notify the Utilities Telecom Council (UTC) of their intent to operate by submitting their call signs, intended band or bands of operation, and the coordinates of their antennaâs fixed location. Amateur stations will be permitted to commence operations after the 30-day period unless UTC notifies the station that its fixed location is located within one kilometer of PLC systems operating in the same or overlapping frequencies.
The Commission has the following program changes as a result of the information collection requirements adopted in FCC 17-33: 1,000 respondents, 1,000 annual responses and 167 annual burden hours.
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.