On October 24, 2018, the Commission released a Report and Order, FCC 18-149, in GN Docket No. 17-158, adopting limited changes to the rules governing Priority Access Licenses (PALs) in the 3550-3700 MHz (3.5 GHz) band, including larger license areas, longer license terms, renewability, and performance requirements. The Commission anticipated that the targeted changes made in its 2018 Report and Order will spur additional investment and broader deployment in the band, promote robust and efficient spectrum use, and help ensure the rapid deployment of advanced wireless technologiesâincluding 5Gâin the United States. Among these changes, the Commission revised section 96.23(a) of its rules to require that an applicant must file an application for an initial PAL, and that the application must: (1) demonstrate the applicant's qualifications to hold an authorization; (2) state how a grant would serve the public interest, convenience, and necessity; (3) contain all information required by FCC rules and application forms; (4) propose operation of a facility or facilities in compliance with all rules governing the Citizens Broadband Radio Service; and (5) be amended as necessary to remain substantially accurate and complete in all significant respects, in accordance with the provisions of section 1.65 of the Commissionâs rules. The Commission therefore seeks approval for a revision to its currently approved information collection on FCC Form 601. In this information collection request, the Commission has increased the number of estimated respondents by 100, and accordingly adjusted the estimated total burden in hours and cost.
The Commission has program changes to this collection as a result of the information collection requirements adopted in FCC 18-149 because a new radio service will use Form 601 and add the new radio service to the Form 601. The program changes are as follows: 100 to the number of respondents, 100 to the annual number of responses, 88 to the annual number of hours and $28,250 to the annual cost.
There are no adjustments to this 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.