Supporting Statement OMB 3060-0126 2019

OMB 3060-0126 February 2020

Title: Section 73.1820, Station Log



SUPPORTING STATEMENT

A. Justification:

1. 47 CFR Section 73.1820 requires that each licensee of an AM, FM or TV broadcast station maintain a station log. Each entry must accurately reflect the station's operation. This log should reflect adjustments to operating parameters for AM stations with directional antennas without an approved sampling system; for all stations the actual time of any observation of extinguishment or improper operation of tower lights; and entry of each test of the Emergency Broadcast System (EBS) for commercial stations.

This information collection does not affect individuals or households; thus, there are no impacts under the Privacy Act.

The Commission is requesting that this collection be approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for an additional three years.

Statutory authority for this collection of information is contained in Section 154(i) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

2. FCC staff members use the data in field investigations to assure that the licensee is operating in accordance with the technical requirements as specified in the FCC Rules and with the station authorization, and is taking reasonable measures to preclude interference to other stations. It is also used to verify that the EBS is operating properly.

3. Automated logging devices are being used by some broadcast stations to automatically record entries in the station log when meeting the specifications contained in Section 73.1820(b).

4. No other agency imposes a similar information collection on the respondents. There is no similar data available.

5. This collection does not impose any significant impact on small businesses.

6. If this collection of information was conducted less frequently, the Commission would not be able to verify that licensees had taken corrective action to eliminate any interference problems, correct antenna tower lighting problems, and verify that the EBS is operating properly.

7. This collection of information is consistent with the guidelines in 5 CFR 1320.5(d)(2).

8. The Commission published a Notice (84 FR 66188) in the Federal Register on December 3, 2019 seeking comments from the public on the information collection requirements contained in this supporting statement. No comments were received from the public.

9. No payment or gift was provided to the respondents.

10. There is no need for confidentiality with this collection of information.

11. This collection of information does not address any private matters of a sensitive nature.

12. We estimate that there are 15,200 broadcast stations. It is estimated that 1% of all AM, FM and TV stations will log the extinguishment or improper operation of tower lights per month with an average burden of 0.017 hours per month. All commercial broadcast stations (12,250) will log the entry of each test of the EBS with an average burden of 0.017 hours per week. AM stations with directional antennas without approved sampling systems will log readings of the operating parameters 6 times per day with an average burden of 0.017 hours per logging (0.1 hours/day). AM stations with directional antennas without approved sampling systems will monitor field points and log one time/quarter with an average burden of 0.5 hours per quarter.

Total Number of Respondents: 15,200 Broadcast Stations

Total Number of Responses: 15,200 Station Logs Maintained

15,200 broadcast station x 1% x 0.017 hours/month x 12 months = 31

12,250 commercial broadcast stations x 0.017 hours/week x 52 weeks = 10,829

110 AM stations x 0.1 hours/day x 365 days = 4,015

110 AM stations x 0.5 hours/quarter x 4 = 220

Total Annual Burden Hours = 15,095 hours

These estimates are based on FCC staff's knowledge and familiarity with the availability of the data required.

Total Annual “In-House” Cost: We assume that the respondent would use an engineer at the station. It is estimated that this station engineer would have an average hourly salary of $48.08/hour.

$48.08/hour x 15,095 hours = $725,767.60

13. Annual Cost Burden:

(a) Total annualized capital/startup costs: None

(b) Total annual costs (O&M): None

(c) Total annualized cost required: None

14. There is no cost to the Federal Government.

15. There are no adjustments or program changes to this information collection.

16. The data will not be published.

17. OMB approval of the expiration date of the information collection will be displayed at 47 C.F.R. Section 0.408.

18. There are no exceptions to the Certification Statement.

B. Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods

No statistical methods are employed.

3