Justification for non-substantive change request

Justification for Non-Substantial Changes to FCC Alert Reporting System (ARS) Forms

OMB Control No. 3060-0207

The Commission is requesting approval for non-substantive changes to the forms associated with the Alert Reporting System (ARS) in collection 3060-0207.  As stated in the supporting statement, the FCC acknowledged in the 2019 revisions to the EAS PRA collection commenters’ general requests, to include “help” buttons on each of the online filing menu screens of ARS and noted that help buttons would be included “in some form to be determined in the final system requirements.” Following further development of the system requirements, the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB or Bureau) determined that the ease of filing could be further improved by replacing “help” buttons with detailed instructions on how to complete each online filing menu screen. The Bureau concluded that this approach will improve the user experience by giving filers clear, context-specific instructions on how to complete the page without needing to unnecessarily click on an extra button. The collections in the modified ARS forms are consistent with those approved by the Office of Management and Budget in the 2019 revisions to the EAS PRA collection set forth in the FCC’s State EAS Plan Report and Order. The updates to this collection will cause no change in the burden estimates or reporting and record keeping requirements that the Commission submitted (and which OMB subsequently approved) in 2019.