The Federal Communications Commission (âCommissionâ) requests that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approve a revision of the information collection titled âMitigation of Orbital Debris,â under OMB Control No. 3060-1013, as a result of changes adopted in the Commissionâs Report and Order, FCC 20-54, IB Docket No. 18-313, titled âMitigation of Orbital Debris in the New Space Ageâ (Orbital Debris Report and Order), and released on April 24, 2020.
In the Orbital Debris Report and Order, the Commission updated its rules related to orbital debris mitigation, including application requirements. The new rules are designed to ensure that the Commissionâs actions concerning radio communications, including licensing U.S. spacecraft and granting access to the U.S. market for non-U.S. spacecraft, mitigate the growth of orbital debris, while at the same time not creating undue regulatory obstacles to new satellite ventures. The action will help to ensure that Commission decisions are consistent with the public interest in space remaining viable for future satellites and systems and the many services that those systems provide to the public. The rule revisions also provide additional detail to applicants on what information is expected under the Commissionâs rules, which can help to increase certainty in the application filing process. While this information collection represents an overall increase in the burden hours, the information collection serves the public interest by ensuring that the Commission and public have necessary information about satellite applicantsâ plans for mitigation of orbital debris.
The Commission has made the following program changes to this collection as a result of the information collection requirements adopted or revised in FCC 20-54. Therefore, this collection reflects program changes resulting in +36 respondents, +36 responses, +338 burden hours, and + $69,300 total annual costs.
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.