Sections 73.3526 and 73.3527, Local Public Inspection File, Sections 73.1212, 76.1701 and 73.1943, Political Files
Revision of a currently approved collection
No
Regular
01/26/2022
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
10/31/2023
66,839
62,839
2,047,805
2,043,805
0
0
On April 22, 2021, the Commission adopted Sponsorship Identification Requirements for Foreign Government-Provided Programming, Report and Order, MB Docket No. 20-299, FCC 21-42 (rel. Apr. 22, 2021). The Commission updated its existing sponsorship identification requirements to address the issue of undisclosed foreign government provided programming. Specifically, the Commission adopted new foreign government sponsorship identification requirements to require broadcasters to disclose when foreign governments or their representatives lease time on their airwaves. Commercial and noncommercial stations must place copies of the foreign sponsorship identification disclosures and the name of the program to which the disclosures were appended in their online public inspection file on a quarterly basis. The filings will be placed in a standalone folder marked as âForeign Government-Provided Programming Disclosures.â The modified rules now expressly apply the changes to any programming broadcast pursuant to a section 325(c) permit. A section 325(c) permit holder will place copies of the disclosures required along with the name of the program to which the disclosures were appended in the International Bureauâs public filing system (IBFS) under the relevant IBFS section 325(c) permit file. Both types of filings must state the date and time the program aired. In the case of repeat airings of the program, those additional dates and times should also be included. Where an aural announcement was made, its contents must be reduced to writing and placed in the online public inspection file in the same manner.
This submission is being made to OMB for approval of the new disclosure requirements for this Information Collection, as adopted in the 2021 Report and Order. The new information collection requirements are added to 47 CFR 73.3526(e)(19) and 47 CFR 73.3527(e)(15) for broadcast licensees and to 47 CFR 73.1212(k) for section 325(c) permit holders.
The Commission has program changes/increases to the following figures which are due to the modifications of the public file requirement to include foreign sponsorship identification disclosures: +4,000 to the annual responses and +4,000 to the annual burden hours. There is a program change of +12 to the number of respondents to account for Section 325(c) permit holders.
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.