Supporting Statement OMB 3060-0214 (FINAL) (012622 for review and approval #2)

OMB Control Number: 3060-0214 January 2022

Title: Sections 73.3526 and 73.3527, Local Public Inspection Files; Sections 73.1212, 76.1701 and 73.1943, Political Files

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

A. Justification:

1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary. Identify any legal or administrative requirements that necessitate the collection. Attach a copy of the appropriate section of each statute and regulation mandating or authorizing the collection of information.

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 “Foreign Government-Provided Programming Disclosures.” 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 Bureau’s 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. They are as follows:

47 CFR 73.3526(e)(19) - Foreign sponsorship disclosures. Documentation sufficient to demonstrate that the station is continuing to meet the requirements set forth at § 73.1212(j)(6).

47 CFR 73.3527(e)(15) - Foreign sponsorship disclosures. Documentation sufficient to demonstrate that the station is continuing to meet the requirements set forth at § 73.1212(j)(6).

47 CFR 73.1212(k) - The requirements in paragraph (j) of this section shall apply to programs permitted to be delivered to foreign broadcast stations under an authorization pursuant to the section 325(c) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. § 325(c)) if any part of the material has been sponsored, paid for, or furnished for free as an inducement to air on the foreign station by a foreign governmental entity. A section 325(c) permit holder shall place copies of the disclosures required along with the name of the program to which the disclosures were appended in the International Bureau’s public filing System (IBFS) under the relevant IBFS section 325(c) permit file. The filing 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 IBFS in the same manner.

History:

The Commission first adopted a public inspection file requirement more than 50 years ago.¹ The public file requirement grew out of Congress’ 1960 amendment of Sections 309 and 311 of the Communications Act of 1934.² Finding that Congress, in enacting these provisions, was guarding “the right of the general public to be informed, not merely the rights of those who have special interests,”³ the Commission adopted the public inspection file requirement to “make information to which the public already has a right more readily available, so that the public will be encouraged to play a more active part in dialogue with broadcast licensees.”⁴ In return for their exclusive use of public spectrum, broadcasters must operate and program their stations in the “public interest, convenience and necessity.”⁵ This means that all stations must be responsive and accountable to their local community of license. The manner in which broadcasters communicate with their communities is a core function of their role as licensees. Specific items in the public file, listed below, include items that provide station information to the public, like ownership reports, contour maps, citizen agreements, EEO reports and quarterly lists of programs that the stations believe addressed important issues in their community. Access to the public inspection file allows the public to monitor a station's public interest performance. The information provided in a station’s public file enables citizens to engage in an informed dialog with their local stations or to file complaints or petitions to deny the renewal of a station’s license.⁶ Comments, complaints, and petitions to deny filed by the viewing public have long

been a part of the regulatory and the renewal process.⁷ As part of the Commission’s license renewal process, the Commission does not routinely monitor every aspect of stations’ compliance with Commission rules; rather, it depends on viewers and listeners to provide information about whether stations are meeting their public interest obligations. The Commission subsequently sought and received approval to replace the requirement that commercial and noncommercial television stations maintain a paper public file at their main studios with a requirement to submit documents for inclusion in an online public file to be hosted by the Commission.

In 2019, the Commission adopted new rules governing the delivery and form of carriage election notices. Electronic Delivery of MVPD Communications, Modernization of Media Regulation Initiative, MB Docket Nos. 17-105, 17-317, Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 19-69, 2019 WL 3065517 (rel. Jul. 11, 2019). Pursuant to that decision, the public file obligations of full power television broadcasters were slightly modified, although the resulting burdens will be unchanged.

The following information collection requirements remain unchanged and the adoption of FCC 21-42 will not have an impact on them:

47 CFR Sections 73.3526(a) and 73.3527(a): 47 CFR Sections 73.3526(a) and 73.3527(a) require that licensees and permittees of commercial and noncommercial educational (NCE) broadcast stations maintain a public inspection file. The contents of the file vary according to type of service and status. A separate file shall be maintained for each station for which an application is pending or for which an authorization is outstanding. The public inspection file must be maintained so long as an authorization to operate the station is outstanding.

47 CFR Sections 73.3526(b) and 73.3527(b) require that the public inspection file be maintained at the main studio of the station. An applicant for a new station or change of community shall maintain its file at an accessible place in the proposed community of license or at its proposed main studio. The 2012 Second Report and Order changed this subsection to require commercial and noncommercial television stations to maintain their public inspection file on an online public file to be hosted by the Commission, instead of being maintained at the main studio of the station, with the exception of letters and emails from the public, which were required to continue to be maintained at the station. The 2016 Expanded Online File R&O changed this subsection to require commercial and noncommercial radio stations to maintain their public inspection file in the Commission’s online public file, with the exception of letters and emails from the public, which were required to continue to be maintained at the station. Commercial radio stations in the top 50 Nielsen Audio markets with 5 or more full-time employees were required to commence placing new public file material in the online public file on June 24, 2016. All other radio stations were permitted to continue to retain the public inspection file at the station until March 1,2018, but could voluntarily transition to the online public file before that date. Stations must also provide a link to the online file from the home page of their own websites, if they have one, and provide contact information for a station representative on their websites who can assist persons with disabilities with issues related to the content of the public files. Stations are also required to include in the online public file the station’s main studio address and telephone number and the email address of the station’s designated contact for questions about the public file.

With respect to the station’s political file, new material must be placed in the online file hosted by the Commission, but existing political inspection file material may continue to be retained at the station. Commercial radio stations in the top 50 Nielsen Audio with 5 or more full-time employees were required to commence placing new political file material in the online public file on June 24, 2016. All other radio stations may continue to retain the political file at the station until March 1, 2018. For these stations, beginning March 1, 2018, any new political file material must be placed in the online file hosted by the Commission, while other political file material may be retained at the station until the end of the retention period. Stations not required to place their political file on the Commission’s website before March 1, 2018 could choose to do so instead of retaining the political file at the station.

47 CFR Sections 73.3526(c) and 73.3527(c) require the licensee/permittee to make the local public file available for public inspection at any time during regular business hours. All or part of this file may be maintained in a computer database as long as a computer terminal is made available to members of the public. Materials in the public file must be made available for review, printing or reproduction upon request.

Licensees that maintain their main studios and public file outside their communities of license⁸ are required to mail a copy of “The Public and Broadcasting”⁹ to anyone requesting a copy. Licensees shall be prepared to assist members of the public in identifying the documents they may want to be sent to them by mail.

As a result of a FCC order (see FCC 17-137, rel. Oct. 24, 2017), an applicant, permittee, or licensee must provide information regarding the location of the public file, or the applicable portion of the file, within one business day of a request for such information.

47 CFR Sections 73.3526(d) and 73.3527(d) require an assignor to maintain the public inspection file until such time as the assignment is consummated. At that time, the assignee is required to maintain the file.

47 CFR Sections 73.3526(e) and 73.3527(e) specify the contents of the public inspection files. Separate rule sections not subject to this information collection require the creation and submission to the Commission of many of the items that must be retained in the public inspection file. As such, the burden estimates for creation and submission of these documents are calculated in other information collections. The burden estimates included in this information collection pertain only to making these items publicly available. We have listed below some of the relevant information collections pertaining to the creation and submission of such documents. The documents to be retained in the public inspection files are as follows:

(a) A copy of the current FCC authorization to construct or operate the station, as well as any other documents necessary to reflect any modifications thereto or any conditions that the FCC has placed on the authorization;

(b) A copy of any application tendered for filing with the FCC, together with all related material, and copies of Initial Decision and Final Decisions in hearing cases. If petitions to deny are filed against the application, a statement that such a petition has been filed shall be maintained in the file together with the name and address of the party filing the petition [Application for Construction Permit for Commercial Broadcast Station (OMB control number 3060-0027, FCC Form 301; Application for New Commercial or Noncommercial Educational Broadcast Station License (OMB control number 3060-0029, FCC Form 340); Application for Consent to Assignment of Broadcast Station Construction Permit or License, FCC Form 314; Application for Consent to Transfer Control of Entity Holding Broadcast Station Construction Permit or License, FCC Form 315; Section 73.3580, Local Public Notice of Filing of Broadcast Applications (OMB control number 3060-0031)];

(c) For commercial broadcast stations, a copy of every written citizen agreement;¹⁰

(d) A copy of any service contour maps, submitted with any application, together with any other information in the application showing service contours and/or main studio and transmitter location;

(e) A copy of the most recent, complete Ownership Report (FCC Form 323) filed with the FCC for the station, together with any statements filed with the FCC certifying that the current Report is accurate [Ownership Report for Broadcast Station (OMB control number 3060-0010, FCC Form 323); Ownership Report for Noncommercial Educational TV, FM or Standard Broadcast Station (OMB control number 3060-0084, FCC Form 323-E)];

(f) A political file of records required by 47 CFR Section 73.1943 concerning broadcasts by candidates for public office [Section 73.1942, Candidates Rates, 76.206, Candidates Rates, Section 76.1611, Political Cable Rates and Classes of Time (OMB control number 3060-0501)];

(g) An Equal Employment Opportunity File required by 47 CFR Section 73.2080 [Broadcast EEO Program Report, FCC Form 396 (OMB control number 3060-0113); Multi-Channel Video Program Distributor EEO Program Annual Report, (OMB control number 3060-1033, FCC Form 396-C)].

(h) A copy of the most recent edition of the manual entitled “The Public and Broadcasting;”

(i) Material having a substantial bearing on a matter which is the subject of an FCC investigation or complaint to the FCC of which the applicant/permittee/licensee has been advised;

(j) For commercial radio and TV broadcast stations and non-exempt NCE broadcast stations, a list of programs that have provided the station's most significant treatment of community issues. This list is kept on a quarterly basis and contains a brief description of how each issue was treated;

(k) For commercial TV broadcast stations, records sufficient to permit substantiation of the station’s certification, in its license renewal application, of compliance with the commercial limits on children's television programming. The records must be placed in the public file quarterly. The FCC Form 398, Children's Television Programming Reports, reflecting efforts made by the licensee during the preceding quarter, and efforts planned for the next quarter, to serve the educational and informational needs of children must be placed in the public file quarterly [Children's Television Programming Report (OMB control number 3060-0754, FCC Form 398)];

(l) For NCE stations, a list of donors supporting specific programs. The list is to be retained for two years from the date of the broadcast of the specific program supported, and will be reserved for sponsors/underwriters of specific programming;

(m) Each applicant for renewal of license shall place in the public file a statement certifying compliance with the post-filing local public notice announcements. These statements shall be placed in the public file within 7 days of the last day of broadcast [Section 73.3580, Local Public Notice of Filing of Broadcast Applications (OMB control number 3060-0031)];

(n) Commercial radio and TV licensees who provide programming to another licensee’s station, pursuant to time brokerage agreements, are required to keep copies of those agreements in their public inspection files, with confidential information blocked out where appropriate;

(o) Commercial TV stations must make an election between retransmission consent and must-carry status once every three years. Television stations that fail to make an election will be

deemed to have elected must-carry status. This statement must be placed in the station’s public inspection file. This rule codifies Section 325(b)(3)(B) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended [Section 73.1601, Deletion of Repositioning of Broadcast Signals; Section 76.1617, Initial Must-Carry Notice; and Sections 76.1697 and 76.1708, Principal Headend (OMB control number 3060-0649)];

(p) NCE television stations requesting mandatory carriage on any cable system pursuant to 47 CFR Section 76.56 shall place in its public file the request and relevant correspondence; and

(q) Commercial radio and TV licensees who have entered into joint sales agreements must place the agreements in the public inspection file, with confidential and propriety information blocked out where appropriate.

(r) Commercial TV licensees who have entered into shared service agreements must place the agreements in the public inspection file, with confidential and proprietary information blocked out where appropriate.

47 CFR 73.3526(e)(5) - Ownership reports and related materials.  A copy of the most recent, complete ownership report filed with the FCC for the station, together with any statements filed with the FCC certifying that the current report is accurate, and together with all related material. These materials shall be retained until a new, complete ownership report is filed with the FCC, at which time a copy of the new report and any related materials shall be placed in the file. The permittee or licensee must retain in the public file either a copy of the station documents listed in §73.3613(a)–(c) or an up-to-date list of such documents. If the permittee or licensee elects to maintain an up-to-date list of such documents, the list must include all the information that the permittee or licensee is required to provide on ownership reports for each document, including, but not limited to, a description of the document, the parties to the document, the month and year of execution, the month and year of expiration, and the document type (e.g., network affiliation agreement, articles of incorporation, bylaws, management consultant agreement with independent contractor). Regardless of which of these two options the permittee or licensee chooses, it must update the inventory of §73.3613 documents in the public file to reflect newly executed §73.3613 documents, amendments, supplements, and cancellations within 30 days of execution thereof. Licensees and permittees that choose to retain a list of §73.3613 documents must provide a copy of any §73.3613 document(s) to requesting parties within 7 days. In maintaining copies of such documents in the public file or providing copies upon request, confidential or proprietary information may be redacted where appropriate.

47 CFR 73.3526(e)(14) - Radio and television time brokerage agreements.  For commercial radio and television stations, a copy of every agreement or contract involving time brokerage of the licensee’s station or of another station by the licensee, whether the agreement involves stations in the same markets or in differing markets, with confidential or proprietary information redacted where appropriate. These agreements shall be placed in the public file within 30 days of execution and retained in the file as long as the contract or agreement is in force.

47 CFR 73.3526(e)(15) - Must-carry or retransmission consent election. Statements of a commercial television or Class A television station's election with respect to either must-carry or re-transmission consent, as defined in §§76.64 and 76.1608 of this chapter. These records shall be retained for the duration of the three-year election period to which the statement applies. Commercial television stations shall, no later than July 31, 2020, provide an up-to-date email address and phone number for carriage-related questions and respond as soon as is reasonably possible to messages or calls from MVPDs. Each commercial television station is responsible for the continuing accuracy and completeness of the information furnished.

47 CFR 73.3526(e)(16) - Radio and television joint sales agreements.  For commercial radio and commercial television stations, a copy of agreement for the joint sale of advertising time involving the station, whether the agreement involves stations in the same markets or in differing markets, with confidential or proprietary information redacted where appropriate. These agreements shall be placed in the public file within 30 days of execution and retained in the file as long as the contract or agreement is in force.

47 CFR Section 73.3527(e)(4) - Ownership reports and related materials.  A copy of the most recent, complete ownership report filed with the FCC for the station, together with any subsequent statement filed with the FCC certifying that the current report is accurate, and together with all related material. These materials shall be retained until a new, complete ownership report is filed with the FCC, at which time a copy of the new report and any related materials shall be placed in the file. The permittee or licensee must retain in the public file either a copy of the station documents listed in §73.3613(a)–(c) or an up-to-date list of such documents. If the permittee or licensee elects to maintain an up-to-date list of such documents, the list must include all the information that the permittee or licensee is required to provide on ownership reports for each document, including, but not limited to, a description of the document, the parties to the document, the month and year of execution, the month and year of expiration, and the document type (e.g., network affiliation agreement, articles of incorporation, bylaws, management consultant agreement with independent contractor). Regardless of which of these two options the permittee or licensee chooses, it must update the inventory of §73.3613 documents in the public file to reflect newly executed §73.3613 documents, amendments, supplements, and cancellations within 30 days of execution thereof. Licensees and permittees that choose to maintain a list of §73.3613 documents must provide a copy of any §73.3613 document(s) to requesting parties within 7 days. In maintaining copies of such documents in the public file or providing copies upon request, confidential or proprietary information may be redacted where appropriate.

47 CFR Section 73.3526(e)(11)(ii) - commercial TV and Class A TV broadcast must maintain records sufficient to permit substantiation of the station’s certification, in its license renewal application, of compliance with the commercial limits on children’s programming established in 47 U.S.C. Section 303a and 47 CFR Section 73.670. In the Report and Order, the Commission revises the rules to permit these stations to place these records in their public files annually rather than quarterly and to permit the filing of these records within 30 days after the end of the calendar year.

47 CFR Section 73.3526(e)(11)(iii) - requires that commercial television stations to place in their public files their Children’s Television Programming Reports (“Reports”) (FCC Form 2100 Schedule H) on an annual rather than quarterly basis, within 30 days after the end of the calendar year and to eliminate the requirement to publicize the existence and location of the Report.

47 CFR 73.3526(e)(13) - Each applicant for renewal of license shall, within 7 days of the last day of broadcast of the local public notice of filing announcements required pursuant to §73.3580(c)(3), place in the station's online public inspection file a statement certifying compliance with this paragraph (e)(13). The dates and times that the on-air announcements were broadcast shall be made part of the certifying statement. The certifying statement shall be retained in the public file for the period specified in §73.3580(e)(2) (for as long as the application to which it refers).

47 CFR 73.3527(e)(10) -  Each applicant for renewal of license shall, within 7 days of the last day of broadcast of the local public notice of filing announcements required pursuant to §73.3580(c)(3), place in the station's online public inspection file a statement certifying compliance with this paragraph (e)(10). The dates and times that the on-air announcements were broadcast shall be made part of the certifying statement. The certifying statement shall be retained in the public file for the period specified in §73.3580(e)(2) (for as long as the application to which it refers).

47 CFR 73.3527(e)(12) - Must-carry requests. States noncommercial television stations shall, no later than July 31, 2020, provide an up-to-date email address and phone number for carriage-related questions and respond as soon as is reasonably possible to messages or calls from MVPDs. Each noncommercial television station is responsible for the continuing accuracy and completeness of the information furnished. Any such station requesting mandatory carriage pursuant to Part 76 of this chapter shall place a copy of such request in its public file and shall retain both the request and relevant correspondence for the duration of any period to which the request applies.

47 CFR Sections 73.1212(e), 73.1943 and 76.1701 require licensees of broadcast stations and every cable television system to keep and permit public inspection of a complete record (political file) of all requests for broadcast and cablecast time made by or on behalf of candidates for public office, together with an appropriate notation showing the disposition made by the system of such requests, and the charges made, if any, if the request is granted. The disposition includes the schedule of time purchased, when the spots actually aired, the rates charged, and the classes of time purchased. Also, when free time is provided for use by or on behalf of candidates, a record of the free time provided is to be placed in the political file as soon as possible and maintained for a period of two years. 47 CFR Sections 73.1212(e) and 76.1701 also require that, when an entity sponsors broadcast or cablecast material that concerns a political matter or a discussion of a controversial issue of public importance, a list must be maintained in the public file of the system that includes the sponsoring entity’s chief executive officers, or members of its executive committee or of its board of directors. Section 73.1943(d) requires licensees and applicants to post all of the contents added to its political file after the effective date of this paragraph in the political file component of its online public file hosted by the Commission. A station must retain in its political file maintained at the station, at the location specified in §73.3526(b) or §73.3527(b), all material required to be included in the political file and added to the file prior to the effective date of this paragraph, unless the station elects voluntarily to place these materials in the Commission’s online public file. The online political file must be updated in the same manner as paragraph (c) of this section. [Sections 73.1212, 76.1615 and 76.1715, Sponsorship Identification (OMB control number 3060-0174); Section 73.1942, Candidates Rates, 76.206, Candidates Rates, Section 76.1611, Political Cable Rates and Classes of Time (OMB control number 3060-0501)].

Satellite Radio Licensees - Satellite Radio (also referred to as “Satellite Digital Audio Radio Services” or “SDARS”) licensees are required to comply with the Commission’s EEO broadcast rules and policies, including public file obligations and periodic submissions to the Commission. See Applications for Consent to the Transfer of Control of Licenses, XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc., Transferor, to Sirius Satellite Radio Inc., Transferee, 23 FCC Rcd 12348, 12426, ¶ 174, and note 551 (2008) (“XM-Sirius Merger Order”). See also Establishment of Rules and Policies for the Digital Audio Radio Satellite Service in the 2310-2360 MHz Frequency Band, 12 FCC Rcd 5754, 5791-92, ¶¶ 91-92 (1997) (“SDARS Order”), FCC 97-70. ¹¹

Statutory authority for this collection of information is contained in Sections 151, 152, 154(i), 303, 307 and 308 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

2. Indicate how, by whom and for what purpose the information is to be used. Except for a new collection, indicate the actual use the agency has made of the information received from the current collection.

The public and FCC use the information in the public file to evaluate information about the broadcast licensee’s performance, to ensure that broadcast stations are addressing issues concerning the community which it is licensed to serve and to ensure that stations entering into time brokerage agreements comply with Commission policies pertaining to licensee control and to the Communications Act and the antitrust laws.¹² Placing joint sales agreements in the public inspection file facilitates monitoring by the public, competitors and regulatory agencies.

The public and the FCC use Form 2100, Schedule H data to evaluate a commercial television broadcast licensee’s effort to serve the educational and informational programming needs of children in its community of license. The FCC also uses Form 2100, Schedule H data in determining whether a station’s license should be renewed at the end of its eight-year license term. The certifications of compliance

With the commercial limits on children’s television programming are used to verify a station’s compliance with the commercial limits.

Television broadcasters are required to send each cable operator in the station’s market a copy of the election statement applicable to that particular cable operator. Placing these retransmission consent/must-carry elections in the public file provide public access to documentation of station’s elections which are used by cable operators in negotiations with television stations and by the public to ascertain why some stations are/are not carried by the cable systems.

Maintenance of political files by broadcast stations and by cable television systems enables the public to assess money expended and time allotted to a political candidate and to ensure that equal access was afforded to other legally qualified candidates for public office.

Placing SSAs in the public inspection file facilitates comprehensive examination by the Commission and the public about the prevalence and content of SSAs between commercial television stations, which improves the Commission’s and the public’s ability to assess the potential impact of these agreements on the Commission’s rules and policies.

3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses, and the basis for the decision for adopting this means of collection. Also describe any consideration of using information technology to reduce burden.

This collection involves automated electronic collection techniques. This item requires radio and television licensees, section 325(c) permit holders, cable operators, and SDARS licensees to post their public files to the Commission’s website, making the public files available over the Internet.

4. Describe efforts to identify duplication. Show specifically why any similar information already available cannot be used or modified for use for the purposes described in item 2 above.

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

5. If the collection of information impacts small businesses or other small entities, describe any methods used to minimize burden.

This information collection does not impose any significant economic impact on a substantial number of small businesses/entities. However, any entity can request a waiver of the Commission’s rules, under 47 CFR § 1.3, which allows the Commission to waive rules where good cause has been shown.

6. Describe the consequence to Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently, as well as any technical or legal obstacles to reducing burden.

If the information contained in the public file were not retained on a regular basis, the Commission and the public would not have timely information to evaluate a broadcaster’s public service record. For example, the time brokerage agreements and joint sales agreements placed in the public file provide information not available elsewhere.

7. Explain any special circumstances that cause an information collection to be conducted in a manner: requiring respondents to report information to the agency more often than quarterly; requiring respondents to prepare a written response to a collection of information in fewer than 30 days after receipt of it; requiring respondents to submit more than an original and two copies of any document; requiring respondents to submit proprietary trade secrets, or other confidential information unless the agency can demonstrate that it has instituted procedures to protect the information’s confidentiality to the extent permitted by law.

With the exception of the political file, there are no special circumstances that require respondents to report information more than quarterly. The Communications Act and the Commission’s rules require that broadcasters and cable operators place information into the political file “as soon as possible.”¹³ The Commission has long interpreted “as soon as possible” to mean “immediately absent unusual circumstances.”¹⁴ TV and radio stations and cable operators upload records to their online political file immediately absent unusual circumstances. Whether maintained at the station or online, the contents of the political file are time-sensitive.¹⁵ A candidate has only seven days from the date of his or her opponent’s appearance to request equal opportunities for an appearance.¹⁶

There are no special circumstances that require a written response in fewer than 30 days of receipt, or submit more than an original and two copies of any document.

With respect to proprietary trade secrets and confidential information, the Commission has instituted procedures to protect the confidentiality of any such information to the extent permitted by law. For example, licensees are explicitly authorized to redact information from contracts for the joint sale of advertising time that is confidential or proprietary in nature. See 73.3526(e)(16).

While the Commission has instituted procedures to protect confidential information, much of the public file is not confidential. A copy of the current FCC authorization to construct or operate the station must be retained in the public file until replaced by a new authorization. Applications tendered for filing shall be retained until final action has been taken on the application, except that applications for a new construction permit granted pursuant to a waiver showing shall be retained for as long as the waiver is in effect. A copy of contour maps shall be retained for as long as they reflect current, accurate information regarding the station. License renewal applications granted on a short-term basis shall be retained until final action has been taken on the license renewal application filed immediately following the shortened license term. Citizen agreements shall be retained for the term of the agreement. Ownership Reports and related materials shall be retained until a new, complete Ownership Report is filed with the FCC. The licensee need not retain a copy of the contracts listed in the Ownership Report so long as the licensee maintains an up-to-date list of such contracts in the file and provides copies of any contracts to requesting parties within 7 days. Political files required by Sections 73.1943 and 76.1701 shall be retained for a period of 2 years. A copy of the 1998 edition of the manual entitled “The Public and Broadcasting” must be retained at all times. Material relating to an FCC investigation or complaint must be retained until notified in writing that the material may be discarded. Donor lists must be retained for two years. The certifications of compliance with the pre-filing and post-filing local public notice announcements of the filing of applications for renewal of license shall be retained for as long as the application to which it refers. Time brokerage agreements¹⁷ and joint sales agreements¹⁸ must be retained as long as the contract or agreement is in force.

Letters and electronic mail messages, issues/program lists, and records concerning commercial limits and Children’s Television Programming Reports must be retained until final action has been taken on the station’s next license renewal application. Television station’s must-carry/retransmission election statements shall be retained for the duration of the three-year election period to which the statement applies.

These retention periods are necessary to provide the public and the FCC timely information to evaluate the station’s performance during its entire license term or over the life of a contract.

8. If applicable, provide a copy and identify the date and page number of publication in the Federal Register of the agency’s notice, required by 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting comments on the information prior to submission to OMB.

The Commission published a notice in the Federal Register seeking public comment on the information collections contained in this supporting statement, see 86 FR 38482, published on July 21, 2021. No comments were received from the public on the information collection requirements contained in this collection.

9. Explain any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.

No payment or gift was provided to the respondent.

10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for the assurance in statute, regulation or agency policy.

Most of the documents comprising the public file consist of materials that are not of a confidential nature.  See Response to Question 7 describing those materials.  With respect to any such documents that may contain proprietary trade secrets and confidential information, the Commission has instituted procedures to protect the confidentiality of any such information to the extent permitted by law.  For example, licensees are explicitly authorized to redact information from contracts for the joint sale of advertising time that is confidential or proprietary in nature, and the requirement to disclose other SSAs also allows for the redaction of information that is confidential or proprietary in nature.

Respondents complying with the information collection requirements may request that the information they submit be withheld from disclosure. If confidentiality is requested, such requests will be processed in accordance with the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR § 0.459.

Should respondents submit any PII as part of the information collection requirements, the FCC has an existing system of records, FCC/MB-1, “Ownership of Commercial Broadcast Stations,” that may partially cover this PII.

There are two additional systems of records relevant to this collection: FCC/MB-2, “Broadcast Station Public Inspection Files,” and FCC/IB-1, “International Bureau Filing System (IBFS).” The Commission has published system of records notices (SORNs) for FCC/MB-2 and FCC/IB-1 and will modify them as necessary to include personally identifiable information (PII) that will be added to the Online Public Inspection Files system or IBFS as part of this collection. The Commission is preparing Privacy Impact Assessments for these systems.

11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature.

This information collection does not ask questions of a sensitive nature. Any PII that is submitted as part of the information collection requirements may be covered in part by the system of records notices FCC/MB-1, FCC/MB-2, or FCC/IB-1, as noted in Question 10. In addition, the Commission will redact any other personal information before it becomes available for public inspection, at the request of the submitter.

12. Provide estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information. The statement should: indicate the number of respondents, frequency of response, annual hour burden, and an explanation of how the burden was estimated. If the hour burden on respondents is expected to vary widely because of differences in activity, size, or complexity, show the range of estimated hour burden, and explain the reasons for the variance.

The public burden is estimated as follows:

Existing Information Collection Requirements Burdens:

Respondents	Number of Responses	Respondent’s Hourly Burden	Total Annual Burden	Hourly In- House Cost	Annual In- House Cost
Local Public Inspection Files:
(1) General Maintenance
Commercial Radio Stations	11,375	44 hours	500,500 hrs.	$15.54/hr.	$7,777,770
Noncommercial Educational Radio Stations	4,139	40 hours	165,560 hrs.	$15.54/hr.	$2,572,802
Commercial TV Stations	1,383	45 hours	62,235 hrs.	$15.54/hr.	$967,132
Noncommercial Educational TV Stations	378	45 hours	17,010 hrs.	$15.54/hr.	$264,335
Class A Television Stations	387	45 hours	17,415 hrs.	$15.54/hr.	$270,629
SDARS Licensees	1	1 hour	1 hour	$15.54/hr.	$15.54
(2) Community Issue List
Commercial Radio Stations	11,375	52 hours	591,500 hrs.	$26.00/hr.	$15,379,000
Noncommercial Educational Radio Stations	4,139	52 hours	215,228 hrs.	$26.00/hr.	$5,595,928
Commercial TV Stations	1,383	52 hours	71,916 hrs.	$26.00/hr.	$1,869,816
Noncommercial Educational TV Stations	378	52 hours	19,656 hrs.	$26.00/hr.	$511,056
Class A Television Stations	387	52 hours	20,124 hrs.	$26.00/hr.	$523,224
(3) Commercial Limits
Commercial TV Stations	1,383	20 hours	27,660 hrs.	$26.00/hr.	$719,160
Class A Television Stations	387	20 hours	7,740 hrs.	$26.00/hr.	$201,240
(4) Must Carry/Retransmission Consent
Noncommercial Educational TV stations	378	50 hours	18,900 hrs.	$26.00/hr.	$491,400
Commercial TV Stations	1,383	50 hours	69,150 hrs.	$26.00/hr.	$1,797,900
Class A Television Stations	387	50 hours	19,350 hrs.	$26.00/hr.	$503,100
Political Files: 19
Commercial Broadcast Stations	12,758	15 hours	191,370 hrs.	$26/hour	$4,975,620
Noncommercial Broadcast Stations	4,517	1 hour	4,517 hrs.	$26/hour	$117,442
Low Power TV	1,908	1 hour	1,908 hrs.	$26/hour	$49,608
Cable Systems	4,413	5 hours	22,065 hrs.	$18/hour	$397,170
TOTALS:	62,839		2,043,805 hours		$44,984,348

Number of Annual Respondents: 23,984 Licensees/Permittees/Cable Operators/SDARS

Number of Annual Responses: 62,839 responses

Annual Burden Hours: 2,043,805 Hours

Annual “In-house” Cost: $44,984,348

New Information Collection Requirements Burdens:

Annual Burden Hours: 200 respondents²⁰ x 20 programs²¹ x 1 hour²² = 4,000 hours to place copies of required disclosures in the online public inspection files.

Annual Number of Respondents: 200 broadcast respondents²³

Annual Number of Responses: 4,000 copies of disclosures

Annual “In-House” Cost: 4,000 hours x $26 hourly wage = $104,000

Cumulative Totals:

Total Number of Respondents: 23,996²⁴

Total Number of Annual Responses: 62,839 + 4,000 = 66,839

Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,043,805 + 4,000 = 2,047,805

Total Annual “In-House” Cost: $44,984,348 + $104,000 = $45,088,348

13. Provide estimate for the total annual cost burden to respondents or record keepers resulting from the collection of information. (Do not include the cost of any hour burden shown in items 12 and 14).

Annual Cost Burden:

1. Total annualized capital/startup costs: None

2. Total annual costs (O&M): None

3. Total annualized cost requested: None

14. Provide estimates of annualized costs to the Federal government. Also provide a description of the method used to estimate cost, which should include quantification of hours, operational expenses (such as equipment, overhead, printing, and support staff), and any other expenses that would not have been incurred without this collection of information.

The Commission estimates that the initial outlay to expand the online public file database to include foreign sponsorship disclosures will be approximately $2,000 and that there will be a negligible increase in the annual costs for IT operations and general attributable overhead for the online public file due to the inclusion of foreign sponsorship disclosures.

15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments reported for this information collection.

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.

16. For collections of information whose results will be published, outline plans for tabulation and publication.

The data will not be published.

17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection (IC), explain the reasons that display would be inappropriate.

OMB approval of the expiration date of the information collection will be displayed at 47 CFR Section 0.408.

18. Explain any exceptions to the Certification Statement.

The Commission published a 60-day notice (86 FR 38482) and a 30-day notice (87 FR 4019) in the Federal Register. In both notices, the Commission stated the number of responses as 62,839. With this submission, the Commission corrects that figure to read 66,839. There are no other exceptions to the Certification Statement.

B. Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods

No statistical methods are employed.

1 Report and Order in Docket No. 14864, 4 R.R.2d 1664, 1667 (1965); recon. granted in part and denied in part 6 R.R.2d 1527 (1965)

2 47 U.S.C. §§ 309,311.

3 Report and Order in Docket No. 14864, 4 R.R.2d at 1666 (citing, e.g., Senate Report No. 690, 86^th Cong., 1^st Sess., to accompany S. 1898, “New Pre-Grant Procedure” (Aug. 12, 1969) page 2).

4 Report and Order in Docket No. 14864, 4 R.R.2d 1664, 1667 (1965); recon. granted in part and denied in part 6 R.R.2d 1527 (1965).

5 47 U.S.C. § 307(c)(1), 309(a).

6 Office of Communication of United Church of Christ v. FCC, 359 F.2d 994, 1009 (D.C. Cir., 1966).

7 See Deregulation of Radio, Second Report and Order, 96 FCC 2d 930 (1984).

8 Every broadcast station is permitted or licensed to a designated community, the needs and interests of which the station primarily serves. The station is required to place a signal of a certain strength over the entirety of its community of license, and is required to provide programming to serve its community of license. See, e.g., 47 U.S.C. § 307(b); 47 CFR §§ 73.24(i), 73.315(a).

9 This manual provides a brief overview of the regulation of broadcast radio and television.

10 A citizen agreement is an agreement between a licensee and one or more citizens that deal with goals or proposed practices that affect station operations in the public interest in areas such as - but not limited to - programming and employments.

11 SDARS licensees must also comply with the Commission’s political broadcasting requirements, including the requirement to maintain a political file. The burdens associated with those requirements are reflected in OMB Control No. 3060-1207.

12 In the Matter of Review of the Commission’s Regulations Governing Attribution of Broadcast and Cable/MDS Interests, Report and Order, 14 FCC Rcd 12559, 12601 (1999); Revision of Radio Rules and Policies, Report and Order, 7 FCC Rcd 2755, 2789 (1992), recon., Memorandum Opinion and Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making, 7 FCC Rcd 6387 (1994), further recon., Second Memorandum Opinion and Order, 9 FCC Rcd 7183 (1994).

13 47 U.S.C. § 315(e)(3); 47 CFR §§ 73.1943(c), 76.1701(c).

14 Section 73.1943(c) of the Commission’s rules provides that “[a]ll records required by this paragraph shall be placed in the political file as soon as possible . . . . As soon as possible means immediately absent unusual circumstances.” 47 CFR § 73.1943(c). See also 47 CFR § 76.17019c).

15 See 47 CFR § 73.1943(c).

16 See 47 CFR § 73.1941(c).

17 “Time brokerage,” also known as “local marketing,” is the sale by a broadcast licensee of discrete blocks of time to a “broker” that supplies the station with programming to fill that time and sells the commercial spot announcements in that block. Confidential information in these agreements may be redacted. See also 47 CFR § 73.3613(d)(1).

18 A Joint Sales Agreement is an agreement authorizing a broker to sell advertising time for the brokered station in return for a fee paid to the licensee. See also 47 CFR § 73.3613(d)(2).

19 These figures represent a combined annual hourly burden average among all stations in the listed categories.  The Commission notes that annual burden hours at individual stations will vary widely as the amount of candidate time purchased at the station--information for which must be placed in the political file--will vary based upon how attractive a station’s/system’s demographics/format are to political buyers and where a particular year falls in the four-year presidential election cycle.  This cycle includes:  the presidential election year—presidential primaries and general elections for president, 435 seats in the House of Representatives and one third of the U.S. Senate seats; the so-called “mid-term” election year--primaries and general elections for all seats in the House of Representatives and one third of the U.S. Senate seats; and two years with elections which deal almost entirely with state and local elections, with perhaps an occasional special federal election.  The Commission notes that every year in the cycle would have some state and local elections.

20 We estimate that approximately 1% of the roughly 20,000 broadcast respondents (including Section 325(c) permittees) will have to make the required disclosures.

21 Based on a review of FARA filings, a foreign governmental entity may have 10 to 20 programs to which disclosures would need to be affixed and placed in the online public inspection files, depending on whether the programs are provided pursuant to a lease agreement.

22 We estimate that it should take no more than an hour, on average, for respondents to place copies of required disclosures in the online public inspection files.

23 This number includes Section 325(c) permit holders.

24 This number includes Section 325(c) permit holders.

22