0713 ss 2022_final version

Alternative Broadcast Inspection Pro gram (ABIP) Compliance Notification 3060-0713 November 2022

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

A. Justification:

1. The Alternative Broadcast Inspection Program (ABIP) is a series of agreements between the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Enforcement Bureau and a private entity, usually a state broadcast association, whereby the private entity agrees to facilitate inspections (and re-inspections, where appropriate) of participating broadcast stations to determine station compliance with FCC regulations.

Broadcast stations participate in ABIP on a voluntary basis.

The private entities notify their local FCC Field Office in writing of those stations that pass the ABIP inspection and have been issued a Certificate of Compliance by the ABIP inspector.

The FCC uses this information to determine which broadcast stations have been certified in compliance with FCC Rules and will not be subject to certain random FCC inspections.

The Commission is submitting this information collection as an extension under Delegated Authoritiy to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in order to obtain the full three year clearance.

This information collection does not affect individuals or households.

Legal authority for this collection of information is contained in 47 U.S.C. 303(n) and 47 C.F.R. § 73.1225.

2. The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau regularly uses this information to determine which broadcast stations have been certified in compliance with FCC Rules and will not be subject to certain random inspections conducted by the FCC.

3. The FCC accepts these submissions electronically or by mail.

4. This is a unique collection, and there is no duplication.

5. This collection has no significant impact on small businesses or other small entities. In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FCC has made efforts to minimize the burden on all respondents, regardless of size.

The Enforcement Bureau has limited the notification requirement to that which is absolutely necessary for evaluating a station’s compliance under the ABIP and to deter against possible abuse.

6. If the Certificates of Compliance are not collected or are collected less frequently, the FCC would be unaware as to which broadcast stations have been certified in compliance with FCC Rules and are not subject to certain random FCC inspections.

7. This collection of information is consistent with the guidelines contained in 5 C.F.R. § 1320.5(d)(2).

8. The FCC published a notice in the Federal Register initiating a 60-day comment period, 87 FR 56948, on September 16, 2022. No comments were received as a result of this notice.

9. No gifts or payments will be given to respondent for this collection.

10. Parties seeking confidential treatment of materials or information submitted to the FCC should make a request pursuant to 47 C.F.R. § 0.459.

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

12. The Enforcement Bureau estimates:

(a) there will be 53 private entities providing information (approximately one for each state and territory);

(b) each private entity will conduct approximately 50 inspections a year, resulting in a maximum of 2,650 notifications:

53 private entities x 50 inspections/annum = 2,650 notifications/annum

(c) the private entities will notify their local FCC Field Office, which should take approximately 0.084 hours (5 mins) each, which is a 3^rd party disclosure requirement:

53 x 50 x 0.084 hours (5 mins) = 223 hours

Total Annual Hourly Burden (3^rd Party Disclosure Requirement): 223 hours

13. There is no cost burden to respondents resulting from the collection of information.

14. Cost to the Federal Government: The FCC will use GS-15 Regional Directors and GS-14 Field Agents to evaluate and process the notifications, and will use GS-8 office assistants to file the notifications (3^rd party disclosure requirement).

(a) 1,325 notifications reviewed by GS-15 Regional Directors:

1,325 notifications x 0.084 hours x $71.24/hour¹ = $7,929.01

(b) 1,325 notifications reviewed by GS-14 Field Agents:

1,325 notifications x 0.084 hours x $60.56/hour¹ = $6,740.33

(c) Notifications filed by GS-8 Office Assistant:

2,650 notifications x 0.084 hours x $26.91/hour¹ = $5,990.17

Total Cost to the Federal Government: $7,929.01 + $6,740.33 +$5,990.17 = $20,659.51

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

16. The results of the collection will not be published.

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

18. There are no exceptions to the Certification Statement.

B. Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods:

No statistical methods are employed.

1 The Regional Directors, Field Agents, and Office Assistants are located in various areas in the U.S., therefore, each hourly salary may differ slightly due to locality. Due to this, estimates are provided for the hourly salaries.

4