Supporting statement OMB 3060-xxxx (FCC 23-72)

OMB Control Number: 3060-xxxx December 2023

Title: Section 73.1750, Discontinuance of operation; Section 73.3549, Request for extension of time to operate without required monitors, indicating instruments, and EAS encoders and decoders; Section 73.3550, Requests for new or modified call sign assignments.

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

A. Justification:

1. The Commission adopted on September 18, 2023, the Report and Order (R&O), Amendment of Part 73 of the Commission’s Rules to Update Television and Class A Television Broadcast Station Rules, and Rules Applicable to All Broadcast Stations, MB Docket No. 22-227, FCC 23-72. The R&O adopted a number of revisions to the Commission’s rules to reorganize and clarify the Commission’s technical licensing, operating, and interference rules for full power and Class A television.

47 CFR 73.1750 requires that the licensee of each station provide a notification to the FCC in a Cancellation Application via the Commission’s Licensing and Management System (LMS) of the permanent discontinuance of operation at least two days before operation is discontinued. Immediately after discontinuance of operation, the licensee must forward the station license and other

instruments of authorization to the FCC, Attention: Audio Division (radio) or Video Division (television),

Media Bureau, for cancellation.

47 CFR 73.3549 requires that requests for extension of authority to operate without required monitors, transmission system indicating instruments, or encoders and decoders for monitoring and generating the EAS codes and Attention Signal should be made to the FCC by electronically filing via LMS. Such requests must contain information as to when and what steps were taken to repair or replace the defective equipment and a brief description of the alternative procedures being used while the equipment is out of service.

47 CFR 73.3550(a) requires that all requests for new or modified call sign assignments for radio and television broadcast stations be made via LMS with the FCC. Paragraph (j) provides that a change in call sign assignment will be made effective on the date specified in the Call Sign Request Authorization generated by LMS acknowledging the assignment of the requested new call sign and authorizing the change.

This information collection does not affect individuals or households; thus, there are no impacts under the Privacy Act.

Statutory authority for this collection of information is contained in Section 154(i) and 325(a) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

2. The data is used by FCC staff in licensing matters, and to determine that the licensee has met statutory requirements and operated in the public interest.

3. We do not believe the use of information technology is burdensome in this situation.

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

5. In conformance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Commission is making an effort to minimize the burden on all respondents.

6. The frequency for this collection of information is determined by respondents, as necessary.

7. This collection of information is consistent with the guidelines in 5 CFR 1320.5(d)(2).

8. The Commission published a Notice (88 FR 70980) in the Federal Register on October 13, 2023 seeking comments on the information collection requirements contained in this collection. The Commission received no comments following publication of the Notice.

9. No payment or gift was provided to the respondents.

10. There is no need for confidentiality with this collection of information.

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

12. Number of Respondents: The following is estimated for public burden:

Number of

Respondents

Section 73.1750 100 permittees/licensees

Section 73.3549 50 permittees/licensees

Section 73.3550(a) 150 permittees/licensees
300 respondents

Total Number of Respondents: 300

Total number of Annual Responses: 300 responses

Rule Sections	Notifications and Reports	Respondent’s Burden Estimates	Hourly Burden	Hourly Cost Burden	Total “In House “Cost
Section 73.1750	100 applications	0.5 hours/application	50 hours	$48.08/hour	$2,404.00
Section 73.3549	50 applications	0.5 hours/application	25 hours	$48.08/hour	$1,202.00
Section 73.3550(a)	150 applications	0.5 hours/application	75 hours	$48.08/hour	$3,606.00
Totals	300 applications		150 hours		$7,212.00

Total Annual Burden Hours: 150 hours¹

Annual In-House Cost: We assume that the respondents would use an employee at the station to prepare

and file these applications. The employee is estimated to have an average salary of $48.08/hour. Therefore,

the annual in-house cost is $7,212.00.

These estimates are based on FCC staff's knowledge and familiarity with the availability of the data required.

13. Annual Cost Burden:

1. Total annualized capital/startup costs: None

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

(c) Total annualized cost requested: None

14. Cost to the Federal Government: The Commission will use staff at the GS-12, step 5 level ($51.15 to process the application filings/Sections 73.1750, 73.3449, and 73.3550(a).

100 applications x 0.25 hours x $51.15 = $1,278.75

50 applications x 0.25 hours x $51.15 = $ 639.38

150 applications x 0.25 hours x $51.15 = $1,918.13

Total Annual Cost to the Federal Government = $3,836.26

15. This is a new information collection. Therefore, the following program changes will be added to OMB’s inventory once the collection is approved. These program changes are as a result of the rules adopted in FCC 23-72. They are as follows: 300 respondents, 300 responses and 150 burden hours.

16. The data will not be published.

17. OMB approval of the expiration of the information collection will be displayed on OMB’s website.

18. There are no exceptions to the Certification Statement.

B. Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods:

This information collection does not employ any statistical methods.

1 This burden also includes the burden for keeping records of the various files.

5