Supporting Statement OMB 3060-0609 2023

OMB Control Number: 3060-0609 February 2024

Title Section 76.934(e), Petitions for Extension of Time

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

1. Justification

1. 47 CFR 76.934(e) states that small cable systems may obtain an extension of time to establish compliance with rate regulations provided that they can demonstrate that timely compliance would result in severe economic hardship. Requests for the extension of time should be addressed to the local franchising authorities ("LFAs") concerning rates for basic service tiers.

The Commission is requesting an extension of this information collection in order to receive the full three year OMB approval/clearance for this collection.

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 Sections 4(i) and 623 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

2. The LFAs use the information collected from small cable systems to grant a small system temporary relief to avoid severe economic hardship when the small system demonstrates its need for an extension of time to come into compliance with rate regulation.

3. Use of information technology is not feasible for this information collection.

4. This agency does not impose similar information collection requirements on respondents.

5. This information collection impacts small business entities, but it is designed exclusively to allow these entities additional time to come into compliance with the Commission's rate regulation. The Commission has developed this information collection to provide administrative relief to small cable systems. Therefore, the collection of this information will not have a significant economic impact on small businesses/entities.

6. If the Commission were not permitted to conduct this information collection, we would not be able to provide administrative relief to small cable systems.

7. There are no special circumstances associated with these collections of information.

8. The Commission published a Notice (88 FR 88075) in the Federal Register on December 20, 2023 seeking comments on the information collection requirements contained within this collection. No comments were received from the public as a result of the Notice.

9. Respondents will not receive gifts or payments.

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

11. These information collection requirements do not address matters of a sensitive nature.

12. We estimate that small cable systems will submit to LFAs 10 petitions for extension of time. The average burden is four (4) hours for both the petitioners to submit the request and for LFAs to review/grant the request.

Total Number of Respondents: 10 petitioners + 10 LFAs = 20 respondents.

Total Number of Responses Annually: 10 Extension of Time Petitions/Requests

Annual Burden Hours:

10 petitions filed by small cable systems x 4 hours = 40 hours

10 LFA reviews of petitions x 4 hours = 40 hours

Total Annual Burden Hours: 80 hours

Annual “In-House Cost”: We estimate that cable systems and LFAs will use “in-house” attorneys paid

at an average hourly wage of $48.08 per hour to implement this information collection:

10 petitions filed by small cable systems x 4 hours x $48.08/hour = $1,923.20

10 LFA reviews of petitions x 4 hours x $48.08/hour = $1,923.20 Total Annual “In House” Cost: $3,846.40

13. (a) Total annualized capital/startup costs: None

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

(c) Total annualized cost requested: None

14. There is no cost to the Federal Government.

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

16. The data will not be published for statistical use.

17. We do not seek approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection.

18. There are no exceptions to the Certification Statement.

2. Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods:

This information collection does not employ any statistical methods.

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