Federal Register: December 31, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 250)
DOCID: FR Doc 03-32113
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Federal Communications Commission
NOTICE: NOTICES
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Being Submitted to OMB for Review and Approval
DATES: Written comments should be submitted on or before January 30, 2004. If you anticipate that you will be submitting comments, but find it difficult to do so within the period of time allowed by this notice, you should advise the contact listed below as soon as possible.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
The Federal Communications Commission, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 10413. An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) that does not display a valid control number. Comments are requested concerning (a) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
SUMMARY:
Agency information collection activities; proposals, submissions, and approvals,
DOCUMENT BODY 2:
December 16, 2003.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
OMB Control Number: 30601038.
Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection. [[Page 75560]]
Title: Digital Television Transition Information Questionnaires.
Form Number: N/A.
Respondents: Business or other forprofit entities.
Number of Respondents: 844.
Estimated Time per Response: 4 to 24 hours.
Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement.
Total Annual Burden: 4,823 hours.
Total Annual Cost: $251,400.
Needs and Uses: In the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Congress
directed that every broadcaster be given a second channel for digital
operations. At the end of the transition, broadcasters' analog channels
will be returned to the government. Congress set a target date of
December 31, 2006, for the end of the transition, although that date
can be extended if 85% of viewers in a particular market do not have
access to the digital signals. In addition, at the end of the
transition the broadcast spectrum will contract from channels 269 to
channels 251. This 108 MHz of spectrum (channels 5269) can then be
used by advanced wireless services and public safety authorities. There
are several key building blocks to a successful transition. First,
contentconsumers must perceive something significantly different than
what they have in analog. Second, distributionthe content must be
delivered to consumers in a simple and convenient way. Third,
equipmentmust be capable, affordable and consumerfriendly. And
fourth, educationconsumers must be educated about what digital
television is, and what it can do for them. These information requests are designed to gather data in these key areas.
OMB Control Number: 3060XXXX.
Title: Telecommunication Relay Services and SpeechtoSpeech
Services for Individual with Hearing and Speech Disabilities, CC Docket No. 9867 (Declaratory Ruling), FCC 03190.
Form Number: N/A.
Type of Review: New collection.
Respondents: Business or other forprofit entities.
Number of Respondents: 1.
Estimated Time per Response: 8 hours.
Frequency of Response: Annual reporting requirement.
Total Annual Burden: 8 hours.
Total Annual Cost: None.
Needs and Uses: On August 1, 2003, the Commission released the
Declaratory Ruling, In the Matter of Telecommunication Relay Services
and SpeechtoSpeech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech
Disabilities, CC 9867, FCC 03190. In the Declaratory Ruling, the
Commission clarifies that captioned telephone voice carry over (VCO)
service is a type of telecommunications relay service (TRS) and that
eligible providers of such services are eligible to recover their costs
in accordance with section 225 of the Communications Act. The
Commission also clarifies that certain TRS mandatory minimum standards
do not apply to captioned VCO service, and waives Sec. Sec.
64.604(a)(1) and (a)(3) of the Commission's rules for all current and
future captioned telephone VCO service providers, for the same period
of time indicated herein, beginning on the date of release of this
Declaratory Ruling. These waivers are contingent on the filing of
annual reports, for a period of three years, with the Commission.
Sections 64.604 (a)(1) and (a)(3) of the Commission's rules, which
contain information collection requirements under the Paperwork
Reduction Act, are not effective until approved by the Office of Management and Budget.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 0332113 Filed 123003; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 671201P
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
For additional information or copy of the information collection(s) contact Les Smith at (202) 4180217 or via the Internet at Leslie.Smith@fcc.gov.