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Please note that the OMB number and expiration date may not have been determined when this Information Collection Request and associated Information Collection forms were submitted to OMB. The approved OMB number and expiration date may be found by clicking on the Notice of Action link below.
View ICR - OIRA Conclusion
OMB Control No:
3060-0214
ICR Reference No:
201801-3060-016
Status:
Historical Active
Previous ICR Reference No:
201712-3060-012
Agency/Subagency:
FCC
Agency Tracking No:
MB
Title:
Sections 73.3526 and 73.3527, Local Public Inspection File, Sections 73.1212, 76.1701 and 73.1943, Political Files
Type of Information Collection:
Revision of a currently approved collection
Common Form ICR:
No
Type of Review Request:
Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action:
Approved without change
Conclusion Date:
03/12/2018
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)
Date Received in OIRA:
01/29/2018
Terms of Clearance:
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
Expiration Date
03/31/2021
36 Months From Approved
05/31/2020
Responses
63,261
0
63,364
Time Burden (Hours)
2,067,853
0
2,073,048
Cost Burden (Dollars)
27,168
0
3,667,339
Abstract:
On August 10, 2016, the Commission adopted a Second Report and Order (Report and Order) in MB Docket Nos. 14-50, 09-182, 07-294, 04-256, FCC 16-107, which completed the 2010 and 2014 Quadrennial Reviews of the Commission’s broadcast ownership rules. The Order finds that competitive television stations in a local market are able to combine certain operations through the use of Shared Service Agreements (SSAs), with effectively the same station personnel handling or facilities performing functions for multiple, independently owned stations. The Order also finds that the Commission has an obligation to ensure that these agreements are not being used to circumvent the Commission’s broadcast ownership rules and are not otherwise inconsistent with the Commission’s rules and policies. The Order notes that consideration of these issues is impeded because so little is known by the Commission and the public about the content, scope, and prevalence of SSAs and finds that disclosure of SSAs is necessary to facilitate the Commission’s regulatory purposes. Accordingly, the Commission adopts a definition of SSAs and requires commercial television stations to disclose those SSAs by placing the agreements in each station’s online public inspection file. On November 16, 2017, the Commission adopted an Order on Reconsideration (Order) in MB Docket Nos. 14-50, 09-182, 07-294, 04-256, 17-289, FCC 17-156, which completed the 2010 and 2014 Quadrennial Reviews of the Commission’s broadcast ownership rules. The Order upholds the definition of SSAs adopted in the Second Report and Order (FCC 16-107), finding that it is appropriately tailored to reflect relevant station-related services. The Order also upholds the decision in the Second Report and Order to require commercial television stations to disclose SSAs, finding that the decision was supported by the record and that it effectively demonstrated that the FCC has the authority to require disclosure of SSAs in order to help it obtain information relevant to its statutory responsibilities. Accordingly, the Commission affirms the definition of SSAs adopted in the Second Report and Order and requires commercial television stations to disclose those SSAs by placing the agreements in each station’s online public inspection file. The information collection requirement will provide the Commission and the public with more comprehensive information about the prevalence and content of SSAs between television stations, which will improve the Commission’s and the public’s ability to assess the potential impact of these agreements on the Commission’s rules and policies.
Authorizing Statute(s):
US Code:
47 USC 151, 152, 154(i), 303,307, 308
Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as amended
Citations for New Statutory Requirements:
None
Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:
Stage of Rulemaking:
Federal Register Citation:
Date:
3060-AH97
Final or interim final rulemaking
83 FR 733
01/08/2018
Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:
Federal Register Citation:
Citation Date:
81 FR 78591
11/08/2016
30-day Notice:
Federal Register Citation:
Citation Date:
83 FR 3708
01/26/2018
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR?
No
Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR:
3
IC Title
Form No.
Form Name
Sections 73.3526 and 73.3527, Local Public Inspection File, Sections 73.1212, 76.1701 and 73.1943, Political Files
Sections 73.3526 and 73.3527, Local Public Inspection File, Sections 73.1212, 76.1701 and 73.1943, Political Files
Sections 73.3526 and 73.3527, Local Public Inspection File, Sections 73.1212, 76.1701 and 73.1943, Political Files
ICR Summary of Burden
Total Approved
Previously Approved
Change Due to New Statute
Change Due to Agency Discretion
Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate
Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses
63,261
63,364
0
-103
0
0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)
2,067,853
2,073,048
0
-5,195
0
0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)
27,168
3,667,339
0
-3,640,171
0
0
Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion:
Yes
Burden Increase Due to:
Changing Regulations
Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion:
Yes
Burden Reduction Due to:
Changing Regulations
Short Statement:
The Commission has program changes/decreases to the following figures which are due to the modifications to the number of stations/entities that have to comply with the public file requirement: -17,682 to the number of respondents, -103 to the annual number of responses, -5,195 to the annual burden hours and -$3,640,171 to the annual cost burden. There are no adjustments to this collection.
Annual Cost to Federal Government:
$2,000
Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods?
No
Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see
OMB Circular No. A-130
for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.
No
Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see
5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3)
)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.
No
Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]?
No
Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]?
No
Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)?
No
Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response?
Uncollected
Agency Contact:
Chad Guo 202 418-0652
Common Form ICR:
No
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;
(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;
(c) It reduces burden on small entities;
(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;
(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;
(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;
(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.
(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and
(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Certification Date:
01/29/2018