View Information Collection Request (ICR) Package
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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:
201108-3060-008
Status:
Historical Active
Previous ICR Reference No:
200808-3060-002
Agency/Subagency:
FCC
Agency Tracking No:
MB
Title:
Sections 73.3526 and 73.3527, Local Public Inspection File, Sections 76.1701 and 73.1943, Political Files
Type of Information Collection:
Extension without change of a currently approved collection
Common Form ICR:
No
Type of Review Request:
Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action:
Approved without change
Conclusion Date:
10/19/2011
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)
Date Received in OIRA:
08/16/2011
Terms of Clearance:
During the period before the next three-year renewal, the FCC will continue its work to modernize and streamline the inspection file requirement.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
Expiration Date
10/31/2014
36 Months From Approved
10/31/2011
Responses
59,833
0
52,285
Time Burden (Hours)
2,176,815
0
1,831,706
Cost Burden (Dollars)
0
0
0
Abstract:
The Commission first adopted a public inspection file requirement more than 40 years ago. The public file requirement grew out of Congress' 1960 amendment of Sections 309 and 311 of the Communications Act of 1934. Finding that Congress, in enacting these provisions, was guarding "the right of the general public to be informed, not merely the rights of those who have special interests," the Commission adopted the public inspection file requirement to "make information to which the public already has a right more readily available, so that the public will be encouraged to play a more active part in dialogue with broadcast licensees." In return for their exclusive use of public spectrum, broadcasters must operate and program their stations in the "public interest, convenience and necessity." This means that all stations must be responsive and accountable to their local community of license. The manner in which broadcasters communicate with their communities is a core function of their role as licensees. Specific items in the public file include items that provide station information to the public, like ownership reports, contour maps, citizens agreements, EEO reports and quarterly lists of programs that the stations believe addressed important issues in their community. Access to the public inspection file allows the public to monitor a station's public interest performance. The information provided in a station's public file enables citizens to engage in an informed dialog with their local stations or to file complaints or petitions to deny the renewal of a station's license. Comments, complaints, and petitions to deny filed by the viewing public have long been a part of the regulatory and the renewal process. As part of the Commission's license renewal process, the Commission does not routinely monitor every aspect of stations' compliance with Commission rules; rather, it depends on viewers and listeners to provide information about whether stations are meeting their public interest obligations.
Authorizing Statute(s):
US Code:
47 USC 154(i), 303 and 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:
Not associated with rulemaking
Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:
Federal Register Citation:
Citation Date:
76 FR 21739
04/18/2011
30-day Notice:
Federal Register Citation:
Citation Date:
76 FR 50730
08/16/2011
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR?
Yes
Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR:
1
IC Title
Form No.
Form Name
Sections 73.3526 and 73.3527, Local Public Inspection File, Sections 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
59,833
52,285
0
0
7,548
0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)
2,176,815
1,831,706
0
0
345,109
0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)
0
0
0
0
0
0
Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion:
No
Burden Increase Due to:
Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion:
No
Burden Reduction Due to:
Short Statement:
The Commission has made adjustments to this information collection. First, we have updated the broadcast station and cable system totals to reflect the Commission's most recent accounting. Second, we have added Class A stations to these totals, as we have determined that they should be included because Class A stations must maintain a public file under our rules. Third, we have revised the collection estimates for the political file. We have increased the number of burden hours for commercial station and cable system respondents regarding the political file to reflect the increased use by candidates of commercial broadcast stations and cable systems. We have reduced the burden hours for noncommercial stations to reflect the minimal candidate activity at those stations. Upon review of the presentation of these figures in our 2008 filing, we determined that a different presentation format would be more accurate. Therefore, this collection reflects the following adjustments: the number of respondents has decreased by 26,863 (from 52,285 to 25,422), the number of annual responses has increased by 7,548 (from 52,285 to 59,833). The number of annual responses has increased due to changes in station totals and the addition of Class A stations. In addition, the burden hours have increased by 345,109 hours (from 1,831,706 to 2,176,815). The burden hours have increased to reflect changes in station totals, the addition of Class A stations, and changes in the political file collections.
Annual Cost to Federal Government:
$0
Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods?
No
Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002?
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:
Holly Saurer 202 418-7283 holly.saurer@fcc.gov
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:
08/16/2011
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