Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Extension, 34750-34751 [E8-13660]

Download as PDF 34750 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 118 / Wednesday, June 18, 2008 / Notices Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, June 13, 2008. Robert deV. Frierson, Deputy Secretary of the Board. [FR Doc. 08–1369 Filed 6–16–08; 8:53 am] BILLING CODE 6210–01–S FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Extension Federal Trade Commission. Notice. AGENCY: ACTION: rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES SUMMARY: The information collection requirements described below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (‘‘OMB’’) for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Federal Trade Commission (‘‘FTC’’ or ‘‘Commission’’) is seeking public comments on its proposal to extend through October 31, 2011 the current OMB clearance for information collection requirements contained in its Amplifier Rule. That clearance expires on October 31, 2008. DATES: Comments must be filed by August 18, 2008. ADDRESSES: Interested parties are invited to submit written comments. Comments should refer to ‘‘Amplifier Rule: FTC Project No. P974222’’ to facilitate the organization of comments. A comment filed in paper form should include this reference both in the text and on the envelope and should be mailed or delivered to the following address: Federal Trade Commission, Office of the Secretary, Room H-135 (Annex J), 600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20580. The FTC is requesting that any comment filed in paper form be sent by courier or overnight service, if possible, because U.S. postal mail in the Washington area and at the Commission is subject to delay due to heightened security precautions. Moreover, because paper mail in the Washington area and at the Agency is subject to delay, please consider submitting your comments in electronic form, as prescribed below. If, however, the comment contains any material for which confidential treatment is requested, it must be filed in paper form, and the first page of the document must be clearly labeled ‘‘Confidential.’’1 1 FTC Rule 4.2(d), 16 CFR 4.2(d). The comment must be accompanied by an explicit request for confidential treatment, including the factual and legal basis for the request, and must identify the specific portions of the comment to be withheld from the public record. The request will be granted or denied by the Commission’s General Counsel, VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:01 Jun 17, 2008 Jkt 214001 Comments filed in electronic form should be submitted by using the following weblink: (https:// secure.commentworks.com/ftcAmplifierPRA) (and following the instructions on the web-based form). To ensure that the Commission considers an electronic comment, you must file it on the web-based form at the weblink: (https://secure.commentworks.com/ftcAmplifierPRA). If this notice appears at (www.regulations.gov), you may also file an electronic comment through that website. The Commission will consider all comments that regulations.gov forwards to it. The FTC Act and other laws the Commission administers permit the collection of public comments to consider and use in this proceeding as appropriate. The Commission will consider all timely and responsive public comments that it receives, whether filed in paper or electronic form. Comments received will be available to the public on the FTC website, to the extent practicable, at www.ftc.gov. As a matter of discretion, the FTC makes every effort to remove home contact information for individuals from the public comments it receives before placing those comments on the FTC website. More information, including routine uses permitted by the Privacy Act, may be found in the FTC’s privacy policy at (https://www.ftc.gov/ ftc/privacy.htm). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information should be addressed to Jock K. Chung, Attorney, Division of Enforcement, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission, NJ-2122, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20580, (202) 326-2984. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (‘‘PRA’’), 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520, federal agencies must obtain approval from OMB for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. ‘‘Collection of information’’ means agency requests or requirements that members of the public submit reports, keep records, or provide information to a third party. 44 U.S.C. 3502(3); 5 CFR 1320.3(c). As required by section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, the FTC is providing this opportunity for public comment before requesting that OMB extend the existing paperwork clearance for the information collection requirements contained in the Commission’s Trade Regulation Rule entitled Power Output Claims for Amplifiers Utilized in Home Entertainment Products (‘‘Amplifier consistent with applicable law and the public interest. See FTC Rule 4.9(c), 16 CFR 4.9(c). PO 00000 Frm 00053 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Rule’’ or ‘‘Rule’’), 16 CFR Part 432 (OMB Control Number 3084-0105). The FTC invites comments on: (1) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. All comments should be filed as prescribed in the ADDRESSES section above, and must be received on or before August 18, 2008. The Amplifier Rule assists consumers by standardizing the measurement and disclosure of power output and other performance characteristics of amplifiers in stereos and other home entertainment equipment. The Rule also specifies the test conditions necessary to make the disclosures that the Rule requires. Estimated annual hours burden: 450 hours (300 testing-related hours; 150 disclosure-related hours). The Rule’s provisions require affected entities to test the power output of amplifiers in accordance with a specified FTC protocol. The Commission staff estimates that approximately 300 new amplifiers and receivers come on the market each year. High fidelity manufacturers routinely conduct performance tests on these new products prior to sale. Because manufacturers conduct such tests, the Rule imposes no additional costs except to the extent that the FTC protocol is more time-consuming than alternative testing procedures. In this regard, a warm-up (‘‘precondition’’) period that the Rule requires before measurements are taken may add approximately one hour to the time testing would otherwise entail. Thus, staff estimates that the Rule imposes approximately 300 hours (1 hour x 300 new products) of added testing burden annually. In addition, the Rule requires disclosures if a manufacturer makes a power output claim for a covered product in an advertisement, specification sheet, or product brochure. This requirement does not impose any additional costs on manufacturers because, absent the Rule, media E:\FR\FM\18JNN1.SGM 18JNN1 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 118 / Wednesday, June 18, 2008 / Notices rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES advertisements, as well as manufacturer specification sheets and product brochures, would contain a power specification obtained using an alternative to the Rule-required testing protocol. The Rule, however, also requires disclosure of harmonic distortion, power bandwidth, and impedance ratings in manufacturer specification sheets and product brochures that might not otherwise be included. Staff assumes that manufacturers produce one specification sheet and one brochure each year for each new amplifier and receiver. The burden of disclosing the harmonic distortion, bandwidth, and impedance information on the specification sheets and brochures is limited to the time needed to draft and review the language pertaining to the aforementioned specifications. Staff estimates the time involved for this task to be a maximum of fifteen minutes for each new specification sheet and brochure for a total of 150 hours ([300 new products x 1 specification sheet) + (300 new products x 1 brochure)] x 15 minutes). The total annual burden imposed by the Rule, therefore, is approximately 450 burden hours for testing and disclosures. Estimated annual cost burden: $19,000, rounded to the nearest thousand.2 Generally, electronics engineers perform the testing of amplifiers and receivers. Staff estimates a labor cost of $12,300 for such testing (300 hours for testing x $41 per hour). Staff assumes advertising or promotions managers prepare the disclosures contained in product brochures and manufacturer specification sheet and estimates a labor cost of $6,600 (150 hours for disclosures x $44 per hour). Accordingly, staff estimates the total labor costs associated with the Rule to be approximately $19,000 per year, rounded to the nearest thousand ($12,300 for testing + $6,600 for disclosures). The Rule imposes no capital or other non-labor costs because its requirements are incidental to testing and advertising done in the ordinary course of business. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Disease, Disability, and Injury Prevention and Control Disease, Disability, and Injury Prevention and Control Special Emphasis Panel (SEP): Elimination of Health Disparities Through Translation Research (Panel A), Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), CD08–001 Special Emphasis Panel (SEP): Epidemiological Studies of Reproductive and Developmental Outcomes in Denmark: Supplement on Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection among Children with Hearing Loss, Program Announcement Number (PA) DD 07–001 In accordance with Section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–463), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the aforementioned meeting. Time and Date: 8 a.m.–5 p.m., July 2, 2008 (Closed). Place: Teleconference. Status: The meeting will be closed to the public in accordance with provisions set forth in Section 552b(c)(4) and (6), Title 5 U.S.C., and the Determination of the Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, CDC, pursuant to Public Law 92–463. Matters To Be Discussed: The meeting will include the review, discussion, and evaluation of applications received in response to ‘‘Epidemiological Studies of Reproductive and Developmental Outcomes in Denmark: Supplement on Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection among Children with Hearing Loss, PA DD 07–001.’’ Contact Person for More Information: K. Ann Berry, Senior Scientist, CDC, 1600 Clifton Road, NE., Mailstop E20, Atlanta, GA 30333, Telephone (404) 498–2503. The Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, has been delegated the authority to sign Federal Register notices pertaining to announcements of meetings and other committee management activities, for both CDC and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Dated: June 11, 2008. Elaine L. Baker, Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [FR Doc. E8–13664 Filed 6–17–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4163–18–P David C. Shonka Acting General Counsel [FR Doc. E8–13660 Filed 6–17–08: 8:45 am] In accordance with section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–463), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the aforementioned meeting: Times and Dates: 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m., July 9, 2008 (Closed); 9 a.m.–1 p.m., July 10, 2008 (Closed). Place: Hyatt Regency Atlanta, 265 Peachtree Street, NE., Atlanta GA 30303. Status: The meeting will be closed to the public in accordance with provisions set forth in section 552b(c) (4) and (6), Title 5 U.S.C., and the Determination of the Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, CDC, pursuant to Public Law 92– 463. Matters to be Discussed: The meeting will include the review, discussion, and evaluation of ‘‘Elimination of Health Disparities through Translation Research (Panel A), FOA CD08–001.’’ Contact Person for More Information: Maurine F. Goodman, M.A., M.P.H., Scientific Review Administrator, CDC, 1600 Clifton Road, NE., Mailstop D72, Atlanta, GA 30333, Telephone (404) 639–4737. The Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, has been delegated the authority to sign Federal Register notices pertaining to announcements of meetings and other committee management activities, for both CDC and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Dated: June 10, 2008. Elaine L. Baker, Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [FR Doc. E8–13702 Filed 6–17–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4163–18–P [Billing code: 6750–01–S] 2 Staff’s labor cost estimates are based on recent data from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics. VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:01 Jun 17, 2008 Jkt 214001 34751 PO 00000 Frm 00054 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\18JNN1.SGM 18JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 118 (Wednesday, June 18, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34750-34751]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-13660]


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FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Extension

AGENCY: Federal Trade Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The information collection requirements described below will 
be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') for 
review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Federal Trade 
Commission (``FTC'' or ``Commission'') is seeking public comments on 
its proposal to extend through October 31, 2011 the current OMB 
clearance for information collection requirements contained in its 
Amplifier Rule. That clearance expires on October 31, 2008.

DATES: Comments must be filed by August 18, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties are invited to submit written comments. 
Comments should refer to ``Amplifier Rule: FTC Project No. P974222'' to 
facilitate the organization of comments. A comment filed in paper form 
should include this reference both in the text and on the envelope and 
should be mailed or delivered to the following address: Federal Trade 
Commission, Office of the Secretary, Room H-135 (Annex J), 600 
Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20580. The FTC is requesting that 
any comment filed in paper form be sent by courier or overnight 
service, if possible, because U.S. postal mail in the Washington area 
and at the Commission is subject to delay due to heightened security 
precautions. Moreover, because paper mail in the Washington area and at 
the Agency is subject to delay, please consider submitting your 
comments in electronic form, as prescribed below. If, however, the 
comment contains any material for which confidential treatment is 
requested, it must be filed in paper form, and the first page of the 
document must be clearly labeled ``Confidential.''\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ FTC Rule 4.2(d), 16 CFR 4.2(d). The comment must be 
accompanied by an explicit request for confidential treatment, 
including the factual and legal basis for the request, and must 
identify the specific portions of the comment to be withheld from 
the public record. The request will be granted or denied by the 
Commission's General Counsel, consistent with applicable law and the 
public interest. See FTC Rule 4.9(c), 16 CFR 4.9(c).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Comments filed in electronic form should be submitted by using the 
following weblink: (https://secure.commentworks.com/ftc-AmplifierPRA) 
(and following the instructions on the web-based form). To ensure that 
the Commission considers an electronic comment, you must file it on the 
web-based form at the weblink: (https://secure.commentworks.com/ftc-
AmplifierPRA). If this notice appears at (www.regulations.gov), you may 
also file an electronic comment through that website. The Commission 
will consider all comments that regulations.gov forwards to it.
    The FTC Act and other laws the Commission administers permit the 
collection of public comments to consider and use in this proceeding as 
appropriate. The Commission will consider all timely and responsive 
public comments that it receives, whether filed in paper or electronic 
form. Comments received will be available to the public on the FTC 
website, to the extent practicable, at www.ftc.gov. As a matter of 
discretion, the FTC makes every effort to remove home contact 
information for individuals from the public comments it receives before 
placing those comments on the FTC website. More information, including 
routine uses permitted by the Privacy Act, may be found in the FTC's 
privacy policy at (https://www.ftc.gov/ftc/privacy.htm).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
should be addressed to Jock K. Chung, Attorney, Division of 
Enforcement, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission, 
NJ-2122, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20580, (202) 
326-2984.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (``PRA''), 
44 U.S.C. 3501-3520, federal agencies must obtain approval from OMB for 
each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. ``Collection of 
information'' means agency requests or requirements that members of the 
public submit reports, keep records, or provide information to a third 
party. 44 U.S.C. 3502(3); 5 CFR 1320.3(c). As required by section 
3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, the FTC is providing this opportunity for 
public comment before requesting that OMB extend the existing paperwork 
clearance for the information collection requirements contained in the 
Commission's Trade Regulation Rule entitled Power Output Claims for 
Amplifiers Utilized in Home Entertainment Products (``Amplifier Rule'' 
or ``Rule''), 16 CFR Part 432 (OMB Control Number 3084-0105).
    The FTC invites comments on: (1) whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who 
are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic 
submission of responses. All comments should be filed as prescribed in 
the ADDRESSES section above, and must be received on or before August 
18, 2008.
    The Amplifier Rule assists consumers by standardizing the 
measurement and disclosure of power output and other performance 
characteristics of amplifiers in stereos and other home entertainment 
equipment. The Rule also specifies the test conditions necessary to 
make the disclosures that the Rule requires.
    Estimated annual hours burden: 450 hours (300 testing-related 
hours; 150 disclosure-related hours).
    The Rule's provisions require affected entities to test the power 
output of amplifiers in accordance with a specified FTC protocol. The 
Commission staff estimates that approximately 300 new amplifiers and 
receivers come on the market each year. High fidelity manufacturers 
routinely conduct performance tests on these new products prior to 
sale. Because manufacturers conduct such tests, the Rule imposes no 
additional costs except to the extent that the FTC protocol is more 
time-consuming than alternative testing procedures. In this regard, a 
warm-up (``precondition'') period that the Rule requires before 
measurements are taken may add approximately one hour to the time 
testing would otherwise entail. Thus, staff estimates that the Rule 
imposes approximately 300 hours (1 hour x 300 new products) of added 
testing burden annually.
    In addition, the Rule requires disclosures if a manufacturer makes 
a power output claim for a covered product in an advertisement, 
specification sheet, or product brochure. This requirement does not 
impose any additional costs on manufacturers because, absent the Rule, 
media

[[Page 34751]]

advertisements, as well as manufacturer specification sheets and 
product brochures, would contain a power specification obtained using 
an alternative to the Rule-required testing protocol. The Rule, 
however, also requires disclosure of harmonic distortion, power 
bandwidth, and impedance ratings in manufacturer specification sheets 
and product brochures that might not otherwise be included.
    Staff assumes that manufacturers produce one specification sheet 
and one brochure each year for each new amplifier and receiver. The 
burden of disclosing the harmonic distortion, bandwidth, and impedance 
information on the specification sheets and brochures is limited to the 
time needed to draft and review the language pertaining to the 
aforementioned specifications. Staff estimates the time involved for 
this task to be a maximum of fifteen minutes for each new specification 
sheet and brochure for a total of 150 hours ([300 new products x 1 
specification sheet) + (300 new products x 1 brochure)] x 15 minutes).
    The total annual burden imposed by the Rule, therefore, is 
approximately 450 burden hours for testing and disclosures.
    Estimated annual cost burden: $19,000, rounded to the nearest 
thousand.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ Staff's labor cost estimates are based on recent data from 
the Bureau of Labor and Statistics.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Generally, electronics engineers perform the testing of amplifiers 
and receivers. Staff estimates a labor cost of $12,300 for such testing 
(300 hours for testing x $41 per hour). Staff assumes advertising or 
promotions managers prepare the disclosures contained in product 
brochures and manufacturer specification sheet and estimates a labor 
cost of $6,600 (150 hours for disclosures x $44 per hour). Accordingly, 
staff estimates the total labor costs associated with the Rule to be 
approximately $19,000 per year, rounded to the nearest thousand 
($12,300 for testing + $6,600 for disclosures).
    The Rule imposes no capital or other non-labor costs because its 
requirements are incidental to testing and advertising done in the 
ordinary course of business.

David C. Shonka
Acting General Counsel
[FR Doc. E8-13660 Filed 6-17-08: 8:45 am]
[Billing code: 6750-01-S]
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