Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission, 64213-64215 [2013-25348]
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 208 / Monday, October 28, 2013 / Notices
information technology; and ways to
further reduce the information burden
for small business concerns with fewer
than 25 employees.
The FCC may not conduct or sponsor
a collection of information unless it
displays a currently valid OMB 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 OMB control
number.
Written Paperwork Reduction
Act (PRA) comments should be
submitted on or before December 24,
2013. If you anticipate that you will be
submitting PRA comments, but find it
difficult to do so within the period of
time allowed by this notice, you should
advise the FCC contact listed below as
soon as possible.
ADDRESSES: Submit your PRA comments
to Judith B. Herman, Federal
Communications Commission, via the
Internet at Judith-b.herman@fcc.gov. To
submit your PRA comments by email
send them to: PRA@fcc.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Judith B. Herman, Office of Managing
Director, (202) 418–0214.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
OMB Control Number: 3060–1188.
Title: Connect America Challenge
Process and Certifications.
Form Number: FCC Form 505.
Type of Review: Revision of a
currently approved collection.
Respondents: Business or other forprofit, not-for-profit institutions and
state, local or tribal government.
Number of Respondents and
Responses: 178 respondents; 178
responses.
Estimated Time per Response: 3 hours
to 20 hours.
Frequency of Response: On occasion
and annual reporting requirements and
third party disclosure requirements.
Obligation to Respond: Required to
obtain or retain benefits. Statutory
authority for this information collection
is contained in 47 U.S.C. sections 151,
154(i), 154(j), 201(b), 214, 218–220, 254,
and 1302 of the Communications Act of
1934, as amended.
Total Annual Burden: 1,793 hours.
Total Annual Cost: N/A.
Privacy Act Impact Assessment: N/A.
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality:
The Commission is not requesting
respondents to submit confidential
information to the Commission.
However, respondents may request
materials or information submitted to
the Commission or to the Administrator
be withheld from public inspection
under 47 CFR 0.459 of the
wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
DATES:
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Commission’s rules. We note that USAC
must preserve the confidentiality of all
data obtained from respondents; must
not use the data except for purposes of
administering the universal service
programs; and must not disclose data in
company-specific form unless directed
by the Commission to do so.
Needs and Uses: The Commission
will submit this information collection
to the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for approval of a revision. The
Commission is reporting a 533 hour
increase in burden which is due to
additional reporting requirements.
New requirements being proposed in
this information collection for which
OMB approval is sought are the
Geocoded Information for Phase I Twoand Three-Year Milestone Reports;
Broadband Initiatives Program/
Broadband Technology Opportunities
Program Annual Milestone Reports;
Phase I Investment Annual Milestone
Reports; Changes in Phase I
Deployments; and Connect America
Phase II State-Level Commitment
Elections.
The Commission adopted two
rulemakings that revised this collection.
They are DA 13–1113 and FCC 13–73.
Finally, the Commission has made some
minor edits to the FCC Form 505 and its
instructions.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Office of
Managing Director.
[FR Doc. 2013–25346 Filed 10–25–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
Information Collection Being Reviewed
by the Federal Communications
Commission
Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
The Federal Communications
Commission (FCC), as part of its
continuing effort to reduce paperwork
burdens, 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 (PRA) of 1995. Comments are
requested concerning 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; the accuracy of
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
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64213
the Commission’s burden estimate;
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information collected;
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;
and ways to further reduce the
information collection burden on small
business concerns with fewer than 25
employees.
The FCC 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
PRA that does not display a valid Office
of Management and Budget (OMB)
control number.
DATES: Written PRA comments should
be submitted on or before December 27,
2013. 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.
ADDRESSES: Direct all PRA comments to
the Federal Communications
Commission via email to PRA@fcc.gov
and Cathy.Williams@fcc.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
additional information about the
information collection, contact Cathy
Williams at (202) 418–2918.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
OMB Control Number: 3060–0667.
Title: Section 76.630, Compatibility
with Consumer Electronics Equipment;
Section 76.1621, Equipment
Compatibility Offer; Section 76.1622,
Consumer Education of Equipment
Compatibility.
Form Number: Not applicable.
Type of Review: Revision of a
currently approved collection.
Respondents: Business or other forprofit entities.
Number of Respondents and
Responses: 8,250 respondents; 66,501
responses.
Estimated Time per Response: .017
hours–3 hours.
Frequency of Response:
Recordkeeping and third party
disclosure requirements; On occasion
reporting requirement.
Obligation to Respond: Required to
obtain or retain benefits. The statutory
authority for this collection is contained
in Section 4(i) and Section 632 of the
Communications Act of 1934, as
amended.
Total Annual Burden: 17,353 hours.
Total Annual Cost: $1,355.
Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No
impact(s).
E:\FR\FM\28OCN1.SGM
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64214
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 208 / Monday, October 28, 2013 / Notices
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality:
There is no need for confidentiality with
this collection of information.
Needs and Uses: 47 CFR Section
76.630(a) states a cable system operator
shall not scramble or otherwise encrypt
signals carried on the basic service tier.
This requirement is subject to certain
exemptions explained below. Requests
for waivers of this prohibition, which
are allowed under 47 CFR 76.630(a)(2),
must demonstrate either a substantial
problem with theft of basic tier service
or a strong need to scramble basic
signals for other reasons. As part of this
showing, cable operators are required to
notify subscribers by mail of waiver
requests. The notice to subscribers must
be mailed no later than thirty calendar
days from the date the request waiver
was filed with the Commission, and
cable operators must inform the
Commission in writing, as soon as
possible, of that notification date. The
notification to subscribers must state:
On (date of waiver request was filed
with the Commission), (cable operator’s
name) filed with the Federal
Communications Commission a request
for waiver of the rule prohibiting
scrambling of channels on the basic tier
of service. The request for waiver states
(a brief summary of the waiver request).
A copy of the request for waiver is on
file for public inspection at (the address
of the cable operator’s local place of
business).
Individuals who wish to comment on
this request for waiver should mail
comments to the Federal
Communications Commission by no
later than 30 days from (the date the
notification was mailed to subscribers).
Those comments should be addressed to
the: Federal Communications
Commission, Media Bureau,
Washington, DC 20554, and should
include the name of the cable operator
to whom the comments are applicable.
Individuals should also send a copy of
their comments to (the cable operator at
its local place of business). Cable
operators may file comments in reply no
later than 7 days from the date
subscriber comments must be filed.
47 CFR 76.1621 states a cable system
operators that use scrambling,
encryption or similar technologies in
conjunction with cable system terminal
devices, as defined in § 15.3(e) of this
chapter, that may affect subscribers’
reception of signals shall offer to supply
each subscriber with special equipment
that will enable the simultaneous
reception of multiple signals. The
equipment offered shall include a single
terminal device with dual descramblers/
decoders and/or timers and bypass
switches. Other equipment, such as two
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Jkt 232001
independent set-top terminal devices
may be offered at the same time that the
single terminal device with dual tuners/
descramblers is offered. For purposes of
this rule, two set-top devices linked by
a control system that provides
functionality equivalent to that of a
single device with dual descramblers is
considered to be the same as a terminal
device with dual descramblers/
decoders.
(a) The offer of special equipment
shall be made to new subscribers at the
time they subscribe and to all
subscribers at least once each year (i.e.,
in subscriber billings or pre-printed
information on the bill).
(b) Such special equipment shall, at a
minimum, have the capability:
(1) To allow simultaneous reception
of any two scrambled or encrypted
signals and to provide for tuning to
alternative channels on a preprogrammed schedule; and
(2) To allow direct reception of all
other signals that do not need to be
processed through descrambling or
decryption circuitry (this capability can
generally be provided through a
separate by-pass switch or through
internal by-pass circuitry in a cable
system terminal device).
(c) Cable system operators shall
determine the specific equipment
needed by individual subscribers on a
case-by-case basis, in consultation with
the subscriber. Cable system operators
are required to make a good faith effort
to provide subscribers with the amount
and types of special equipment needed
to resolve their individual compatibility
problems.
(d) Cable operators shall provide such
equipment at the request of individual
subscribers and may charge for purchase
or lease of the equipment and its
installation in accordance with the
provisions of the rate regulation rules
for customer premises equipment used
to receive the basic service tier, as set
forth in § 76.923. Notwithstanding the
required annual offering, cable operators
shall respond to subscriber requests for
special equipment for reception of
multiple signals that are made at any
time.
Information Collection Requirement
Which Requires OMB Approval
In October 2012, the Commission
loosened its prohibition on encryption
of the basic service tier. This rule
change allows all-digital cable operators
to encrypt, subject to certain consumer
protection measures. 77 FR 67290 (Nov.
9, 2012); 47 CFR 76.630(a)(1).
Encryption of all-digital cable service
will allow cable operators to activate
and/or deactivate cable service
PO 00000
Frm 00021
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
remotely, thus relieving many
consumers of the need to wait at home
to receive a cable technician when they
sign up for or cancel cable service, or
expand service to an existing cable
connection in their home.
In addition, encryption will reduce
service theft by ensuring that only
paying subscribers have decryption
equipment. Encryption could reduce
cable rates and reduce the theft that
often degrades the quality of cable
service received by paying subscribers.
Encryption also will reduce the number
of service calls necessary for manual
installations and disconnections, which
may have beneficial effects on vehicle
traffic and the environment.
Because this rule change allows cable
operators to encrypt the basic service
tier without filing a request for waiver,
we expect that the number of requests
for waiver will decrease significantly.
These Requirements Remain
Unchanged Since Last Approved by
OMB
47 CFR 76.1622 states that Cable
system operators shall provide a
consumer education program on
compatibility matters to their
subscribers in writing, as follows:
(a) The consumer information
program shall be provided to
subscribers at the time they first
subscribe and at least once a year
thereafter. Cable operators may choose
the time and means by which they
comply with the annual consumer
information requirement. This
requirement may be satisfied by a oncea-year mailing to all subscribers. The
information may be included in one of
the cable system’s regular subscriber
billings.
(b) The consumer information
program shall include the following
information:
(1) Cable system operators shall
inform their subscribers that some
models of TV receivers and
videocassette recorders may not be able
to receive all of the channels offered by
the cable system when connected
directly to the cable system. In
conjunction with this information, cable
system operators shall briefly explain,
the types of channel compatibility
problems that could occur if subscribers
connected their equipment directly to
the cable system and offer suggestions
for resolving those problems. Such
suggestions could include, for example,
the use of a cable system terminal
device such as a set-top channel
converter. Cable system operators shall
also indicate that channel compatibility
problems associated with reception of
programming that is not scrambled or
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 208 / Monday, October 28, 2013 / Notices
wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
encrypted programming could be
resolved through use of simple
converter devices without descrambling
or decryption capabilities that can be
obtained from either the cable system or
a third party retail vendor.
(2) In cases where service is received
through a cable system terminal device,
cable system operators shall indicate
that subscribers may not be able to use
special features and functions of their
TV receivers and videocassette
recorders, including features that allow
the subscriber to: View a program on
one channel while simultaneously
recording a program on another
channel; record two or more
consecutive programs that appear on
different channels; and, use advanced
picture generation and display features
such as ‘‘Picture-in-Picture,’’ channel
review and other functions that
necessitate channel selection by the
consumer device.
(3) In cases where cable system
operators offer remote control capability
with cable system terminal devices and
other customer premises equipment that
is provided to subscribers, they shall
advise their subscribers that remote
control units that are compatible with
that equipment may be obtained from
other sources, such as retail outlets.
Cable system operators shall also
provide a representative list of the
models of remote control units currently
available from retailers that are
compatible with the customer premises
equipment they employ. Cable system
operators are required to make a good
faith effort in compiling this list and
will not be liable for inadvertent
omissions. This list shall be current as
of no more than six months before the
date the consumer education program is
distributed to subscribers. Cable
operators are also required to encourage
subscribers to contact the cable operator
to inquire about whether a particular
remote control unit the subscriber might
be considering for purchase would be
compatible with the subscriber’s
customer premises equipment.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Office of
Managing Director.
[FR Doc. 2013–25348 Filed 10–25–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
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14:52 Oct 25, 2013
Jkt 232001
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
Information Collection Being Reviewed
by the Federal Communications
Commission Under Delegated
Authority
Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
The Federal Communications
Commission (FCC), as part of its
continuing effort to reduce paperwork
burdens, 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 (PRA) of 1995. Comments are
requested concerning 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; the accuracy of
the Commission’s burden estimate;
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information collected;
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;
and ways to further reduce the
information collection burden on small
business concerns with fewer than 25
employees.
The FCC 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
PRA that does not display a valid Office
of Management and Budget (OMB)
control number.
DATES: Written PRA comments should
be submitted on or before December 27,
2013. 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.
ADDRESSES: Direct all PRA comments to
the Federal Communications
Commission via email to PRA@fcc.gov
and Cathy.Williams@fcc.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
additional information about the
information collection, contact Cathy
Williams at (202) 418–2918.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
OMB Control No.: 3060–0626.
Title: Section 90.483, Permissible
Methods and Requirements of
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
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64215
Interconnecting Private and Public
Systems of Communications.
Form No.: N/A.
Type of Review: Extension of a
currently approved collection.
Respondents: Business of other forprofit entities.
Respondents: 100 responses.
Number of Respondents and
Responses: 100 respondents; 100
responses.
Estimated Time per Response: 1 hour.
Frequency of Response: On occasion
reporting requirements; Third party
disclosure requirement.
Obligation To Respond: Required to
obtain or retain benefits. The statutory
authority for this collection of
information is contained in Sections
4(i), 11, 303(g), 303(r), and 332(c)(7) of
the Communications Act of 1934, as
amended, 47 U.S.C. sections 154(i), 161,
303(g), 303(r), 332(c)(7).
Total Annual Burden: 100 hours.
Annual Cost Burden: None.
Privacy Act Impact Assessment: N/A.
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality:
There is no need for confidentiality with
this collection.
Needs and Uses: When a frequency is
shared by more than one system,
automatic monitoring equipment must
be installed at the base station to
prevent activation of the transmitter
when signals of co-channel stations are
present and activation would interfere
with communications in progress.
Licensees may operate without the
monitoring equipment if they have
obtained the consent of all co-channel
licensees located within a 120 kilometer
(75 mile) radius of the interconnected
base station transmitter. A statement
must be submitted to the Commission
indicating that all co-channel licensees
have consented to operate without the
monitoring equipment. This information
is necessary to ensure that licensees
comply with the Commission’s
technical and operational rules, and to
prevent activation of the transmitter
when signals of co-channel stations are
present and could possibly interfere
with communications in process.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Office of
Managing Director.
[FR Doc. 2013–25349 Filed 10–25–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 208 (Monday, October 28, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64213-64215]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-25348]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal
Communications Commission
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), as part of its
continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, 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 (PRA) of 1995. Comments are requested concerning 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; the accuracy of the
Commission's burden estimate; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information collected; 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; and ways to further reduce the information collection
burden on small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees.
The FCC 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 PRA that does not display a valid Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) control number.
DATES: Written PRA comments should be submitted on or before December
27, 2013. 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.
ADDRESSES: Direct all PRA comments to the Federal Communications
Commission via email to PRA@fcc.gov and Cathy.Williams@fcc.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information about the
information collection, contact Cathy Williams at (202) 418-2918.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
OMB Control Number: 3060-0667.
Title: Section 76.630, Compatibility with Consumer Electronics
Equipment; Section 76.1621, Equipment Compatibility Offer; Section
76.1622, Consumer Education of Equipment Compatibility.
Form Number: Not applicable.
Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.
Number of Respondents and Responses: 8,250 respondents; 66,501
responses.
Estimated Time per Response: .017 hours-3 hours.
Frequency of Response: Recordkeeping and third party disclosure
requirements; On occasion reporting requirement.
Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The
statutory authority for this collection is contained in Section 4(i)
and Section 632 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.
Total Annual Burden: 17,353 hours.
Total Annual Cost: $1,355.
Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).
[[Page 64214]]
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: There is no need for
confidentiality with this collection of information.
Needs and Uses: 47 CFR Section 76.630(a) states a cable system
operator shall not scramble or otherwise encrypt signals carried on the
basic service tier. This requirement is subject to certain exemptions
explained below. Requests for waivers of this prohibition, which are
allowed under 47 CFR 76.630(a)(2), must demonstrate either a
substantial problem with theft of basic tier service or a strong need
to scramble basic signals for other reasons. As part of this showing,
cable operators are required to notify subscribers by mail of waiver
requests. The notice to subscribers must be mailed no later than thirty
calendar days from the date the request waiver was filed with the
Commission, and cable operators must inform the Commission in writing,
as soon as possible, of that notification date. The notification to
subscribers must state:
On (date of waiver request was filed with the Commission), (cable
operator's name) filed with the Federal Communications Commission a
request for waiver of the rule prohibiting scrambling of channels on
the basic tier of service. The request for waiver states (a brief
summary of the waiver request). A copy of the request for waiver is on
file for public inspection at (the address of the cable operator's
local place of business).
Individuals who wish to comment on this request for waiver should
mail comments to the Federal Communications Commission by no later than
30 days from (the date the notification was mailed to subscribers).
Those comments should be addressed to the: Federal Communications
Commission, Media Bureau, Washington, DC 20554, and should include the
name of the cable operator to whom the comments are applicable.
Individuals should also send a copy of their comments to (the cable
operator at its local place of business). Cable operators may file
comments in reply no later than 7 days from the date subscriber
comments must be filed.
47 CFR 76.1621 states a cable system operators that use scrambling,
encryption or similar technologies in conjunction with cable system
terminal devices, as defined in Sec. 15.3(e) of this chapter, that may
affect subscribers' reception of signals shall offer to supply each
subscriber with special equipment that will enable the simultaneous
reception of multiple signals. The equipment offered shall include a
single terminal device with dual descramblers/decoders and/or timers
and bypass switches. Other equipment, such as two independent set-top
terminal devices may be offered at the same time that the single
terminal device with dual tuners/descramblers is offered. For purposes
of this rule, two set-top devices linked by a control system that
provides functionality equivalent to that of a single device with dual
descramblers is considered to be the same as a terminal device with
dual descramblers/decoders.
(a) The offer of special equipment shall be made to new subscribers
at the time they subscribe and to all subscribers at least once each
year (i.e., in subscriber billings or pre-printed information on the
bill).
(b) Such special equipment shall, at a minimum, have the
capability:
(1) To allow simultaneous reception of any two scrambled or
encrypted signals and to provide for tuning to alternative channels on
a pre-programmed schedule; and
(2) To allow direct reception of all other signals that do not need
to be processed through descrambling or decryption circuitry (this
capability can generally be provided through a separate by-pass switch
or through internal by-pass circuitry in a cable system terminal
device).
(c) Cable system operators shall determine the specific equipment
needed by individual subscribers on a case-by-case basis, in
consultation with the subscriber. Cable system operators are required
to make a good faith effort to provide subscribers with the amount and
types of special equipment needed to resolve their individual
compatibility problems.
(d) Cable operators shall provide such equipment at the request of
individual subscribers and may charge for purchase or lease of the
equipment and its installation in accordance with the provisions of the
rate regulation rules for customer premises equipment used to receive
the basic service tier, as set forth in Sec. 76.923. Notwithstanding
the required annual offering, cable operators shall respond to
subscriber requests for special equipment for reception of multiple
signals that are made at any time.
Information Collection Requirement Which Requires OMB Approval
In October 2012, the Commission loosened its prohibition on
encryption of the basic service tier. This rule change allows all-
digital cable operators to encrypt, subject to certain consumer
protection measures. 77 FR 67290 (Nov. 9, 2012); 47 CFR 76.630(a)(1).
Encryption of all-digital cable service will allow cable operators to
activate and/or deactivate cable service remotely, thus relieving many
consumers of the need to wait at home to receive a cable technician
when they sign up for or cancel cable service, or expand service to an
existing cable connection in their home.
In addition, encryption will reduce service theft by ensuring that
only paying subscribers have decryption equipment. Encryption could
reduce cable rates and reduce the theft that often degrades the quality
of cable service received by paying subscribers. Encryption also will
reduce the number of service calls necessary for manual installations
and disconnections, which may have beneficial effects on vehicle
traffic and the environment.
Because this rule change allows cable operators to encrypt the
basic service tier without filing a request for waiver, we expect that
the number of requests for waiver will decrease significantly.
These Requirements Remain Unchanged Since Last Approved by OMB
47 CFR 76.1622 states that Cable system operators shall provide a
consumer education program on compatibility matters to their
subscribers in writing, as follows:
(a) The consumer information program shall be provided to
subscribers at the time they first subscribe and at least once a year
thereafter. Cable operators may choose the time and means by which they
comply with the annual consumer information requirement. This
requirement may be satisfied by a once-a-year mailing to all
subscribers. The information may be included in one of the cable
system's regular subscriber billings.
(b) The consumer information program shall include the following
information:
(1) Cable system operators shall inform their subscribers that some
models of TV receivers and videocassette recorders may not be able to
receive all of the channels offered by the cable system when connected
directly to the cable system. In conjunction with this information,
cable system operators shall briefly explain, the types of channel
compatibility problems that could occur if subscribers connected their
equipment directly to the cable system and offer suggestions for
resolving those problems. Such suggestions could include, for example,
the use of a cable system terminal device such as a set-top channel
converter. Cable system operators shall also indicate that channel
compatibility problems associated with reception of programming that is
not scrambled or
[[Page 64215]]
encrypted programming could be resolved through use of simple converter
devices without descrambling or decryption capabilities that can be
obtained from either the cable system or a third party retail vendor.
(2) In cases where service is received through a cable system
terminal device, cable system operators shall indicate that subscribers
may not be able to use special features and functions of their TV
receivers and videocassette recorders, including features that allow
the subscriber to: View a program on one channel while simultaneously
recording a program on another channel; record two or more consecutive
programs that appear on different channels; and, use advanced picture
generation and display features such as ``Picture-in-Picture,'' channel
review and other functions that necessitate channel selection by the
consumer device.
(3) In cases where cable system operators offer remote control
capability with cable system terminal devices and other customer
premises equipment that is provided to subscribers, they shall advise
their subscribers that remote control units that are compatible with
that equipment may be obtained from other sources, such as retail
outlets. Cable system operators shall also provide a representative
list of the models of remote control units currently available from
retailers that are compatible with the customer premises equipment they
employ. Cable system operators are required to make a good faith effort
in compiling this list and will not be liable for inadvertent
omissions. This list shall be current as of no more than six months
before the date the consumer education program is distributed to
subscribers. Cable operators are also required to encourage subscribers
to contact the cable operator to inquire about whether a particular
remote control unit the subscriber might be considering for purchase
would be compatible with the subscriber's customer premises equipment.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Office of Managing Director.
[FR Doc. 2013-25348 Filed 10-25-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
