Information Collections Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission, 55953-55955 [2019-22746]
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 202 / Friday, October 18, 2019 / Notices
Send comments to Mr.
Leslie F. Smith, Privacy Manager,
Information Technology (IT), Room 1–
C216, FCC, 445 12th Street SW,
Washington, DC 20554, or to
Leslie.Smith@fcc.gov.
ADDRESSES:
Mr.
Leslie F. Smith, (202) 418–0217, or to
Leslie.Smith@fcc.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
The
Lifeline program provides support for
discounted broadband and voice
services to low-income consumers.
Lifeline is administered by the
Universal Service Administrative
Company (USAC) under FCC direction.
Consumers qualify for Lifeline through
proof of income or participation in a
qualifying program, such as Medicaid,
the Supplemental Nutritional
Assistance Program (SNAP), Federal
Public Housing Assistance,
Supplemental Security Income (SSI),
Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit,
or various Tribal-specific federal
assistance programs. In a Report and
Order adopted on March 31, 2016, the
Commission ordered USAC to create a
National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier
(National Verifier), including the
National Lifeline Eligibility Database
(LED), that would match data about
Lifeline applicants and subscribers with
other data sources to verify the
eligibility of an applicant or subscriber.
The Commission found that the
National Verifier would reduce
compliance costs for Lifeline service
providers, improve service for Lifeline
subscribers, and reduce waste, fraud,
and abuse in the program. The purpose
of this particular program is to verify
Lifeline eligibility by establishing that
applicants or subscribers from South
Carolina, Virginia, and Washington are
enrolled in the SNAP or Medicaid
programs.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Participating Non-Federal Agencies
• The South Carolina Department of
Social Services;
• The Virginia Department of Social
Services; and
• The Washington State Department
of Social and Health Services, Economic
Services Administration.
Authority for Conducting the Matching
Program
47 U.S.C. 254; 47 CFR 54.400 et seq.;
Lifeline and Link Up Reform and
Modernization, et al., Third Report and
Order, Further Report and Order, and
Order on Reconsideration, 31 FCC Rcd
3962, 4006–21, paras. 126–66 (2016)
(2016 Lifeline Modernization Order).
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16:37 Oct 17, 2019
Jkt 250001
Purpose(s)
In the 2016 Lifeline Modernization
Order, the FCC required USAC to
develop and operate a National Lifeline
Eligibility Verifier (National Verifier) to
improve efficiency and reduce waste,
fraud, and abuse in the Lifeline
program. The stated purpose of the
National Verifier is ‘‘to increase the
integrity and improve the performance
of the Lifeline program for the benefit of
a variety of Lifeline participants,
including Lifeline providers,
subscribers, states, community-based
organizations, USAC, and the
Commission.’’ 31 FCC Rcd 3962, 4006,
para. 126. To help determine whether
Lifeline applicants and subscribers are
eligible for Lifeline benefits, the Order
contemplates that a USAC-operated
Lifeline Eligibility Database (LED) will
communicate with information systems
and databases operated by other Federal
and State agencies. Id. at 4011–2, paras.
135–7.
Categories of Individuals
The categories of individuals whose
information is involved in this matching
program include, but are not limited to,
those individuals (residing in a single
household) who have applied for
Lifeline benefits; are currently receiving
Lifeline benefits; are individuals who
enable another individual in their
household to qualify for Lifeline
benefits; are minors whose status
qualifies a parent or guardian for
Lifeline benefits; are individuals who
have received Lifeline benefits; or are
individuals acting on behalf of an
eligible telecommunications carrier
(ETC) who have enrolled individuals in
the Lifeline program.
Categories of Records
The categories of records involved in
the matching program include, but are
not limited to, a Lifeline applicant or
subscriber’s full name; physical and
mailing addresses; partial Social
Security number or Tribal ID number;
date of birth; qualifying person’s full
name (if qualifying person is different
from subscriber); qualifying person’s
physical and mailing addresses;
qualifying person’s partial Social
Security number or Tribal ID number;
and qualifying person’s date of birth.
The National Verifier will transfer these
data elements to the source agencies,
which will respond either ‘‘yes’’ or ‘‘no’’
that the individual is enrolled in a
Lifeline-qualifying assistance program.
System(s) of Records
The USAC records shared as part of
this matching program reside in the
Lifeline system of records, FCC/WCB–1,
PO 00000
Frm 00052
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
55953
Lifeline Program, a notice of which the
FCC published at 82 FR 38686 (Aug. 15,
2017) and became effective on
September 14, 2017.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019–22753 Filed 10–17–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
[OMB 3060–0311, 3060–0433 and 3060–
0863]
Information Collections Being
Reviewed by the Federal
Communications Commission
Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
As part of its continuing effort
to reduce paperwork burdens, and as
required by the Paperwork Reduction
Act (PRA) of 1995, the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC or
the Commission) invites the general
public and other Federal agencies to
take this opportunity to comment on the
following information collection.
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 17,
2019. 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
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\18OCN1.SGM
18OCN1
55954
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 202 / Friday, October 18, 2019 / Notices
advise the contact listed below as soon
as possible.
ADDRESSES: Direct all PRA comments to
Cathy Williams, FCC, via email PRA@
fcc.gov and to 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: 3060–0311.
Title: 47 CFR 76.54, Significantly
Viewed Signals; Method to be followed
for Special Showings.
Form Number: Not applicable.
Type of Review: Extension of a
currently approved collection.
Respondents: Business or other forprofit entities.
Number of Respondents and
Responses: 500 respondents, 1,274
responses.
Frequency of Response: On occasion
reporting and third-party disclosure
requirements.
Estimated Time per Response: 1–15
hours (average).
Total Annual Burden: 20,610 hours.
Total Annual Cost: $300,000.
Nature of Response: Required to
obtain or retain benefits. The statutory
authority for this information collection
is contained in Section 4(i) and 340 of
the Communications Act of 1934, as
amended.
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality:
There is no need for confidentiality with
this collection of information.
Privacy Impact Assessment: No
impact(s).
Needs and Uses: The information
collection requirements contained in 47
CFR 76.54(b) state significant viewing in
a cable television or satellite community
for signals not shown as significantly
viewed under 47 CFR 76.54(a) or (d)
may be demonstrated by an
independent professional audience
survey of over-the-air television homes
that covers at least two weekly periods
separated by at least thirty days but no
more than one of which shall be a week
between the months of April and
September. If two surveys are taken,
they shall include samples sufficient to
assure that the combined surveys result
in an average figure at least one
standard error above the required
viewing level.
The information collection
requirements contained in 47 CFR
76.54(c) are used to notify interested
parties, including licensees or
permittees of television broadcast
stations, about audience surveys that are
being conducted by an organization to
demonstrate that a particular broadcast
station is eligible for significantly
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:37 Oct 17, 2019
Jkt 250001
viewed status under the Commission’s
rules. The notifications provide
interested parties with an opportunity to
review survey methodologies and file
objections.
Lastly, 47 CFR 76.54(e) and (f), are
used to notify television broadcast
stations about the retransmission of
significantly viewed signals by a
satellite carrier into these stations’ local
market.
OMB Control Number: 3060–0433.
Title: Basic Signal Leakage
Performance Report.
Form Number: FCC Form 320.
Type of Review: Extension of a
currently approved collection.
Respondents: Business or other forprofit entities.
Number of Respondents and
Responses: 3,413 respondents and 3,413
responses.
Frequency of Response:
Recordkeeping requirement, Annual
reporting requirement.
Estimated Time per Hours: 20 hours.
Total Annual Burden: 68,260 hours.
Total Annual Cost: None.
Obligation to Respond: Required to
obtain or retain benefits. The statutory
authority for this collection is contained
in Sections 4(i), 302 and 303 of the
Communications Act of 1934, as
amended.
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality:
There is no need for confidentiality with
this collection of information.
Privacy Impact Assessment(s): No
impact(s).
Needs and Uses: Cable television
system operators and Multichannel
Video Programming Distributors
(MPVDs) who use frequencies in the
bands 108–137 and 225–400 MHz
(aeronautical frequencies) are required
to file a Cumulative Signal Leakage
Index (CLI) derived under 47 CFR
76.611(a)(1) or the results of airspace
measurements derived under 47 CFR
76.611(a)(2). This filing must include a
description of the method by which
compliance with basic signal leakage
criteria is achieved and the method of
calibrating the measurement equipment.
This yearly filing of FCC Form 320 is
done in accordance with 47 CFR
76.1803. The records must be retained
by cable operators.
OMB Control Number: 3060–0863.
Title: Satellite Delivery of Network
Signals to Unserved Households for
Purposes of the Satellite Home Viewer
Act.
Form Number: Not applicable.
Type of Review: Extension of a
currently approved collection.
Respondents: Business or other forprofit entities.
PO 00000
Frm 00053
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Number of Respondents and
Responses: 848 respondents; 250,000
responses.
Estimated Time per Response: 0.50
hours.
Frequency of Response:
Recordkeeping requirement, On
occasion reporting requirement.
Obligation to Respond: Required to
obtain or retain benefits. Statutory
authority for this information collection
action is contained in the Satellite
Home Viewer Act, 17 U.S.C. 119. The
Satellite Home Viewer Act is an
amendment of the Copyright Act; and
Satellite Television Extension and
Localism Act of 2010, Title V of the
‘‘American Workers, State, and Business
Relief Act of 2010,’’ Public Law 111–
175, 124 Stat. 1218 (2010) (STELA), see
footnote 3.
Total Annual Burden to Respondents:
125,000 hours.
Total Annual Cost: None.
Privacy Impact Assessment(s): No
impact(s).
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality:
There is no need for confidentiality with
this collection of information.
Needs and Uses: The information
collection requirements contained in 47
CFR 73.686 describes a method for
measuring signal strength at a
household so that the satellite and
broadcast industries would have a
uniform method for making an actual
determination of the signal strength that
a household received. The information
gathered as part of the Grade B contour
signal strength tests will be used to
indicate whether a household is
‘‘unserved’’ by over-the-air network
signals.
Satellite and broadcast industries
making field strength measurements for
formal submission to the Commission in
rulemaking proceedings, or making such
measurements upon the request of the
Commission, shall follow the procedure
for making and reporting such
measurements which shall be included
in a report to the Commission and
submitted in affidavit form, in triplicate.
The report shall contain the following
information:
(a) Tables of field strength
measurements, which for each
measuring location; (b) U.S. Geological
Survey topographic maps; (c) All
information necessary to determine the
pertinent characteristics of the
transmitting installation; (d) A list of
calibrated equipment used in the field
strength survey; (e) A detailed
description of the calibration of the
measuring equipment, and (f) Terrain
profiles in each direction in which
measurements were made.
E:\FR\FM\18OCN1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 202 / Friday, October 18, 2019 / Notices
The information collection
requirements contained in 47 CFR
73.686 also requires satellite and
broadcast companies to maintain a
written record describing, for each
location, factors which may affect the
recorded field (i.e., the approximate
time or measurement, weather,
topography, overhead wiring, heights
and types of vegetation, buildings and
other structures, the orientation of the
measuring location, objects of such
shape and size that cause shadows or
reflections, signals received that arrived
from a direction other than that of the
transmitter, survey, list of the measured
value field strength, time and date of the
measurements and signature of the
person making the measurements).
The information collection
requirements contained in 47 CFR
73.686(e) describes the procedures for
measuring the field strength of digital
television signals. These procedures
will be used to determine whether a
household is eligible to receive a distant
digital network signal from a satellite
television provider, largely rely on
existing, proven methods the
Commission has already established for
measuring analog television signal
strength at any individual location, as
set forth in Section 73.686(d) of the
existing rules, but include modifications
as necessary to accommodate the
inherent differences between analog and
digital TV signals. The new digital
signal measurement procedures include
provisions for the location of the
measurement antenna, antenna height,
signal measurement method, antenna
orientation and polarization, and data
recording.
Therefore, satellite and broadcast
industries making field strength
measurements shall maintain written
records and include the following
information: (a) A list of calibrated
equipment used in the field strength
survey, which for each instrument
specifies the manufacturer, type, serial
number and rated accuracy, and the
date of the most recent calibration by
the manufacturer or by a laboratory.
Include complete details of any
instrument not of standard manufacture;
(b) A detailed description of the
calibration of the measuring equipment,
including field strength meters,
measuring antenna, and connecting
cable; (c) For each spot at the measuring
site, all factors which may affect the
recorded field, such as topography,
height and types of vegetation,
buildings, obstacles, weather, and other
local features; (d) A description of
where the cluster measurements were
made; (e) Time and date of the
measurements and signature of the
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:37 Oct 17, 2019
Jkt 250001
person making the measurements; (f)
For each channel being measured, a list
of the measured value of field strength
(in units of dBm after adjustment for line
loss and antenna factor) of the five
readings made during the cluster
measurement process, with the median
value highlighted.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019–22746 Filed 10–17–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
[OMB 3060–0713]
Information Collection Being Reviewed
by the Federal Communications
Commission Under Delegated
Authority
Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
As part of its continuing effort
to reduce paperwork burdens, and as
required by the Paperwork Reduction
Act (PRA) of 1995, the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC or
the Commission) invites the general
public and other Federal agencies to
take this opportunity to comment on the
following information collection.
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 17,
2019. If you anticipate that you will be
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00054
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
55955
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
Nicole Ongele, FCC, via email PRA@
fcc.gov and to Nicole.Ongele@fcc.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
additional information about the
information collection, contact Nicole
Ongele at (202) 418–2991.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
OMB Control Number: 3060–0713.
Title: Alternative Broadcast
Inspection Program (ABIP) Compliance
Notification.
Form Number: N/A.
Type of Review: Extension of a
currently approved collection.
Respondents: Businesses or other forprofit; Not-for-profit institutions.
Number of Respondents and
Responses: 53 respondents; 2,650
responses.
Estimated Time per Response: 5
minutes (0.084 hours).
Frequency of Response: On occasion
reporting requirement; third party
disclosure requirement.
Obligation to Respond: Voluntary.
Statutory authority for this collection of
information is contained in 47 U.S.C.
303(n) and 47 CFR 73.1225.
Total Annual Burden: 223 hours.
Total Annual Cost: No cost.
Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No
impact(s).
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality:
The Commission is not requesting that
respondents submit confidential
information to the Commission. If the
Commission requests that respondents
submit information which respondents
believe is confidential, respondents may
request confidential treatment of such
information pursuant to § 45.9 of the
Commission’s rules, 47 CFR 45.9.
Needs and Uses: The Alternative
Broadcast Inspection Program (ABIP) is
a series of agreements between the
Federal Communications Commission’s
(FCC) Enforcement Bureau and a private
entity, usually a state broadcast
association, whereby the private entity
agrees to facilitate inspections (and reinspections, where appropriate) of
participating broadcast stations to
determine station compliance with FCC
regulations. Broadcast stations
participate in ABIP on a voluntary basis.
The private entities notify their local
FCC District Office or Resident Agent
Office in writing of those stations that
pass the ABIP inspection and have been
issued a Certificate of Compliance by
the ABIP inspector. The FCC uses this
information to determine which
E:\FR\FM\18OCN1.SGM
18OCN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 202 (Friday, October 18, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55953-55955]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-22746]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
[OMB 3060-0311, 3060-0433 and 3060-0863]
Information Collections Being Reviewed by the Federal
Communications Commission
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens,
and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC or the Commission) invites the
general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to
comment on the following information collection. 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
17, 2019. 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
[[Page 55954]]
advise the contact listed below as soon as possible.
ADDRESSES: Direct all PRA comments to Cathy Williams, FCC, via email
[email protected] and to [email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information about the
information collection, contact Cathy Williams at 202-418-2918.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
OMB Control Number: 3060-0311.
Title: 47 CFR 76.54, Significantly Viewed Signals; Method to be
followed for Special Showings.
Form Number: Not applicable.
Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.
Number of Respondents and Responses: 500 respondents, 1,274
responses.
Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting and third-party
disclosure requirements.
Estimated Time per Response: 1-15 hours (average).
Total Annual Burden: 20,610 hours.
Total Annual Cost: $300,000.
Nature of Response: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The
statutory authority for this information collection is contained in
Section 4(i) and 340 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: There is no need for
confidentiality with this collection of information.
Privacy Impact Assessment: No impact(s).
Needs and Uses: The information collection requirements contained
in 47 CFR 76.54(b) state significant viewing in a cable television or
satellite community for signals not shown as significantly viewed under
47 CFR 76.54(a) or (d) may be demonstrated by an independent
professional audience survey of over-the-air television homes that
covers at least two weekly periods separated by at least thirty days
but no more than one of which shall be a week between the months of
April and September. If two surveys are taken, they shall include
samples sufficient to assure that the combined surveys result in an
average figure at least one standard error above the required viewing
level.
The information collection requirements contained in 47 CFR
76.54(c) are used to notify interested parties, including licensees or
permittees of television broadcast stations, about audience surveys
that are being conducted by an organization to demonstrate that a
particular broadcast station is eligible for significantly viewed
status under the Commission's rules. The notifications provide
interested parties with an opportunity to review survey methodologies
and file objections.
Lastly, 47 CFR 76.54(e) and (f), are used to notify television
broadcast stations about the retransmission of significantly viewed
signals by a satellite carrier into these stations' local market.
OMB Control Number: 3060-0433.
Title: Basic Signal Leakage Performance Report.
Form Number: FCC Form 320.
Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.
Number of Respondents and Responses: 3,413 respondents and 3,413
responses.
Frequency of Response: Recordkeeping requirement, Annual reporting
requirement.
Estimated Time per Hours: 20 hours.
Total Annual Burden: 68,260 hours.
Total Annual Cost: None.
Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The
statutory authority for this collection is contained in Sections 4(i),
302 and 303 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: There is no need for
confidentiality with this collection of information.
Privacy Impact Assessment(s): No impact(s).
Needs and Uses: Cable television system operators and Multichannel
Video Programming Distributors (MPVDs) who use frequencies in the bands
108-137 and 225-400 MHz (aeronautical frequencies) are required to file
a Cumulative Signal Leakage Index (CLI) derived under 47 CFR
76.611(a)(1) or the results of airspace measurements derived under 47
CFR 76.611(a)(2). This filing must include a description of the method
by which compliance with basic signal leakage criteria is achieved and
the method of calibrating the measurement equipment. This yearly filing
of FCC Form 320 is done in accordance with 47 CFR 76.1803. The records
must be retained by cable operators.
OMB Control Number: 3060-0863.
Title: Satellite Delivery of Network Signals to Unserved Households
for Purposes of the Satellite Home Viewer Act.
Form Number: Not applicable.
Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.
Number of Respondents and Responses: 848 respondents; 250,000
responses.
Estimated Time per Response: 0.50 hours.
Frequency of Response: Recordkeeping requirement, On occasion
reporting requirement.
Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits.
Statutory authority for this information collection action is contained
in the Satellite Home Viewer Act, 17 U.S.C. 119. The Satellite Home
Viewer Act is an amendment of the Copyright Act; and Satellite
Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010, Title V of the
``American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010,'' Public
Law 111-175, 124 Stat. 1218 (2010) (STELA), see footnote 3.
Total Annual Burden to Respondents: 125,000 hours.
Total Annual Cost: None.
Privacy Impact Assessment(s): No impact(s).
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: There is no need for
confidentiality with this collection of information.
Needs and Uses: The information collection requirements contained
in 47 CFR 73.686 describes a method for measuring signal strength at a
household so that the satellite and broadcast industries would have a
uniform method for making an actual determination of the signal
strength that a household received. The information gathered as part of
the Grade B contour signal strength tests will be used to indicate
whether a household is ``unserved'' by over-the-air network signals.
Satellite and broadcast industries making field strength
measurements for formal submission to the Commission in rulemaking
proceedings, or making such measurements upon the request of the
Commission, shall follow the procedure for making and reporting such
measurements which shall be included in a report to the Commission and
submitted in affidavit form, in triplicate. The report shall contain
the following information:
(a) Tables of field strength measurements, which for each measuring
location; (b) U.S. Geological Survey topographic maps; (c) All
information necessary to determine the pertinent characteristics of the
transmitting installation; (d) A list of calibrated equipment used in
the field strength survey; (e) A detailed description of the
calibration of the measuring equipment, and (f) Terrain profiles in
each direction in which measurements were made.
[[Page 55955]]
The information collection requirements contained in 47 CFR 73.686
also requires satellite and broadcast companies to maintain a written
record describing, for each location, factors which may affect the
recorded field (i.e., the approximate time or measurement, weather,
topography, overhead wiring, heights and types of vegetation, buildings
and other structures, the orientation of the measuring location,
objects of such shape and size that cause shadows or reflections,
signals received that arrived from a direction other than that of the
transmitter, survey, list of the measured value field strength, time
and date of the measurements and signature of the person making the
measurements).
The information collection requirements contained in 47 CFR
73.686(e) describes the procedures for measuring the field strength of
digital television signals. These procedures will be used to determine
whether a household is eligible to receive a distant digital network
signal from a satellite television provider, largely rely on existing,
proven methods the Commission has already established for measuring
analog television signal strength at any individual location, as set
forth in Section 73.686(d) of the existing rules, but include
modifications as necessary to accommodate the inherent differences
between analog and digital TV signals. The new digital signal
measurement procedures include provisions for the location of the
measurement antenna, antenna height, signal measurement method, antenna
orientation and polarization, and data recording.
Therefore, satellite and broadcast industries making field strength
measurements shall maintain written records and include the following
information: (a) A list of calibrated equipment used in the field
strength survey, which for each instrument specifies the manufacturer,
type, serial number and rated accuracy, and the date of the most recent
calibration by the manufacturer or by a laboratory. Include complete
details of any instrument not of standard manufacture; (b) A detailed
description of the calibration of the measuring equipment, including
field strength meters, measuring antenna, and connecting cable; (c) For
each spot at the measuring site, all factors which may affect the
recorded field, such as topography, height and types of vegetation,
buildings, obstacles, weather, and other local features; (d) A
description of where the cluster measurements were made; (e) Time and
date of the measurements and signature of the person making the
measurements; (f) For each channel being measured, a list of the
measured value of field strength (in units of dB[mu] after adjustment
for line loss and antenna factor) of the five readings made during the
cluster measurement process, with the median value highlighted.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-22746 Filed 10-17-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
