Information Collections Being Submitted for Review and Approval to Office of Management and Budget, 66558-66563 [2020-23207]

Agencies

• FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 203 (Tuesday, October 20, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66558-66563]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-23207]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[OMB 3060-0249, OMB 3060-0573, OMB 3060-0888; FRS 17149]


Information Collections Being Submitted for Review and Approval 
to Office of Management and Budget

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, 
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. Pursuant to the Small Business 
Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, the FCC seeks specific comment on how it 
can further reduce the information collection burden for small business 
concerns with fewer than 25 employees.

DATES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be submitted on or before November 19, 
2020.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting 
``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using 
the search function. Your comment must be submitted into 
www.reginfo.gov per the above instructions for it to be considered. In 
addition to submitting in www.reginfo.gov also send a copy of your 
comment on the proposed information collection to Cathy Williams, FCC, 
via email to [email protected] and to [email protected]. Include in the 
comments the OMB control number as shown in the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or copies 
of the information collection, contact Cathy Williams at (202) 418-
2918. To view a copy of this information collection request (ICR) 
submitted to OMB: (1) Go to the web page https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain, (2) look for the section of the web page called ``Currently 
Under Review,'' (3) click on the downward-pointing arrow in the 
``Select Agency'' box below the ``Currently Under Review'' heading, (4) 
select ``Federal Communications Commission'' from the list of agencies 
presented in the ``Select Agency'' box, (5) click the ``Submit'' button 
to the right of the ``Select Agency'' box, (6) when the list of FCC 
ICRs currently under review appears, look for the Title of this ICR and 
then click on the ICR Reference Number. A copy of the FCC submission to 
OMB will be displayed.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission may not conduct or sponsor a 
collection of information unless it displays a currently valid Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) 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 OMB 
control number.
    As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, as 
required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-
3520), the FCC invited the general public and other Federal Agencies to 
take this opportunity to comment on the following information 
collection. Comments are requested concerning: (a) 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; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's 
burden estimates; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity 
of the information collected; and (d) 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. Pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 
2002, Public Law 107-198, see 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(4), the FCC seeks 
specific comment on how it might ``further reduce the information 
collection burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 
employees.''
    OMB Control Number: 3060-0249.
    Title: Sections 74.781, 74.1281 and 78.69, Station Records.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business and other for-profit entities; not-for-profit 
institutions; State, Federal or Tribal Governments.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 13,811 respondents; 20,724 
responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: .375 hour-1 hour.
    Frequency of Response: Recordkeeping requirement.
    Total Annual Burden: 11,726 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: $8,295,600.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The 
statutory authority for this collection of information is contained in 
Section 154(i) 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: The information collection requirements contained 
in this collection are as follows:
    47 CFR 74.781 information collection requirements include the 
following: (a) The licensee of a low power TV, TV translator, or TV 
booster station shall maintain adequate station records, including the 
current instrument of authorization, official correspondence with the 
FCC, contracts, permission for rebroadcasts, and other pertinent 
documents.
    (b) Entries required by Sec.  17.49 of this Chapter concerning any 
observed or otherwise known extinguishment or improper functioning of a 
tower light: (1) The nature of such extinguishment or improper 
functioning. (2) The date

[[Page 66559]]

and time the extinguishment or improper operation was observed or 
otherwise noted. (3) The date, time and nature of adjustments, repairs 
or replacements made.
    (c) The station records shall be maintained for inspection at a 
residence, office, or public building, place of business, or other 
suitable place, in one of the communities of license of the translator 
or booster, except that the station records of a booster or translator 
licensed to the licensee of the primary station may be kept at the same 
place where the primary station records are kept. The name of the 
person keeping station records, together with the address of the place 
where the records are kept, shall be posted in accordance with Sec.  
74.765(c) of the rules. The station records shall be made available 
upon request to any authorized representative of the Commission.
    (d) Station logs and records shall be retained for a period of two 
years.
    47 CFR 74.1281 information collection requirements include the 
following: (a) The licensee of a station authorized under this Subpart 
shall maintain adequate station records, including the current 
instrument of authorization, official correspondence with the FCC, 
maintenance records, contracts, permission for rebroadcasts, and other 
pertinent documents.
    (b) Entries required by Sec.  17.49 of this chapter concerning any 
observed or otherwise known extinguishment or improper functioning of a 
tower light:
    (1) The nature of such extinguishment or improper functioning.
    (2) The date and time the extinguishment of improper operation was 
observed or otherwise noted.
    (3) The date, time and nature of adjustments, repairs or 
replacements made.
    (c) The station records shall be maintained for inspection at a 
residence, office, or public building, place of business, or other 
suitable place, in one of the communities of license of the translator 
or booster, except that the station records of a booster or translator 
licensed to the licensee of the primary station may be kept at the same 
place where the primary station records are kept. The name of the 
person keeping station records, together with the address of the place 
where the records are kept, shall be posted in accordance with Sec.  
74.1265(b) of the rules. The station records shall be made available 
upon request to any authorized representative of the Commission.
    (d) Station logs and records shall be retained for a period of two 
years.
    47 CFR 78.69 requires each licensee of a CARS station shall 
maintain records showing the following:
    (a) For all attended or remotely controlled stations, the date and 
time of the beginning and end of each period of transmission of each 
channel;
    (b) For all stations, the date and time of any unscheduled 
interruptions to the transmissions of the station, the duration of such 
interruptions, and the causes thereof;
    (c) For all stations, the results and dates of the frequency 
measurements made pursuant to Sec.  78.113 and the name of the person 
or persons making the measurements;
    (d) For all stations, when service or maintenance duties are 
performed, which may affect a station's proper operation, the 
responsible operator shall sign and date an entry in the station's 
records, giving:
    (1) Pertinent details of all transmitter adjustments performed by 
the operator or under the operator's supervision.
    (e) When a station in this service has an antenna structure which 
is required to be illuminated, appropriate entries shall be made as 
follows:
    (1) The time the tower lights are turned on and off each day, if 
manually controlled.
    (2) The time the daily check of proper operation of the tower 
lights was made, if an automatic alarm system is not employed.
    (3) In the event of any observed or otherwise known failure of a 
tower light:
    (i) Nature of such failure.
    (ii) Date and time the failure was observed or otherwise noted.
    (iii) Date, time, and nature of the adjustments, repairs, or 
replacements made.
    (iv) Identification of Flight Service Station (Federal Aviation 
Administration) notified of the failure of any code or rotating beacon 
light not corrected within 30 minutes, and the date and time such 
notice was given.
    (v) Date and time notice was given to the Flight Service Station 
(Federal Aviation Administration) that the required illumination was 
resumed.
    (4) Upon completion of the 3-month periodic inspection required by 
Sec.  78.63(c):
    (i) The date of the inspection and the condition of all tower 
lights and associated tower lighting control devices, indicators, and 
alarm systems.
    (ii) Any adjustments, replacements, or repairs made to insure 
compliance with the lighting requirements and the date such 
adjustments, replacements, or repairs were made.
    (f) For all stations, station record entries shall be made in an 
orderly and legible manner by the person or persons competent to do so, 
having actual knowledge of the facts required, who shall sign the 
station record when starting duty and again when going off duty.
    (g) For all stations, no station record or portion thereof shall be 
erased, obliterated, or willfully destroyed within the period of 
retention required by rule. Any necessary correction may be made only 
by the person who made the original entry who shall strike out the 
erroneous portion, initial the correction made, and show the date the 
correction was made.
    (h) For all stations, station records shall be retained for a 
period of not less than 2 years. The Commission reserves the right to 
order retention of station records for a longer period of time. In 
cases where the licensee or permittee has notice of any claim or 
complaint, the station record shall be retained until such claim or 
complaint has been fully satisfied or until the same has been barred by 
statute limiting the time for filing of suits upon such claims.

    OMB Control Number: 3060-0573.
    Title: Application for Franchise Authority Consent to Assignment or 
Transfer of Control of Cable Television Franchise, FCC Form 394.
    Form Number: FCC Form 394.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business of other for-profit entities; State, Local or 
Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 2,000 respondents; 1,000 
responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 1-5 hours.
    Frequency of Response: Third Party Disclosure Requirement.
    Total Annual Burden: 7,000 hours.
    Total Annual Costs: $750,000.
    Privacy Impact Assessment(s): No impact(s).
    Needs and Uses: FCC Form 394 is a standardized form that is 
completed by cable operators in connection with the assignment and 
transfer of control of cable television systems. On July 23, 1993, the 
Commission released a Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking in MM Docket No. 92-264, FCC 93-332, Implementation of 
Sections 11 and 13 of the Cable Television Consumer Protection and 
Competition Act of 1992, Horizontal and Vertical Ownership Limits, 
Cross-Ownership Limitations and Anti-Trafficking Provisions. Among 
other things, this Report and Order established procedures for use of 
the FCC Form 394.


[[Page 66560]]


    OMB Control Number: 3060-0888.
    Title: Section 1.221, Notice of hearing; appearances; Section 1.229 
Motions to enlarge, change, or delete issues; Section 1.248 Prehearing 
conferences; hearing conferences; Section 76.7, Petition Procedures; 
Section 76.9, Confidentiality of Proprietary Information; Section 
76.61, Dispute Concerning Carriage; Section 76.914, Revocation of 
Certification; Section 76.1001, Unfair Practices; Section 76.1003, 
Program Access Proceedings; Section 76.1302, Carriage Agreement 
Proceedings; Section 76.1513, Open Video Dispute Resolution.
    Form Number: Not applicable.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Businesses or other for-profit entities.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 684 respondents; 684 
responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 6.4 to 95.4 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement; 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), 4(j), 303(r), 338, 340, 614, 615, 616, 623, 628 and 653 
of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended; 47 U.S.C. 154(i) and 
(j), 303(r), 338, 340, 534, 535, 536, 543, 548 and 573.
    Total Annual Burden: 34,816 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: $3,690,180.
    Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: A party that wishes to have 
confidentiality for proprietary information with respect to a 
submission it is making to the Commission must file a petition pursuant 
to the pleading requirements in Section 76.7 and use the method 
described in Sections 0.459 and 76.9 to demonstrate that 
confidentiality is warranted.
    Needs and Uses: Commission rules specify pleading and other 
procedural requirements for parties filing petitions or complaints 
under Part 76 of the Commission's rules, including petitions for 
special relief, cable carriage complaints, program access complaints, 
and program carriage complaints.
    47 CFR 1.221(h) requires that, in a program carriage complaint 
proceeding filed pursuant to Sec.  76.1302 that the Chief, Media Bureau 
refers to an administrative law judge for an initial decision, each 
party, in person or by attorney, shall file a written appearance within 
five calendar days after the party informs the Chief Administrative Law 
Judge that it elects not to pursue alternative dispute resolution 
pursuant to Sec.  76.7(g)(2) or, if the parties have mutually elected 
to pursue alternative dispute resolution pursuant to Sec.  76.7(g)(2), 
within five calendar days after the parties inform the Chief 
Administrative Law Judge that they have failed to resolve their dispute 
through alternative dispute resolution. The written appearance shall 
state that the party will appear on the date fixed for hearing and 
present evidence on the issues specified in the hearing designation 
order.
    47 CFR 1.229(b)(2) requires that, in a program carriage complaint 
proceeding filed pursuant to Sec.  76.1302 that the Chief, Media Bureau 
refers to an administrative law judge for an initial decision, a motion 
to enlarge, change, or delete issues shall be filed within 15 calendar 
days after the deadline for submitting written appearances pursuant to 
Sec.  1.221(h), except that persons not named as parties to the 
proceeding in the designation order may file such motions with their 
petitions to intervene up to 30 days after publication of the full text 
or a summary of the designation order in the Federal Register.
    47 CFR 1.229(b)(3) provides that any person desiring to file a 
motion to modify the issues after the expiration of periods specified 
in paragraphs (a), (b)(1), and (b)(2) of Sec.  1.229, shall set forth 
the reason why it was not possible to file the motion within the 
prescribed period.
    47 CFR 1.248(a) provides that the initial prehearing conference as 
directed by the Commission shall be scheduled 30 days after the 
effective date of the order designating a case for hearing, unless good 
cause is shown for scheduling such conference at a later date, except 
that for program carriage complaints filed pursuant to Sec.  76.1302 
that the Chief, Media Bureau refers to an administrative law judge for 
an initial decision, the initial prehearing conference shall be held no 
later than 10 calendar days after the deadline for submitting written 
appearances pursuant to Sec.  1.221(h) or within such shorter or longer 
period as the Commission may allow on motion or notice consistent with 
the public interest.
    47 CFR 1.248(b) provides that the initial prehearing conference as 
directed by the presiding officer shall be scheduled 30 days after the 
effective date of the order designating a case for hearing, unless good 
cause is shown for scheduling such conference at a later date, except 
that for program carriage complaints filed pursuant to Sec.  76.1302 
that the Chief, Media Bureau refers to an administrative law judge for 
an initial decision, the initial prehearing conference shall be held no 
later than 10 calendar days after the deadline for submitting written 
appearances pursuant to Sec.  1.221(h) or within such shorter or longer 
period as the presiding officer may allow on motion or notice 
consistent with the public interest.
    47 CFR 76.7. Pleadings seeking to initiate FCC action must adhere 
to the requirements of Section 76.6 (general pleading requirements) and 
Section 76.7 (initiating pleading requirements). Section 76.7 is used 
for numerous types of petitions and special relief petitions, including 
general petitions seeking special relief, waivers, enforcement, show 
cause, forfeiture and declaratory ruling procedures.
    47 CFR 76.7(g)(2) provides that, in a proceeding initiated pursuant 
to Sec.  76.7 that is referred to an administrative law judge, the 
parties may elect to resolve the dispute through alternative dispute 
resolution procedures, or may proceed with an adjudicatory hearing, 
provided that the election shall be submitted in writing to the 
Commission and the Chief Administrative Law Judge.
    47 CFR 76.9. A party that wishes to have confidentiality for 
proprietary information with respect to a submission it is making to 
the FCC must file a petition pursuant to the pleading requirements in 
Section 76.7 and use the method described in Sections 0.459 and 76.9 to 
demonstrate that confidentiality is warranted. The petitions filed 
pursuant to this provision are contained in the existing information 
collection requirement and are not changed by the rule changes.
    47 CFR 76.61(a) permits a local commercial television station or 
qualified low power television station that is denied carriage or 
channel positioning or repositioning in accordance with the must-carry 
rules by a cable operator to file a complaint with the FCC in 
accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 76.7. Section 
76.61(b) permits a qualified local noncommercial educational television 
station that believes a cable operator has failed to comply with the 
FCC's signal carriage or channel positioning requirements (Sections 
76.56 through 76.57) to file a complaint with the FCC in accordance 
with the procedures set forth in Section 76.7.
    47 CFR 76.61(a)(1) states that whenever a local commercial 
television station or a qualified low power television station believes 
that a cable operator has failed to meet its carriage

[[Page 66561]]

or channel positioning obligations, pursuant to Sections 76.56 and 
76.57, such station shall notify the operator, in writing, of the 
alleged failure and identify its reasons for believing that the cable 
operator is obligated to carry the signal of such station or position 
such signal on a particular channel.
    47 CFR 76.61(a)(2) states that the cable operator shall, within 30 
days of receipt of such written notification, respond in writing to 
such notification and either commence to carry the signal of such 
station in accordance with the terms requested or state its reasons for 
believing that it is not obligated to carry such signal or is in 
compliance with the channel positioning and repositioning and other 
requirements of the must-carry rules. If a refusal for carriage is 
based on the station's distance from the cable system's principal 
headend, the operator's response shall include the location of such 
headend. If a cable operator denies carriage on the basis of the 
failure of the station to deliver a good quality signal at the cable 
system's principal headend, the cable operator must provide a list of 
equipment used to make the measurements, the point of measurement and a 
list and detailed description of the reception and over-the-air signal 
processing equipment used, including sketches such as block diagrams 
and a description of the methodology used for processing the signal at 
issue, in its response.
    47 CFR 76.914(c) permits a cable operator seeking revocation of a 
franchising authority's certification to file a petition with the FCC 
in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 76.7.
    47 CFR 76.1003(a) permits any multichannel video programming 
distributor (MVPD) aggrieved by conduct that it believes constitute a 
violation of the FCC's competitive access to cable programming rules to 
commence an adjudicatory proceeding at the FCC to obtain enforcement of 
the rules through the filing of a complaint, which must be filed and 
responded to in accordance with the procedures specified in Section 
76.7, except to the extent such procedures are modified by Section 
76.1003.
    47 CFR 76.1001(b)(2) permits any multichannel video programming 
distributor to commence an adjudicatory proceeding by filing a 
complaint with the Commission alleging that a cable operator, a 
satellite cable programming vendor in which a cable operator has an 
attributable interest, or a satellite broadcast programming vendor, has 
engaged in an unfair act involving terrestrially delivered, cable-
affiliated programming, which must be filed and responded to in 
accordance with the procedures specified in Sec.  76.7, except to the 
extent such procedures are modified by Sec. Sec.  76.1001(b)(2) and 
76.1003. In program access cases involving terrestrially delivered, 
cable-affiliated programming, the defendant has 45 days from the date 
of service of the complaint to file an answer, unless otherwise 
directed by the Commission. A complainant shall have the burden of 
proof that the defendant's alleged conduct has the purpose or effect of 
hindering significantly or preventing the complainant from providing 
satellite cable programming or satellite broadcast programming to 
subscribers or consumers; an answer to such a complaint shall set forth 
the defendant's reasons to support a finding that the complainant has 
not carried this burden. In addition, a complainant alleging that a 
terrestrial cable programming vendor has engaged in discrimination 
shall have the burden of proof that the terrestrial cable programming 
vendor is wholly owned by, controlled by, or under common control with 
a cable operator or cable operators, satellite cable programming vendor 
or vendors in which a cable operator has an attributable interest, or 
satellite broadcast programming vendor or vendors; an answer to such a 
complaint shall set forth the defendant's reasons to support a finding 
that the complainant has not carried this burden.
    47 CFR 76.1003(b) requires any aggrieved MVPD intending to file a 
complaint under this section to first notify the potential defendant 
cable operator, and/or the potential defendant satellite cable 
programming vendor or satellite broadcast programming vendor, that it 
intends to file a complaint with the Commission based on actions 
alleged to violate one or more of the provisions contained in Sections 
76.1001 or 76.1002 of this part. The notice must be sufficiently 
detailed so that its recipient(s) can determine the nature of the 
potential complaint. The potential complainant must allow a minimum of 
ten (10) days for the potential defendant(s) to respond before filing a 
complaint with the Commission.
    47 CFR 76.1003(c) describes the required contents of a program 
access complaint, in addition to the requirements of Section 76.7 of 
this part.
    47 CFR 76.1003(c)(3) requires a program access complaint to contain 
evidence that the complainant competes with the defendant cable 
operator, or with a multichannel video programming distributor that is 
a customer of the defendant satellite cable programming or satellite 
broadcast programming vendor or a terrestrial cable programming vendor 
alleged to have engaged in conduct described in Sec.  76.1001(b)(1).
    47 CFR 76.1003(d) states that, in a case where recovery of damages 
is sought, the complaint shall contain a clear and unequivocal request 
for damages and appropriate allegations in support of such claim.
    47 CFR 76.1003(e)(1) requires cable operators, satellite cable 
programming vendors, or satellite broadcast programming vendors whom 
expressly reference and rely upon a document in asserting a defense to 
a program access complaint filed or in responding to a material 
allegation in a program access complaint filed pursuant to Section 
76.1003, to include such document or documents, such as contracts for 
carriage of programming referenced and relied on, as part of the 
answer. Except as otherwise provided or directed by the Commission, any 
cable operator, satellite cable programming vendor or satellite 
broadcast programming vendor upon which a program access complaint is 
served under this section shall answer within twenty (20) days of 
service of the complaint, provided that the answer shall be filed 
within forty-five (45) days of service of the complaint if the 
complaint alleges a violation of Section 628(b) of the Communications 
Act of 1934, as amended, or Section 76.1001(a).
    47 CFR 76.1003(e)(2) requires an answer to an exclusivity complaint 
to provide the defendant's reasons for refusing to sell the subject 
programming to the complainant. In addition, the defendant may submit 
its programming contracts covering the area specified in the complaint 
with its answer to refute allegations concerning the existence of an 
impermissible exclusive contract. If there are no contracts governing 
the specified area, the defendant shall so certify in its answer. Any 
contracts submitted pursuant to this provision may be protected as 
proprietary pursuant to Section 76.9 of this part.
    47 CFR 76.1003(e)(3) requires an answer to a discrimination 
complaint to state the reasons for any differential in prices, terms or 
conditions between the complainant and its competitor, and to specify 
the particular justification set forth in Section 76.1002(b) of this 
part relied upon in support of the differential.
    47 CFR 76.1003(e)(4) requires an answer to a complaint alleging an 
unreasonable refusal to sell programming to state the defendant's 
reasons for refusing to sell to the complainant, or for refusing to 
sell to

[[Page 66562]]

the complainant on the same terms and conditions as complainant's 
competitor, and to specify why the defendant's actions are not 
discriminatory.
    47 CFR 76.1003(f) provides that, within fifteen (15) days after 
service of an answer, unless otherwise directed by the Commission, the 
complainant may file and serve a reply which shall be responsive to 
matters contained in the answer and shall not contain new matters.
    47 CFR 76.1003(g) states that any complaint filed pursuant to this 
subsection must be filed within one year of the date on which one of 
three specified events occurs.
    47 CFR 76.1003(h) sets forth the remedies that are available for 
violations of the program access rules, which include the imposition of 
damages, and/or the establishment of prices, terms, and conditions for 
the sale of programming to the aggrieved multichannel video programming 
distributor, as well as sanctions available under title V or any other 
provision of the Communications Act.
    47 CFR 76.1003(j) states in addition to the general pleading and 
discovery rules contained in Sec.  76.7 of this part, parties to a 
program access complaint may serve requests for discovery directly on 
opposing parties, and file a copy of the request with the Commission. 
The respondent shall have the opportunity to object to any request for 
documents that are not in its control or relevant to the dispute. Such 
request shall be heard, and determination made, by the Commission. 
Until the objection is ruled upon, the obligation to produce the 
disputed material is suspended. Any party who fails to timely provide 
discovery requested by the opposing party to which it has not raised an 
objection as described above, or who fails to respond to a Commission 
order for discovery material, may be deemed in default and an order may 
be entered in accordance with the allegations contained in the 
complaint, or the complaint may be dismissed with prejudice.
    47 CFR 76.1003(l) permits a program access complainant seeking 
renewal of an existing programming contract to file a petition along 
with its complaint requesting a temporary standstill of the price, 
terms, and other conditions of the existing programming contract 
pending resolution of the complaint, to which the defendant will have 
the opportunity to respond within 10 days of service of the petition, 
unless otherwise directed by the Commission.
    47 CFR 76.1302(a) states that any video programming vendor or 
multichannel video programming distributor aggrieved by conduct that it 
believes constitute a violation of the regulations set forth in this 
subpart may commence an adjudicatory proceeding at the Commission to 
obtain enforcement of the rules through the filing of a complaint. The 
complaint shall be filed and responded to in accordance with the 
procedures specified in Section 76.7, except to the extent such 
procedures are modified by Section 76.1302.
    47 CFR 76.1302(b) states that any aggrieved video programming 
vendor or multichannel video programming distributor intending to file 
a complaint under this section must first notify the potential 
defendant multichannel video programming distributor that it intends to 
file a complaint with the Commission based on actions alleged to 
violate one or more of the provisions contained in Section 76.1301 of 
this part. The notice must be sufficiently detailed so that its 
recipient(s) can determine the specific nature of the potential 
complaint. The potential complainant must allow a minimum of ten (10) 
days for the potential defendant(s) to respond before filing a 
complaint with the Commission.
    47 CFR 76.1302(c) specifies the content of carriage agreement 
complaints, in addition to the requirements of Section 76.7 of this 
part.
    47 CFR 76.1302(c)(1) provides that a program carriage complaint 
filed pursuant to Sec.  76.1302 must contain the following: Whether the 
complainant is a multichannel video programming distributor or video 
programming vendor, and, in the case of a multichannel video 
programming distributor, identify the type of multichannel video 
programming distributor, the address and telephone number of the 
complainant, what type of multichannel video programming distributor 
the defendant is, and the address and telephone number of each 
defendant.
    47 CFR 76.1302(d) sets forth the evidence that a program carriage 
complaint filed pursuant to Sec.  76.1302 must contain in order to 
establish a prima facie case of a violation of Sec.  76.1301.
    47 CFR 76.1302(e)(1) provides that a multichannel video programming 
distributor upon whom a program carriage complaint filed pursuant to 
Sec.  76.1302 is served shall answer within sixty (60) days of service 
of the complaint, unless otherwise directed by the Commission.
    47 CFR 76.1302(e)(2) states that an answer to a program carriage 
complaint shall address the relief requested in the complaint, 
including legal and documentary support, for such response, and may 
include an alternative relief proposal without any prejudice to any 
denials or defenses raised.
    47 CFR 76.1302(f) states that within twenty (20) days after service 
of an answer, unless otherwise directed by the Commission, the 
complainant may file and serve a reply which shall be responsive to 
matters contained in the answer and shall not contain new matters.
    47 CFR 76.1302(h) states that any complaint filed pursuant to this 
subsection must be filed within one year of the date on which one of 
three events occurs.
    47 CFR 76.1302(j)(1) states that upon completion of such 
adjudicatory proceeding, the Commission shall order appropriate 
remedies, including, if necessary, mandatory carriage of a video 
programming vendor's programming on defendant's video distribution 
system, or the establishment of prices, terms, and conditions for the 
carriage of a video programming vendor's programming.
    47 CFR 76.1302(k) permits a program carriage complainant seeking 
renewal of an existing programming contract to file a petition along 
with its complaint requesting a temporary standstill of the price, 
terms, and other conditions of the existing programming contract 
pending resolution of the complaint, to which the defendant will have 
the opportunity to respond within 10 days of service of the petition, 
unless otherwise directed by the Commission. To allow for sufficient 
time to consider the petition for temporary standstill prior to the 
expiration of the existing programming contract, the petition for 
temporary standstill and complaint shall be filed no later than thirty 
(30) days prior to the expiration of the existing programming contract.
    47 CFR 76.1513(a) permits any party aggrieved by conduct that it 
believes constitute a violation of the FCC's regulations or in section 
653 of the Communications Act (47 U.S.C. 573) to commence an 
adjudicatory proceeding at the Commission to obtain enforcement of the 
rules through the filing of a complaint, which must be filed and 
responded to in accordance with the procedures specified in Section 
76.7, except to the extent such procedures are modified by Section 
76.1513.
    47 CFR 76.1513(b) provides that an open video system operator may 
not provide in its carriage contracts with programming providers that 
any dispute must be submitted to arbitration, mediation, or any other 
alternative

[[Page 66563]]

method for dispute resolution prior to submission of a complaint to the 
Commission.
    47 CFR 76.1513(c) requires that any aggrieved party intending to 
file a complaint under this section must first notify the potential 
defendant open video system operator that it intends to file a 
complaint with the Commission based on actions alleged to violate one 
or more of the provisions contained in this part or in Section 653 of 
the Communications Act. The notice must be in writing and must be 
sufficiently detailed so that its recipient(s) can determine the 
specific nature of the potential complaint. The potential complainant 
must allow a minimum of ten (10) days for the potential defendant(s) to 
respond before filing a complaint with the Commission.
    47 CFR 76.1513(d) describes the contents of an open video system 
complaint.
    47 CFR 76.1513(e) addresses answers to open video system 
complaints.
    47 CFR 76.1513(f) states within twenty (20) days after service of 
an answer, the complainant may file and serve a reply which shall be 
responsive to matters contained in the answer and shall not contain new 
matters.
    47 CFR 76.1513(g) requires that any complaint filed pursuant to 
this subsection must be filed within one year of the date on which one 
of three events occurs.
    47 CFR 76.1513(h) states that upon completion of the adjudicatory 
proceeding, the Commission shall order appropriate remedies, including, 
if necessary, the requiring carriage, awarding damages to any person 
denied carriage, or any combination of such sanctions. Such order shall 
set forth a timetable for compliance, and shall become effective upon 
release.

    Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-23207 Filed 10-19-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P