Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission Under Delegated Authority, 45728-45729 [2021-17414]

Agencies

• FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 155 (Monday, August 16, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45728-45729]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-17414]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[OMB 3060-1290; FR ID 41660]


Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal 
Communications Commission Under Delegated Authority

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, 
and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the 
Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) invites the 
general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to 
comment on the following information collections. 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 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.

DATES: Written PRA comments should be submitted on or before October 
15, 2021. 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 Cathy Williams, FCC, via email to 
[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 No.: 3060-1290.
    Title: Application for Voluntary Assignment of Transfers and 
Controls, 47 CFR 73.3540.
    Form No.: FCC Forms 314-IBFS, 315-IBFS, and 316-IBFS.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities; Individuals and 
Households.
    Number of Respondents/Responses: 2 respondents; 2 responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 10 hours.
    Frequency of Response: Recordkeeping requirement; On occasion 
reporting requirement.
    Obligation To Respond: The statutory authority for this information 
collection is contained in Sections 1, 4(i), 301, 303, 307, and 308(b) 
334, 336, 554 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 
151, 154(i), 301, 303, 307, 308(b), 334, 336, 554, and Part 73 of the 
Commission's rules.
    Total Annual Burden: 20 hours.
    Annual Cost Burden: $790.
    Privacy Act Impact Assessment: The Commission is preparing a system 
of records notice, FCC/IB-1 ``International Bureau Filing System,'' to 
cover any PII that will be added to IBFS as part of this collection. 
The Commission is also preparing a Privacy Impact Assessment for the 
system.
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: In general, there is no need 
for confidentiality with this collection of information.
    Needs and Uses: The Federal Communications Commission 
(``Commission'') is requesting that the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) approve a three year extension of the information collection 
titled ``Application for Voluntary Assignment of Transfers and 
Controls, 47 CFR 73.3540'' under OMB Control Number 3060-1290.
    On July 13, 2021, the Commission released an Order titled, ``In the 
Matter of Mandatory Electronic Filing of Section 325(c) Applications, 
International Broadcast Applications, and Dominant Carrier Section 
63.10(c) Quarterly Reports.'' The purpose of this Order is to require 
that any remaining applications and reports administered by the 
International Bureau and filed on paper or through an alternative 
filing process be filed only electronically through the Commission's 
International Bureau Filing System (IBFS).
    In July 2021, OMB approved this information collection under OMB 
Control No 3060-1290 to implement mandatory electronic filing of 
International Broadcast station applications in the International 
Bureau

[[Page 45729]]

Filing System (IBFS). The versions of FCC Forms 314, 315, and 316 to be 
used by International Bureau licensees were renamed as FCC Form 314-
IBFS, FCC Form 315-IBFS and FCC Form 316-IBFS. These forms will only be 
used by the International Broadcast stations in IBFS.
    Under 47 CFR 73.3540, the filings of the FCC Forms 314-IBFS, 315-
IBFS, and 316-IBFS are required when applying for consent for 
assignment of a broadcast station construction permit or license. In 
addition, the applicant must notify the Commission when an approved 
assignment or transfer of control of a broadcast station construction 
permit or license has been consummated.
    The FCC Forms 314, 315, and 316 were previously shared between the 
Media Bureau and the International Bureau. The forms were used by the 
International Bureau for International Broadcast stations and by the 
Media Bureau for other broadcast licenses. These FCC Forms were 
previously approved by Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for use by 
Media Bureau licensees under OMB 3060-0031 and OMB 3060-0009. Due to an 
administrative error, however, the information collections in 47 CFR 
73.3540 did not have a current OMB approval with a control number that 
explicitly includes International Broadcast stations in the collection.
    The obligations in 47 CFR 73.3540 (Application for voluntary 
assignment or transfer of control) were initially promulgated as a Part 
1 rule, 47 CFR 1.540, prior to PRA, and in 1979, the Commission 
redesignated that provision as 47 CFR 73.3540 in an effort to 
restructure and consolidate all broadcast rules into Part 73 rules (44 
FR 38496)).
    On April 1, 1981, the collections in 47 CFR 73.3540 for transfers 
of control and assignments of broadcast stations (OMB 3060-0009, OMB 
3060-0031) were approved. These approved collections cover the use of 
FCC Forms 314, 315, and 316. Due to an administrative error, however, 
currently, these OMB approved information collections do not explicitly 
include International Broadcast stations' applications and their use of 
these FCC forms.
    Specifically, the Commission modified its rules to mandate the 
electronic filing of, among other things, applications for 
International Broadcast Stations, including applications for voluntary 
assignments and transfers of control. These mandatory electronic filing 
requirements will reduce costs and administrative burdens, result in 
greater efficiencies, facilitate faster and more efficient 
communications, and improve transparency to the public. The changes to 
section 73.3540 (c) and (d) state that ``[f]or International Broadcast 
Stations, the application shall be filed electronically in the 
International Bureau Filing System (IBFS).'' There are currently fewer 
than 20 International Broadcast stations subject to obligations in 
section 73.3540, and the International Bureau receives an average of 
one application involving voluntary transactions per year pursuant to 
section 73.3540.

Sec.  73.3540 Application for Voluntary Assignment or Transfer of 
Control

    (a) Prior consent of the FCC must be obtained for a voluntary 
assignment or transfer of control.
    (b) Application should be filed with the FCC at least 45 days prior 
to the contemplated effective date of assignment or transfer of 
control.
    (c) Application for consent to the assignment of construction 
permit or license must be filed on FCC Form 314 ``Assignment of 
license'' or FCC Form 316 ``Short form'' (See paragraph (f) of this 
section). For International Broadcast Stations, the application shall 
be filed electronically in the International Bureau Filing System 
(IBFS).
    (d) Application for consent to the transfer of control of a 
corporation holding a construction permit or license must be filed on 
FCC Form 315 ``Transfer of Control'' or FCC Form 316 ``Short form'' 
(see paragraph (f) of this section). For International Broadcast 
Stations, the application shall be filed electronically in the IBFS.
    (e) Application for consent to the assignment of construction 
permit or license or to the transfer of control of a corporate licensee 
or permittee for an FM or TV translator station, a low power TV station 
and any associated auxiliary station, such as translator microwave 
relay stations and UHF translator booster stations, only must be filed 
on FCC Form 345 ``Application for Transfer of Control of Corporate 
Licensee or Permittee, or Assignment of License or Permit for an FM or 
TV translator Station, or a Low Power TV Station.''
    (f) The following assignment or transfer applications may be filed 
on FCC ``Short form'' 316:
    (1) Assignment from an individual or individuals (including 
partnerships) to a corporation owned and controlled by such individuals 
or partnerships without any substantial change in their relative 
interests;
    (2) Assignment from a corporation to its individual stockholders 
without effecting any substantial change in the disposition of their 
interests;
    (3) Assignment or transfer by which certain stockholders retire and 
the interest transferred is not a controlling one;
    (4) Corporate reorganization which involves no substantial change 
in the beneficial ownership of the corporation;
    (5) Assignment or transfer from a corporation to a wholly owned 
subsidiary thereof or vice versa, or where there is an assignment from 
a corporation to a corporation owned or controlled by the assignor 
stockholders without substantial change in their interests; or
    (6) Assignment of less than a controlling interest in a 
partnership.

Federal Communications Commission.
Katura Jackson,
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-17414 Filed 8-13-21; 8:45 am]
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