Information Collections Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission, 19826-19829 [2024-05847]
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 55 / Wednesday, March 20, 2024 / Notices
Estimated Time per Response: 16
hours per response for accelerated
relocation elections, 2,720 hours per
response for transition plans, and 32
hours per response for lump sum
payment elections.
Frequency of Response: One time
reporting requirement.
Obligation to Respond: Statutory
authority for this information collection
is contained in sections 1, 2, 4(i), 4(j),
5(c), 201, 302, 303, 304, 307(e), and 309
of the Communications Act of 1934, as
amended, 47 U.S.C. 151, 152, 154(i),
154(j), 155(c), 201, 302, 303, 304, 307(e),
309.
Total Annual Burden: 109,680 hours.
Total Annual Cost: $900,000.
Needs and Uses: Under this
information collection, the Commission
will collect information that will be
used to determine when, how, and at
what cost existing operations in the
lower portion of the 3.7–4.2 GHz band
will be relocated to the upper portion of
the band. This collection will serve as
the starting point for planning and
managing the process of efficiently and
expeditiously clearing of the lower
portion of the band, so that this
spectrum can be auctioned for flexibleuse service licenses.
The transition relocation process
began in 2020. Initial Transition Plans
were filed on June 19, 2020 with final
Transition Plans due August 14, 2020.
Throughout the relocation process, the
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
(Bureau) opened limited windows to
amend their Transition Plans on several
occasions. In addition to submitting and
modifying Transition Plans during these
periods, eligible space station operators
were required to file quarterly status
reports with the Commission beginning
on December 31, 2020 to demonstrate
their efforts to ensure a timely
transition.
The 3.7 GHz band auction, Auction
107, took place from December 8, 2020
to February 17, 2021, and, on February
24, 2021, the Commission announced
the winning bidders of the C-band
auction for all 5,684 licenses. In the
same year, the Bureau directed eligible
space station operators to submit
updates for their final Transition Plans
during limited windows opened for
operators to provide these updates.
Later that year, on August 4, 2021, the
Bureau issued a Public Notice
implementing filing procedures for
Phase I Certifications. Originally, Phase
I’s deadline was set for December 5,
2021, but the deadline was met eleven
days earlier than anticipated. On
November 24, 2021, the Commission
validated the certification of Phase I.
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The C-band transition continued into
2023. On May 15, 2023, the Bureau
announced procedures for filing C-band
Phase II Certifications of Accelerated
Relocation and implementation of the
Commission’s incremental reduction
plan for Phase II Accelerated Relocation
Payments as part of the ongoing
transition. The C-Band Relocation
Payment Clearinghouse (RPC) is
responsible for disbursing the
Accelerated Relocation Payments within
a certain time period.
On June 1, 2023, all eligible space
station operators were permitted to
submit their Phase II certifications. Also
on June 1, 2023, the Bureau opened a
limited, final window for eligible space
station operators to file modified
Transition Plans to accurately account
for any updates since September 30,
2021.
Phase II’s deadline to complete the
transition of space station operations to
the upper 200 megahertz of the band
was originally set for December 5, 2023.
Instead, on August 10, 2023, the last of
the Phase II Certifications was deemed
granted. Even though Phases I and II of
the satellite transition are complete, the
Commission continues to work through
the C-band relocation process. On
October 13, 2023, the Bureau released a
Public Notice seeking comment on
proposed deadlines for claimants to
submit reimbursement claims. The
Public Notice stated that the RPC’s
operations are currently scheduled to
conclude on June 30, 2025, which is
still more than a year and a half away.
The relocation of the fixed service
licensees is also ongoing.
On December 5, 2023, the
Commission issued a Public Notice
adopting two final reimbursement
claims submission deadlines for eligible
incumbents and other eligible
stakeholders to submit any outstanding
transition-related claims to the RPC for
processing as part of this ongoing
transition. The two deadlines are: (1)
February 5, 2024 as the submission
deadline to the RPC for all
reimbursement claims for costs incurred
and paid by claimants as of December
31, 2023, and (2) July 1, 2024 as the
submission deadline to the RPC for all
reimbursement claims for costs incurred
and paid by claimants after December
31, 2023. In the Public Notice, the
Commission stated that these adopted
dates are important because they will
aid in facilitating a timely conclusion of
the C-band reimbursement program.
Furthermore, the Commission
highlighted the fact that all lump sum
electees and many other eligible
claimants and eligible stakeholders have
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had ample time within which to submit
their claims to the RPC.
It is important to continue to collect
information because it is crucial to
ensure that managing this process is
efficiently and quickly done, and that
transition is still underway. Because
this process remains ongoing, this
information collection should be
renewed to ensure that a complete set of
information is maintained. If this
collection were to expire now,
stakeholders would be missing ongoing
information about the transition
process. Renewing this collection will
provide stakeholders with complete
information instead of an information
collection that ends before the entire
transition process is officially
accomplished in 2025.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024–05846 Filed 3–19–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
[OMB 3060–XXXX; FR ID 209487]
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 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
SUMMARY:
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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 May 20, 2024.
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 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–XXXX.
Title: Part 25 Rules Addressing the
Mitigation of Orbital Debris.
Form Number: N/A.
Type of Review: New information
collection.
Respondents: Business or other forprofit entities, not-for-profit institutions.
Number of Respondents and
Responses: 28 respondents and 28
responses.
Estimated Time per Response: 4–15
hours.
Frequency of Response: On occasion
reporting requirement.
Obligation to Respond: Required to
obtain or retain benefits. The
Commission has statutory authority for
the information collection requirements
under 47 U.S.C. 151, 154(i), 301, 303,
307, 308, 309, and 310.
Total Annual Burden: 341 hours.
Annual Cost Burden: $53,900.
Needs and Uses: The Federal
Communications Commission requests
that the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) approve a new
information collection titled ‘‘Part 25
Rules Addressing the Mitigation of
Orbital Debris’’ under OMB Control No.
3060–XXXX, as a result of three
Commission rulemaking decisions, as
discussed below.
On April 24, 2020, the Commission
released a Report and Order, FCC 20–54,
IB Docket No. 18–313, titled ‘‘Mitigation
of Orbital Debris in the New Space Age’’
(Orbital Debris Report and Order).1 In
1 The Commission previously published a notice
in the Federal Register seeking comments from the
public on the Part 25 information collection
requirements contained in the Orbital Debris Report
and Order on July 13, 2020 (see 85 FR 41980) (July
2020 Notice). On September 11, 2020, five parties
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Orbital Debris Report and Order, the
Commission updated its rules related to
orbital debris mitigation, including
application requirements. The new rules
are designed to ensure that the
Commission’s actions concerning radio
communications, including licensing
U.S. spacecraft and granting access to
the U.S. market for non-U.S. spacecraft,
mitigate the growth of orbital debris,
while at the same time not creating
undue regulatory obstacles to new
satellite ventures. The action will help
to ensure that Commission decisions are
consistent with the public interest in
space remaining viable for future
satellites and systems and the many
services that those systems provide to
the public. The rule revisions also
provide additional detail to applicants
on what information is expected under
the Commission’s rules, which can help
to increase certainty in the application
filing process. While this information
collection represents an overall increase
in the burden hours, the information
collection serves the public interest by
ensuring that the Commission and
public have necessary information about
satellite applicants’ plans for mitigation
of orbital debris. Specifically Orbital
Debris Report and Order contains the
new or modified information collection
requirements listed below.
(A) Non-streamlined space station
applicants. The following are new or
modified information collection
requirements contained in Orbital
Debris Report and Order and applicable
to non-streamlined space station
applicants submitting orbital debris
mitigation plans under part 25 of the
Commission’s rules:
(1) Existing application disclosure
requirements have been revised to
include specific metrics in several areas,
including: probability that the space
stations will become a source of debris
by collision with small debris and
meteoroids that would cause loss of
control and prevent disposal;
probability of collision between any
non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) space
station and other large objects; and
casualty risk associated with any
jointly submitted comments in response to the July
2020 Notice. See Paperwork Reduction Act
Comments of The Boeing Company, Echostar
Satellite Services, LLC, Hughes Network Services,
LLC, Planet Labs Inc. and Spire Global, Inc. filed
on September 11, 2020 in IB Docket No. 18–313.
The five parties, together with Telesat Canada, also
filed a petition for reconsideration of the Orbital
Debris Report and Order. As discussed below, the
Commission denied that petition for
reconsideration on January 26, 2024. See Order on
Reconsideration, FCC 24–6, IB Docket No. 18–313,
titled ‘‘Mitigation of Orbital Debris in the New
Space Age’’ (Orbital Debris Reconsideration Order).
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19827
individual spacecraft that will be
disposed by atmospheric re-entry.
(2) Where relevant, applicants must
disclose the following: use of separate
deployment devices, distinct from the
space station launch vehicle, that may
become a source of orbital debris;
potential release of liquids that will
persist in droplet form; and any planned
proximity operations and debris
generation that will or may result from
the proposed operations, including any
planned release of debris, the risk of
accidental explosions, the risk of
accidental collision, and measures taken
to mitigate those risks.
(3) The existing application disclosure
requirement to analyze potential
collision risk associated with space
station(s) orbits has been modified to
specify that the disclosure identify
characteristics of the space station(s)’
orbits that may present a collision risk,
including any planned and/or
operational space stations in those
orbits, and indicate what steps, if any,
have been taken to coordinate with the
other spacecraft or system, or what other
measures the operator plans to use to
avoid collision.
(4) Applicants for NGSO space
stations that will transit through the
orbits used by any inhabitable
spacecraft, including the International
Space Station, must disclose as part of
the application the design and
operational strategies, if any, that will
be used to minimize the risk of collision
and avoid posing any operational
constraints to the inhabitable spacecraft.
(5) The application disclosure must
include a certification that upon receipt
of a space situational awareness
conjunction warning, the operator will
review and take all possible steps to
assess the collision risk, and will
mitigate the collision risk if necessary.
As appropriate, steps to assess and
mitigate the collision risk should
include, but are not limited to:
contacting the operator of any active
spacecraft involved in such a warning;
sharing ephemeris data and other
appropriate operational information
with any such operator; and modifying
space station attitude and/or operations.
(6) Applicants for NGSO space
stations must describe the extent of
satellite maneuverability.
(7) Applicants must address
trackability of the space station(s).
NGSO space station applicants must
also disclose: (a) how the operator plans
to identify the space station(s) following
deployment and whether the space
station tracking will be active or
passive; (b) whether, prior to
deployment the space station(s) will be
registered with the 18th Space Control
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Squadron or successor entity; and (c)
the extent to which the space station
operator plans to share information
regarding initial deployment,
ephemeris, and/or planned maneuvers
with the 18th Space Control Squadron
or successor entity, other entities that
engage in space situational awareness or
space traffic management functions,
and/or other operators.
(8) NGSO space station applicants
must provide additional disclosures
regarding spacecraft disposal, including,
for some applicants, a demonstration
that the probability of success of the
chosen disposal method is 0.9 or greater
for any individual space station, and for
multi-satellite systems, a demonstration
including additional information
regarding efforts to achieve a higher
probability of success.
(B) Space station applicants
qualifying for small satellite streamlined
processing. The following are new or
modified information collection
requirements contained in Orbital
Debris Report and Order and applicable
to those space station applicants
qualifying for small satellite streamlined
processing under part 25 of the
Commission’s rules:
(1) Applicants must certify that the
probability that any individual space
station will become a source of debris
by collision with small debris or
meteoroids that would cause loss of
control and prevent disposal is 0.01 (1
in 100) or less.
(2) Applicants must certify that upon
receipt of a space situational awareness
conjunction warning, the licensee or
operator will review and take all
possible steps to assess the collision
risk, and will mitigate the collision risk
if necessary. As appropriate, steps to
assess and mitigate the collision risk
should include, but are not limited to:
contacting the operator of any active
spacecraft involved in such a warning;
sharing ephemeris data and other
appropriate operational information
with any such operator; and modifying
space station attitude and/or operations.
(3) If at any time during the space
station(s)’ mission or de-orbit phase the
space station(s) will transit through the
orbits used by any inhabitable
spacecraft, including the International
Space Station, applicants must provide
a description of the design and
operational strategies, if any, that will
be used to minimize the risk of collision
and avoid posing any operational
constraints to the inhabitable spacecraft
shall be furnished at the time of
application.
(4) Applicants must provide a
statement identifying characteristics of
the space station(s)’ orbits that may
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present a collision risk, including any
planned and/or operational space
stations in those orbits, and indicating
what steps, if any, have been taken to
coordinate with the other spacecraft or
system, or what other measures the
licensee plans to use to avoid collision.
This requirement also applies to
applicants for streamlined small
spacecraft authorizations.
(5) Applicants must provide a
statement disclosing how the licensee or
operator plans to identify the space
station(s) following deployment and
whether space station tracking will be
active or passive; whether the space
station(s) will be registered with the
18th Space Control Squadron or
successor entity prior to deployment;
and the extent to which the space
station licensee or operator plans to
share information regarding initial
deployment, ephemeris, and/or planned
maneuvers with the 18th Space Control
Squadron or successor entity, other
entities that engage in space situational
awareness or space traffic management
functions, and/or other operators.
(6) If the applicant’s space station(s)
will undertake any planned proximity
operations, the applicant must provide
a statement disclosing those planned
operations, and addressing debris
generation that will or may result from
the proposed operations, including any
planned release of debris, the risk of
accidental explosions, the risk of
accidental collision, and measures taken
to mitigate those risks.
(7) Applicants must provide a
demonstration that the probability of
success of disposal is 0.9 or greater for
any individual space station. Space
stations deployed to orbits in which
atmospheric drag will, in the event of a
space station failure, limit the lifetime
of the space station to less than 25 years
do not need to provide this additional
demonstration.
(C) Geostationary orbit (GSO) space
station applicants. The following new or
modified information collection
requirements contained in Orbital
Debris Report and Order are applicable
to applicants requesting a modification
of an existing licensee for a GSO space
station to extend the space station
license term under part 25 of the
Commission’s rules: GSO space station
licensees seeking a license term
extension through a license
modification application must provide a
statement that includes the requested
duration of the license extension; the
estimated total remaining space station
lifetime; a description of any single
points of failure or other malfunctions,
defects, or anomalies during the space
station operation that could affect its
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ability to conduct end-of-life procedures
as planned, and an assessment of the
associated risk; a certification that
remaining fuel reserves are adequate to
complete de-orbit as planned; and a
certification that telemetry, tracking,
and command links are fully functional.
On September 30, 2022, the
Commission released a Second Report
and Order, FCC 22–74, IB Docket No.
18–313, titled ‘‘Mitigation of Orbital
Debris in the New Space Age’’ (Orbital
Debris Second Report and Order). In
Orbital Debris Second Report and
Order, the Commission required all
space stations ending their mission in,
or passing through, the low earth orbit
(LEO) region, and planning disposal
though uncontrolled atmospheric reentry following the completion of the
mission, to complete disposal as soon as
practicable, and no later than five years
after the end of the mission.
On January 26, 2024, the Commission
released an Order on Reconsideration,
FCC 24–6, IB Docket No. 18–313, titled
‘‘Mitigation of Orbital Debris in the New
Space Age’’ (Orbital Debris
Reconsideration Order). In Orbital
Debris Reconsideration Order, the
Commission dismissed three petitions
for reconsideration, including a petition
for reconsideration filed by The Boeing
Company, Echostar Satellite Services,
LLC, Hughes Network Services, LLC,
Planet Labs Inc., Spire Global and
Telesat Canada. The Orbital Debris
Reconsideration Order upheld the
current regulatory environment for
orbital debris mitigation, and provided
additional clarity and guidance for
satellite operators while reinforcing the
Commission’s commitment to space
safety.
These collections are used by the
Commission’s staff in carrying out its
statutory duties to regulate satellite
communications in the public interest,
as generally provided under 47 U.S.C.
151, 154(i), 301, 303, 307, 308, 309, and
310. This collection is also used by staff
in carrying out United States treaty
obligations under the World Trade
Organization (WTO) Basic Telecom
Agreement. The information collected is
used for the practical and necessary
purposes of assessing the legal,
technical, and other qualifications of
applicants; determining compliance by
applicants, licensees, and other grantees
with Commission rules and the terms
and conditions of their grants; and
concluding whether, and under what
conditions, grant of an authorization
will serve the public interest,
convenience, and necessity.
As technology advances and new
spectrum is allocated for satellite use,
applicants for satellite service will
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 55 / Wednesday, March 20, 2024 / Notices
continue to submit the information
required in 47 CFR part 25. Without
such information, the Commission
could not determine whether to permit
respondents to provide
telecommunications services in the
United States. Therefore, the
Commission would be unable to fulfill
its statutory responsibilities in
accordance with the Communications
Act of 1934, as amended, and the
obligations imposed on parties to the
WTO Basic Telecom Agreement.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary. Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024–05847 Filed 3–19–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE
CORPORATION
[OMB No. 3064–0103]
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Proposed Collection
Renewal; Comment Request
Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation (FDIC).
AGENCY:
ACTION:
Notice and request for comment.
The FDIC, as part of its
obligations under the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the
general public and other Federal
agencies to take this opportunity to
comment on the renewal of the existing
information collections described below
(OMB Control No. 3064–0103).
DATES: Comments must be submitted on
or before May 20, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Interested parties are
invited to submit written comments to
the FDIC by any of the following
methods:
• Agency Website: https://
www.fdic.gov/resources/regulations/
federal-register-publications/.
• Email: comments@fdic.gov. Include
the name and number of the collection
in the subject line of the message.
• Mail: Manny Cabeza (202–898–
3767), Regulatory Counsel, MB–3128,
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation,
550 17th Street NW, Washington, DC
20429.
• Hand Delivery: Comments may be
hand-delivered to the guard station at
the rear of the 17th Street NW building
SUMMARY:
(located on F Street NW), on business
days between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
All comments should refer to the
relevant OMB control number. A copy
of the comments may also be submitted
to the OMB desk officer for the FDIC:
Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs, Office of Management and
Budget, New Executive Office Building,
Washington, DC 20503.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Manny Cabeza, Regulatory Counsel,
202–898–3767, mcabeza@fdic.gov, MB–
3128, Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation, 550 17th Street NW,
Washington, DC 20429.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Proposal To Renew the Following
Currently Approved Collection of
Information
1. Title: Recordkeeping Requirements
Associated with Real Estate Appraisals
and Evaluations.
OMB Number: 3064–0103.
Forms: None.
Affected Public: Insured State
Nonmember Banks and State Savings
Associations.
Burden Estimate:
SUMMARY OF ESTIMATED ANNUAL BURDENS
[OMB No. 3064–0103]
Number of
respondents
Number of
responses per
respondent
On occasion ...
3,038
250
0.083
63,039
........................
....................
........................
..................
63,039
IC description
Type of burden
(obligation to respond)
Frequency
of response
Recordkeeping Requirements Associated with Real Estate Appraisals
and Evaluations (12 CFR 323).
Recordkeeping (Mandatory)
Total Annual Burden Hours .........
.............................................
Time per
response
(hours)
Annual
burden
(hours)
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Source: FDIC.
General Description of Collection:
FIRREA directs the FDIC to prescribe
appropriate performance standards for
real estate appraisals connected with
federally related transactions under its
jurisdiction. This information collection
is a direct consequence of the statutory
requirement. It is designed to provide
protection for federal financial and
public policy interests by requiring real
estate appraisals used in connection
with federally related transactions to be
performed in writing, in accordance
with uniform standards, by an appraiser
whose competency has been
demonstrated and whose professional
conduct will be subject to effective
supervision. There is no change in the
methodology or substance of this
information collection. The increase in
estimated annual burden (from 227
hours in 2021 to 250 hours currently) is
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due to the increase in the estimated
number of responses.
Request for Comment
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether
the collections of information are
necessary for the proper performance of
the FDIC’s functions, including whether
the information has practical utility; (b)
the accuracy of the estimates of the
burden of the information collections,
including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (c)
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the
burden of the collections of information
on respondents, including through the
use of automated collection techniques
or other forms of information
technology. All comments will become
a matter of public record.
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Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
Dated at Washington, DC, March 15, 2024.
James P. Sheesley,
Assistant Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024–05900 Filed 3–19–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6714–01–P
FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE
CORPORATION
[OMB No. 3064–0099]
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Proposed Collection
Renewal; Comment Request
Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation (FDIC).
ACTION: Notice and request for comment.
AGENCY:
The FDIC, as part of its
obligations under the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, invites the
SUMMARY:
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 20, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19826-19829]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-05847]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
[OMB 3060-XXXX; FR ID 209487]
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 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
[[Page 19827]]
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 May 20,
2024. 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 Number: 3060-XXXX.
Title: Part 25 Rules Addressing the Mitigation of Orbital Debris.
Form Number: N/A.
Type of Review: New information collection.
Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities, not-for-profit
institutions.
Number of Respondents and Responses: 28 respondents and 28
responses.
Estimated Time per Response: 4-15 hours.
Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement.
Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The
Commission has statutory authority for the information collection
requirements under 47 U.S.C. 151, 154(i), 301, 303, 307, 308, 309, and
310.
Total Annual Burden: 341 hours.
Annual Cost Burden: $53,900.
Needs and Uses: The Federal Communications Commission requests that
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approve a new information
collection titled ``Part 25 Rules Addressing the Mitigation of Orbital
Debris'' under OMB Control No. 3060-XXXX, as a result of three
Commission rulemaking decisions, as discussed below.
On April 24, 2020, the Commission released a Report and Order, FCC
20-54, IB Docket No. 18-313, titled ``Mitigation of Orbital Debris in
the New Space Age'' (Orbital Debris Report and Order).\1\ In Orbital
Debris Report and Order, the Commission updated its rules related to
orbital debris mitigation, including application requirements. The new
rules are designed to ensure that the Commission's actions concerning
radio communications, including licensing U.S. spacecraft and granting
access to the U.S. market for non-U.S. spacecraft, mitigate the growth
of orbital debris, while at the same time not creating undue regulatory
obstacles to new satellite ventures. The action will help to ensure
that Commission decisions are consistent with the public interest in
space remaining viable for future satellites and systems and the many
services that those systems provide to the public. The rule revisions
also provide additional detail to applicants on what information is
expected under the Commission's rules, which can help to increase
certainty in the application filing process. While this information
collection represents an overall increase in the burden hours, the
information collection serves the public interest by ensuring that the
Commission and public have necessary information about satellite
applicants' plans for mitigation of orbital debris. Specifically
Orbital Debris Report and Order contains the new or modified
information collection requirements listed below.
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\1\ The Commission previously published a notice in the Federal
Register seeking comments from the public on the Part 25 information
collection requirements contained in the Orbital Debris Report and
Order on July 13, 2020 (see 85 FR 41980) (July 2020 Notice). On
September 11, 2020, five parties jointly submitted comments in
response to the July 2020 Notice. See Paperwork Reduction Act
Comments of The Boeing Company, Echostar Satellite Services, LLC,
Hughes Network Services, LLC, Planet Labs Inc. and Spire Global,
Inc. filed on September 11, 2020 in IB Docket No. 18-313. The five
parties, together with Telesat Canada, also filed a petition for
reconsideration of the Orbital Debris Report and Order. As discussed
below, the Commission denied that petition for reconsideration on
January 26, 2024. See Order on Reconsideration, FCC 24-6, IB Docket
No. 18-313, titled ``Mitigation of Orbital Debris in the New Space
Age'' (Orbital Debris Reconsideration Order).
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(A) Non-streamlined space station applicants. The following are new
or modified information collection requirements contained in Orbital
Debris Report and Order and applicable to non-streamlined space station
applicants submitting orbital debris mitigation plans under part 25 of
the Commission's rules:
(1) Existing application disclosure requirements have been revised
to include specific metrics in several areas, including: probability
that the space stations will become a source of debris by collision
with small debris and meteoroids that would cause loss of control and
prevent disposal; probability of collision between any non-
geostationary orbit (NGSO) space station and other large objects; and
casualty risk associated with any individual spacecraft that will be
disposed by atmospheric re-entry.
(2) Where relevant, applicants must disclose the following: use of
separate deployment devices, distinct from the space station launch
vehicle, that may become a source of orbital debris; potential release
of liquids that will persist in droplet form; and any planned proximity
operations and debris generation that will or may result from the
proposed operations, including any planned release of debris, the risk
of accidental explosions, the risk of accidental collision, and
measures taken to mitigate those risks.
(3) The existing application disclosure requirement to analyze
potential collision risk associated with space station(s) orbits has
been modified to specify that the disclosure identify characteristics
of the space station(s)' orbits that may present a collision risk,
including any planned and/or operational space stations in those
orbits, and indicate what steps, if any, have been taken to coordinate
with the other spacecraft or system, or what other measures the
operator plans to use to avoid collision.
(4) Applicants for NGSO space stations that will transit through
the orbits used by any inhabitable spacecraft, including the
International Space Station, must disclose as part of the application
the design and operational strategies, if any, that will be used to
minimize the risk of collision and avoid posing any operational
constraints to the inhabitable spacecraft.
(5) The application disclosure must include a certification that
upon receipt of a space situational awareness conjunction warning, the
operator will review and take all possible steps to assess the
collision risk, and will mitigate the collision risk if necessary. As
appropriate, steps to assess and mitigate the collision risk should
include, but are not limited to: contacting the operator of any active
spacecraft involved in such a warning; sharing ephemeris data and other
appropriate operational information with any such operator; and
modifying space station attitude and/or operations.
(6) Applicants for NGSO space stations must describe the extent of
satellite maneuverability.
(7) Applicants must address trackability of the space station(s).
NGSO space station applicants must also disclose: (a) how the operator
plans to identify the space station(s) following deployment and whether
the space station tracking will be active or passive; (b) whether,
prior to deployment the space station(s) will be registered with the
18th Space Control
[[Page 19828]]
Squadron or successor entity; and (c) the extent to which the space
station operator plans to share information regarding initial
deployment, ephemeris, and/or planned maneuvers with the 18th Space
Control Squadron or successor entity, other entities that engage in
space situational awareness or space traffic management functions, and/
or other operators.
(8) NGSO space station applicants must provide additional
disclosures regarding spacecraft disposal, including, for some
applicants, a demonstration that the probability of success of the
chosen disposal method is 0.9 or greater for any individual space
station, and for multi-satellite systems, a demonstration including
additional information regarding efforts to achieve a higher
probability of success.
(B) Space station applicants qualifying for small satellite
streamlined processing. The following are new or modified information
collection requirements contained in Orbital Debris Report and Order
and applicable to those space station applicants qualifying for small
satellite streamlined processing under part 25 of the Commission's
rules:
(1) Applicants must certify that the probability that any
individual space station will become a source of debris by collision
with small debris or meteoroids that would cause loss of control and
prevent disposal is 0.01 (1 in 100) or less.
(2) Applicants must certify that upon receipt of a space
situational awareness conjunction warning, the licensee or operator
will review and take all possible steps to assess the collision risk,
and will mitigate the collision risk if necessary. As appropriate,
steps to assess and mitigate the collision risk should include, but are
not limited to: contacting the operator of any active spacecraft
involved in such a warning; sharing ephemeris data and other
appropriate operational information with any such operator; and
modifying space station attitude and/or operations.
(3) If at any time during the space station(s)' mission or de-orbit
phase the space station(s) will transit through the orbits used by any
inhabitable spacecraft, including the International Space Station,
applicants must provide a description of the design and operational
strategies, if any, that will be used to minimize the risk of collision
and avoid posing any operational constraints to the inhabitable
spacecraft shall be furnished at the time of application.
(4) Applicants must provide a statement identifying characteristics
of the space station(s)' orbits that may present a collision risk,
including any planned and/or operational space stations in those
orbits, and indicating what steps, if any, have been taken to
coordinate with the other spacecraft or system, or what other measures
the licensee plans to use to avoid collision. This requirement also
applies to applicants for streamlined small spacecraft authorizations.
(5) Applicants must provide a statement disclosing how the licensee
or operator plans to identify the space station(s) following deployment
and whether space station tracking will be active or passive; whether
the space station(s) will be registered with the 18th Space Control
Squadron or successor entity prior to deployment; and the extent to
which the space station licensee or operator plans to share information
regarding initial deployment, ephemeris, and/or planned maneuvers with
the 18th Space Control Squadron or successor entity, other entities
that engage in space situational awareness or space traffic management
functions, and/or other operators.
(6) If the applicant's space station(s) will undertake any planned
proximity operations, the applicant must provide a statement disclosing
those planned operations, and addressing debris generation that will or
may result from the proposed operations, including any planned release
of debris, the risk of accidental explosions, the risk of accidental
collision, and measures taken to mitigate those risks.
(7) Applicants must provide a demonstration that the probability of
success of disposal is 0.9 or greater for any individual space station.
Space stations deployed to orbits in which atmospheric drag will, in
the event of a space station failure, limit the lifetime of the space
station to less than 25 years do not need to provide this additional
demonstration.
(C) Geostationary orbit (GSO) space station applicants. The
following new or modified information collection requirements contained
in Orbital Debris Report and Order are applicable to applicants
requesting a modification of an existing licensee for a GSO space
station to extend the space station license term under part 25 of the
Commission's rules: GSO space station licensees seeking a license term
extension through a license modification application must provide a
statement that includes the requested duration of the license
extension; the estimated total remaining space station lifetime; a
description of any single points of failure or other malfunctions,
defects, or anomalies during the space station operation that could
affect its ability to conduct end-of-life procedures as planned, and an
assessment of the associated risk; a certification that remaining fuel
reserves are adequate to complete de-orbit as planned; and a
certification that telemetry, tracking, and command links are fully
functional.
On September 30, 2022, the Commission released a Second Report and
Order, FCC 22-74, IB Docket No. 18-313, titled ``Mitigation of Orbital
Debris in the New Space Age'' (Orbital Debris Second Report and Order).
In Orbital Debris Second Report and Order, the Commission required all
space stations ending their mission in, or passing through, the low
earth orbit (LEO) region, and planning disposal though uncontrolled
atmospheric re-entry following the completion of the mission, to
complete disposal as soon as practicable, and no later than five years
after the end of the mission.
On January 26, 2024, the Commission released an Order on
Reconsideration, FCC 24-6, IB Docket No. 18-313, titled ``Mitigation of
Orbital Debris in the New Space Age'' (Orbital Debris Reconsideration
Order). In Orbital Debris Reconsideration Order, the Commission
dismissed three petitions for reconsideration, including a petition for
reconsideration filed by The Boeing Company, Echostar Satellite
Services, LLC, Hughes Network Services, LLC, Planet Labs Inc., Spire
Global and Telesat Canada. The Orbital Debris Reconsideration Order
upheld the current regulatory environment for orbital debris
mitigation, and provided additional clarity and guidance for satellite
operators while reinforcing the Commission's commitment to space
safety.
These collections are used by the Commission's staff in carrying
out its statutory duties to regulate satellite communications in the
public interest, as generally provided under 47 U.S.C. 151, 154(i),
301, 303, 307, 308, 309, and 310. This collection is also used by staff
in carrying out United States treaty obligations under the World Trade
Organization (WTO) Basic Telecom Agreement. The information collected
is used for the practical and necessary purposes of assessing the
legal, technical, and other qualifications of applicants; determining
compliance by applicants, licensees, and other grantees with Commission
rules and the terms and conditions of their grants; and concluding
whether, and under what conditions, grant of an authorization will
serve the public interest, convenience, and necessity.
As technology advances and new spectrum is allocated for satellite
use, applicants for satellite service will
[[Page 19829]]
continue to submit the information required in 47 CFR part 25. Without
such information, the Commission could not determine whether to permit
respondents to provide telecommunications services in the United
States. Therefore, the Commission would be unable to fulfill its
statutory responsibilities in accordance with the Communications Act of
1934, as amended, and the obligations imposed on parties to the WTO
Basic Telecom Agreement.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary. Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-05847 Filed 3-19-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P