Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission Under Delegated Authority, 73652 [2024-20530]

Agencies

• FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 176 (Wednesday, September 11, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 73652]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-20530]



[[Page 73652]]

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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[OMB 3060-1260; FR ID 243134]


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 (PRA) of 1995, 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 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 November 
12, 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 
[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: 3060-1260.
    Title: Broadcast Incubator Program.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities; not-for-profit 
institutions; Tribal Governments.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 20 respondents; 123 responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 4 to 16 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement; annual 
reporting requirement.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The 
statutory authority that covers this information collection is 47 
U.S.C. 151, 152(a), 154(i), 257, 303, 307-310, and 403.
    Total Annual Burden: 1,179 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: $326,700.
    Needs and Uses: On August 3, 2018, the Commission released a Report 
and Order (Order), Rules and Policies to Promote New Entry and 
Ownership Diversity in the Broadcasting Services, FCC 18-114, in MB 
Docket No. 17-289, establishing the requirements that will govern the 
incubator program that the Commission previously decided to adopt to 
support the entry of new and diverse voices into the radio broadcast 
industry. The incubator program is designed for small businesses, 
struggling station owners, and new entrants that do not have any other 
means to access the financial assistance and operational support 
necessary for success in the broadcast industry. The goal is the 
pairing of these small aspiring, or struggling, broadcast station 
owners with established broadcasters. These incubation relationships 
will provide new entrants and struggling small broadcasters access to 
the financing, mentoring, and industry connections that are necessary 
for success in the industry, but to date have been unavailable to many. 
In return for successfully incubating a small aspiring, or struggling, 
broadcast station owner as part of the Commission's incubator program, 
an incumbent broadcaster will be eligible to receive a waiver (a reward 
waiver) of the Commission's Local Radio Ownership Rule following the 
conclusion of a successful qualifying incubation relationship. The 
standard term for an incubation relationship is three years.
    Commission staff will use the applications, certified statements, 
and contracts submitted by potential incubating and incubated entities, 
along with any responses to Commission requests for additional 
information to determine qualifications for participation in the 
incubator program.
    Commission staff will use the periodic reports to determine whether 
ongoing incubation relationships are proceeding in a manner consistent 
with the parties' initial filings and are likely to result in a 
successful incubation relationship. At the end of a successful 
incubation relationship, either the incubated entity will own and 
operate a full-service AM or FM station independently or the incubated 
station will be on a firmer footing if the station was struggling at 
the start of the relationship.
    In the event the parties seek to extend the duration of their 
incubation relationship beyond the standard three-year term, the filing 
of a request for such an extension will enable Commission staff to 
gauge the types of problems incubating parties are experiencing. 
Information provided by the parties to the Commission no later than six 
months before the contract termination date will allow Commission staff 
to evaluate which option for station ownership the incubating parties 
plan to pursue at the conclusion of the relationship--i.e., whether the 
incubated entity plans to keep the incubated station or purchase a new 
station. Additionally, Commission staff will review documentation 
submitted to seek a reward waiver to assess whether the market where 
the reward waiver is sought is comparable to the market where the 
incubated station was located.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-20530 Filed 9-10-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P