FR 2025-01121

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), as part of its ongoing efforts to comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, has issued a notice requesting public input on reducing the paperwork burden associated with information collections. This initiative pays particular attention to small businesses with fewer than 25 employees, in alignment with the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002. The FCC seeks feedback on existing forms and requirements to ensure they serve their intended purposes efficiently. Comments are invited and must be submitted by February 18, 2025, via www.reginfo.gov.

General Summary

This document from the Federal Register outlines the FCC's plan to review and potentially reduce the paperwork burdens linked to its information collection processes. It emphasizes the need for public engagement in evaluating the practicality and necessity of different data collection efforts. Specifically, the FCC is looking for ways to alleviate the paperwork load on small businesses, aligning with legislative goals to minimize administrative strain.

Significant Issues and Concerns

One of the noteworthy concerns is the document's lack of clarity regarding the specific nature of the information collected. This could lead to ambiguity about how these data serve FCC functions and benefit the public. Additionally, the claim of "Total Annual Cost" being "None" may mislead stakeholders, as indirect costs could be associated with compliance that are not explicitly mentioned. There is also a lack of detailed explanations supporting the "Estimated Time per Response" and "Total Annual Burden" figures, which are crucial for evaluating their accuracy and relevance.

The document could further elaborate on how the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act specifically influences the FCC's strategies to reduce burdens on small businesses, providing clearer guidance for those entities potentially affected.

Impact on the Public

Broadly, this document represents a positive effort by the FCC to streamline its processes and reduce unnecessary bureaucratic demands, aligning with federal goals to improve the efficiency of government operations. By soliciting public input, the FCC is taking a proactive approach to ensure that information collections do not impose undue burdens.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

Small businesses, particularly those with fewer than 25 employees, stand to gain from this initiative. By potentially decreasing the paperwork requirements, these businesses may find regulatory compliance less burdensome, enabling them to focus more resources on growth and operations.

However, the absence of detailed explanations and the perceived ambiguous nature of cost reporting could leave stakeholders without a full understanding of how these changes might affect them. Businesses and other entities required to provide data must be adequately informed to prepare for any adjustments in compliance protocols.

Overall, while this document indicates progress towards reducing paperwork and regulatory strain, it also highlights the need for more comprehensive information to ensure that stakeholders can fully contribute to, and benefit from, this federal initiative.

The document in question provides financial details related to information collections carried out by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). These financial references are crucial for understanding the implications of the FCC's activities regarding paperwork reduction and the associated costs.

Summary of Financial References

The document outlines two significant sets of financial information referring to the two types of information collections:

1. Total Annual Cost: The document specifies a Total Annual Cost of $1,851,000. This amount is associated with the second information collection titled "Establishment of a Class A Television Service," MM Docket No. 00-10. It suggests that there are considerable financial resources allocated or estimated for managing this particular collection, highlighting its potential burden or expense to stakeholders involved.

2. Total Annual Cost: None: For the first information collection titled "Open Video Systems Provisions, FCC Form 1275," the document states a Total Annual Cost of None. This indicates that, at face value, there are no direct financial expenditures predicted. However, this could be potentially misleading if there are unaccounted indirect costs related to compliance with this information gathering initiative.

Analysis in Relation to Identified Issues

Financial allocations are directly tied to the burdens stakeholders might experience related to these collections:

• The statement that the "total annual cost is none" could be misleading if there are indirect costs associated with compliance that are not recognized in the document. This raises concerns regarding full transparency and could mask true financial burdens on entities that might arise from indirect costs such as administrative overheads or compliance-related expenditures.

• The absence of detailed justifications for the Estimated Time per Response or the Total Annual Burden within the document presents a complication. Without detailed financial justification or a breakdown of how these figures were derived, stakeholders might find it challenging to verify or audit the estimated $1,851,000 expense referenced in the document. This lack of transparency might lead to questions about the legitimacy or accuracy of the administrative and operational costs associated with these collections.

Final Thoughts

The financial references in the document provide a crucial view into the expenses related to the FCC’s information collections. However, the clarity and transparency of these figures are crucial for their effective understanding and for ensuring that the goals of cost reduction and efficiency improvement, especially for small businesses, are achieved. Ultimately, the document could benefit from further elaboration on how these financial implications are calculated and their actual impact on the stakeholders involved, particularly small businesses with limited resources.