FR 2025-07162

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued a notice seeking public comments on its information collection processes. This solicitation is part of an ongoing effort to alleviate paperwork burdens as mandated by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The central thrust of the document is to receive feedback regarding the necessity, accuracy, and clarity of information collections, especially those related to emergency antennas for broadcast stations.

General Summary

The document primarily focuses on the FCC's request for public input on the effectiveness and practicality of their information collection efforts. Specifically, it highlights the need to refine these processes to better serve their functional objectives with minimal burden on respondents, particularly small businesses. It also emphasizes the importance of maintaining updated Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control numbers as a measure of compliance and accountability.

Significant Issues or Concerns

Several issues emerge from this notice:

1. Lack of Specific Beneficiary Details: It's not clear which entities stand to benefit directly from these collection efforts. This ambiguity could potentially lead to perceptions of favoritism or inefficient allocation of resources.

2. Vague Terminology: The document utilizes terms such as "practical utility" and "quality, utility, and clarity" without providing concrete definitions. This could lead to varied interpretations and potentially undermine the objective assessment of the information collection process.

3. Cost Breakdown: An estimated annual cost of $42,600 is mentioned. However, a detailed breakdown of these costs is absent, which could make it challenging to evaluate the efficiency and necessity of the expenses involved.

4. Guidance on Minimizing Burden: While the FCC seeks ways to minimize the burden on respondents, particularly smaller entities, it does not provide explicit recommendations or examples of how this could be achieved.

5. Definition of Emergency Antennas: More clarity or examples regarding what constitutes an "emergency antenna" could prevent confusion and ensure uniform understanding across different stakeholders.

Impact on the Public

On a broad scale, this document seeks to enhance FCC’s efficiency and transparency, potentially benefiting the public by streamlining regulatory processes. Simplifying and refining these procedures could also ease the workload on businesses that must comply with FCC regulations, thereby reducing their operational costs indirectly.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

For broadcasting companies, especially small AM, FM, or TV stations, the focus on emergency antennas is particularly significant. It requires these licensees to inform the FCC when deploying temporary antennas due to unforeseen damage. While necessary, this process might impose additional administrative responsibilities, especially for smaller stations with limited resources.

The potential reduction in paperwork and improved response times could positively impact these stakeholders by ensuring continuity in broadcasting services, even after antenna damage. However, without clear guidance or examples from the FCC, the obligation to comply might lead to concerns about interpretation and execution.

Overall, while the FCC's intentions align with efficiency and reduced burdens, explicit guidelines and detailed explanations could further bolster these efforts, ensuring they serve the intended purpose effectively.

In the Federal Register document under review, there is a notable reference to financial costs associated with a specific information collection undertaken by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The document specifies that the total annual costs associated with this collection amount to $42,600. This figure represents the expenditure required to facilitate the gathering of data pertaining to the use of emergency antennas for AM, FM, or TV stations.

Financial Summary

The document indicates that the total annual cost of $42,600 is linked to compliance with the information collection requirements stated in Section 73.1680 of Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations. This expenditure appears to cover the operational activities necessary to ensure that stations using emergency antennas do not cause interference with other existing stations. However, the document does not break down these costs further, leaving the specifics of the expenditure somewhat opaque.

Relation to Issues

A key issue identified is the lack of detailed explanation regarding what the total annual cost of $42,600 comprises. This lack of specificity makes it difficult to assess whether the spending is efficient or if it potentially encompasses unnecessary expenses. For instance, without a breakdown of how the money is distributed—whether it covers personnel, technology, or other administrative costs—stakeholders may find it challenging to evaluate whether the allocated funds are being used optimally.

Additionally, while the document emphasizes minimizing the burden on respondents, particularly small businesses, there is no clear indication of how the cost of $42,600 is balanced against efforts to reduce this burden. Offering guidelines or examples of potential cost-reducing measures could enhance clarity and potentially alleviate financial pressures on respondents required to comply with the FCC's information requests.

Finally, the document does not address which specific entities, if any, might benefit financially or otherwise from the implementation of this information collection. Given the stated costs, a detailed analysis of potential financial beneficiaries could provide further insights into how these funds serve the public interest or support particular organizations.

In summary, while the document provides a basic financial figure related to the FCC's efforts, the absence of further details concerning the breakdown and allocation of this figure raises questions about fiscal transparency and accountability. Providing more in-depth information could help stakeholders, including public and private entities, better understand and engage with the financial aspects of the FCC's information collection activities.