[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 96 (Monday, May 18, 2020)] [Notices] [Pages 29717-29718] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2020-10529] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION [OMB 3060-XXXX, FR No. 16767] Information Collection 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 (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 comments should be submitted on or before July 17, 2020. 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 contacts 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: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the PRA of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501- 3520), the FCC 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. OMB Control No.: 3060-XXXX. Title: 3.7 GHz Band Relocation Payment Clearinghouse; 3.7 GHz Band Relocation Coordinator; 3.7 GHz Band Space Station Operators. Form No.: N/A. Type of Review: New collection. Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities; not-for-profit institutions; State, Local or Tribal Government. Number of Respondents and Responses: 3,007 respondents and 9,362 responses. Estimated Time per Response: 0.5 hours--600 hours. Frequency of Response: Recordkeeping requirement; on occasion, weekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual reporting requirements; third party disclosure requirement. Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The statutory authority for this collection of information is contained in sections 1, 2, 4(i), 4(j), 5(c), 201, 302, 303, 304, 307(e), 309, and 316 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, and 316. Total Annual Burden: 77,754 hours. Annual Cost Burden: $10,705,353. Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s). Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: The information collected under this collection will be made publicly available. However, to the extent information submitted pursuant to this information collection is determined to be confidential, it will be protected by the Commission. If a respondent seeks to have information collected pursuant to this information collection withheld from public inspection, the respondent may request confidential treatment [[Page 29718]] pursuant to section 0.459 of the Commission's rules for such information. Needs and Uses: On February 28, 2020, in furtherance of the goal of releasing more mid-band spectrum into the market to support and enabling next-generation wireless networks, the Commission adopted a Report and Order, FCC 20-22, (3.7 GHz Report and Order), in which it reformed the use of the 3.7-4.2 GHz band, also known as the C-band. Currently, the 3.7-4.2 GHz band is allocated in the United States exclusively for non-Federal use on a primary basis for Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) and Fixed Service (FS). Domestically, space station operators use the 3.7-4.2 GHz band to provide downlink signals of various bandwidths to licensed transmit-receive, registered receive- only, and unregistered receive-only earth stations throughout the United States. The 3.7 GHz Report and Order calls for the relocation of existing FSS operations in the band into the upper 200 megahertz of the band (4.0-4.2 GHz) and relocation of existing FS operations into other bands, making the lower 280 megahertz (3.7-3.98 GHz) available for flexible use throughout the contiguous United States through a Commission-administered public auction of overlay licenses that is scheduled to occur later this year. The Commission adopted a robust transition schedule to achieve a prompt relocation of FSS and FS operations so that a significant amount of spectrum could be made available quickly for next-generation wireless deployments. At the same time, the Commission sought to ensure the effective accommodation of relocated incumbent users. To facilitate an efficient transition, the Commission adopted a process for fully reimbursing existing operators for the costs of this relocation and for offering accelerated relocation payments to encourage a timely transition. Flexible-use licensees will be required to pay any accelerated relocation payments, if elected by eligible space station operators, and reimburse incumbent operators for their actual relocation costs associated with clearing the lower 300 megahertz of the band while ensuring continued operations for their customers. The 3.7 GHZ Report and Order establishes a Relocation Payment Clearinghouse to oversee the cost-related aspects of the transition and establishes a Relocation Coordinator to establish a timeline and take actions necessary to migrate and filter incumbent earth stations to ensure continued, uninterrupted service during and following the transition. FCC staff will use this data to ensure that 3.7-4.2 GHz band stakeholders adopt practices and standards in their operations to ensure an effective, efficient, and streamlined transition. Status reports and other information required in this collection will be used to ensure that the process of clearing the lower portion of the band is efficient and timely, so that the spectrum can be auctioned for flexible-use service licenses and deployed for next-generation wireless services, including 5G, as quickly as possible. The collection is also necessary for the Commission to satisfy its oversight responsibilities and/or agency specific/government-wide reporting obligations. The Commission concluded in the 3.7 GHz Report and Order that a Relocation Payment Clearinghouse and Relocation Coordinator are critical to ensuring that the reconfiguration is administered in a fair, transparent manner and that the transition occurs as expeditiously as possible. To accomplish these goals most effectively, the Commission is seeking approval for a new information collection to collect information from the Relocation Payment Clearinghouse, the Relocation Coordinator, and incumbent space station operators and allow the Relocation Payment Clearinghouse and Relocation Coordinator to collection information to ensure that the band is transitioned effectively. Federal Communications Commission. Marlene Dortch, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2020-10529 Filed 5-15-20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6712-01-P