[Federal Register: November 17, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 221)]
[Notices]
[Page 67356-67357]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17no04-65]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Notice of Public Information Collection(s) being Reviewed by the
Federal Communications Commission, Comments Requested
November 9, 2004.
SUMMARY: The Federal Communications Commission, as part of its
continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden invites the general public
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the
following information collection(s), as required by the Paperwork
Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13. An agency may not conduct
or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently
valid control
[[Page 67357]]
number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply
with a collection of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act
that does not display a valid control number. Comments are requested
concerning (a) 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; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; (c) ways
to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information
collected; and (d) 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.
DATES: Written Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) comments should be
submitted on or before January 18, 2005. 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 Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) comments to Cathy
Williams, Federal Communications Commission, Room 1-C823, 445 12th
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554 or via the Internet to
Cathy.Williams@fcc.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or copies
of the information collection(s), contact Cathy Williams at (202) 418-
2918 or via the Internet at Cathy.Williams@fcc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
OMB Control Number: 3060-0652.
Title: Section 76.309, Customer Service Obligations; Section
76.1602, Customer Service--General Information; Section 76.1603,
Customer Service--Rate and Service Changes--General Information, and
Section, 76, 1619, Information on Subscriber Bills.
Form Number: Not applicable.
Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities; State, Local or
Tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 10,410.
Estimated Time per Response: 10 minutes to 1.0 hour.
Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement; Third
party disclosure requirement.
Total Annual Burden: 32,527 hours.
Total Annual Cost: None.
Privacy Impact Assessment: No impact(s).
Needs and Uses: 47 CFR Section 76.1602 states that franchise
authorities must provide affected operators 90 days written notice of
its intent to enforce customer service standards. 47 CFR Sections
76.1603 and 76.309 set forth various customer service obligations and
notification requirements for changes in rates, programming services
and channel positions. In addition, Sections 76.1603 states that cable
operators shall provide written information on each of the following
areas at the time of installation of service, at least annually to all
subscribers, and at any time upon request: (1) Products and services
offered; (2) Prices and options for programming services and conditions
of subscription to programming and other services; (3) Installation and
service maintenance policies; (4) Instructions on how to use the cable
service; (5) Channel positions programming carried on the system; and
(6) Billing complaint procedures, including the address and telephone
number of the local franchise authority's cable office. Section 76.1603
states that customers will be notified of any changes in rates,
programming services or channel positions as soon as possible in
writing. Notice must be given to subscribers a minimum of thirty (30)
days in advance of such changes if the change is within the control of
the cable operator. In addition, the cable operator shall notify
subscribers 30 days in advance of any significant changes in the other
information required by section 76.1603. Section 76.1603 states that in
addition to the requirements regarding advanced notification to
customers of any changes in rates, programming services or channel
positions, cable systems shall give 30 days written notice to both
subscribers and local franchising authorities before implementing any
rate or service change. Such notice shall state the precise amount of
any rate change and briefly explain in readily understandable fashion
the cause of the rate change (e.g. inflation, changes in external costs
or the addition/deletion of channels). When the change involves the
addition or deletion of channels, each channel added or deleted must be
separately identified. Notices to subscribers shall inform them of
their right to file complaints about changes in cable programming
service tier rates and services, shall state that the subscriber may
file the complaint within 90 days of the effective date of the rate
change, and shall provide the address and phone number of the local
franchising authority. 47 CFR 76.1619 states that in case of a billing
dispute, the cable operator must respond to a written complaint from a
subscriber within 30 days. The Commission requires the various
disclosure and notifications contained in this collection as a means of
consumer protection to ensure that subscribers and franchising
authorities are knowledgeable of cable operators' business practices,
current rates, rate changes for programming service and equipment, and
channel line-up changes.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 04-25519 Filed 11-16-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-10-P