FCC Seeks OMB Nod for Paperwork Burden Cuts
Published Date: 3/4/2025
Notice
Summary
The FCC is asking the public and other agencies to review and comment on their paperwork rules to make them easier, especially for small businesses with fewer than 25 employees. They want to reduce the hassle of filling out forms and need approval from the Office of Management and Budget by April 3, 2025. This effort helps save time and keeps things fair without adding extra costs.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Scale of EAS information-collection burden
The Part 11 Emergency Alert System information collection covers 63,084 respondents and 3,588,845 responses, with estimated time per response ranging from 0.017 hours to 112 hours, a total annual burden of 141,414 hours, and total annual cost reported as "No Cost."
Paperwork relief focus for very small businesses
If you run a small business with fewer than 25 employees, the FCC is specifically asking for comments on how to further reduce information-collection burdens on such businesses under the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act. Comments on this information collection are due on or before April 3, 2025.
SECC certification adds 2 hours per member
State Emergency Communications Committee (SECC) annual State EAS Plans must include a certification by the SECC Chairperson or Vice‑Chairperson that the SECC met at least once in the prior 12 months; the FCC estimates this certification will cost SECC members about two hours each to comply.
Faster State EAS plan decisions and transparency
The Bureau must approve or reject State EAS Plans within 60 days of receipt, list approval dates of submitted plans on the ARS, and, if a plan is denied, directly notify the State chief executive and the reasons for denial within 30 days.
Voluntary false-alert reporting by governments and FEMA
The rules are amended to allow the FEMA Administrator and Tribal, State, local, or territorial governments to voluntarily file reports of false Emergency Alert System (EAS) alerts; the FCC estimates preparing such a report is composing an email taking an hour or less.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-03452, Information Collections Being Submitted for Review and Approval to Office of Management and Budget
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is asking the public and small businesses to help reduce paperwork by commenting on their information collection plans. If you have fewer than 25 employees, your input is especially welcome! Comments are due by April 3, 2025, so don’t miss your chance to shape how the FCC collects info and possibly save time and money.
Next: 2025-03454, Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Order, Finding, or Suspended Investigation; Opportunity To Request Administrative Review and Join Annual Inquiry Service List
If you’re involved in importing goods that might be subject to special U.S. taxes called antidumping or countervailing duties, now’s your chance to ask for a review or join the annual update list. The Department of Commerce is opening a window to request reviews and will pick which companies to check based on import data, so get your paperwork in quickly! This could affect how much extra tax you pay and when, so don’t miss the deadlines.