Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 21 / Tuesday, February 2, 2016 / Rules and Regulations 5381 

coverage areas. These techniques are 

known as Modulation Dependent 

Carrier Level (MDCL) control 

technologies. 

There are two basic types of MDCL 

control technologies. In one type, the 

carrier power is reduced at low 

modulation levels and increased at 

higher modulation levels. In the other 

type, there is full carrier power at low 

modulation levels and reduced carrier 

power and sideband powers at higher 

modulation levels. Use of any of these 

MDCL control technologies reduces the 

station’s antenna input power to levels 

not permitted by 47 CFR 73.1560(a). 

The MDCL Public Notice permitted 

AM station licensees wanting to use 

MDCL control technologies to seek 

either a permanent waiver of 47 CFR 

73.1560(a) for those licensees already 

certain of the particular MDCL control 

technology to be used, or an 

experimental authorization pursuant to 

47 CFR 73.1510 for those licensees 

wishing to determine which of the 

MDCL control technologies would result 

in maximum cost savings and minimum 

effects on the station’s coverage area and 

audio quality. Since release of the 

MDCL Public Notice, 33 permanent 

waiver requests and 20 experimental 

requests authorizing use of MDCL 

control technologies have been granted 

by the Bureau. 

AM station licensees using MDCL 

control technologies have reported 

significant savings on electrical power 

costs and few, if any, perceptible effects 

on station coverage area and audio 

quality. Accordingly, the NPRM 

tentatively concluded that use of MDCL 

control technologies reduces AM 

broadcasters’ operating costs while 

maintaining a station’s current level of 

service to the public, without 

interference to other stations. The 

Commission therefore, proposed wider 

implementation of MDCL control 

technologies by amending 47 CFR 

73.1560(a), to provide that an AM 

station may commence operation using 

MDCL control technology without prior 

Commission authority, provided that 

the AM station licensee notifies the 

Commission of the station’s MDCL 

control operation within 10 days after 

commencement of such operation using 

the Bureau’s Consolidated Database 

System (CDBS). The NPRM solicited 

comments on the proposed rule change, 

as well as on the potential adverse 

effects of allowing AM stations to 

commence MDCL control technology 

operation without prior Commission 

authority. The NPRM also sought 

comment as to the potential adverse 

effects, if any, of MDCL control 

technology implementation on other 

AM stations. 

AM broadcasters are allowed to 

implement MDCL technologies without 

prior authorization, by electronic 

notification within 10 days of 

commencing MDCL operations, the 

Commission created FCC Form 338, AM 

Station Modulation Dependent Carrier 

Level (MDCL) Notification. In addition 

to the standard general contact 

information, FCC Form 338 solicits 

minimal technical data, as well as the 

date that MDCL control operation 

commenced. 

The following rule section is also 

covered by this information collection: 

47 CFR 73.1560(a)(1) specifies the 

limits on antenna input power for AM 

stations. AM stations using MDCL 

control technologies are not required to 

adhere to these operating power 

parameters. AM stations may, without 

prior Commission authority, commence 

MDCL control technology use, provided 

that within ten days after commencing 

such operation, the licensee submits an 

electronic notification of 

commencement of MDCL operation 

using FCC Form 338. OMB preapproved 

the information collection requirements 

contained in FCC 13–139 on January 28, 

2014. The final information collection 

requirements were adopted as proposed 

in FCC 15–142. OMB approved the final 

information collection requirements on 

January 19, 2016. 

Federal Communications Commission. 

Gloria J. Miles, 

Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the 

Secretary. 

[FR Doc. 2016–01321 Filed 2–1–16; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6712–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 141021887–5172–02] 

RIN 0648–XE418 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Pot 

Catcher/Processors in the Bering Sea 

and Aleutian Islands Management Area 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. 

SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed 

fishing for Pacific cod by catcher/

processors using pot gear in the Bering 

Sea and Aleutian Islands management 

area (BSAI). This action is necessary to 

prevent exceeding the A season 

apportionment of the 2016 Pacific cod 

total allowable catch allocated to 

catcher/processors using pot gear in the 

BSAI. 

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska 

local time (A.l.t.), January 29, 2016, 

through 1200 hours, A.l.t., September 1, 

2016. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh 

Keaton, 907–586–7228. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS 

manages the groundfish fishery in the 

BSAI exclusive economic zone 

according to the Fishery Management 

Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea 

and Aleutian Islands Management Area 

(FMP) prepared by the North Pacific 

Fishery Management Council under 

authority of the Magnuson-Stevens 

Fishery Conservation and Management 

Act. Regulations governing fishing by 

U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP 

appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 

and 50 CFR part 679. 

The A season apportionment of the 

2016 Pacific cod total allowable catch 

(TAC) allocated to catcher/processors 

using pot gear in the BSAI is 1,712 

metric tons (mt) as established by the 

final 2015 and 2016 harvest 

specifications for groundfish in the 

BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015) and 

inseason adjustment (81 FR 184, January 

5, 2016). 

In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), 

the Administrator, Alaska Region, 

NMFS (Regional Administrator), has 

determined that the A season 

apportionment of the 2016 Pacific cod 

TAC allocated as a directed fishing 

allowance to catcher/processors using 

pot gear in the BSAI will soon be 

reached. Consequently, NMFS is 

prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific 

cod by pot catcher/processors in the 

BSAI. 

After the effective date of this closure 

the maximum retainable amounts at 

§ 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time 

during a trip. 

Classification 

This action responds to the best 

available information recently obtained 

from the fishery. The Assistant 

Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA 

(AA), finds good cause to waive the 

requirement to provide prior notice and 

opportunity for public comment 

pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 

U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is 

impracticable and contrary to the public 

interest. This requirement is 

impracticable and contrary to the public 

interest as it would prevent NMFS from 


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5382 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 21 / Tuesday, February 2, 2016 / Rules and Regulations 

responding to the most recent fisheries 

data in a timely fashion and would 

delay the closure of directed fishing for 

Pacific cod by pot catcher/processors in 

the BSAI. NMFS was unable to publish 

a document providing time for public 

comment because the most recent, 

relevant data only became available as 

of January 27, 2016. 

The AA also finds good cause to 

waive the 30-day delay in the effective 

date of this action under 5 U.S.C. 

553(d)(3). This finding is based upon 

the reasons provided above for waiver of 

prior notice and opportunity for public 

comment. 

This action is required by § 679.20 

and is exempt from review under 

Executive Order 12866. 

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. 

Dated: January 28, 2016. 

Emily H. Menashes, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2016–01851 Filed 1–28–16; 4:15 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 


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