[Federal Register: March 21, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 56)]
[Notices]
[Page 15155-15156]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21mr08-65]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Being Submitted for
Review to the Office of Management and Budget
March 11, 2008.
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
[[Page 15156]]
following information collection(s), as required by the Paperwork
Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520. An agency may not
conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a
currently valid control number. No person shall be subject to any
penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject
to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) 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 May 20, 2008. If you anticipate that you will be
submitting PRA comments, but find it difficult to do so within the
period of time allowed by this notice, you should advise the FCC
contact listed below as soon as possible.
ADDRESSES: Direct all PRA comments to Nicholas A. Fraser, Office of
Management and Budget, (202) 395-5887, or via fax at 202-395-5167 or
via internet at Nicholas_A._Fraser@omb.eop.gov and to Judith-
B.Herman@fcc.gov, Federal Communications Commission, or an e-mail to
PRA@fcc.gov. To view a copy of this information collection request
(ICR) submitted to OMB: (1) Go to the Web page http://www.reginfo.gov/
public/do/PRAMain, (2) look for the section of the Web page called
``Currently Under Review'', (3) click on the downward-pointing arrow in
the ``Select Agency'' box below the ``Currently Under Review'' heading,
(4) select ``Federal Communications Commission'' from the list of
agencies presented in the ``Select Agency'' box, (5) click the
``Submit'' button to the right of the ``Select Agency'' box, and (6)
when the list of FCC ICRs currently under review appears, look for the
title of this ICR (or its OMB Control Number, if there is one) and then
click on the ICR Reference Number to view detailed information about
this ICR.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information, contact
Judith B. Herman at 202-418-0214 or via the Internet at Judith-
B.Herman@fcc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OMB Control Number: 3060-0999.
Title: Section 20.19, Hearing Aid-Compatible Mobile Handsets
(Hearing Aid-Compatibility Act).
Form Nos.: N/A.
Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 925 respondents; 950 responses.
Estimated Time Per Response: 1.5-4 hours.
Frequency of Response: On occasion and annual reporting
requirements and third party disclosure requirement.
Obligation To Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits.
Total Annual Burden: 12,600 hours.
Total Annual Cost: N/A.
Privacy Act Impact Assessment: N/A.
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: In submitting the information
requested in the reports, respondents may need to disclose confidential
information to satisfy the requirements. However, covered entities
would be free to request that such materials submitted to the
Commission be withheld from public inspection (see 47 CFR 0.459 of the
Commission's rules).
Needs and Uses: The Commission will submit this information
collection to the OMB after this 60 day comment period as a revision to
obtain the full three-year clearance from them. There is an increase in
the estimated burden hours.
Commission rules require digital wireless phone manufacturers and
service providers to make available a certain number of digital
wireless handset models that meet specific performance levels set forth
in an established technical standard. The phones must be made available
according to an implementation schedule specified in Commission rules.
The Commission adopted and released a First Report and Order on
February 28, 2008 (FCC 08-68) in which the Commission modified the
deployment benchmarks for hearing aid-compatible phones, and imposed
new requirements on manufacturers and service providers to ensue their
product lines are current and include handset models with varying
levels of functionality and are periodically refreshed. The Commission
also requires manufacturers and service providers to continue to file
reports on the status of their compliance with these requirements, and
it modified the content and timing of these reports (service providers
are to file the new reports annually beginning on January 2009 and
manufacturers will file in January 2009 and then annually beginning in
July 2009). The requirement to provide certain information in
conjunction with product labeling remains, although the details of the
information required has changed slightly, especially with regard to
phones that have Wi-Fi air interface capability. Finally, the
Commission requires manufacturers and service providers which already
have public Web sites to publish up-to-date information on their Web
sites regarding their hearing aid-compatible models and to keep that
information current.
The reporting criteria will assist the Commission staff in
monitoring the progress of implementation by phone manufacturers and
wireless carriers, and it will provide valuable information to the
public concerning hearing aid-compatible handsets. The reports will
permit the Commission to continue to stay abreast of ongoing standards
work, testing, and other pertinent information associated with
achieving digital wireless compatibility with hearing aids and cochlear
implants. This information will help to ensure that the Commission's
decisions relating to hearing aid compatibility with wireless phones
are fair to all involved and reflect the actual status of technology.
The technical standard for hearing aid compatibility is required by the
Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC) Act of 1988, and will be used by
covered entities and the Commission as a compliance guide.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8-5834 Filed 3-20-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P