[Federal Register: June 18, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 116)]
[Notices]
[Page 28932-28936]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18jn09-25]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Public Information Collections Approved by Office of Management
and Budget
June 10, 2009.
SUMMARY: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has received
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the following public
information collections pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995, Public Law 104-13. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a
person is not required to respond to, a collection of information
unless it displays a currently valid control number.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dana Wilson, Federal Communications
Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC, 20554, (202) 418-2247
or via the Internet at Dana.Wilson@fcc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
OMB Control No.: 3060-0463.
OMB Approval Date: 07/20/2008.
Expiration Date: 07/31/2011.
Title: Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech
Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities, Report
and Order and Declaratory Ruling, CG Docket No. 03-123, FCC 07-186.
Form No.: N/A.
Estimated Annual Burden: 5,211 responses; 10 to 15 hours per
response; 27,412 total annual hourly burden; $0 total annual cost.
Needs and Uses: On November 19, 2007, the Commission released the
Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for
Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities, Report and Order and
Declaratory Ruling (2007 TRS Cost Recovery Order), CG Docket No. 03-
123, FCC 07-186, adopting (1) A new cost recovery methodology for
interstate traditional Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) and
interstate Speech-to-Speech (STS) based on the Multi-state Average Rate
Structure (MARS) plan proposed by Hamilton Relay, Inc., (2) a new cost
recovery methodology for interstate captioned telephone service (CTS)
and interstate and intrastate Internet-Protocol (IP) Captioned
Telephone Service (IP CTS) based on the MARS plan, (3) a cost recovery
methodology for IP Relay based on price caps, and (4) a cost recovery
methodology for Video Relay Services (VRS) that adopts tiered rates
based on call volume. The 2007 TRS Cost Recovery Order also clarifies
the nature and extent that certain categories of
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costs are compensable from the Interstate TRS Fund (Fund), and
addresses certain issues concerning the management and oversight of the
Fund, including financial incentives offered to consumers to make relay
calls and the role of the Interstate TRS Fund Advisory Council.
The 2007 TRS Cost Recovery Order establishes reporting requirements
associated with the MARS plan cost recovery methodology for
compensation from the Fund. Specifically, TRS providers must submit to
the Fund administrator the following information annually, on a per-
state basis, regarding the previous calendar year: (1) The per-minute
compensation rate(s) for intrastate traditional TRS, STS and CTS, (2)
whether the rate applies to session minutes or conversation minutes,
(3) the number of intrastate session minutes for traditional TRS, STS
and CTS, and (4) the number of intrastate conversation minutes for
traditional TRS, STS, and CTS. Also, STS providers must file a report
annually with the Fund administrator and the Commission on their
specific outreach efforts directly attributable to the additional
compensation approved by the Commission for STS outreach.
In the 2007 TRS Cost Recovery Order, the Commission has assessed
the effects of imposing the submission of rate data, and has found that
there is no increased administrative burden on businesses with fewer
than 25 employees. The Commission recognizes that the required rate
data is presently available with the states and the providers of
interstate traditional TRS, interstate STS, and interstate CTS, thereby
no additional step is required to produce such data. The Commission
therefore believes that the submission of the rate data does not
increase an administrative burden on businesses.
OMB Control No.: 3060-0519.
OMB Approval Date: 10/31/2008.
Expiration Date: 10/31/2011.
Title: Rules and Regulations Implementing the Telephone Consumer
Protection Act of 1991, CG Docket No. 02-278.
Form No.: N/A.
Estimated Annual Burden: 135,607,383 responses; .004 hours (15
seconds) to 1 hour per response; 625,406 total annual hourly burden;
$4,590,000 total annual cost.
Needs and Uses: The reporting requirements included under this OMB
Control Number 3060-0519 enable the Commission to gather information
regarding violations of the Do-Not-Call Implementation Act (Do-Not-Call
Act). If the information collection was not conducted, the Commission
would be unable to track and enforce violations of the Do-Not-Call Act.
The Do-Not-Call rules provide consumers with several options for
avoiding most unwanted telephone solicitations.
This national do-not-call registry supplements the current company-
specific do-not-call rules for those consumers who wish to continue
requesting that particular companies not call them. Any company, which
is asked by a consumer, including an existing customer, not to call
again must honor that request for five (5) years.
However, a provision of the Commission's rules allows consumers to
give specific companies permission to call them through an express
written agreement. Nonprofit organizations, companies with whom
consumers have an established business relationship, and calls to
persons with whom the telemarketer has a personal relationship are
exempt from the ``do-not-call'' registry requirements.
On September 21, 2004, the Commission released the Safe Harbor
Order establishing a limited safe harbor in which persons will not be
liable for placing autodialed and prerecorded message calls to numbers
ported from a wireline service within the previous 15 days. The
Commission also amended its existing national do-not-call registry safe
harbor to require telemarketers to scrub their lists against the do-
not-call database every 31 days.
On December 4, 2007, the Commission released the DNC NPRM seeking
comment on its tentative conclusion that registrations with the
Registry should be honored indefinitely, unless a number is
disconnected or reassigned or the consumer cancels his registration.
On June 17, 2008, the Commission released a Report and Order in CG
Docket No. 02-278, FCC 08-147, amending the Commission's rules under
the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) to require sellers and/or
telemarketers to honor registrations with the National Do-Not-Call
Registry so that registrations will not automatically expire based on
the current five year registration period. Specifically, the Commission
modifies 64.1200(c)(2) of its rules to require sellers and/or
telemarketers to honor numbers registered on the Registry indefinitely
or until the number is removed by the database administrator or the
registration is cancelled by the consumer. In accordance with the Do-
Not-Call Improvement Act of 2007, the Commission revises its rules to
minimize the inconvenience to consumers of having to re-register their
preferences not to receive telemarketing calls and to further the
underlying goal of the National Do-Not-Call Registry to protect
consumer privacy rights.
OMB Control No.: 3060-0687.
OMB Approval Date: 06/05/2009.
Expiration Date: 06/30/2012.
Title: Access to Telecommunications Equipment and Services by
Persons with Disabilities, CC Docket No. 87-124.
Form No.: N/A.
Estimated Annual Burden: 22,500,000 responses; 1 second (0.000278
hours) to 15 seconds (0.004167 hours) per response; 6,693 total annual
hourly burden; $266,280 total annual cost.
Needs and Uses: 47 CFR 68.224--Notice of non-hearing aid
compatibility. Every non-hearing aid compatible telephone offered for
sale to the public on or after August 17, 1989, whether previously-
registered, newly registered or refurbished shall (a) contain in a
conspicuous location on the surface of its packaging a statement that
the telephone is not hearing aid compatible, or if offered for sale
without a surrounding package, shall be affixed with a written
statement that the telephone is not hearing aid compatible; and (b) be
accompanied by instructions in accordance with 47 CFR 62.218(b)(2).
47 CFR 68.300--Labeling requirements. As of April 1, 1997, all
registered telephones, including cordless telephones, manufactured in
the United States (other than for export) or imported for use in the
United States, that are hearing aid compatible shall have the letters
``HAC'' permanently affixed.
The information collections for both rules contain third party
disclosure and labeling requirements. The information is used primarily
to inform consumers who purchase and/or use telephone equipment whether
the telephone is hearing aid compatible.
OMB Control No.: 3060-0717.
OMB Approval Date: 06/16/2008.
Expiration Date: 06/30/2011.
Title: Billed Party Preference for InterLATA 0+ Calls, CC Docket
No. 92-77, 47 CFR 64.703(a), 64.709, 64.710.
Form No.: N/A.
Estimated Annual Burden: 11,250,150 responses; 60 seconds to 50
hours per response; 197,362 total annual hourly burden; $116,250 total
annual cost.
Needs and Uses: Pursuant to 47 CFR 64.703(a), Operator Service
Providers (OSPs) are required to disclose, audibly and distinctly to
the consumer, at no charge and before connecting any interstate call,
how to obtain rate quotations, including any applicable surcharges. 47
CFR 64.710 imposes similar requirements on OSPs to
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inmates at correctional institutions. 47 CFR 64.709 codifies the
requirements for OSPs to file informational tariffs with the
Commission. These rules help to ensure that consumers receive
information necessary to determine what the charges associated with an
OSP-assisted call will be, thereby enhancing informed consumer choice
in the operator services marketplace.
OMB Control No.: 3060-0737.
OMB Approval Date: 03/17/2009.
Expiration Date: 03/31/2012.
Title: Disclosure Requirements for Information Services Provided
Under a Presubscription or Comparable Arrangement.
Form No.: N/A.
Estimated Annual Burden: 1,000 responses; 4.5 hours per response;
4,500 total annual hourly burden; $0 total annual cost.
Needs and Uses: Section 64.1501(b) defines a presubscription or
comparable arrangement as a contractual agreement in which an
information service provider makes specified disclosures to consumers
when offering ``presubscribed'' information services. The disclosures
are intended to ensure that consumers receive information regarding the
terms and conditions associated with these services before they enter
into contracts to subscribe to them.
OMB Control No.: 3060-0787.
OMB Approval Date: 07/14/2008.
Expiration Date: 07/31/2011.
Title: Implementation of Subscriber Carrier Selection Changes
Provisions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996; Policies and Rules
Concerning Unauthorized Changes of Consumers' Long Distance Carriers,
CC Docket No. 94-129, FCC 07-223.
Form No.: N/A.
Estimated Annual Burden: 25,041 responses; 0.50 to 10 hours per
response; 105,901 total annual hourly burden; $51,285,000 total annual
cost.
Needs and Uses: Section 258 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996
directed the Commission to prescribe rules to prevent the unauthorized
change by telecommunications carriers of consumers' selections of
telecommunications service providers (slamming). On March 17, 2003, the
FCC released the Third Order on Reconsideration and Second Further
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, CC Docket No. 94-129, FCC 03-42 (Third
Order on Reconsideration), in which the Commission revised and
clarified certain rules to implement section 258 of the 1996 Act. On
May 23, 2003, the Commission released an Order (CC Docket No. 94-129,
FCC 03-116) clarifying certain aspects of the Third Order on
Reconsideration. On January 9, 2008, the Commission released the Fourth
Report and Order, CC Docket No. 94-129, FCC 07-223, revising its
requirements concerning verification of a consumer's intent to switch
carriers. The Fourth Report and Order modifies the information
collection requirements contained in 64.1120(c)(3)(iii) to provide for
verifications to elicit ``confirmation that the person on the call
understands that a carrier change, not an upgrade to existing service,
bill consolidation, or any other misleading description of the
transaction, is being authorized.''
OMB Control No.: 3060-0854.
OMB Approval Date: 09/29/2008.
Expiration Date: 09/30/2011.
Title: Truth-in-Billing Format, CC Docket No. 98-170 and CG Docket
No. 04-208.
Form No.: N/A.
Estimated Annual Burden: 41,858 responses; 2 to 243 hours per
response; 3,872,876 total annual hourly burden; $15,418,200 total
annual cost.
Needs and Uses: On March 18, 2005, the Commission released Truth-
in-Billing and Billing Format; National Association of State Utility
Consumer Advocates' Petition for Declaratory Ruling Regarding Truth-in-
Billing, Second Report and Order, Declaratory Ruling, and Second
Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, CC Docket No. 98-170, CG Docket
No. 04-208, 20 FCC Rcd 6448 (2005) (2005 Second Report and Order and
Second Further Notice); published at 70 FR 29979 and 70 FR 30044, May
25, 2005, which determined, inter alia, that Commercial Mobile Radio
Service providers no longer should be exempted from 47 CFR 64.2401(b),
which requires billing descriptions to be brief, clear, non-misleading
and in plain language. The 2005 Second Further Notice proposed and
sought comment on measures to enhance the ability of consumers to make
informed choices among competitive telecommunications service
providers.
OMB Control No.: 3060-1047.
OMB Approval Date: 03/04/2009.
Expiration Date: 03/31/2012.
Title: Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech
Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities, Report
and order, FCC 03-112 and FCC 05-203.
Form No.: N/A.
Estimated Annual Burden: 80 responses; 1 to 8 hours per response;
322 total annual hourly burden; $230 total annual cost.
Needs and Uses: On December 12, 2005, the Commission released
Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for
Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities, CG Docket No. 03-123,
Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration, 20 FCC Rcd 20577 (2005)
(2005 TRS Report and Order), published at 70 FR 76208, December 23,
2005, which created another method for some Telecommunications Relay
Service (TRS) providers to become eligible to receive compensation from
the Interstate TRS Fund (Fund). Specifically, the 2005 TRS Report and
Order amended the TRS regulations to permit a common carrier seeking to
offer Video Relay Service (VRS) or Internet Protocol (IP) Relay Service
and receive compensation from the Fund to apply to the Commission for
certification as an entity providing these services in compliance with
the TRS rules, and therefore eligible to receive reimbursement from the
Fund. In a subsequent declaratory ruling, the Commission also permitted
entities desiring to provide IP captioned telephone service to seek
certification from the Commission for eligibility to receive
compensation from the Fund. Telecommunications Relay Services and
Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech
Disabilities; Internet-based Captioned Telephone Service, CG Docket No.
03-123, Declaratory Ruling, 22 FCC Rcd 379 (2007), published at 72 FR
6960, February 14, 2007.
In order to facilitate this certification process, the Commission
adopted information collection requirements that include the following:
(A) 47 CFR 64.606 (a)(2): Providing documentation detailing: (1) A
description of the forms of TRS to be provided, (2) a description of
how the provider will meet all non-waived mandatory minimum standards
applicable to each form of TRS offered, (3) a description of the
provider's procedures for ensuring compliance with all applicable TRS
rules, (4) a description of the provider's complaint procedures, (5) a
narrative describing any areas in which the provider's service will
differ from the applicable mandatory minimum standards, (6) a narrative
establishing that services that differ from the mandatory minimum
standards do not violate applicable mandatory minimum standards, (7)
demonstration of status as a common carrier, and (8) a statement that
the provider will file annual compliance reports demonstrating
continued compliance with the rules;
(B) 47 CFR 64.606 (c)(2): A provider may apply for renewal of its
certification by filing documentation
[[Page 28935]]
with the Commission, at least 90 days prior to expiration of
certification, containing the information described in 47 CFR 64.606
(a)(2);
(C) 47 CFR 64.606 (e)(2): A provider must submit documentation
demonstrating ongoing compliance with the Commission's minimum
standards if, for example, the Commission receives evidence that a
certified provider may not be in compliance with the minimum standards
and the Commission requests such information;
(D) 47 CFR 64.606 (f)(2): Providers certified under this section
must notify the Commission of substantive changes in their TRS
programs, services, and features within 60 days of when such changes
occur, and must certify that the interstate TRS provider continues to
meet Federal minimum standards after implementing the substantive
change; and
(E) 47 CFR 64.606 (g): Providers certified under this section shall
file with the Commission, on an annual basis, a report providing
evidence that they are in compliance with 47 CFR 64.604. In
Telecommunication Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for
Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities; Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990, CG Docket No. 03-123, CC Docket No. 98-67,
Second Report and Order, Order on Reconsideration, and Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking, 18 FCC Rcd 12379 (2003), published at 68 FR 50993,
August 25, 2003, the Commission adopted additional requirements related
to the substance and implementation of TRS mandatory minimum standards.
In 47 CFR 64.604(a)(3), the Commission required TRS facilities to
provide speed dialing functionality, which may entail providers
maintaining a list of telephone numbers. In addition, the Commission
bolstered the contact information requirements of 47 CFR 64.604(c)(2).
Furthermore, the Commission required providers receiving waivers of
some of these standards to submit to the Commission an annual waiver
report that details (1) The technological changes with respect to the
functionalities covered by the waivers; (2) the progress made; and (3)
the steps taken to resolve the technological problems that prevent
these providers from offering certain types of TRS calls and features.
OMB Control No.: 3060-1089.
OMB Approval Date: 11/14/2008.
Expiration Date: 11/30/2011.
Title: Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech
Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities; E911
Requirements for IP-Enabled Service Providers, CG Docket No. 03-123 and
WC Docket No. 05-196, FCC 08-151.
Form No.: N/A.
Estimated Annual Burden: 1,680,044 responses; 3 minutes (.05 hours)
to 1 hour per response; 98,616 total annual hourly burden; $4,224,346
total annual cost.
Needs and Uses: On November 30, 2005, the Commission released
Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for
Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities; Access to Emergency
Services, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (VRS/IP Relay 911 NPRM), CG
Docket No. 03-123, FCC 05-196, published at 71 FR 5221 (February 1,
2006), which addressed the issue of access to emergency services for
Internet-based forms of Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS), namely
Video Relay Service (VRS) and Internet Protocol (IP) Relay. The
Commission sought to adopt means to ensure that such calls promptly
reach the appropriate emergency service provider.
On May 8, 2006, the Commission released Telecommunications Relay
Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and
Speech Disabilities; Misuse of IP Relay Service and Video Relay
Service, Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (IP Relay/VRS Misuse
FNPRM), CG Docket No. 03-123, FCC 06-58, published at 71 FR 31131 (June
1, 2006), which sought further comment on whether IP Relay and VRS
providers should be required to implement user registration systems and
what information users should provide, as a means of curbing
illegitimate IP Relay and VRS calls.
On May 9, 2006, the Commission released Telecommunications Relay
Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and
Speech Disabilities, Declaratory Ruling and Further Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (Interoperability Declaratory Ruling and FNPRM), CG Docket
No. 03-123, FCC 06-57, published at 71 FR 30818 and 71 FR 30848 (May
31, 2006). In the Interoperability Declaratory Ruling and FNPRM, the
Commission sought comment on the feasibility of establishing a single,
open, and global database of proxy numbers for VRS users that would be
available to all service providers, so that a hearing person can call a
VRS user through any VRS provider, and without having first to
ascertain the VRS user's current IP address.
On June 24, 2008, the Commission released Telecommunications Relay
Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and
Speech Disabilities; E911 Requirements for IP-Enabled Service
Providers, Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
(Report and Order), CG Docket No. 03-123 and WC Docket No. 05-196, FCC
08-151, addressing the issues raised in these notices. The Report and
Order provides VRS and IP Relay users with a reliable and consistent
means by which others (including emergency personnel) can identify or
reach them by, among other things, integrating VRS and IP Relay users
into the ten-digit, NANP numbering system.
First, to complete a telephone call to an Internet-based TRS user,
a provider must have some method of logically associating the telephone
number dialed by the caller to the Internet-based TRS user's device.
That method, known as the TRS Numbering Directory, is a central
database that maps each user's telephone number to routing information
needed to find that user's device on the Internet. The Report and Order
requires VRS and IP Relay providers to collect and maintain the routing
information from their registered users and to provision that
information to the TRS Numbering Directory so that this mapping can
occur.
Second, because there is no reliable means for VRS and IP Relay
providers, unlike wireline carriers, to automatically know the physical
location of their users, the Report and Order requires VRS and IP Relay
providers to collect and maintain the Registered Location of their
registered users. And to ensure that authorities can retrieve a user's
Registered Location (along with the provider's name and CA's
identification number for callback purposes), the Report and Order
requires VRS and IP Relay providers to provision that information into,
or make that information available through, ALI databases across the
country.
Third, to ensure that VRS and IP Relay users are aware of their
providers' numbering and E911 service obligations and to inform those
users of their providers' E911 capabilities, the Report and Order
requires each VRS and IP Relay provider to post an advisory on its Web
site, and in any promotional materials directed to consumers,
addressing numbering and E911 services for VRS or IP Relay. Providers
also must obtain and keep a record of affirmative acknowledgement from
each of their registered users of having received and understood the
user notification.
[[Page 28936]]
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9-14321 Filed 6-17-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P