Notice2023-23307
Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
October 23, 2023
Issuing agencies
Federal Communications Commission
Abstract
As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collections. Comments are requested concerning: 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; the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; 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; and ways to further reduce the information collection burden on small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 203 (Monday, October 23, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 203 (Monday, October 23, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72759-72760]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-23307]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
[OMB 3060-1248; FR ID 179524]
Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal
Communications Commission
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens,
and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) invites the
general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to
comment on the following information collections. Comments are
requested concerning: 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; the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; ways to
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected;
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; and ways to further reduce the
information collection burden on small business concerns with fewer
than 25 employees.
DATES: Written PRA comments should be submitted on or before December
22, 2023. 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 PRA comments to Cathy Williams, FCC, via email to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#35656774755356561b525a43"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="174745565771747439707861">[email protected]</span></a> and to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f8bb998c9081d6af9194949199958bb89e9b9bd69f978e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7c3f1d081405522b151010151d110f3c1a1f1f521b130a">[email protected]</span></a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information about the
information collection, contact Cathy Williams at (202) 418-2918.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a
collection of information unless it displays a currently valid Office
of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. No person shall be
subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of
information subject to the PRA that does not display a valid OMB
control number.
OMB Control Number: 3060-1248.
Title: Transition from TTY to Real-Time Text Technology, CG Docket
No. 16-145 and GN Docket No. 15-178.
Form Number: N/A.
Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
Respondents: Businesses or other for-profit entities.
Number of Respondents and Responses: 600 respondents; 4,358
responses.
Estimated Time per Response: 0.2 hours (12 minutes) to 60 hours.
Frequency of Response: Annual, ongoing, and semiannual reporting
requirements; recordkeeping requirement.
Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefit. The
statutory authority can be found at Sec. Sec. 4(i), 225, 255, 301,
303(r), 316, 403, 715, and 716 of the Communications Act of 1934, as
amended, and Sec. 106 of the Twenty-First Century Communications and
Video Accessibility Act of 2010, 47 U.S.C. 154(i), 225, 255, 301,
303(r), 316, 403, 615c, 616, 617; Public Law No. 111-260, 106, 124
Stat. 2751, 2763 (2010).
Total Annual Burden: 71,142 hours.
Total Annual Cost: No cost.
Needs and Uses: Text telephone (TTY) technology provides a way for
people with disabilities to send and receive text communications over
the public switched telephone network (PSTN). Changes to communications
networks, particularly ongoing technology transitions from circuit
switched to IP-based networks and from copper to wireless and fiber
infrastructure, have affected the quality and utility of TTY
technology, prompting discussions on transitioning to an alternative
advanced communications technology for text
[[Page 72760]]
communications. Accordingly, on December 16, 2016, the Commission
released Transition from TTY to Real-Time Text Technology, Report and
Order, document FCC 16-169, 82 FR 7699, January 23, 2017, amending its
rules that govern the obligations of wireless service providers and
manufacturers to support TTY technology to permit such providers and
manufacturers to provide support for real-time text (RTT) over wireless
IP-based networks to facilitate an effective and seamless transition to
RTT in lieu of continuing to support TTY technology.
In document FCC 16-169, the Commission adopted measures requiring
the following:
(a) Each wireless provider and manufacturer that voluntarily
transitions from TTY technology to RTT over wireless IP-based networks
and services is encouraged to develop consumer and education efforts
that include (1) the development and dissemination of educational
materials that contain information pertinent to the nature, purpose,
and timelines of the RTT transition; (2) internet postings, in an
accessible format, of information about the TTY to RTT transition on
the websites of covered entities; (3) the creation of a telephone
hotline and an online interactive and accessible service that can
answer consumer questions about RTT; and (4) appropriate training of
staff to effectively respond to consumer questions. All consumer
outreach and education should be provided in accessible formats
including, but not limited to, large print, Braille, videos in American
Sign Language and that are captioned and video described, emails to
consumers who have opted to receive notices in this manner, and printed
materials. Service providers and manufacturers are also encouraged to
coordinate with consumer, public safety, and industry stakeholders to
develop and distribute education and outreach materials. The
information will inform consumers of alternative accessible technology
available to replace TTY technology that may no longer be available to
the consumer through their provider or on their device.
(b) Each wireless provider that requested or will request and
receive a waiver of the requirement to support TTY technology over
wireless IP-based networks and services must apprise its customers,
through effective and accessible channels of communication, that (1)
until TTY is sunset, TTY technology will not be supported for calls to
911 services over IP-based wireless services, and (2) there are
alternative PSTN-based and IP-based accessibility solutions for people
with disabilities to reach 911 services. These notices must be
developed in coordination with public safety answering points (PSAPs)
and national consumer organizations, and include a listing of text-
based alternatives to 911, including, but not limited to, TTY
capability over the PSTN, various forms of PSTN-based and IP-based TRS,
and text-to-911 (where available). The notices will inform consumers on
the loss of the use of TTY for completing 911 calls over the provider's
network and alert them to alternatives service for which TTY may be
used.
(c) Once every six months, each wireless provider that requests and
receives a waiver of the requirement to support TTY technology must
file a report with the Commission and inform its customers regarding
its progress toward and the status of the availability of new IP-based
accessibility solutions. Such reports must include (1) information on
the interoperability of the provider's selected accessibility solution
with the technologies deployed or to be deployed by other carriers and
service providers, (2) the backward compatibility of such solution with
TTYs, (3) a showing of the provider's efforts to ensure delivery of 911
calls to the appropriate PSAP, (4) a description of any obstacles
incurred towards achieving interoperability and steps taken to overcome
such obstacles, and (5) an estimated timetable for the deployment of
accessibility solutions. The information will inform consumers of the
progress towards the availability of alternative accessible means to
replace TTY, and the Commission will be able to evaluate the reports to
determine if any changes to the waivers are warranted or of any
impediments to progress that it may be in a position to resolve.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-23307 Filed 10-20-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
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