Notice2024-02370
Information Collections 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
February 7, 2024
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. 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.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 26 (Wednesday, February 7, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 7, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8426-8427]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-02370]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
[OMB 3060-0422; FR ID 201021]
Information Collections 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.
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.
DATES: Written comments should be submitted on or before April 8, 2024.
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 contacts below as soon as possible.
ADDRESSES: Direct all PRA comments to Cathy Williams, FCC, via email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d181839091b7b2b2ffb6bea7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c797958687a1a4a4e9a0a8b1">[email protected]</span></a> and to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0b486a7f6372255c626767626a66784b6d6868256c647d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d497b5a0bcadfa83bdb8b8bdb5b9a794b2b7b7fab3bba2">[email protected]</span></a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information about the
information collection, contact Cathy Williams at (202) 418-2918.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
OMB Control Number: 3060-0422.
Title: Hearing Aid Compatibility; Access to Telecommunications
Equipment and Services by Persons with Disabilities; Section 68.5
Waivers, CC Docket No. 87-124 and CG Docket No. 13-46.
Form Number: N/A.
Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities; not-for-profit
entities.
Number of Respondents and Responses: 331 respondents; 2,512
responses.
Estimated Time per Response: 0.25 hour (15 minutes) to 24 hours.
Frequency of Response: Annual and on-occasion reporting
requirements; Third party disclosure requirement; Recordkeeping
requirement.
Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The
statutory authority for this information collection is found at section
710 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 610.
Total Annual Burden: 5,930 hours.
Total Annual Cost: $375,000.
Needs and Uses: This notice and request for comments pertains to
the extension of the currently approved information collection
requirements concerning hearing aid compatibility (HAC) for wireline
handsets used with the legacy telephone network and with advanced
communications services (ACS), such as Voice over internet Protocol
(VoIP). The latter are known as ACS telephonic customer premises
equipment (ACS telephonic CPE).
Beginning in the 1980s, the Commission adopted a series of
regulations to implement statutory directives in section 710(b) of the
Communications Act of 1934 requiring wireline telephone handsets in the
United States (for use with the legacy telephone network) to be hearing
aid compatible. 47 U.S.C. 610. In 2010, the
[[Page 8427]]
Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA),
Public Law 111-260, sec. 102, 710(b), 124 Stat. 2751, 2753 (CVAA)
(codified at 47 U.S.C. 610(b)), amended by Public Law 111-265, 124
Stat. 2795 (technical corrections to the CVAA), amended section 710(b)
of the Communications Act of 1934, to apply the HAC requirements to ACS
telephonic CPE, including VoIP telephones. In accordance with this
provision, the Commission adopted Access to Telecommunications
Equipment and Services by Persons with Disabilities et al., Report and
Order and Order on Reconsideration, FCC 17-135, published at 83 FR
8624, February 28, 2018, which amended the HAC rules to cover ACS
telephonic CPE to the extent such devices are designed to be held to
the ear and provide two-way voice communication via a built-in speaker.
The information collections contain third-party disclosure and
labeling requirements. The information is used to inform consumers who
purchase or use wireline telephone equipment whether the telephone is
hearing aid compatible; to ensure that manufacturers comply with
applicable regulations and technical criteria; to ensure that
information about ACS telephonic CPE is available in a database
administered by the Administrative Council for Terminal Attachments
(ACTA) (an organization, previously created pursuant to FCC
regulations, whose key function is to maintain a database of telephone
equipment); and to facilitate the filing of complaints about the ACS
telephonic CPE.
Wireline Handsets Used With the Legacy Telephone Network
<bullet> 47 CFR 68.224 requires that every non-hearing aid
compatible wireline telephone used with the legacy wireline network
that is offered for sale to the public contain in a conspicuous
location on the surface of its packaging a statement that the telephone
is not hearing aid compatible. If the handset is offered for sale
without a surrounding package, then the telephone must be affixed with
a written statement that the telephone is not hearing aid compatible.
In addition, each handset must be accompanied by instructions in
accordance with 47 CFR 62.218(b)(2).
<bullet> 47 CFR 68.300 requires that all wireline telephones used
with the legacy wireline network that are manufactured in the United
States (other than for export) or imported for use in the United States
and that are hearing aid compatible have the letters ``HAC''
permanently affixed.
ACS Telephonic CPE
<bullet> 47 CFR 68.502(a) of the Commission's rules contains
information collection requirements for ACS telephonic CPE that are
similar to the HAC label and notice requirements in 47 CFR 68.224 and
68.300 (discussed above), i.e., the ``HAC'' labeling requirement for
hearing aid compatible equipment, and the package information for non-
hearing aid compatible equipment, apply to ACS telephonic CPE.
<bullet> 47 CFR 68.501 of the Commission's rules requires
responsible parties to obtain certifications of their equipment by
using a third-party Telecommunications Certification Body (TCB) or a
Supplier's Declaration of Conformity. (A responsible party is the
party, such as the manufacturer, that is responsible for the compliance
of ACS telephonic CPE with the hearing aid compatibility rules and
other applicable technical criteria. A Supplier's Declaration of
Conformity is a procedure whereby a responsible party makes
measurements or takes steps to ensure that CPE complies with technical
standards, which results in a document by the same name.) Section
68.501 of the Commission's rules applies to ACS telephonic CPE the rule
sections defining the roles of TCBs and the uses of Supplier's
Declarations of Conformity for wireline handsets used with the legacy
telephone network.
<bullet> 47 CFR 68.504 of the Commission's rules requires
information about ACS telephonic CPE to be included in a database
administered by ACTA. In addition, ACS telephonic CPE must be labeled
as required by ACTA.
<bullet> 47 CFR 68.502(b)-(d) of the Commission's rules requires
responsible parties to: warrant that ACS telephonic CPE complies with
applicable regulations and technical criteria; give the user
instructions required by ACTA for ACS telephonic CPE that is hearing
aid compatible; give the user a notice for ACS telephonic CPE that is
not hearing aid compatible; and notify the purchaser or user of ACS
telephonic CPE whose approval is revoked, that the purchaser or user
must discontinue its use.
<bullet> 47 CFR 68.503 of the Commission's rules requires
manufacturers of ACS telephonic CPE to designate an agent for service
of process for complaints that may be filed at the FCC.
Applications for Waiver of HAC Requirements
<bullet> 47 CFR 68.5 requires that telephone manufacturers seeking
a waiver of 47 CFR 68.4(a)(1) (requiring that certain telephones be
hearing aid compatible) demonstrate that compliance with the rule is
technologically infeasible or too costly. Information is used by FCC
staff to determine whether to grant or dismiss the request.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-02370 Filed 2-6-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
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