Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission, Comments Requested, 51811 [2010-20759]

Agencies

• FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 162 (Monday, August 23, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 51811]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-20759]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Being Reviewed by the 
Federal Communications Commission, Comments Requested

August 16, 2010.
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 
following information collection(s), as required by the Paperwork 
Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501 - 3520. 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; (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, and (e) 
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 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 currently valid OMB control number.

DATES: Written Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) comments should be 
submitted on or before October 22, 2010. 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, via fax at 202-395-5167 or via the Internet at 
Nicholas_A._Fraser@omb.eop.gov and to the Federal Communications 
Commission via email to PRA@fcc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Judith B. Herman, Office of Managing 
Director, (202) 418-0214. For additional information, contact Judith B. 
Herman, OMD, 202-418-0214 or email judith-b.herman@fcc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    OMB Control Number: 3060-0999.
    Title: Hearing Aid Compatibility Status Report and Section 20.19, 
Hearing Aid-Compatible Mobile Handsets (Hearing Aid Compatibility Act 
of 1988).
    Form No.: FCC Form 655 - electronic only.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 925 respondents; 925 
responses.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 1 - 2.5 hours.
    Frequency of Response: Annual and on occasion reporting 
requirements and third party disclosure requirement.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. 
Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47 
U.S.C. sections 151, 154(i), 157, 201, 202, 208, 214, 301, 303, 308, 
309(j), 310 and 610.
    Total Annual Burden: 12,063 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: N/A.
    Privacy Act Impact Assessment: N/A.
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: Information in the reports 
may include confidential information. However, covered entities would 
be allowed to request that such materials submitted to the Commission 
be withheld from public inspection under 47 CFR 0.459 of the 
Commission's rules.
    Needs and Uses: The Commission is requesting OMB approval of a 
revision to this currently approved collection regarding hearing aid 
compatibility disclosure requirements. In the Report and Order in WT 
Docket No. 01-309, FCC 03-168, adopted and released in September 2003, 
the Federal Communications Commission modified the exemption for 
telephone used with public mobile services from the requirements of the 
Hearing Aid Compatibility Act of 1988 (HAC Act). The Order required 
digital wireless phone manufacturers and service providers to make 
certain digital wireless phones capable of effective use with hearing 
aids, label certain phones they sold with information about their 
compatibility with hearing aids, and report to the Commission (at first 
every six months, then on an annual basis) on the numbers and types of 
hearing aid-compatible phones they were producing or offering to the 
public.
    In February 2008, the Commission adopted final rules in the Report 
and Order (FCC 08-68) that updated several performance benchmarks and 
instituted new requirements. To assist the Commission in monitoring the 
implementation of the new requirements and to provide information to 
the public, the Report and Order also required manufacturers and 
service providers to continue to file annual reports on the status of 
their compliance with the requirements, and required manufacturers and 
service providers that maintain public websites to publish up-to-date 
information on those websites regarding their hearing-aid compatible 
handset models. The existing, OMB-approved collection under this OMB 
control number supports these disclosure requirements.
    Recently, on August 5, 2010, the Commission adopted final rules in 
a Second Report and Order, FCC 10-145, that, among other things, 
updated disclosure requirements for manufacturers and service 
providers. As a result, the Commission is requesting a revision of this 
collection due to the change in language required for disclosures under 
Section 20.19(f)(2) of the Commission's rules and the addition of 
content to be disclosed for certain headsets under Section 20.19(f)(2) 
of the Commission's rules. The updated requirements will create no 
additional burden for manufacturers and service providers, but will 
ensure that consumers are provided with consistent and sufficient 
information about the functionality and the limitations of their 
handsets. These actions are taken to ensure that consumers who use 
hearing aids and cochlear implants have access to a variety of phones 
and are adequately informed about the functionality and the limitations 
of the handsets, while preserving competitive opportunities for small 
companies as well as opportunities for innovation and investment.


Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Office of Managing Director.
[FR Doc. 2010-20759 Filed 8-20-10 8:45 am]
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