Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission, 26727-26728 [2011-10225]

Agencies

• FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 89 (Monday, May 9, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26727-26728]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-10225]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal 
Communications Commission

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), as part of its 
continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, invites the general 
public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment 
on the following information collection, 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 PRA 
that does not display a valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
control number.

DATES: Written PRA comments should be submitted on or before July 8, 
2011. 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 
PRA@fcc.gov and to Cathy.Williams@fcc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information about the 
information collection, contact Cathy Williams at (202) 418-2918.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    OMB Control Number: 3060-1146.
    Title: Implementation of the Twenty-first Century Communications 
and Video Accessibility Act of 2010, Section 105, Relay Services for 
Deaf-Blind Individuals, CG Docket No. 10-210.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Individuals or households; businesses or other for-
profit entities; not-for-profit institutions; Federal government; 
State, local or tribal governments.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 106 respondents; 406 
responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 24 to 120 hours.
    Frequency of Response: Annual, on occasion, one-time, monthly, and 
semi-annually reporting requirements; Recordkeeping requirement; Third 
party disclosure requirement.
    Obligation To Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefit. The 
statutory authority for the information collections is contained in 47 
U.S.C. 154, 254(k); sections 403(b)(2)(B), (c), Public Law 104-104, 110 
Stat. 56. Interpret or apply 47 U.S.C. 201, 218, 222, 225, 226, 228, 
254(k), and 620.
    Total Annual Burden: 21,412 hours. Total Annual Cost: None.
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: Confidentiality is an issue 
to the extent that individuals and households provide personally 
identifiable information, which is covered under the FCC's system of 
records notice (SORN), FCC/CGB-1, ``Informal Complaints and 
Inquiries.'' As required by the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. 552a, the 
Commission also published a SORN, FCC/CGB-1 ``Informal Complaints and 
Inquiries,'' in the Federal Register on December 15, 2009 (74 FR 66356) 
which became effective on January 25, 2010. Also, the Commission is in 
the process of preparing the new SORN and PIA titled CGB-3, ``National 
Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program,'' to cover the PII collected 
related thereto, as required by OMB's Memorandum M-03-22 (September 26, 
2003) and by the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. 552a.
    Privacy Impact Assessment: Yes. The Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) 
was completed on June 28, 2007. It may be reviewed at: https://www.fcc.gov/omd/privacyact/Privacy_Impact_Assessment.html. The 
Commission is in the process of updating the PIA to incorporate various 
revisions made to the SORN and is in the process of preparing a new 
SORN to cover the PII collected related thereto, as stated above.
    Needs and Uses: On April 6, 2011, in document FCC 11-56, the 
Commission released a Report and Order adopting final rules requiring 
the following:

[[Page 26728]]

    (a) State EDPs, other public programs, and private entities may 
submit applications for NDBEDP certification to the Commission. For 
each state, the Commission will certify a single program as the sole 
authorized entity to participate in the NDBEDP and receive 
reimbursement from the TRS Fund. The Commission will determine whether 
to grant certification based on the ability of a program to meet the 
following qualifications, either directly or in coordination with other 
programs or entities, as evidenced in the application and any 
supplemental materials, including letters of recommendation:
     Expertise in the field of deaf-blindness, including 
familiarity with the culture and etiquette of people who are deaf-
blind, to ensure that equipment distribution and the provision of 
related services occurs in a manner that is relevant and useful to 
consumers who are deaf-blind;
     The ability to communicate effectively with people who are 
deaf-blind (for training and other purposes), by among other things, 
using sign language, providing materials in Braille, ensuring that 
information made available online is accessible, and using other 
assistive technologies and methods to achieve effective communication;
     Staffing and facilities sufficient to administer the 
program, including the ability to distribute equipment and provide 
related services to eligible individuals throughout the state, 
including those in remote areas;
     Experience with the distribution of specialized CPE, 
especially to people who are deaf-blind;
     Experience in how to train users on how to use the 
equipment and how to set up the equipment for its effective use; and
     Familiarity with the telecommunications, Internet access, 
and advanced communications services that will be used with the 
distributed equipment.
    (b) Each program certified under the NDBEDP must submit the 
following data electronically to the Commission, as instructed by the 
NDBEDP Administrator, every six months, commencing with the start of 
the pilot program:
     For each piece of equipment distributed, the identity of 
and contact information, including street and e-mail addresses, and 
phone number, for the individual receiving that equipment;
     For each piece of equipment distributed, the identity of 
and contact information, including street and e-mail addresses, and 
phone number, for the individual attesting to the disability of the 
individual who is deaf-blind;
     For each piece of equipment distributed, its name, serial 
number, brand, function, and cost, the type of communications service 
with which it is used, and the type of relay service it can access;
     For each piece of equipment distributed, the amount of 
time, following any assessment conducted, that the requesting 
individual waited to receive that equipment;
     The cost, time and any other resources allocated to 
assessing an individual's equipment needs;
     The cost, time and any other resources allocated to 
installing equipment and training deaf-blind individuals on using 
equipment;
     The cost, time and any other resources allocated to 
maintain, repair, cover under warranty, and refurbish equipment;
     The cost, time and any other resources allocated to 
outreach activities related to the NDBEDP, and the type of outreach 
efforts undertaken;
     The cost, time and any other resources allocated to 
upgrading the distributed equipment, along with the nature of such 
upgrades;
     To the extent that the program has denied equipment 
requests made by their deaf-blind residents, a summary of the number 
and types of equipment requests denied and reasons for such denials;
     To the extent that the program has received complaints 
related to the program, a summary of the number and types of such 
complaints and their resolution; and
     The number of qualified applicants on waiting lists to 
receive equipment.
    (c) Each program certified under the NDBEDP must retain all records 
associated with the distribution of equipment and provision of related 
services under the NDBEDP for two years following the termination of 
the pilot program.
    (d) Each program certified under the NDBEDP must obtain 
verification that NDBEDP applicants meet the definition of an 
individual who is deaf-blind.
    (e) Each program certified under the NDBEDP must obtain 
verification that NDBEDP applicants meet the income eligibility 
requirements.
    (f) Programs certified under the NDBEDP shall be reimbursed for the 
cost of equipment that has been distributed to eligible individuals and 
authorized related services, up to the state's funding allotment under 
this program. Within 30 days after the end of each six-month period of 
the Fund Year, each program certified under the NDBEDP pilot must 
submit documentation that supports its claim for reimbursement of the 
reasonable costs of the following:
     Equipment and related expenses, including maintenance, 
repairs, warranties, returns, refurbishing, upgrading, and replacing 
equipment distributed to consumers;
     Individual needs assessments;
     Installation of equipment and individualized consumer 
training;
     Maintenance of an inventory of equipment that can be 
loaned to the consumer during periods of equipment repair;
     Outreach efforts to inform state residents about the 
NDBEDP; and administration of the program, but not to exceed 15 percent 
of the total reimbursable costs for the distribution of equipment and 
related services permitted under the NDBEDP.

Federal Communications Commission.
Bulah P. Wheeler,
Deputy Manager.
[FR Doc. 2011-10225 Filed 5-6-11; 8:45 am]
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