Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission, 4204-4206 [2018-01753]

Agencies

• FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 20 (Tuesday, January 30, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4204-4206]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-01753]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[OMB 3060-1150]


Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal 
Communications Commission

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, 
and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, 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

[[Page 4205]]

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 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 PRA comments should be submitted on or before April 2, 
2018. 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 
[email protected] and to [email protected].

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    OMB Control Number: 3060-1150.
    Title: Telecommunications Relay Services Certification Applications 
and Video Relay Service Compliance Requirements, CG Docket Nos. 03-123 
and 10-51.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities; State, Local or 
Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 72 respondents; 412 responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 0.5 hours (30 minutes) to 25 hours.
    Frequency of Response: Annual, one-time and on occasion reporting 
requirements; Third party disclosure requirement.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The 
statutory authority for the information collection is found at section 
225 of the Act, 47 U.S.C. 225. The law was enacted on July 26, 1990, as 
Title IV of the ADA, Public Law 101-336, 104 Stat. 327, 366-69.
    Total Annual Burden: 1,179 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: $24,000.
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: An assurance of 
confidentiality is not offered because this information collection does 
not require the collection of personally identifiable information (PII) 
from individuals.
    Privacy Impact Assessment: No impact(s).
    Needs and Uses: In 1991, the Commission adopted rules governing the 
telecommunications relay services (TRS) program and procedures for each 
state TRS program to apply for initial Commission certification and 
renewal of Commission certification of each state program. 
Telecommunications Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech 
Disabilities, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Report 
and Order and Request for Comments, document FCC 91-213, published at 
56 FR 36729, August 1, 1991 (1991 TRS Implementation Order).
    On July 28, 2011, the Commission released Structure and Practices 
of the Video Relay Service Program, document FCC 11-118, published at 
76 FR 47469, August 5, 2011, and at 76 FR 47476, August 5, 2011 (VRS 
Certification Order), adopting final and interim rules--designed to 
help prevent fraud and abuse, and ensure quality service, in the 
provision of internet-based forms of Telecommunications Relay Services 
(iTRS). The VRS Certification Order amended the Commission's process 
for certifying internet-based TRS (iTRS) providers as eligible for 
payment from the Interstate TRS Fund (Fund) for their provision of iTRS 
to ensure that iTRS providers receiving certification are qualified to 
provide iTRS in compliance with the Commission's rules and to eliminate 
waste, fraud and abuse through improved oversight of such providers.
    On October 17, 2011, the Commission released Structure and 
Practices of the Video Relay Service Program, Memorandum Opinion and 
Order, Order, and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, document FCC 
11-155, published at 76 FR 67070, October 31, 2011 (VRS Certification 
Reconsideration Order), modifying two aspects of information collection 
requirements contained in the VRS Certification Order.
    The VRS Certification Order as modified by the VRS Certification 
Reconsideration contains information collection requirements with 
respect to the following eight requirements, all of which are intended 
to ensure that providers are qualified to provide iTRS in compliance 
with the Commission's rules with no or minimal service interruption.
    (A) Required Evidence for Submission for Eligibility Certification. 
Each potential iTRS provider must submit full and detailed information 
in its application for certification that shows its ability to comply 
with the Commission's rules. Each applicant must provide a detailed 
description of how it will meet all non-waived mandatory minimum 
standards applicable to each form of TRS offered, including documentary 
and other evidence.
    In the case of VRS, such documentary and other evidence shall also 
demonstrate that the applicant leases, licenses or has acquired its own 
facilities and operates such facilities associated with TRS call 
centers and employs communications assistants, on a full or part-time 
basis, to staff such call centers at the date of the application. Such 
evidence shall include but not be limited to:
    1. For VRS applicants operating five or fewer call centers within 
the United States, a copy of each deed or lease for each call center;
    2. For VRS applicants operating more than five call centers within 
the United States, a copy of each deed or lease for a representative 
sampling of five call centers;
    3. For VRS applicants operating call centers outside of the United 
States, a copy of each deed or lease for each call center;
    4. For all applicants, a list of individuals or entities that hold 
at least a 10 percent equity interest in the applicant, have the power 
to vote 10 percent or more of the securities of the applicant, or 
exercise de jure or de facto control over the applicant, a description 
of the applicant's organizational structure, and the names of its 
executives, officers, members of its board of directors, general 
partners (in the case of a partnership), and managing members (in the 
case of a limited liability company);
    5. For all applicants, a list of the number of applicant's full-
time and part-time employees involved in TRS operations, including and 
divided by the following positions: Executives and officers; video 
phone installers (in the case of VRS), communications assistants, and 
persons involved in marketing and sponsorship activities;
    6. Where applicable, a description of the call center 
infrastructure, and for all core call center functions (automatic call 
distribution, routing, call setup, mapping, call features, billing for 
compensation from the TRS fund, and registration) a statement whether 
such equipment is owned, leased or licensed (and from whom if leased or 
licensed) and proofs of purchase, leases or license agreements, 
including a complete copy of any lease or license agreement for 
automatic call distribution;
    7. For all applicants, copies of employment agreements for all of 
the provider's employees directly involved in TRS operations, 
executives and communications assistants, and a list of

[[Page 4206]]

names of employees directly involved in TRS operations need not be 
submitted with the application, but must be retained by the applicant 
and submitted to the Commission upon request; and
    8. For all applicants, a list of all sponsorship arrangements 
relating to internet-based TRS, including a description of any 
associated written agreements; copies of all such arrangements and 
agreements must be retained by the applicant for three years from the 
date of the application, and submitted to the Commission upon request.
    (B) Submission of Annual Report. Providers submit annual reports 
that include updates to the information listed under Section A above or 
certify that there are no changes to the information listed under 
Section A above.
    (C) Requiring Providers to Seek Prior Authorization of Voluntary 
Interruption of Service. A VRS provider seeking to voluntarily 
interrupt service for a period of 30 minutes or more in duration must 
first obtain Commission authorization by submitting a written request 
to the Commission's Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB) at 
least 60 days prior to any planned service interruption, with detailed 
information of:
    (i) Its justification for such interruption;
    (ii) Its plan to notify customers about the impending interruption; 
and
    (iii) Its plans for resuming service, so as to minimize the impact 
of such disruption on consumers through a smooth transition of 
temporary service to another provider, and restoration of its service 
at the completion of such interruption.
    (D) Reporting of Unforeseen Service Interruptions. With respect to 
brief, unforeseen service interruptions or in the event of a VRS 
provider's voluntary service interruption of less than 30 minutes in 
duration, the affected provider must submit a written notification to 
CGB within two business days of the commencement of the service 
interruption, with an explanation of when and how the provider has 
restored service or the provider's plan to do so imminently. In the 
event the provider has not restored service at the time such report is 
filed, the provider must submit a second report within two business 
days of the restoration of service with an explanation of when and how 
the provider has restored service.
    (E) Applicant Certifying Under Penalty of Perjury for Certification 
Application. The chief executive officer (CEO), chief financial officer 
(CFO), or other senior executive of an applicant for iTRS certification 
with first-hand knowledge of the accuracy and completeness of the 
information provided must certify under penalty of perjury that all 
application information required under the Commission's rules and 
orders has been provided and that all statements of fact, as well as 
all documentation contained in the application submission, are true, 
accurate, and complete.
    (F) Certified Provider Certifying Under Penalty of Perjury for 
Annual Compliance Filings. The CEO, CFO, or other senior executive of 
an iTRS provider with first-hand knowledge of the accuracy and 
completeness of the information provided, when submitting an annual 
compliance report under 47 CFR 64.606(g), must certify under penalty of 
perjury that all information required under the Commission's rules and 
orders has been provided and all statements of fact, as well as all 
documentation contained in the annual compliance report submission, are 
true, accurate, and complete.
    (G) Notification of Service Cessation. An applicant for 
certification must give its customers at least 30-days notice that it 
will no longer provide service should the Commission determine that the 
applicant's certification application does not qualify for 
certification under 47 CFR 64.606(a)(2) of the Commission's rules.
    (H) Notification on Website. A provider must provide notification 
of temporary service outages to consumers on an accessible website, and 
the provider must ensure that the information regarding service status 
is updated on its website in a timely manner.
    On June 10, 2013, the Commission made permanent the interim rule 
adopted in the VRS Certification Order requiring all applicants and 
providers of iTRS to certify, under penalty of perjury, that their 
certification applications and annual compliance reports are truthful, 
accurate, and complete.
    Structure and Practices of the Video Relay Service Program; 
Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for 
Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities, Report and Order and 
Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, document FCC 13-82, published at 
78 FR 40582, July 5, 2013.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-01753 Filed 1-29-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6712-01-P