IP CTS Improvements and Program Management, 9276-9281 [2019-04040]
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 50 / Thursday, March 14, 2019 / Proposed Rules
§ 220.9 Withdrawal of petitions,
amendments to petitions.
(a) Withdrawal of petitions. A
petitioner may withdraw a petition for
duty suspension or reduction filed
under this part no later than 30 days
after the Commission submits its
preliminary report, as described in
§ 220.12. It shall do so by notifying the
Commission through the Commission’s
designated secure web portal of its
withdrawal and the notification shall
include the name of the petitioner, the
Commission identification number for
the petition, and the HTS number for
the article concerned.
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■ 6. Revise § 220.10 to read as follows:
§ 220.10 Commission publication and
public availability of petitions.
Not later than 30 days after expiration
of the 60-day period for filing petitions
for duty suspensions and reductions,
the Commission will publish on its
website the petitions for duty
suspensions and reductions submitted
under § 220.3 that were timely filed and
contain the information required under
§ 220.5. When circumstances allow, the
Commission may post such petitions on
its website earlier than 30 days after
expiration of the 60-day period for filing
petitions.
■ 7. Re-designate §§ 220.11 through
220.14 as §§ 220.12 through 220.15 and
add a new § 220.11 to read as follows:
§ 220.11
Public comment period
(a) Time for filing. Not later than 30
days after expiration of the 60-day
period for filing petitions, the
Commission will also publish in the
Federal Register and on its website a
notice requesting members of the public
to submit comments on the petitions for
duty suspensions and reductions. To be
considered, such comments must be
filed through the Commission’s secure
web portal during the 45-day period
following publication of the
Commission’s notice requesting
comments from members of the public.
For purposes of this section, all
petitions posted by the Commission on
its website, whether or not posted early,
shall be deemed to be officially
published by the Commission on its
website on the date of publication of the
notice seeking written comments from
members of the public on the petitions.
(b) In general. The comment shall
include the following information:
(1) The name, telephone number, and
postal and email address of the
commenter, and if appropriate, its
representative in the matter,
(2) A statement as to whether the
commenter is a U.S. producer, importer,
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government entity, trade association or
group, or other,
(3) A statement as to whether the
comment supports the petition; objects
to the petition; or takes no position with
respect to the petitions/provides other
comment,
(4) If the commenter is an importer, a
list of the leading source countries of
the product,
(5) A certification from the
commenter that the information
supplied is complete and correct to the
best of the commenter’s knowledge and
belief, and an acknowledgement from
the commenter that the information
submitted is subject to audit and
verification by the Commission,
(6) Comments, including any
attachments thereto, must comply with
the Commission’s Handbook on MTB
Filing Procedures as posted on the
Commission’s website.
(c) Comments from domestic
producers. Comments from a firm
claiming to be a domestic producer, as
defined in § 220.2(g), shall also include:
(1) A description of the product
alleged to be identical, like, or directly
competitive with the product that is the
subject of the petition,
(2) The Chemical Abstracts Service
registry number for the product (if
applicable),
(3) A statement as to whether an
identical, like, or directly competitive
product was produced in the current
calendar year and, if not, the year in
which the product was last produced or
in which production is expected to
begin within the United States,
(4) A statement as to whether such
product is commercially available and,
if not commercially available, an
explanation of its lack of availability,
(5) The physical address(es) for the
location(s) of the production facility(ies)
producing the product within the
United States, and
(6) Evidence demonstrating the
existence of domestic production (e.g.,
catalogs, press releases, marketing
materials, specification sheets, copies of
orders for the product).
(d) The Commission may provide
additional opportunity for public
comment and, if so, will announce that
comment period in the Federal Register.
■ 8. Amend newly re-designated
§ 220.12 by revising paragraph (b)(2) to
read as follows:
§ 220.12
Commission preliminary report.
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(b) * * *
(2) A list of petitions for duty
suspensions and reductions for which
the Commission recommends technical
corrections in order to meet the
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requirements of the Act, with the
correction specified.
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■ 9. Amend newly re-designated
§ 220.13 by revising the section heading
to read as follows:
§ 220.13
Commission final report.
10. Amend newly re-designated
§ 220.14 by revising the section heading
to read as follows:
■
§ 220.14 Confidential business
information.
11. Amend newly re-designated
§ 220.15 by revising the section heading
to read as follows:
■
§ 220.15
rules.
Application of other Commission
By order of the Commission.
Issued: March 1, 2019.
Katherine Hiner,
Acting Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2019–04095 Filed 3–13–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020–02–P
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 64
[CG Docket Nos. 03–123 and 13–24; FCC
19–11]
IP CTS Improvements and Program
Management
Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
AGENCY:
In this document, the
Commission proposes to require IP CTS
providers to include user account
identifiers in monthly call records
submitted for compensation; allow new
IP CTS users to receive service for up to
two weeks, while their identities are
verified in the User Registration
Database; and simplify the handling of
911 calls placed by IP CTS users who
connect to an IP CTS provider via the
internet in order to place a call. These
proposals will improve IP CTS by better
facilitating compensation of providers
by the TRS Fund administrator,
preventing unnecessary inconvenience
to IP CTS registrants seeking new
service, and eliminating outdated 911
rules that no longer appear to serve a
valid public safety purpose.
DATES: Comments are due April 15,
2019. Reply comments are due April 29,
2019.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments,
identified by CG Docket Nos. 03–123
and 13–24, by either of the following
methods:
SUMMARY:
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• Federal Communications
Commission’s website: https://
www.fcc.gov/ecfs/. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
• People with Disabilities: Contact the
FCC to request reasonable
accommodations (accessible format
documents, sign language interpreters,
CART, etc.) by email: FCC504@fcc.gov
or phone: 202–418–0530 or TTY: 888–
835–5322.
For detailed instructions for
submitting comments and additional
information on the rulemaking process,
see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section of this document.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michael Scott, Consumer and
Governmental Affairs Bureau, at (202)
418–1264, or email Michael.Scott@
fcc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a
summary of the Commission’s Further
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
(FNPRM), CG Docket Nos. 03–123, 13–
24; FCC 19–11, adopted on February 14,
2019, and released on February 15,
2019. The Report and Order in
document FCC 19–11 will be published
elsewhere in the Federal Register. The
full text of this document is available for
public inspection and copying via the
Commission’s Electronic Comment
Filing System (ECFS), and during
regular business hours at the FCC
Reference Information Center, Portals II,
445 12th Street SW, Room CY–A257,
Washington, DC 20554. To request
materials in accessible formats for
people with disabilities (Braille, large
print, electronic files, audio format),
send an email to fcc504@fcc.gov or call
the Consumer and Governmental Affairs
Bureau at (202) 418–0530 (voice) or
(202) 418–0432 (TTY).
This proceeding shall be treated as a
‘‘permit-but-disclose’’ proceeding in
accordance with the Commission’s ex
parte rules. 47 CFR 1.1200 et seq.
Persons making ex parte presentations
must file a copy of any written
presentation or a memorandum
summarizing any oral presentation
within two business days after the
presentation (unless a different deadline
applicable to the Sunshine period
applies). Persons making oral ex parte
presentations are reminded that
memoranda summarizing the
presentation must (1) list all persons
attending or otherwise participating in
the meeting at which the ex parte
presentation was made, and (2)
summarize all data presented and
arguments made during the
presentation. If the presentation
consisted in whole or in part of the
presentation of data or arguments
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already reflected in the presenter’s
written comments, memoranda or other
filings in the proceeding, the presenter
may provide citations to such data or
arguments in his or her prior comments,
memoranda, or other filings (specifying
the relevant page and/or paragraph
numbers where such data or arguments
can be found) in lieu of summarizing
them in the memorandum. Documents
shown or given to Commission staff
during ex parte meetings are deemed to
be written ex parte presentations and
must be filed consistent with rule
1.1206(b). In proceedings governed by
rule 1.49(f) or for which the
Commission has made available a
method of electronic filing, written ex
parte presentations and memoranda
summarizing oral ex parte
presentations, and all attachments
thereto, must be filed through the
electronic comment filing system
available for that proceeding, and must
be filed in their native format (e.g., .doc,
.xml, .ppt, searchable .pdf). Participants
in this proceeding should familiarize
themselves with the Commission’s ex
parte rules.
Initial Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995 Analysis
The Further Notice in document FCC
19–11 seeks comment on proposed rule
amendments that may result in
modified information collection
requirements. If the Commission adopts
any modified information collection
requirements, the Commission will
publish another notice in the Federal
Register inviting the public to comment
on the requirements, as required by the
Paperwork Reduction Act. Public Law
104–13; 44 U.S.C. 3501–3520. In
addition, pursuant to the Small
Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002,
the Commission seeks comment on how
it might further reduce the information
collection burden for small business
concerns with fewer than 25 employees.
Public Law 107–198; 44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(4).
Synopsis
1. IP CTS is a form of TRS that allows
individuals with hearing loss to both
read captions and use their residual
hearing to understand a telephone
conversation. Generally, IP CTS
employs two network paths: A voice
connection between the parties to the
call and a separate internet connection
that transmits the other party’s voice
from the IP CTS user’s phone to a
communications assistant (CA) and
transmits captions from the CA back to
the IP CTS user. In the most widely
used version of IP CTS, the CA then revoices everything the hearing party says
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into a speech recognition program,
which automatically transcribes the
words into captions.
Supporting Data for IP CTS
Compensation Requests
2. To facilitate compensation of
providers by the TRS Fund
administrator, the Commission proposes
to amend its rule specifying the data
accompanying compensation requests
by TRS providers, to expressly state that
IP CTS providers must submit a unique
account identifier, such as the electronic
serial number of the user’s device, the
user’s log-in ID, or the user’s email
address, to the TRS Fund administrator
in monthly call detail records submitted
for compensation. IP CTS users’
telephone numbers are not assigned
specifically for IP CTS use and are not
always the most effective means to
access a user’s account information.
Therefore, IP CTS providers currently
use other identifiers to uniquely identify
each IP CTS account, such as electronic
serial numbers of IP CTS devices, login IDs, or email addresses. Further, the
Commission has amended its rules to
require IP CTS providers to include a
unique account identifier in their data
submissions to the TRS User
Registration Database (Database). The
Commission believes amending its rules
to expressly provide that the same
information be included in call detail
records will enable the Fund
administrator to more efficiently verify
compensation requests, by matching call
data with the corresponding user data in
the Database. The Commission also
believes that the costs of collecting and
providing this information as part of
compensation requests will be minimal,
especially because IP CTS providers are
already providing an electronic serial
number in call detail records for the vast
majority of calls. The Commission seeks
comment on these assumptions and on
the costs and benefits of adopting this
proposal. The Commission also seeks
comment on whether other changes are
warranted in the data elements required
with IP CTS providers’ compensation
requests.
Providing Service to New and Porting
Users Pending Database Verification
3. To eliminate unnecessary
inconvenience to IP CTS registrants,
without a significant increase in the risk
of waste, fraud, and abuse, the
Commission proposes to allow IP CTS
providers to provide service to new and
porting users for up to two weeks
pending the completion of identity
verification by the Database
administrator. The Commission believes
this change is needed to ensure that
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service to new and porting IP CTS users
can be commenced efficiently and
without undue delay or disruption of
service, in order to facilitate
competition and ensure the functional
equivalence of this service.
Compensation for calls placed or
received by the user during this period
would be paid only if the user’s identity
is ultimately verified.
4. Experience with VRS user
registration has shown that identity
verification for most users is completed
within hours of data submission to the
Database, but for some users,
verification can take longer, e.g., due to
technical problems or because the user’s
identity cannot be verified without the
submission of additional information.
Under the proposed rule change, a
consumer would not be subjected to a
delay in commencement of service as a
result of verification issues that are
often beyond the consumer’s control.
The Commission believes that any
resulting risk of waste, fraud, or abuse
is minimal because, under the proposal,
no compensation may be requested or
paid until the user’s identity has been
successfully verified. The Commission
seeks comment on the costs and benefits
of this proposal.
IP CTS Emergency Call Handling
Requirements
5. The emergency call handling
requirements for IP CTS apply only to
certain forms of this service. For the
predominantly used form of IP CTS,
where the voice connection for a call is
established using an ordinary wireline
telephone service and there is a separate
internet connection made solely for the
IP CTS user to receive captions, the
telephone company or voice-overinternet-Protocol (VoIP) service provider
is responsible for delivering 911 calls
and location information to emergency
authorities. However, where IP CTS is
configured for web and wireless access,
such that the user can initiate a call by
connecting to the IP CTS provider via
the internet, the IP CTS provider is
responsible for handling 911 calls in
accordance with § 64.605(a) of the
Commission’s rules.
6. The Commission proposes to
amend the Commission’s rules to
simplify the handling of 911 calls
placed by IP CTS users who initiate
calls via the internet—generally, weband wireless-based IP CTS—by
eliminating any need for IP CTS
providers to involve their CAs in 911
call handling and to collect and transmit
unnecessary information. The
Commission also seeks comment on
whether any changes are needed in the
scope of the 911 call handling rule
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applicable to IP CTS. If so, the
Commission seeks comment on whether
and how such changes would affect the
911 responsibilities of underlying
service providers.
7. The current rule requires an IP CTS
provider, among other things, to
transmit the caller’s name, the relay
provider’s name, the CA’s callback
number, and the CA’s identification
number to the Public Service Answering
Point (PSAP) or other emergency
authority receiving a 911 IP CTS call,
and to initiate the reconnection of
disconnected calls. These requirements,
which were devised to address
problems that arose in early versions of
VRS and IP Relay, have posed
significant implementation issues for
providers of web and wireless based IP
CTS, largely due to the limited
communication capabilities of IP CTS
CAs. Further, the Commission believes
that the alternative approach proposed
below would provide more effective
implementation of the policy
underlying the rule.
8. First, the Commission proposes to
eliminate the current requirements for
an IP CTS provider to deliver to the
PSAP (or other emergency authority) the
name of the caller, the name of the
provider, and an identification number
and callback number for the CA
handling the call. Instead, the
Commission proposes to require an IP
CTS provider to provide a telephone
number to the PSAP that enables the
PSAP to call the user back directly,
while ensuring that the user receives
captions on the callback. This proposed
change would decrease the time and
cost associated with responding to
emergencies reported by web- and
wireless-based IP CTS users by relieving
both IP CTS providers and PSAPs of the
need to collect, transmit, and review
information that appears to be
unnecessary for handling a 911 call.
9. Second, the Commission proposes
to remove the current requirement for
an IP CTS provider to initiate the
reconnection of a disconnected 911 call.
IP CTS CAs generally do not have the
capability to connect calls. Accordingly,
to comply with the reconnection
requirement, IP CTS providers have
either configured a unique setup for 911
calls or have used a complicated workaround. Further, the Commission
believes that the provider’s assignment
to users of an IP CTS-specific telephone
number that is transmitted to the PSAP
with an emergency call will render it
unnecessary for the IP CTS provider to
be involved in reconnecting
disconnected 911 calls.
10. The Commission believes these
amendments are likely to save precious
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time during an emergency. Less time
will be wasted in obtaining unnecessary
information from callers, and 911 call
takers will be able to reconnect with the
caller more rapidly rather than waiting
for the TRS provider to reestablish the
call. The Commission also believes that
implementing this proposal will impose
minimal costs—and may actually
produce net cost savings, given the
elimination of unnecessary CA
involvement in call set-up and the
reduced amount of information that an
IP CTS provider will need to collect and
transmit during an IP CTS call. Multiple
IP CTS providers have sought waivers of
the Commission rules to implement the
changes the Commission proposes,
suggesting that in their evaluation, the
benefits of the proposal outweigh the
costs. The Commission seeks comment
on these proposals and its underlying
assumptions. The Commission also
seeks comment on the length of time
that would be needed for IP CTS
providers to come into compliance with
the modified rule.
11. Technical Feasibility of Assigning
NANP Numbers. To implement the
Commission’s proposal, IP CTS
providers must be able to provide their
web- or wireless-based users with
NANP telephone numbers that enable
the users to receive captioned callbacks
from a 911 PSAP. Although the record
suggests that the assignment of such
NANP numbers for the purpose of
receiving IP CTS calls is feasible, the
Commission seeks comment on whether
providing such telephone numbers
poses any technical, administrative,
legal, or other challenges for IP CTS
providers generally and how such issues
could be resolved.
12. Scope of the Rule. The
Commission also seeks comment on
how to define the category of IP CTS
providers that would be subject to the
proposed 911 call handling rule. Should
the Commission continue to define this
class as ‘‘providers of forms of IP CTS
that allow users to initiate calls by
contacting the provider over the
internet’’? Are there alternative
formulations that would be more
appropriate? For example, should the
Commission define this provider class
as ‘‘IP CTS providers that provide the
voice connection, as well as captions,
for an IP CTS call’’? To the extent that
the current definition is changed to
narrow (or expand) the category of IP
CTS providers covered by § 64.605 of
the Commission’s rules, how would that
affect the 911 obligations of other
service providers—such as the
underlying carriers that transmit IP CTS
calls—and what are the costs and
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benefits of such a shift in responsibility
for 911 calls?
13. Should an IP CTS provider that
provides a voice connection, e.g.,
through a VoIP service or commercial
mobile radio service (CMRS), be deemed
a VoIP or CMRS reseller subject to the
emergency call handling rules
applicable to such resellers? To the
extent that an IP CTS provider is
deemed to be a VoIP or CMRS reseller,
the provider’s 911 location
determination obligations are likely to
be affected. For example, if an IP CTS
provider is deemed a VoIP reseller, the
provider would be required to
determine a 911 caller’s location by
means of the caller’s Registered
Location, rather than by asking the
caller for his or her location before
routing the call to a PSAP, as provided
for in § 64.605(a) of the Commission’s
rules. Similarly, an IP CTS provider that
is deemed a CMRS reseller would be
required to determine a 911 caller’s
location in accordance with § 20.18 of
the Commission’s rules. In the event
that an IP CTS provider is deemed to be
a VoIP or CMRS reseller, what rule
modifications, if any, would be
necessary to maintain the IP CTS
provider’s obligation to provide
captions—and to give such calls priority
over other captioned calls—for 911 calls
initiated by its registered users, as well
as for callbacks by the 911 PSAP?
14. Pursuant to §§ 1.415 and 1.419 of
the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR 1.415,
1.419, interested parties may file
comments and reply comments on or
before the dates indicated on the first
page of this document. Comments may
be filed using the Commission’s
Electronic Comment Filing System
(ECFS). See Electronic Filing of
Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings,
63 FR 24121 (1998).
• Electronic Filers: Comments may be
filed electronically using the internet by
accessing the ECFS: https://www.fcc.gov/
ecfs/.
• Paper Filers: Parties who choose to
file by paper must file an original and
one copy of each filing. If more than one
docket or rulemaking number appears in
the caption of this proceeding, filers
must submit two additional copies for
each additional docket or rulemaking
number.
Filings can be sent by hand or
messenger delivery, by commercial
overnight courier, or by first-class or
overnight U.S. Postal Service mail. All
filings must be addressed to the
Commission’s Secretary, Office of the
Secretary, Federal Communications
Commission.
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• All hand-delivered or messengerdelivered paper filings for the
Commission’s Secretary must be
delivered to FCC Headquarters at 445
12th Street SW, Room TW–A325,
Washington, DC 20554. The filing hours
are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand
deliveries must be held together with
rubber bands or fasteners. Any
envelopes and boxes must be disposed
of before entering the building.
• Commercial overnight mail (other
than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail
and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9050
Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD
20701.
• U.S. Postal Service first-class,
Express, and Priority mail must be
addressed to 445 12th Street SW,
Washington DC 20554.
People with Disabilities: To request
materials in accessible formats for
people with disabilities (braille, large
print, electronic files, audio format),
send an email to fcc504@fcc.gov or call
the Consumer & Governmental Affairs
Bureau at 202–418–0530 (voice), 888–
835–5322 (tty).
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
15. As required by the Regulatory
Flexibility Act of 1980, as amended
(RFA), the Commission has prepared
this Initial Regulatory Flexibility
Analysis (IRFA) of the possible
significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities by
the policies and rules proposed in the
document FCC 19–11. Written public
comments are requested on this IRFA.
Comments must be identified as
responses to the IRFA and must be filed
by the deadline for comments specified
in the DATES section. The Commission
will send a copy of document FCC 19–
11, to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy
of the Small Business Administration
(SBA).
9279
Database user verification process is
pending, and to collect TRS Fund
compensation for calls that are
otherwise compensable only if the TRS
user is ultimately verified as eligible to
use IP CTS by the Database
administrator.
17. In addition, for forms of IP CTS
that allow users to initiate calls by
contacting the provider over the
internet, the Commission proposes to
update the rules governing the handling
of IP CTS calls to 911 emergency
services. Specifically, in lieu of the
current requirements to deliver to the
PSAP the name of the caller, the name
of the provider, and an identification
number and callback number for the CA
handling the call, and to initiate the
reconnection of disconnected 911 calls,
the Commission proposes to require a
provider to provide a telephone number
to the PSAP that enables the PSAP to
call the user back via IP CTS, so that the
user receives captions. This approach
will be more consistent with the
Commission’s rules for 911 call
handling by VRS, IP Relay, and VoIP
service providers and will likely save IP
CTS users precious time during an
emergency.
Legal Basis
18. The authority for this proposed
rulemaking is contained in sections 1
and 225 of the Communications Act of
1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 151, 225.
Small Entities Impacted
19. The rules proposed in document
FCC 19–11 will affect obligations of IP
CTS providers. These services can be
included within the broad economic
category of All Other
Telecommunications.
Need For, and Objectives of, the
Proposed Rules
Description of Projected Reporting,
Recordkeeping, and Other Compliance
Requirements
16. In document FCC 19–11, the
Commission proposes to require that a
unique account identifier, such as the
electronic serial number of an end user’s
device, a user’s log-in identification, or
an email address, be included in call
detail records (CDRs) submitted for TRS
Fund compensation. Such information
will facilitate compensation of providers
by the TRS Fund administrator. The
Commission also proposes to permit IP
CTS providers to provide service to new
users, after the deadline for submission
of user registration information to the
Database, for up to two weeks after the
user’s registration information has been
populated in the Database while the
20. The proposed revisions to the call
data reporting requirements would
require IP CTS providers to maintain
records of unique account identifiers,
such as the electronic serial numbers of
user devices, users’ log-in
identifications, or user email addresses
and provide that information to the TRS
Fund administrator when seeking
compensation for calls. The proposed
revision regarding when IP CTS
providers may commence service to
new users would permit IP CTS
providers to provide service to new
users at the provider’s own risk for up
to two weeks while the Database
verification process is pending.
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21. The proposed changes to the rules
governing the handling of IP CTS calls
to 911 emergency services would
require IP CTS providers to deliver a
user’s assigned telephone number to an
emergency authority when 911 is
dialed.
Steps Taken To Minimize Significant
Impact on Small Entities, and
Significant Alternatives Considered
22. If the Commission adopts the
proposed revisions to the call data
collection requirements, it would
require IP CTS providers to provide
unique account identifiers, such as
electronic serial numbers of user
devices, users’ log-in identification, or
user email addresses, to the TRS Fund
administrator when seeking
compensation for calls. This
requirement is narrowly tailored to help
the Commission identify and evaluate
risks, monitoring compliance with
program rules, and minimize waste,
fraud, and abuse in the IP CTS program.
The Commission believes that the
requirement will not be burdensome
because providers already have a record
of such unique account identifiers.
Thus, the Commission believes that
adding this information to already
existing call data requirements will have
a minimal effect on small entities.
23. If the Commission adopts the
proposed revision permitting IP CTS
providers to commence service to new
users at the provider’s own risk for up
to two weeks while the Database
verification process is pending, it would
afford providers additional flexibility on
when to commence service. The rule
change is designed to avoid possible
burdens on small businesses because
the provision of service prior to
verification by the Database
Administrator at the provider’s own risk
is optional, and providers also have the
option to wait to provide service to the
user until after the user is verified by
the Database Administrator.
24. If the Commission adopts the
proposed changes to the rules governing
the handling of IP CTS calls to 911
emergency services for those forms of IP
CTS that allow users to initiate calls by
contacting the provider over the
internet, the Commission believes it
would reduce the burden on IP CTS
providers, including small entities, to
manually collect and retain information
from IP CTS users at the start of an
emergency call. This transition could
impose implementation costs on
providers, but the Commission believes
the benefits to the transition would
outweigh any such costs. Specifically,
during an emergency less time would be
wasted in obtaining information from
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:06 Mar 13, 2019
Jkt 247001
callers that is no longer necessary, and
911 call takers would be able to
reconnect with the caller more rapidly.
In addition to saving time during a 911
call, adoption of the rules could also
result in net cost savings due to the
reduced amount of information that an
IP CTS provider would need to collect
and transmit during an IP CTS call. The
Commission also believes that IP CTS
providers would prefer this approach as
evidenced by their requests to
implement emergency call handling in
accordance with the Commission’s
proposal.
25. The Commission seeks comment
from all interested parties. Small
entities are encouraged to bring to the
Commission’s attention any specific
concerns they may have with the
proposals outlined. The Commission
expects to consider the economic
impact on small entities, as identified in
comments filed in response to
document FCC 19–11, in reaching its
final conclusions and taking action in
this proceeding.
Federal Rules Which Duplicate,
Overlap, or Conflict With, the
Commission’s Proposals
26. None.
List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 64
Individuals with disabilities,
Telecommunications, Telephones.
Federal Communications Commission.
Katura Jackson,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the
Secretary.
Proposed Rules
For the reasons discussed in the
preamble, the Federal Communications
Commission proposes to amend 47 part
64 as follows:
PART 64—MISCELLANEOUS RULES
RELATING TO COMMON CARRIERS
1. The authority citation for part 64
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154, 201, 202, 217,
218, 220, 222, 225, 226, 227, 228, 251(a),
251(e), 254(k), 262, 403(b)(2)(B), (c), 616, 620,
1401–1473, unless otherwise noted.
2. Amend § 64.604 by redesignating
paragraphs (c)(5)(iii)(D)(5) through (7) as
paragraphs (c)(5)(iii)(D)(6) through (8)
and adding paragraph (c)(5)(iii)(D)(5) to
read as follows:
■
§ 64.604
*
Mandatory minimum standards.
*
*
(c) * * *
(5) * * *
(iii) * * *
(D) * * *
PO 00000
Frm 00021
*
Fmt 4702
*
Sfmt 4702
(5) Additional call data required from
internet protocol captioned telephone
service providers. In addition to the data
required by paragraph (c)(5)(iii)(D)(2)
and (3) of this section, internet protocol
captioned telephone service providers
seeking compensation from the Fund
shall submit a unique account identifier
identifying the user receiving captions
for a call, such as the electronic serial
number of the internet protocol
captioned telephone service device, the
user’s log-in identification, or the user’s
email address.
*
*
*
*
*
■ 3. Amend § 64.605 by revising
paragraph (a)(1) and adding paragraph
(a)(3) to read as follows:
§ 64.605
Emergency calling requirements.
(a) Additional emergency calling
requirements applicable to internetbased TRS providers. (1) As of
December 31, 2008, the requirements of
paragraphs (a)(2)(i) and (a)(2)(iv) of this
section shall not apply to providers of
VRS and IP Relay to which paragraph
(b) of this section applies. As of the
effective date of paragraph (a)(3) of this
section, the requirements of paragraph
(a)(2)(iv) and (v) of this section shall not
apply to any provider of IP CTS.
*
*
*
*
*
(3) Providers of forms of IP CTS that
allow users to initiate calls by
contacting the provider over the internet
shall deliver to the PSAP, designated
statewide default answering point, or
appropriate local emergency authority,
at the outset of an emergency call, the
location of the emergency, and a
telephone number that is assigned to the
caller and that enables the PSAP,
designated statewide default answering
point, or appropriate local emergency
authority to call the 911 caller back
directly, while ensuring that the caller
receives captions on the callback.
■ 4. Amend § 64.611 by revising
paragraph (j)(2)(iv) to read as follows:
§ 64.611
internet-based TRS registration.
*
*
*
*
*
(j) * * *
(2) * * *
(iv) By the date of initiation of service
to an IP CTS user or device, or one year
after notice from the Commission that
the TRS User Registration Database is
ready to accept such information,
whichever is later, IP CTS providers
shall submit to the TRS User
Registration Database the registration
information required by paragraph
(j)(2)(i) or (iii) of this section. Calls from
or to registered IP CTS users or devices
whose registration information has not
been populated in the TRS User
Registration Database by the applicable
E:\FR\FM\14MRP1.SGM
14MRP1
9281
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 50 / Thursday, March 14, 2019 / Proposed Rules
date shall not be compensable, and an
IP CTS provider shall not seek TRS
Fund compensation for such calls,
provided however, that after the
applicable date, IP CTS providers may
provide service to new users for up to
two weeks after the user’s registration
information has been populated in the
TRS User Registration Database while
the TRS User Registration Database user
verification process is pending and will
seek TRS Fund compensation for such
calls that are otherwise compensable
only if the new user is ultimately
verified as eligible to use IP CTS by the
TRS User Registration Database
administrator.
*
*
*
*
*
[FR Doc. 2019–04040 Filed 3–13–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 73
[MB Docket No. 19–57, RM–11827; DA 19–
162]
Radio Broadcasting Services; Caliente,
Nevada
Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
AGENCY:
This document requests
comments on a Petition for Rule Making
filed by SSR Communications Inc.,
proposing to amend the FM Table of
Allotments, by allotting Channel 264A
at Caliente, Nevada, as the first local
service. A staff engineering analysis
indicates that Channel 264A can be
allotted to Caliente consistent with the
minimum distance separation
requirements of the Commission’s rules
without a site restriction. The reference
coordinates are 37–36–02 NL and 114–
30–32 WL.
DATES: Comments must be filed on or
before April 29, 2019 and reply
comments on or before May 14, 2019.
ADDRESSES: Secretary, Federal
Communications Commission, 445 12th
Street SW, Washington, DC 20554. In
addition to filing comments with the
FCC, interested parties should serve the
petitioner as follows: Matthew K.
Wesolowski, SSR Communications, Inc.,
740 Highway 49 North, Suite R, Flora,
MS 39071.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Rolanda F. Smith, Media Bureau, (202)
418–2700.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a
synopsis of the Commission’s Notice of
Proposed Rule Making, MB Docket No.
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:06 Mar 13, 2019
Jkt 247001
19–57, adopted March 7, 2019, and
released March 8, 2019. The full text of
this Commission decision is available
for inspection and copying during
normal business hours in the FCC’s
Reference Information Center at Portals
II, CY–A257, 445 12th Street SW,
Washington, DC 20554. The full text is
also available online at https://
apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/. This document does
not contain proposed information
collection requirements subject to the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
Public Law 104–13. In addition,
therefore, it does not contain any
proposed information collection burden
‘‘for small business concerns with fewer
than 25 employees,’’ pursuant to the
Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of
2002, Public Law 107–198, see 44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(4).
Provisions of the Regulatory
Flexibility Act of l980 do not apply to
this proceeding.
Members of the public should note
that from the time a Notice of Proposed
Rule Making is issued until the matter
is no longer subject to Commission
consideration or court review, all ex
parte contacts are prohibited in
Commission proceedings, such as this
one, which involve channel allotments.
See 47 CFR 1.1204(b) for rules
governing permissible ex parte contacts.
For information regarding proper
filing procedures for comments, see 47
CFR 1.415 and 1.420.
List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 73
Radio, Radio broadcasting.
Federal Communications Commission.
Nazifa Sawez,
Assistant Chief, Audio Division, Media
Bureau.
Proposed Rules
For the reasons discussed in the
preamble, the Federal Communications
Commission proposes to amend 47 CFR
part 73 as follows:
PART 73—RADIO BROADCAST
SERVICES
1. The authority citation for part 73
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154, 155, 301, 303,
307, 309, 310, 334, 336 and 339.
§ 73.202
[Amended]
2. Section 73.202 paragraph (b), the
Table of FM Allotments under Nevada,
is amended by adding Caliente, Channel
264A to read as follows in alphabetical
order:
■
§ 73.202
*
Table of Allotments.
*
*
*
*
(b) Table of FM Allotments.
PO 00000
Frm 00022
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
Nevada
*
*
*
Caliente .................................
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
264A
*
*
[FR Doc. 2019–04744 Filed 3–13–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 300
[181022969–9171–01]
RIN 0648–BI55
Pacific Halibut Fisheries; Catch
Sharing Plan
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Proposed rule; request for
comments.
AGENCY:
NMFS proposes to approve
changes to the Pacific Halibut Catch
Sharing Plan for the International
Pacific Halibut Commission’s regulatory
Area 2A off Washington, Oregon, and
California. In addition, NMFS proposes
to implement the portions of the Plan
and management measures that are not
implemented through the International
Pacific Halibut Commission. These
measures include the recreational
fishery seasons and allocations and
management measures for Area 2A.
These actions are intended to conserve
Pacific halibut and provide angler
opportunity where available.
DATES: Comments on the proposed rule
must be received on or before March 29,
2019.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
identified by NOAA–NMFS–2018–0132,
by either of the following methods:
• Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: Go to
www.regulations.gov/
#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-20180132, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon,
complete the required fields, and enter
or attach your comments.
• Mail: Submit written comments to
Kathryn Blair, West Coast Region,
NMFS, 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Suite
1100, Portland, OR 97232.
Instructions: NMFS may not consider
comments if they are sent by any other
method, to any other address or
individual, or received after the
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\14MRP1.SGM
14MRP1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 50 (Thursday, March 14, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 9276-9281]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-04040]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 64
[CG Docket Nos. 03-123 and 13-24; FCC 19-11]
IP CTS Improvements and Program Management
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In this document, the Commission proposes to require IP CTS
providers to include user account identifiers in monthly call records
submitted for compensation; allow new IP CTS users to receive service
for up to two weeks, while their identities are verified in the User
Registration Database; and simplify the handling of 911 calls placed by
IP CTS users who connect to an IP CTS provider via the internet in
order to place a call. These proposals will improve IP CTS by better
facilitating compensation of providers by the TRS Fund administrator,
preventing unnecessary inconvenience to IP CTS registrants seeking new
service, and eliminating outdated 911 rules that no longer appear to
serve a valid public safety purpose.
DATES: Comments are due April 15, 2019. Reply comments are due April
29, 2019.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by CG Docket Nos. 03-123
and 13-24, by either of the following methods:
[[Page 9277]]
Federal Communications Commission's website: https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
People with Disabilities: Contact the FCC to request
reasonable accommodations (accessible format documents, sign language
interpreters, CART, etc.) by email: FCC504@fcc.gov or phone: 202-418-
0530 or TTY: 888-835-5322.
For detailed instructions for submitting comments and additional
information on the rulemaking process, see the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section of this document.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Scott, Consumer and
Governmental Affairs Bureau, at (202) 418-1264, or email
Michael.Scott@fcc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's
Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM), CG Docket Nos. 03-123,
13-24; FCC 19-11, adopted on February 14, 2019, and released on
February 15, 2019. The Report and Order in document FCC 19-11 will be
published elsewhere in the Federal Register. The full text of this
document is available for public inspection and copying via the
Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), and during
regular business hours at the FCC Reference Information Center, Portals
II, 445 12th Street SW, Room CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554. To request
materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille,
large print, electronic files, audio format), send an email to
fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at
(202) 418-0530 (voice) or (202) 418-0432 (TTY).
This proceeding shall be treated as a ``permit-but-disclose''
proceeding in accordance with the Commission's ex parte rules. 47 CFR
1.1200 et seq. Persons making ex parte presentations must file a copy
of any written presentation or a memorandum summarizing any oral
presentation within two business days after the presentation (unless a
different deadline applicable to the Sunshine period applies). Persons
making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda
summarizing the presentation must (1) list all persons attending or
otherwise participating in the meeting at which the ex parte
presentation was made, and (2) summarize all data presented and
arguments made during the presentation. If the presentation consisted
in whole or in part of the presentation of data or arguments already
reflected in the presenter's written comments, memoranda or other
filings in the proceeding, the presenter may provide citations to such
data or arguments in his or her prior comments, memoranda, or other
filings (specifying the relevant page and/or paragraph numbers where
such data or arguments can be found) in lieu of summarizing them in the
memorandum. Documents shown or given to Commission staff during ex
parte meetings are deemed to be written ex parte presentations and must
be filed consistent with rule 1.1206(b). In proceedings governed by
rule 1.49(f) or for which the Commission has made available a method of
electronic filing, written ex parte presentations and memoranda
summarizing oral ex parte presentations, and all attachments thereto,
must be filed through the electronic comment filing system available
for that proceeding, and must be filed in their native format (e.g.,
.doc, .xml, .ppt, searchable .pdf). Participants in this proceeding
should familiarize themselves with the Commission's ex parte rules.
Initial Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 Analysis
The Further Notice in document FCC 19-11 seeks comment on proposed
rule amendments that may result in modified information collection
requirements. If the Commission adopts any modified information
collection requirements, the Commission will publish another notice in
the Federal Register inviting the public to comment on the
requirements, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. Public Law
104-13; 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520. In addition, pursuant to the Small
Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, the Commission seeks comment on
how it might further reduce the information collection burden for small
business concerns with fewer than 25 employees. Public Law 107-198; 44
U.S.C. 3506(c)(4).
Synopsis
1. IP CTS is a form of TRS that allows individuals with hearing
loss to both read captions and use their residual hearing to understand
a telephone conversation. Generally, IP CTS employs two network paths:
A voice connection between the parties to the call and a separate
internet connection that transmits the other party's voice from the IP
CTS user's phone to a communications assistant (CA) and transmits
captions from the CA back to the IP CTS user. In the most widely used
version of IP CTS, the CA then re-voices everything the hearing party
says into a speech recognition program, which automatically transcribes
the words into captions.
Supporting Data for IP CTS Compensation Requests
2. To facilitate compensation of providers by the TRS Fund
administrator, the Commission proposes to amend its rule specifying the
data accompanying compensation requests by TRS providers, to expressly
state that IP CTS providers must submit a unique account identifier,
such as the electronic serial number of the user's device, the user's
log-in ID, or the user's email address, to the TRS Fund administrator
in monthly call detail records submitted for compensation. IP CTS
users' telephone numbers are not assigned specifically for IP CTS use
and are not always the most effective means to access a user's account
information. Therefore, IP CTS providers currently use other
identifiers to uniquely identify each IP CTS account, such as
electronic serial numbers of IP CTS devices, log-in IDs, or email
addresses. Further, the Commission has amended its rules to require IP
CTS providers to include a unique account identifier in their data
submissions to the TRS User Registration Database (Database). The
Commission believes amending its rules to expressly provide that the
same information be included in call detail records will enable the
Fund administrator to more efficiently verify compensation requests, by
matching call data with the corresponding user data in the Database.
The Commission also believes that the costs of collecting and providing
this information as part of compensation requests will be minimal,
especially because IP CTS providers are already providing an electronic
serial number in call detail records for the vast majority of calls.
The Commission seeks comment on these assumptions and on the costs and
benefits of adopting this proposal. The Commission also seeks comment
on whether other changes are warranted in the data elements required
with IP CTS providers' compensation requests.
Providing Service to New and Porting Users Pending Database
Verification
3. To eliminate unnecessary inconvenience to IP CTS registrants,
without a significant increase in the risk of waste, fraud, and abuse,
the Commission proposes to allow IP CTS providers to provide service to
new and porting users for up to two weeks pending the completion of
identity verification by the Database administrator. The Commission
believes this change is needed to ensure that
[[Page 9278]]
service to new and porting IP CTS users can be commenced efficiently
and without undue delay or disruption of service, in order to
facilitate competition and ensure the functional equivalence of this
service. Compensation for calls placed or received by the user during
this period would be paid only if the user's identity is ultimately
verified.
4. Experience with VRS user registration has shown that identity
verification for most users is completed within hours of data
submission to the Database, but for some users, verification can take
longer, e.g., due to technical problems or because the user's identity
cannot be verified without the submission of additional information.
Under the proposed rule change, a consumer would not be subjected to a
delay in commencement of service as a result of verification issues
that are often beyond the consumer's control. The Commission believes
that any resulting risk of waste, fraud, or abuse is minimal because,
under the proposal, no compensation may be requested or paid until the
user's identity has been successfully verified. The Commission seeks
comment on the costs and benefits of this proposal.
IP CTS Emergency Call Handling Requirements
5. The emergency call handling requirements for IP CTS apply only
to certain forms of this service. For the predominantly used form of IP
CTS, where the voice connection for a call is established using an
ordinary wireline telephone service and there is a separate internet
connection made solely for the IP CTS user to receive captions, the
telephone company or voice-over-internet-Protocol (VoIP) service
provider is responsible for delivering 911 calls and location
information to emergency authorities. However, where IP CTS is
configured for web and wireless access, such that the user can initiate
a call by connecting to the IP CTS provider via the internet, the IP
CTS provider is responsible for handling 911 calls in accordance with
Sec. 64.605(a) of the Commission's rules.
6. The Commission proposes to amend the Commission's rules to
simplify the handling of 911 calls placed by IP CTS users who initiate
calls via the internet--generally, web- and wireless-based IP CTS--by
eliminating any need for IP CTS providers to involve their CAs in 911
call handling and to collect and transmit unnecessary information. The
Commission also seeks comment on whether any changes are needed in the
scope of the 911 call handling rule applicable to IP CTS. If so, the
Commission seeks comment on whether and how such changes would affect
the 911 responsibilities of underlying service providers.
7. The current rule requires an IP CTS provider, among other
things, to transmit the caller's name, the relay provider's name, the
CA's callback number, and the CA's identification number to the Public
Service Answering Point (PSAP) or other emergency authority receiving a
911 IP CTS call, and to initiate the reconnection of disconnected
calls. These requirements, which were devised to address problems that
arose in early versions of VRS and IP Relay, have posed significant
implementation issues for providers of web and wireless based IP CTS,
largely due to the limited communication capabilities of IP CTS CAs.
Further, the Commission believes that the alternative approach proposed
below would provide more effective implementation of the policy
underlying the rule.
8. First, the Commission proposes to eliminate the current
requirements for an IP CTS provider to deliver to the PSAP (or other
emergency authority) the name of the caller, the name of the provider,
and an identification number and callback number for the CA handling
the call. Instead, the Commission proposes to require an IP CTS
provider to provide a telephone number to the PSAP that enables the
PSAP to call the user back directly, while ensuring that the user
receives captions on the callback. This proposed change would decrease
the time and cost associated with responding to emergencies reported by
web- and wireless-based IP CTS users by relieving both IP CTS providers
and PSAPs of the need to collect, transmit, and review information that
appears to be unnecessary for handling a 911 call.
9. Second, the Commission proposes to remove the current
requirement for an IP CTS provider to initiate the reconnection of a
disconnected 911 call. IP CTS CAs generally do not have the capability
to connect calls. Accordingly, to comply with the reconnection
requirement, IP CTS providers have either configured a unique setup for
911 calls or have used a complicated work-around. Further, the
Commission believes that the provider's assignment to users of an IP
CTS-specific telephone number that is transmitted to the PSAP with an
emergency call will render it unnecessary for the IP CTS provider to be
involved in reconnecting disconnected 911 calls.
10. The Commission believes these amendments are likely to save
precious time during an emergency. Less time will be wasted in
obtaining unnecessary information from callers, and 911 call takers
will be able to reconnect with the caller more rapidly rather than
waiting for the TRS provider to reestablish the call. The Commission
also believes that implementing this proposal will impose minimal
costs--and may actually produce net cost savings, given the elimination
of unnecessary CA involvement in call set-up and the reduced amount of
information that an IP CTS provider will need to collect and transmit
during an IP CTS call. Multiple IP CTS providers have sought waivers of
the Commission rules to implement the changes the Commission proposes,
suggesting that in their evaluation, the benefits of the proposal
outweigh the costs. The Commission seeks comment on these proposals and
its underlying assumptions. The Commission also seeks comment on the
length of time that would be needed for IP CTS providers to come into
compliance with the modified rule.
11. Technical Feasibility of Assigning NANP Numbers. To implement
the Commission's proposal, IP CTS providers must be able to provide
their web- or wireless-based users with NANP telephone numbers that
enable the users to receive captioned callbacks from a 911 PSAP.
Although the record suggests that the assignment of such NANP numbers
for the purpose of receiving IP CTS calls is feasible, the Commission
seeks comment on whether providing such telephone numbers poses any
technical, administrative, legal, or other challenges for IP CTS
providers generally and how such issues could be resolved.
12. Scope of the Rule. The Commission also seeks comment on how to
define the category of IP CTS providers that would be subject to the
proposed 911 call handling rule. Should the Commission continue to
define this class as ``providers of forms of IP CTS that allow users to
initiate calls by contacting the provider over the internet''? Are
there alternative formulations that would be more appropriate? For
example, should the Commission define this provider class as ``IP CTS
providers that provide the voice connection, as well as captions, for
an IP CTS call''? To the extent that the current definition is changed
to narrow (or expand) the category of IP CTS providers covered by Sec.
64.605 of the Commission's rules, how would that affect the 911
obligations of other service providers--such as the underlying carriers
that transmit IP CTS calls--and what are the costs and
[[Page 9279]]
benefits of such a shift in responsibility for 911 calls?
13. Should an IP CTS provider that provides a voice connection,
e.g., through a VoIP service or commercial mobile radio service (CMRS),
be deemed a VoIP or CMRS reseller subject to the emergency call
handling rules applicable to such resellers? To the extent that an IP
CTS provider is deemed to be a VoIP or CMRS reseller, the provider's
911 location determination obligations are likely to be affected. For
example, if an IP CTS provider is deemed a VoIP reseller, the provider
would be required to determine a 911 caller's location by means of the
caller's Registered Location, rather than by asking the caller for his
or her location before routing the call to a PSAP, as provided for in
Sec. 64.605(a) of the Commission's rules. Similarly, an IP CTS
provider that is deemed a CMRS reseller would be required to determine
a 911 caller's location in accordance with Sec. 20.18 of the
Commission's rules. In the event that an IP CTS provider is deemed to
be a VoIP or CMRS reseller, what rule modifications, if any, would be
necessary to maintain the IP CTS provider's obligation to provide
captions--and to give such calls priority over other captioned calls--
for 911 calls initiated by its registered users, as well as for
callbacks by the 911 PSAP?
14. Pursuant to Sec. Sec. 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's
rules, 47 CFR 1.415, 1.419, interested parties may file comments and
reply comments on or before the dates indicated on the first page of
this document. Comments may be filed using the Commission's Electronic
Comment Filing System (ECFS). See Electronic Filing of Documents in
Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121 (1998).
Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically
using the internet by accessing the ECFS: https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/.
Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must
file an original and one copy of each filing. If more than one docket
or rulemaking number appears in the caption of this proceeding, filers
must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or
rulemaking number.
Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial
overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service
mail. All filings must be addressed to the Commission's Secretary,
Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.
All hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings
for the Commission's Secretary must be delivered to FCC Headquarters at
445 12th Street SW, Room TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554. The filing
hours are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held
together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes and boxes must
be disposed of before entering the building.
Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service
Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9050 Junction Drive,
Annapolis Junction, MD 20701.
U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority
mail must be addressed to 445 12th Street SW, Washington DC 20554.
People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible
formats for people with disabilities (braille, large print, electronic
files, audio format), send an email to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 888-
835-5322 (tty).
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
15. As required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, as
amended (RFA), the Commission has prepared this Initial Regulatory
Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) of the possible significant economic impact
on a substantial number of small entities by the policies and rules
proposed in the document FCC 19-11. Written public comments are
requested on this IRFA. Comments must be identified as responses to the
IRFA and must be filed by the deadline for comments specified in the
DATES section. The Commission will send a copy of document FCC 19-11,
to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration
(SBA).
Need For, and Objectives of, the Proposed Rules
16. In document FCC 19-11, the Commission proposes to require that
a unique account identifier, such as the electronic serial number of an
end user's device, a user's log-in identification, or an email address,
be included in call detail records (CDRs) submitted for TRS Fund
compensation. Such information will facilitate compensation of
providers by the TRS Fund administrator. The Commission also proposes
to permit IP CTS providers to provide service to new users, after the
deadline for submission of user registration information to the
Database, for up to two weeks after the user's registration information
has been populated in the Database while the Database user verification
process is pending, and to collect TRS Fund compensation for calls that
are otherwise compensable only if the TRS user is ultimately verified
as eligible to use IP CTS by the Database administrator.
17. In addition, for forms of IP CTS that allow users to initiate
calls by contacting the provider over the internet, the Commission
proposes to update the rules governing the handling of IP CTS calls to
911 emergency services. Specifically, in lieu of the current
requirements to deliver to the PSAP the name of the caller, the name of
the provider, and an identification number and callback number for the
CA handling the call, and to initiate the reconnection of disconnected
911 calls, the Commission proposes to require a provider to provide a
telephone number to the PSAP that enables the PSAP to call the user
back via IP CTS, so that the user receives captions. This approach will
be more consistent with the Commission's rules for 911 call handling by
VRS, IP Relay, and VoIP service providers and will likely save IP CTS
users precious time during an emergency.
Legal Basis
18. The authority for this proposed rulemaking is contained in
sections 1 and 225 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47
U.S.C. 151, 225.
Small Entities Impacted
19. The rules proposed in document FCC 19-11 will affect
obligations of IP CTS providers. These services can be included within
the broad economic category of All Other Telecommunications.
Description of Projected Reporting, Recordkeeping, and Other Compliance
Requirements
20. The proposed revisions to the call data reporting requirements
would require IP CTS providers to maintain records of unique account
identifiers, such as the electronic serial numbers of user devices,
users' log-in identifications, or user email addresses and provide that
information to the TRS Fund administrator when seeking compensation for
calls. The proposed revision regarding when IP CTS providers may
commence service to new users would permit IP CTS providers to provide
service to new users at the provider's own risk for up to two weeks
while the Database verification process is pending.
[[Page 9280]]
21. The proposed changes to the rules governing the handling of IP
CTS calls to 911 emergency services would require IP CTS providers to
deliver a user's assigned telephone number to an emergency authority
when 911 is dialed.
Steps Taken To Minimize Significant Impact on Small Entities, and
Significant Alternatives Considered
22. If the Commission adopts the proposed revisions to the call
data collection requirements, it would require IP CTS providers to
provide unique account identifiers, such as electronic serial numbers
of user devices, users' log-in identification, or user email addresses,
to the TRS Fund administrator when seeking compensation for calls. This
requirement is narrowly tailored to help the Commission identify and
evaluate risks, monitoring compliance with program rules, and minimize
waste, fraud, and abuse in the IP CTS program. The Commission believes
that the requirement will not be burdensome because providers already
have a record of such unique account identifiers. Thus, the Commission
believes that adding this information to already existing call data
requirements will have a minimal effect on small entities.
23. If the Commission adopts the proposed revision permitting IP
CTS providers to commence service to new users at the provider's own
risk for up to two weeks while the Database verification process is
pending, it would afford providers additional flexibility on when to
commence service. The rule change is designed to avoid possible burdens
on small businesses because the provision of service prior to
verification by the Database Administrator at the provider's own risk
is optional, and providers also have the option to wait to provide
service to the user until after the user is verified by the Database
Administrator.
24. If the Commission adopts the proposed changes to the rules
governing the handling of IP CTS calls to 911 emergency services for
those forms of IP CTS that allow users to initiate calls by contacting
the provider over the internet, the Commission believes it would reduce
the burden on IP CTS providers, including small entities, to manually
collect and retain information from IP CTS users at the start of an
emergency call. This transition could impose implementation costs on
providers, but the Commission believes the benefits to the transition
would outweigh any such costs. Specifically, during an emergency less
time would be wasted in obtaining information from callers that is no
longer necessary, and 911 call takers would be able to reconnect with
the caller more rapidly. In addition to saving time during a 911 call,
adoption of the rules could also result in net cost savings due to the
reduced amount of information that an IP CTS provider would need to
collect and transmit during an IP CTS call. The Commission also
believes that IP CTS providers would prefer this approach as evidenced
by their requests to implement emergency call handling in accordance
with the Commission's proposal.
25. The Commission seeks comment from all interested parties. Small
entities are encouraged to bring to the Commission's attention any
specific concerns they may have with the proposals outlined. The
Commission expects to consider the economic impact on small entities,
as identified in comments filed in response to document FCC 19-11, in
reaching its final conclusions and taking action in this proceeding.
Federal Rules Which Duplicate, Overlap, or Conflict With, the
Commission's Proposals
26. None.
List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 64
Individuals with disabilities, Telecommunications, Telephones.
Federal Communications Commission.
Katura Jackson,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Secretary.
Proposed Rules
For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Federal
Communications Commission proposes to amend 47 part 64 as follows:
PART 64--MISCELLANEOUS RULES RELATING TO COMMON CARRIERS
0
1. The authority citation for part 64 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154, 201, 202, 217, 218, 220, 222, 225,
226, 227, 228, 251(a), 251(e), 254(k), 262, 403(b)(2)(B), (c), 616,
620, 1401-1473, unless otherwise noted.
0
2. Amend Sec. 64.604 by redesignating paragraphs (c)(5)(iii)(D)(5)
through (7) as paragraphs (c)(5)(iii)(D)(6) through (8) and adding
paragraph (c)(5)(iii)(D)(5) to read as follows:
Sec. 64.604 Mandatory minimum standards.
* * * * *
(c) * * *
(5) * * *
(iii) * * *
(D) * * *
(5) Additional call data required from internet protocol captioned
telephone service providers. In addition to the data required by
paragraph (c)(5)(iii)(D)(2) and (3) of this section, internet protocol
captioned telephone service providers seeking compensation from the
Fund shall submit a unique account identifier identifying the user
receiving captions for a call, such as the electronic serial number of
the internet protocol captioned telephone service device, the user's
log-in identification, or the user's email address.
* * * * *
0
3. Amend Sec. 64.605 by revising paragraph (a)(1) and adding paragraph
(a)(3) to read as follows:
Sec. 64.605 Emergency calling requirements.
(a) Additional emergency calling requirements applicable to
internet-based TRS providers. (1) As of December 31, 2008, the
requirements of paragraphs (a)(2)(i) and (a)(2)(iv) of this section
shall not apply to providers of VRS and IP Relay to which paragraph (b)
of this section applies. As of the effective date of paragraph (a)(3)
of this section, the requirements of paragraph (a)(2)(iv) and (v) of
this section shall not apply to any provider of IP CTS.
* * * * *
(3) Providers of forms of IP CTS that allow users to initiate calls
by contacting the provider over the internet shall deliver to the PSAP,
designated statewide default answering point, or appropriate local
emergency authority, at the outset of an emergency call, the location
of the emergency, and a telephone number that is assigned to the caller
and that enables the PSAP, designated statewide default answering
point, or appropriate local emergency authority to call the 911 caller
back directly, while ensuring that the caller receives captions on the
callback.
0
4. Amend Sec. 64.611 by revising paragraph (j)(2)(iv) to read as
follows:
Sec. 64.611 internet-based TRS registration.
* * * * *
(j) * * *
(2) * * *
(iv) By the date of initiation of service to an IP CTS user or
device, or one year after notice from the Commission that the TRS User
Registration Database is ready to accept such information, whichever is
later, IP CTS providers shall submit to the TRS User Registration
Database the registration information required by paragraph (j)(2)(i)
or (iii) of this section. Calls from or to registered IP CTS users or
devices whose registration information has not been populated in the
TRS User Registration Database by the applicable
[[Page 9281]]
date shall not be compensable, and an IP CTS provider shall not seek
TRS Fund compensation for such calls, provided however, that after the
applicable date, IP CTS providers may provide service to new users for
up to two weeks after the user's registration information has been
populated in the TRS User Registration Database while the TRS User
Registration Database user verification process is pending and will
seek TRS Fund compensation for such calls that are otherwise
compensable only if the new user is ultimately verified as eligible to
use IP CTS by the TRS User Registration Database administrator.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2019-04040 Filed 3-13-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P