Information Collection Being Submitted for Review and Approval to Office of Management and Budget, 25264-25266 [2024-07550]
Download as PDF
25264
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 70 / Wednesday, April 10, 2024 / Notices
of Management and Budget (OMB)
control number.
DATES: Written PRA comments should
be submitted on or before June 10, 2024.
If you anticipate that you will be
submitting comments, but find it
difficult to do so within the period of
time allowed by this notice, you should
advise the contact listed below as soon
as possible.
ADDRESSES: Direct all PRA comments to
Nicole Ongele, FCC, via email PRA@
fcc.gov and to nicole.ongele@fcc.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
additional information about the
information collection, contact Nicole
Ongele, (202) 418–2991.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
OMB Control Number: 3060–1258.
Title: Alternative Dispute Resolution
Intake Form.
Form Number: FCC Form 5628.
Type of Review: Extension of a
currently approved collection.
Respondents: Individuals or
households; Federal Government.
Number of Respondents and
Responses: 3 respondents; 3 responses.
Estimated Time per Response: 3
hours–6 hours.
Frequency of Response: One-time
reporting requirement.
Obligation to Respond: Voluntary.
Statutory authority for this information
collection is contained in
Administrative Dispute Resolution Act,
5 U.S.C. 571 et seq.; Civil Justice
Reform, Executive Order 12988; 29 CFR
1614.102(b)(2), 1614.105(f), 1614.108(b),
and 1614.603.
Total Annual Burden: 25 hours.
Total Annual Cost: $3,750.
Needs and Uses: FCC employees and
related individuals may seek a forum
through the Office of Workplace
Diversity to resolve workplace disputes
by engaging in the Commission’s
Alternative Dispute Resolution Program
by completing FCC Form–5628.
DATES:
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[OMB 3060–0422; FR ID 213219]
[FR Doc. 2024–07549 Filed 4–9–24; 8:45 am]
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
The agency must receive
comments on or before June 10, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Federal Communications
Commission, 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Rolanda F. Smith, 202–418–2054,
Rolanda-Faye.Smith@fcc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
following applicants filed AM or FM
proposals to change the community of
license: METRO RADIO, INC.,
WKDV(AM), FAC. ID NO. 8672, FROM:
MANASSAS, VA, TO: CHANTILLY,
VA, FILE NO. 0000235001; SSR
COMMUNICATIONS, INC., KCAY(FM),
FAC. ID NO. 203590, FROM:
DAMMERON VALLEY, UT, TO: IVINS,
UT, FILE NO. 0000237979;
COMMUNITY SERVICE
BROADCASTING FOUNDATION, INC.,
KIXK(FM), FAC. ID NO. 769057, FROM:
CALIENTE, NV, TO: DAMMERON
VALLEY, UT, FILE NO. 0000237978;
EDUCATIONAL MEDIA
FOUNDATION, WFFF–FM, FAC. ID
NO. 25817, FROM: COLUMBIA, MS,
TO: BOGUE CHITTO, MS, FILE NO.
0000240434; and METRO
BROADCASTERS—TEXAS, INC.,
KXEZ(FM), FAC. ID NO. 86121, FROM:
FARMERSVILLE, TX, TO: PRINCETON,
TX, FILE NO. 0000242830. The full text
of these applications is available
electronically via Licensing and
Management System (LMS), https://
apps2int.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/
publicAppSearch.html.
Federal Communications Commission.
Nazifa Sawez,
Assistant Chief, Audio Division, Media
Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2024–07600 Filed 4–9–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
Information Collection Being
Submitted for Review and Approval to
Office of Management and Budget
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
[FR ID 212656]
SUMMARY:
AGENCY:
Radio Broadcasting Services; AM or
FM Proposals To Change the
Community of License
Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
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As part of its continuing effort
to reduce paperwork burdens, as
required by the Paperwork Reduction
Act (PRA) of 1995, the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC or
the Commission) invites the general
public and other Federal Agencies to
take this opportunity to comment on the
following information collection.
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Pursuant to the Small Business
Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, the FCC
seeks specific comment on how it might
‘‘further reduce the information
collection burden for small business
concerns with fewer than 25
employees.’’
DATES: Written comments and
recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be
submitted on or before May 10, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.
Find this particular information
collection by selecting ‘‘Currently under
30-day Review—Open for Public
Comments’’ or by using the search
function. Your comment must be
submitted into www.reginfo.gov per the
above instructions for it to be
considered. In addition to submitting in
www.reginfo.gov also send a copy of
your comment on the proposed
information collection to Cathy
Williams, FCC, via email to PRA@
fcc.gov and to Cathy.Williams@fcc.gov.
Include in the comments the OMB
control number as shown in the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
additional information or copies of the
information collection, contact Cathy
Williams at (202) 418–2918. To view a
copy of this information collection
request (ICR) submitted to OMB: (1) go
to the web page https://www.reginfo.gov/
public/do/PRAMain, (2) look for the
section of the web page called
‘‘Currently Under Review,’’ (3) click on
the downward-pointing arrow in the
‘‘Select Agency’’ box below the
‘‘Currently Under Review’’ heading, (4)
select ‘‘Federal Communications
Commission’’ from the list of agencies
presented in the ‘‘Select Agency’’ box,
(5) click the ‘‘Submit’’ button to the
right of the ‘‘Select Agency’’ box, (6)
when the list of FCC ICRs currently
under review appears, look for the Title
of this ICR and then click on the ICR
Reference Number. A copy of the FCC
submission to OMB will be displayed.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Commission may not conduct or
sponsor a collection of information
unless it displays a currently valid
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) control number. No person shall
be subject to any penalty for failing to
comply with a collection of information
subject to the PRA that does not display
a valid OMB control number.
As part of its continuing effort to
reduce paperwork burdens, as required
by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)
of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501–3520), the FCC
invited the general public and other
Federal Agencies to take this
E:\FR\FM\10APN1.SGM
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ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 70 / Wednesday, April 10, 2024 / Notices
opportunity to comment on the
following information collection.
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 estimates; (c) ways to enhance
the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information collected; and (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. Pursuant to the
Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of
2002, Public Law 107–198, see 44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(4), the FCC seeks specific
comment on how it might ‘‘further
reduce the information collection
burden for small business concerns with
fewer than 25 employees.’’
OMB Control Number: 3060–0422.
Title: Hearing Aid Compatibility;
Access to Telecommunications
Equipment and Services by Persons
with Disabilities; Section 68.5 Waivers,
CC Docket No. 87–124 and CG Docket
No. 13–46.
Form Number: N/A.
Type of Review: Extension of a
currently approved collection.
Respondents: Business or other forprofit entities; not-for-profit entities.
Number of Respondents and
Responses: 331 respondents; 2,512
responses.
Estimated Time per Response: 0.25
hour (15 minutes) to 24 hours.
Frequency of Response: Annual and
on-occasion reporting requirements;
Third party disclosure requirement;
Recordkeeping requirement.
Obligation to Respond: Required to
obtain or retain benefits. The statutory
authority for this information collection
is found at section 710 of the
Communications Act of 1934, as
amended, 47 U.S.C. 610.
Total Annual Burden: 5,930 hours.
Total Annual Cost: $375,000.
Needs and Uses: This notice and
request for comments pertains to the
extension of the currently approved
information collection requirements
concerning hearing aid compatibility
(HAC) for wireline handsets used with
the legacy telephone network and with
advanced communications services
(ACS), such as Voice over Internet
Protocol (VoIP). The latter are known as
ACS telephonic customer premises
equipment (ACS telephonic CPE).
Beginning in the 1980s, the
Commission adopted a series of
regulations to implement statutory
directives in section 710(b) of the
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Jkt 262001
Communications Act of 1934 requiring
wireline telephone handsets in the
United States (for use with the legacy
telephone network) to be hearing aid
compatible. 47 U.S.C. 610. In 2010, the
Twenty-First Century Communications
and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA),
Public Law 111–260, sec. 102, 710(b),
124 Stat. 2751, 2753 (CVAA) (codified at
47 U.S.C. 610(b)), amended by Public
Law 111–265, 124 Stat. 2795 (technical
corrections to the CVAA), amended
section 710(b) of the Communications
Act of 1934, to apply the HAC
requirements to ACS telephonic CPE,
including VoIP telephones. In
accordance with this provision, the
Commission adopted Access to
Telecommunications Equipment and
Services by Persons with Disabilities et
al., Report and Order and Order on
Reconsideration, FCC 17–135,
published at 83 FR 8624, February 28,
2018, which amended the HAC rules to
cover ACS telephonic CPE to the extent
such devices are designed to be held to
the ear and provide two-way voice
communication via a built-in speaker.
The information collections contain
third-party disclosure and labeling
requirements. The information is used
to inform consumers who purchase or
use wireline telephone equipment
whether the telephone is hearing aid
compatible; to ensure that
manufacturers comply with applicable
regulations and technical criteria; to
ensure that information about ACS
telephonic CPE is available in a
database administered by the
Administrative Council for Terminal
Attachments (ACTA) (an organization,
previously created pursuant to FCC
regulations, whose key function is to
maintain a database of telephone
equipment); and to facilitate the filing of
complaints about the ACS telephonic
CPE.
Wireline Handsets Used With the
Legacy Telephone Network
• 47 CFR 68.224 requires that every
non-hearing aid compatible wireline
telephone used with the legacy wireline
network that is offered for sale to the
public contain in a conspicuous
location on the surface of its packaging
a statement that the telephone is not
hearing aid compatible. If the handset is
offered for sale without a surrounding
package, then the telephone must be
affixed with a written statement that the
telephone is not hearing aid compatible.
In addition, each handset must be
accompanied by instructions in
accordance with 47 CFR 62.218(b)(2).
• 47 CFR 68.300 requires that all
wireline telephones used with the
legacy wireline network that are
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25265
manufactured in the United States
(other than for export) or imported for
use in the United States and that are
hearing aid compatible have the letters
‘‘HAC’’ permanently affixed.
ACS Telephonic CPE
• 47 CFR 68.502(a) of the
Commission’s rules contains
information collection requirements for
ACS telephonic CPE that are similar to
the HAC label and notice requirements
in 47 CFR 68.224 and 68.300 (discussed
above), i.e., the ‘‘HAC’’ labeling
requirement for hearing aid compatible
equipment, and the package information
for non-hearing aid compatible
equipment, apply to ACS telephonic
CPE.
• 47 CFR 68.501 of the Commission’s
rules requires responsible parties to
obtain certifications of their equipment
by using a third-party
Telecommunications Certification Body
(TCB) or a Supplier’s Declaration of
Conformity. (A responsible party is the
party, such as the manufacturer, that is
responsible for the compliance of ACS
telephonic CPE with the hearing aid
compatibility rules and other applicable
technical criteria. A Supplier’s
Declaration of Conformity is a
procedure whereby a responsible party
makes measurements or takes steps to
ensure that CPE complies with technical
standards, which results in a document
by the same name.) Section 68.501 of
the Commission’s rules applies to ACS
telephonic CPE the rule sections
defining the roles of TCBs and the uses
of Supplier’s Declarations of Conformity
for wireline handsets used with the
legacy telephone network.
• 47 CFR 68.504 of the Commission’s
rules requires information about ACS
telephonic CPE to be included in a
database administered by ACTA. In
addition, ACS telephonic CPE must be
labeled as required by ACTA.
• 47 CFR 68.502(b)–(d) of the
Commission’s rules requires responsible
parties to: warrant that ACS telephonic
CPE complies with applicable
regulations and technical criteria; give
the user instructions required by ACTA
for ACS telephonic CPE that is hearing
aid compatible; give the user a notice for
ACS telephonic CPE that is not hearing
aid compatible; and notify the purchaser
or user of ACS telephonic CPE whose
approval is revoked, that the purchaser
or user must discontinue its use.
• 47 CFR 68.503 of the Commission’s
rules requires manufacturers of ACS
telephonic CPE to designate an agent for
service of process for complaints that
may be filed at the FCC.
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25266
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 70 / Wednesday, April 10, 2024 / Notices
Applications for Waiver of HAC
Requirements
• 47 CFR 68.5 requires that telephone
manufacturers seeking a waiver of 47
CFR 68.4(a)(1) (requiring that certain
telephones be hearing aid compatible)
demonstrate that compliance with the
rule is technologically infeasible or too
costly. Information is used by FCC staff
to determine whether to grant or dismiss
the request.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024–07550 Filed 4–9–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Change in Bank Control Notices;
Acquisitions of Shares of a Bank or
Bank Holding Company
The notificants listed below have
applied under the Change in Bank
Control Act (Act) (12 U.S.C. 1817(j)) and
§ 225.41 of the Board’s Regulation Y (12
CFR 225.41) to acquire shares of a bank
or bank holding company. The factors
that are considered in acting on the
applications are set forth in paragraph 7
of the Act (12 U.S.C. 1817(j)(7)).
The public portions of the
applications listed below, as well as
other related filings required by the
Board, if any, are available for
immediate inspection at the Federal
Reserve Bank(s) indicated below and at
the offices of the Board of Governors.
This information may also be obtained
on an expedited basis, upon request, by
contacting the appropriate Federal
Reserve Bank and from the Board’s
Freedom of Information Office at
https://www.federalreserve.gov/foia/
request.htm. Interested persons may
express their views in writing on the
standards enumerated in paragraph 7 of
the Act.
Comments received are subject to
public disclosure. In general, comments
received will be made available without
change and will not be modified to
remove personal or business
information including confidential,
contact, or other identifying
information. Comments should not
include any information such as
confidential information that would not
be appropriate for public disclosure.
Comments regarding each of these
applications must be received at the
Reserve Bank indicated or the offices of
the Board of Governors, Ann E.
Misback, Secretary of the Board, 20th
Street and Constitution Avenue NW,
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:10 Apr 09, 2024
Jkt 262001
Washington, DC 20551–0001, not later
than April 25, 2024.
A. Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
(Colette A. Fried, Assistant Vice
President) 230 South LaSalle Street,
Chicago, Illinois 60690–1414.
Comments can also be sent
electronically to
Comments.applications@chi.frb.org:
1. The William H. Bosshard Family
GST Trust dated December 12, 2023, La
Crosse, Wisconsin, Andrew R. Bosshard,
La Crosse, Wisconsin, and Joseph W.
Bosshard, Boulder, Colorado, as cotrustees, to join the Bosshard Family
Group, a group acting in concert; to
acquire voting shares of Mauston
Bancorp, Inc., La Crosse, Wisconsin,
and thereby indirectly acquire voting
shares of Bank of Mauston, Mauston,
Wisconsin.
B. Federal Reserve Bank of
Minneapolis (Stephanie Weber,
Assistant Vice President) 90 Hennepin
Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota
55480–0291. Comments may also be
sent electronically to MA@mpls.frb.org:
1. The William H. Bosshard Family
GST Trust dated December 12, 2023, La
Crosse, Wisconsin, Andrew R. Bosshard,
La Crosse, Wisconsin, and Joseph W.
Bosshard, Boulder, Colorado, as cotrustees, to join the Bosshard Family
Group, a group acting in concert; to
acquire voting shares of Clayton
Bankshares, Inc., La Crosse, Wisconsin
and thereby indirectly acquire voting
shares of Citizens State Bank—La
Crosse, La Crosse, Wisconsin. Co-trustee
Andrew R. Bosshard was previously
permitted by the Federal Reserve
System to join the Bosshard Family
Group with regard to control of the
voting shares of Clayton Bankshares,
Inc., and Citizens State Bank—La Crosse
in the capacity as trust protector of the
Bosshard Bank Trust.
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System.
Michele Taylor Fennell,
Deputy Associate Secretary of the Board.
[FR Doc. 2024–07618 Filed 4–9–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
Formations of, Acquisitions by, and
Mergers of Bank Holding Companies
The companies listed in this notice
have applied to the Board for approval,
pursuant to the Bank Holding Company
Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1841 et seq.)
(BHC Act), Regulation Y (12 CFR part
225), and all other applicable statutes
and regulations to become a bank
holding company and/or to acquire the
assets or the ownership of, control of, or
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
the power to vote shares of a bank or
bank holding company and all of the
banks and nonbanking companies
owned by the bank holding company,
including the companies listed below.
The public portions of the
applications listed below, as well as
other related filings required by the
Board, if any, are available for
immediate inspection at the Federal
Reserve Bank(s) indicated below and at
the offices of the Board of Governors.
This information may also be obtained
on an expedited basis, upon request, by
contacting the appropriate Federal
Reserve Bank and from the Board’s
Freedom of Information Office at
https://www.federalreserve.gov/foia/
request.htm. Interested persons may
express their views in writing on the
standards enumerated in the BHC Act
(12 U.S.C. 1842(c)).
Comments received are subject to
public disclosure. In general, comments
received will be made available without
change and will not be modified to
remove personal or business
information including confidential,
contact, or other identifying
information. Comments should not
include any information such as
confidential information that would not
be appropriate for public disclosure.
Comments regarding each of these
applications must be received at the
Reserve Bank indicated or the offices of
the Board of Governors, Ann E.
Misback, Secretary of the Board, 20th
Street and Constitution Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20551–0001, not later
than May 10, 2024.
A. Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
(Colette A. Fried, Assistant Vice
President) 230 South LaSalle Street,
Chicago, Illinois 60690–1414.
Comments can also be sent
electronically to
Comments.applications@chi.frb.org:
1. GTSB Financial Inc., Plymouth,
Michigan; to become a bank holding
company by acquiring First State Bank
of Decatur, Decatur, Michigan.
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System.
Michele Taylor Fennell,
Deputy Associate Secretary of the Board.
[FR Doc. 2024–07619 Filed 4–9–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; Extension
Federal Trade Commission.
Notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 10, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25264-25266]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-07550]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
[OMB 3060-0422; FR ID 213219]
Information Collection Being Submitted for Review and Approval to
Office of Management and Budget
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens,
as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC or the Commission) invites the general
public and other Federal Agencies to take this opportunity to comment
on the following information collection. Pursuant to the Small Business
Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, the FCC seeks specific comment on how it
might ``further reduce the information collection burden for small
business concerns with fewer than 25 employees.''
DATES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be submitted on or before May 10, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting
``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using
the search function. Your comment must be submitted into
www.reginfo.gov per the above instructions for it to be considered. In
addition to submitting in www.reginfo.gov also send a copy of your
comment on the proposed information collection to Cathy Williams, FCC,
via email to [email protected] and to [email protected]. Include in the
comments the OMB control number as shown in the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or copies
of the information collection, contact Cathy Williams at (202) 418-
2918. To view a copy of this information collection request (ICR)
submitted to OMB: (1) go to the web page https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain, (2) look for the section of the web page called ``Currently
Under Review,'' (3) click on the downward-pointing arrow in the
``Select Agency'' box below the ``Currently Under Review'' heading, (4)
select ``Federal Communications Commission'' from the list of agencies
presented in the ``Select Agency'' box, (5) click the ``Submit'' button
to the right of the ``Select Agency'' box, (6) when the list of FCC
ICRs currently under review appears, look for the Title of this ICR and
then click on the ICR Reference Number. A copy of the FCC submission to
OMB will be displayed.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission may not conduct or sponsor a
collection of information unless it displays a currently valid Office
of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. No person shall be
subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of
information subject to the PRA that does not display a valid OMB
control number.
As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, as
required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-
3520), the FCC invited the general public and other Federal Agencies to
take this
[[Page 25265]]
opportunity to comment on the following information collection.
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
estimates; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information collected; and (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. Pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of
2002, Public Law 107-198, see 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(4), the FCC seeks
specific comment on how it might ``further reduce the information
collection burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25
employees.''
OMB Control Number: 3060-0422.
Title: Hearing Aid Compatibility; Access to Telecommunications
Equipment and Services by Persons with Disabilities; Section 68.5
Waivers, CC Docket No. 87-124 and CG Docket No. 13-46.
Form Number: N/A.
Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities; not-for-profit
entities.
Number of Respondents and Responses: 331 respondents; 2,512
responses.
Estimated Time per Response: 0.25 hour (15 minutes) to 24 hours.
Frequency of Response: Annual and on-occasion reporting
requirements; Third party disclosure requirement; Recordkeeping
requirement.
Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The
statutory authority for this information collection is found at section
710 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 610.
Total Annual Burden: 5,930 hours.
Total Annual Cost: $375,000.
Needs and Uses: This notice and request for comments pertains to
the extension of the currently approved information collection
requirements concerning hearing aid compatibility (HAC) for wireline
handsets used with the legacy telephone network and with advanced
communications services (ACS), such as Voice over Internet Protocol
(VoIP). The latter are known as ACS telephonic customer premises
equipment (ACS telephonic CPE).
Beginning in the 1980s, the Commission adopted a series of
regulations to implement statutory directives in section 710(b) of the
Communications Act of 1934 requiring wireline telephone handsets in the
United States (for use with the legacy telephone network) to be hearing
aid compatible. 47 U.S.C. 610. In 2010, the Twenty-First Century
Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA), Public Law 111-260,
sec. 102, 710(b), 124 Stat. 2751, 2753 (CVAA) (codified at 47 U.S.C.
610(b)), amended by Public Law 111-265, 124 Stat. 2795 (technical
corrections to the CVAA), amended section 710(b) of the Communications
Act of 1934, to apply the HAC requirements to ACS telephonic CPE,
including VoIP telephones. In accordance with this provision, the
Commission adopted Access to Telecommunications Equipment and Services
by Persons with Disabilities et al., Report and Order and Order on
Reconsideration, FCC 17-135, published at 83 FR 8624, February 28,
2018, which amended the HAC rules to cover ACS telephonic CPE to the
extent such devices are designed to be held to the ear and provide two-
way voice communication via a built-in speaker.
The information collections contain third-party disclosure and
labeling requirements. The information is used to inform consumers who
purchase or use wireline telephone equipment whether the telephone is
hearing aid compatible; to ensure that manufacturers comply with
applicable regulations and technical criteria; to ensure that
information about ACS telephonic CPE is available in a database
administered by the Administrative Council for Terminal Attachments
(ACTA) (an organization, previously created pursuant to FCC
regulations, whose key function is to maintain a database of telephone
equipment); and to facilitate the filing of complaints about the ACS
telephonic CPE.
Wireline Handsets Used With the Legacy Telephone Network
47 CFR 68.224 requires that every non-hearing aid
compatible wireline telephone used with the legacy wireline network
that is offered for sale to the public contain in a conspicuous
location on the surface of its packaging a statement that the telephone
is not hearing aid compatible. If the handset is offered for sale
without a surrounding package, then the telephone must be affixed with
a written statement that the telephone is not hearing aid compatible.
In addition, each handset must be accompanied by instructions in
accordance with 47 CFR 62.218(b)(2).
47 CFR 68.300 requires that all wireline telephones used
with the legacy wireline network that are manufactured in the United
States (other than for export) or imported for use in the United States
and that are hearing aid compatible have the letters ``HAC''
permanently affixed.
ACS Telephonic CPE
47 CFR 68.502(a) of the Commission's rules contains
information collection requirements for ACS telephonic CPE that are
similar to the HAC label and notice requirements in 47 CFR 68.224 and
68.300 (discussed above), i.e., the ``HAC'' labeling requirement for
hearing aid compatible equipment, and the package information for non-
hearing aid compatible equipment, apply to ACS telephonic CPE.
47 CFR 68.501 of the Commission's rules requires
responsible parties to obtain certifications of their equipment by
using a third-party Telecommunications Certification Body (TCB) or a
Supplier's Declaration of Conformity. (A responsible party is the
party, such as the manufacturer, that is responsible for the compliance
of ACS telephonic CPE with the hearing aid compatibility rules and
other applicable technical criteria. A Supplier's Declaration of
Conformity is a procedure whereby a responsible party makes
measurements or takes steps to ensure that CPE complies with technical
standards, which results in a document by the same name.) Section
68.501 of the Commission's rules applies to ACS telephonic CPE the rule
sections defining the roles of TCBs and the uses of Supplier's
Declarations of Conformity for wireline handsets used with the legacy
telephone network.
47 CFR 68.504 of the Commission's rules requires
information about ACS telephonic CPE to be included in a database
administered by ACTA. In addition, ACS telephonic CPE must be labeled
as required by ACTA.
47 CFR 68.502(b)-(d) of the Commission's rules requires
responsible parties to: warrant that ACS telephonic CPE complies with
applicable regulations and technical criteria; give the user
instructions required by ACTA for ACS telephonic CPE that is hearing
aid compatible; give the user a notice for ACS telephonic CPE that is
not hearing aid compatible; and notify the purchaser or user of ACS
telephonic CPE whose approval is revoked, that the purchaser or user
must discontinue its use.
47 CFR 68.503 of the Commission's rules requires
manufacturers of ACS telephonic CPE to designate an agent for service
of process for complaints that may be filed at the FCC.
[[Page 25266]]
Applications for Waiver of HAC Requirements
47 CFR 68.5 requires that telephone manufacturers seeking
a waiver of 47 CFR 68.4(a)(1) (requiring that certain telephones be
hearing aid compatible) demonstrate that compliance with the rule is
technologically infeasible or too costly. Information is used by FCC
staff to determine whether to grant or dismiss the request.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-07550 Filed 4-9-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P