2011-1208. Notice of Public Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission, Comments Requested

January 11, 2011.

SUMMARY:

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520. Comments are requested concerning (a) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and (e) ways to further reduce the information collection burden on small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees.

The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the PRA that does not display a valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number.

DATES:

Written PRA comments should be submitted on or before March 22, 2011. If you anticipate that you will be submitting comments, but find it difficult to do so within the period of time allowed by this notice, you should advise the contact listed below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all PRA comments to Cathy Williams, FCC, via e-mail [e-mail] and to [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For additional information about the information collection, contact Cathy Williams at [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

 

OMB Control Number: 3060-0833.

Title: Implementation of Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996: Complaint Filings.

Form Number: N/A.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Individuals or households; businesses or other for-profit entities; not-for-profit institutions; Federal government; State, local or tribal governments.

Number of Respondents and Responses: 7,854 respondents and 85,154 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 0.25-5 hours.

Frequency of Response: On occasion and one-time reporting requirements; third party disclosure requirement.

Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The statutory authority for the information collection requirements are contained in section 255 [47 U.S.C. 255] Access By Persons with Disabilities, Public Law 104-104, 110 Stat. 56, added to the Communications Act by the Telecommunications Act of 1996; and section 4(i) (47 U.S.C. 154(i)) of the Communications Act.

Total Annual Burden: 80,184 hours.

Total Annual Cost: $160,000.

Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: Confidentiality is an issue to the extent that individuals and households provide personally identifiable information, which is covered under the FCC's system of records notice (SORN), FCC/CGB-1, “Informal Complaints and Inquiries.” As required by the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. 552a, the Commission also published a SORN, FCC/CGB-1 “Informal Complaints and Inquiries”, in the Federal Register on December 15, 2009 (74 FR 66356) which became effective on January 25, 2010.

Privacy Impact Assessment: Yes. The Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) was completed on June 28, 2007. It may be reviewed at: http://www.fcc.gov/​omd/​privacyact/​Privacy_​Impact_​Assessment.html. The Commission is in the process of updating the PIA to incorporate various revisions made to the SORN.

Needs and Uses: The information collection requirements included under this OMB Control Number 3060-0833 governs the filing of complaints with the Commission as part of the implementation of section 255 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which seeks to ensure that telecommunications equipment and services are available to all Americans, including those individuals with disabilities. As with any complaint procedure, a certain number of regulatory and information burdens are necessary to ensure compliance with FCC rules. The information collection requirements also give full effect to the accessibility policies embodied in section 255. They do so by requiring telecommunications equipment manufacturers and service providers to make end-user product documentation available in alternate formats, including providing contact information to request such documentation, and by requiring them to demonstrate how they considered accessibility during product development.

Federal Communications Commission.

Bulah P. Wheeler,

Deputy Manager, Office of the Secretary, Office of Managing Director.