E7-2556. Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission, Comments Requested

February 2, 2007.

SUMMARY:

The Federal Communications Commission, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection(s), as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Public Law No. 104-13. An agency 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 Paperwork Reduction Act that does not display a valid control number. 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; 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.

DATES:

Written Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) comments should be submitted on or before April 16, 2007. 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:

You may submit PRA comments identified by [CG Docket No. 03-123 and/or OMB Control Number 3060-1053], by any of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• Federal Communications Commission's Web Site: http://www.fcc.gov/​cgb/​ecfs/​. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• E-mail: Parties who choose to file by e-mail should submit their PRA comments to [e-mail] and to Allison E. Zaleski at [e-mail]. Please include the docket number and/or OMB Control number in the subject line of the message.
• Mail/Fax: Parties who choose to file by paper should submit their PRA comments to Cathy Williams, Federal Communications Commission, Room 1-C823, 445 12th Street SW., Washington, DC 20554, and to Allison E. Zaleski, OMB Desk Officer, Room 10236 NEOB, 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503 or via fax at [phone].
• People with Disabilities: Contact the FCC to request reasonable accommodations (accessible format documents, sign language interpreters, CART, etc.) by e-mail: [e-mail] or phone [phone] or TTY: [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For additional information about the information collection(s), send an e-mail to [e-mail] or contact Cathy Williams at 202-418-2918.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control Number: 3060-1053.

Title: 47 CFR 64.604—Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities; IP Captioned Telephone Service, Declaratory Ruling, CG Docket No. 03-123.

Form Number: N/A.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.

Number of Respondents: 6.

Estimated Time per Response: 8 hours.

Frequency of Response: Annual reporting requirement.

Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits.

Total Annual Burden: 96 hours.

Total Annual Cost: None.

Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: An assurance of confidentiality is not offered because this information collection does not require the collection of personal identifiable information (PII) from individuals.

Privacy Impact Assessment: No impact(s).

Needs and Use: On August 1, 2003, the Commission released the Declaratory Ruling, In the Matter of Telecommunication Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities, CC 98-67, FCC 03-190. In the Declaratory Ruling, the Commission clarified that one-line captioned telephone voice carry over (VCO) service is a type of telecommunications relay service (TRS) and that eligible providers of such services are eligible to recover their costs in accordance with section 225 of the Communications Act. The Commission also clarified that certain TRS mandatory minimum standards does not apply to one-line captioned VCO service, and waived 47 CFR 64.604(a)(1) and (a)(3) of the Commission's rules for all current and future captioned telephone VCO service providers, for the same period of time beginning August 1, 2003. The waivers were contingent on the filing of annual reports, for a period of three years, with the Commission. Sections 64.604 (a)(1) and (a)(3) of the Commission's rules, which contained information collection requirements under the PRA became effective on March 26, 2004.

On July 19, 2005, the Commission released an Order, In the Matter of Telecommunication Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities, CC 98-67 and CG Docket No. 03-123, FCC 05-141, that clarified two-line captioned telephone VCO service, like one-line captioned telephone VCO service, is a type of TRS eligible for compensation from the Interstate TRS Fund. Also, the Commission clarified that certain TRS mandatory minimum standards do not apply to two-line captioned VCO service, and waived 47 CFR 64.604(a)(1) and (a)(3) of the Commission's rules, for providers who offers two-line captioned VCO service. This clarification increased the number of providers who will be providing one-line and two-line captioned VCO services.

On January 11, 2007, the Commission released a Declaratory Ruling, In the Matter of Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities, CG Docket No. 03-123, FCC 06-182, granting a request for clarification that Internet Protocol (IP) captioned telephone relay service (IP CTS) is a type of TRS eligible for compensation from the Interstate TRS Fund when offered in compliance with the applicable TRS mandatory minimum standards.

Federal Communications Commission.

Marlene H. Dortch,

Secretary.