[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 24, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 1887-1888]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-1071]



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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Parts 64 and 68

[CC Docket No. 87-124; DA 96-24]


Access to Telecommunications Equipment and Services by Persons 
With Disabilities (Hearing Aid Compatibility)

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rules; Extension of time for comments and replies.

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SUMMARY: By Order the Commission granted a request for extension of the 
time of the comment and reply comment periods concerning a Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking regarding hearing aid compatibility of wireline 
telephones. The proposed rules would require that all wireline 
telephones in the workplace, confined settings (e.g., hospitals, 
nursing homes) and hotels and motels eventually would be hearing aid 
compatible and have volume control.

DATES: Written comments by the public on the proposed rules and on the 
proposed and/or modified information collections are due on or before 
January 29, 1996, and reply comments are due on or before February 29, 
1996.

ADDRESSES: Office of the Secretary, Room 222, Federal Communications 
Commission, 1919 M Street NW., Washington, DC 20554. In addition to 
filing comments with the Secretary, a copy of any comments on the 
information collections contained herein should be submitted to Dorothy 
Conway, Federal Communications Commission, Room 234, 1919 M Street NW., 
Washington, DC 20554, or via the Internet to [email protected], and to 
Timothy Fain, OMB Desk Officer, 10236 NEOB, 725--17th Street NW., 
Washington, DC 20503 or via the Internet to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Greg Lipscomb, Attorney, 202/418-2340, 
Fax 202/418-2345, TTY 202/418-0484, [email protected], Network Services 
Division, Common Carrier Bureau. For additional information concerning 
the information collections contained in this NPRM contact Dorothy 
Conway at 202-418-0217, or via the Internet at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This summarizes the Commission's Order 
adopted and released on January 17, 1996 (DA 96-24), to extend the 
filing deadline for comments and replies in the Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking in the matter of Access to Telecommunications Equipment and 
Services by Persons With Disabilities, (CC Docket 87-124, adopted and 
released November 28, 1995, 60 FR 63667, December 12, 1995). The file 
is available for inspection and copying during the weekday hour of 9 
a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Commission's Reference Center, Room 239, 1919 
M Street NW., or copies may be purchased from the Commission's 
duplicating contractor, ITS, Inc., 2100 M Street NW., Suite 140, 
Washington DC 20037, phone 202/857-3800.
    The Commission noted that extensions of time are not routinely 
granted. However, the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) has 
shown good cause for the grant of additional time. TIA states that 
because of the recent government shutdown and weather emergency, TIA 
was not able to contact FCC staff for clarifications regarding 
technical proposals, and to circulate comments among TIA members. TIA 
and its members are uniquely qualified to comment on these technical 
proposals, since TIA represents many telecommunications manufacturers. 
The comment and reply comment deadlines originally were set for January 
12 and February 16, 1996, respectively. TIA requested a thirty day 
extension of each deadline. The Commission granted an extension of 
comment period until January 29, 1996, and of the reply period until 
February 29, 1996.

List of Subjects

47 CFR Part 64

    Communications common carriers, Handicapped, Telephone, Hearing aid 
compatibility. 

[[Page 1888]]


47 CFR Part 68

    Administrative practice and procedure, Communications common 
carriers, Communications equipment, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Telephone, Hearing aid compatibility, Volume control.

Federal Communications Commission.
Linda B. Dubroof,
Deputy Chief, Network Services Division, Common Carrier Bureau.
[FR Doc. 96-1071 Filed 1-23-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P