[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 249 (Tuesday, December 29, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71643-71644]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-34386]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Submitted to OMB for 
Review and Approval

December 18, 1998.
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, as required by the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 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 (PRA) 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 comments should be submitted on or before January 28, 
1999. 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 comments to Les Smith, Federal Communications 
Commissions, Room 234, 1919 M St., N.W., Washington, DC 20554 or via 
the Internet to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or copies 
of the information collections contact Les Smith at 202-418-0217 or via 
the Internet at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    OMB Control Number: 3060-0536.
    Title: Rules and Requirements for Telecommunications Relay Services 
(TRS) Interstate Cost Recovery.
    Form Number: FCC Form 431.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Businesses or other for-profit entities.
    Number of Respondents: 5,000.
    Estimated Time per Response: 3.11 hours (avg.)
    Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirements; Third 
party disclosure.
    Total Annual Burden: 15,593 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: None.
    Needs and Uses: Title IV of the Americans with Disabilities Act, 
Public Law 101-336, Section 401, 104 Stat. 327, 366-69 (codified at 47 
U.S.C. Section 225 requires the Federal Communications Commission to 
ensure that telecommunications relay services are available to persons 
with hearing and speech disabilities in the United States. Among other 
things, the Commission is required by 47 U.S.C. 225(d)(3) to enact and 
oversee a shared-funding mechanism (TRS Fund) for recovering the costs 
of providing interstate TRS. The Commissions' regulations concerning 
the TRS Fund are codified at 47 C.F.R. 64.604(c)(4). Pursuant to these 
regulations, the National Exchange Carrier Association (NECA) has been 
appointed

[[Page 71644]]

Administrator of the TRS Fund. The Commission's rules require all 
carriers providing interstate telecommunication services to contribute 
to the TRS Fund on an annual basis. Contributions are the product of 
the carrier's gross interstate revenues for the previous year and a 
contribution factor determined annual by the Commission. The collected 
contributions are used to compensate TRS providers for the costs of 
providing interstate TRS service. The Commission releases an order each 
year approving the contribution factor, payment rate, and TRS Fund 
Worksheet for the following year. Accordingly, on December 22, 1997, 
the Commission's Common Carrier Bureau, acting under delegated 
authority, released an order approving the contribution factor for the 
April 1998 through March 1999 contribution period and the 1998 TRS Fund 
Worksheet (FCC Form 431) and also making several revisions to the form. 
The data in the report will be used to ensure that carriers properly 
fund interstate TRS. All carriers providing interstate 
telecommunications service must file this worksheet. Other 
telecommunications carriers may voluntarily file this worksheet. The 
requested information is used to administer the TRS Fund. Information 
is used to calculate a national average to recover the total interstate 
TRS revenue requirements and to determine the appropriate payment due 
to the TRS providers participating in the shared-funding plan.

Federal Communications Commission.
Magalie Roman Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-34386 Filed 12-28-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P