[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 203 (Thursday, October 21, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 56789]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-27529]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


Public Information Collections Approved by Office of Management 
and Budget

October 14, 1999.
    The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has received Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the following public 
information collections pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995, Public Law 104-13. An agency may not conduct or sponsor and a 
person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless 
it displays a currently valid control number. For further information 
contact Shoko B. Hair, Federal Communications Commission, (202) 418-
1379.

Federal Communications Commission

    OMB Control No.: 3060-0854.
    Expiration Date: 09/30/2002.
    Title: Truth-In-Billing Format--CC Docket No. 98-170 (Final Rule).
    Form No.: N/A.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 3099 respondents; 62.72 hours per response 
(avg.); 194,388 total annual burden hours for all collections.
    Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: 
$1,800,000-$9,000,000.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion; Third party disclosures.
    Description: Under Section 201(b) of the Communications Act, the 
charges, practices, and classifications of common carriers must be just 
and reasonable. The Commission believes that the telephone bill is an 
integral part of the relationship between a carrier and its customer. 
The manner in which charges are identified and articulated on the bills 
is essential to the consumer's understanding of the services that have 
been rendered, such that a carrier's provision of misleading or 
deceptive billing information may be an unjust and unreasonable 
practice in violation of Section 201(b). In the First Report and Order 
issued in CC Docket No. 98-170, released May 11, 1999, the Commission 
imposes the following collections of information to ensure that 
telephone bills contain the information necessary for consumers to 
determine the validity of charges assessed on the bills and to combat 
telecommunications fraud. a. Clear identification of service providers. 
Section 64.2001 requires that all telephone bills clearly identify the 
name of the service provider associated with each charge. (No. of 
respondents: 3099; hours per response: 1 hour; total annual burden: 
3099).
    b. Separation of charges by service provider and highlighting new 
service provider information. Section 64.2001 requires that all 
telephone bills containing charges for wireline common carrier service 
(1) separate charges by service provider and (2) clearly and 
conspicuously show any change in service providers by identifying all 
service providers that did not bill for services on the previous 
billing statement and, where applicable, describing any new 
presubscribed or continuing relationship with the customer. (No. of 
respondents: 2295; hours per response: 80 hours; total annual burden: 
183,600 hours).
    c. Full and non-misleading billed charges. Section 64.2001 requires 
that (1) all telephone bills for wireline service, include for each 
charge a brief, clear, plain-language description of the services 
rendered; and (2) all telephone bills that contain additional carrier 
charges along with charges for local wireline service must 
differentiate between charges for which non-payment could result in 
termination of local telephone service and those charges for which non-
payment would not result in termination of such basic service. (No. of 
respondents: 2295; hours per response: 2 hours; total annual burden: 
4590 hours).
    d. Clear and Conspicuous Disclosure of Inquiry Contacts. Section 
64.2001 requires that all telephone bills display a toll-free number or 
numbers by which consumers may inquire about or dispute any charge on 
the bill. The number(s) must be displayed in a manner that permits a 
customer to identify easily the appropriate number to use to inquire 
about a particular charge. (No. of respondents: 3099; hours per 
response: 1 hour; total annual burden: 3099 hours). The information 
will be used by consumers to help them understand their telephone 
bills. Consumers need this information to protect themselves against 
fraud and to resolve billing disputes on their own. Obligation to 
comply: Required to obtain or retain benefits.

    Note: The Commission issued a Public Notice announcing the 
effective date of the requirements. See DA 99-2030, released 9/30/
99.

    OMB Control No.: 3060-0515.
    Expiration Date: 10/31/2002.
    Title: Miscellaneous Common Carrier Annual Letter Filing 
Requirement--47 CFR Section 43.21(c).
    Form No.: N/A.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 32 respondents; 1 hour per response 
(avg.); 32 total annual burden hours.
    Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: $0.
    Frequency of Response: Annually.
    Description: Pursuant to Section 43.21(c), each miscellaneous 
common carrier with operating revenues in excess of the indexed 
threshold as defined in 47 CFR Section 32.9000 must file a letter 
showing its operating revenues for that year and the value of its total 
communications plant at the end of that year. The letter must contain 
information pertaining to the carrier's revenues, expenses, net income, 
assets, liabilities and owners' equity. These letters must be filed by 
no later than April 1 of the following year. Those miscellaneous common 
carriers with annual operating revenues that equal or surpass the 
indexed revenue threshold for the first time may file the letter up to 
one month after publication of the adjusted revenue threshold in the 
Federal Register, but in no event shall such carriers be required to 
file the letter prior to April 1. The information is used by staff 
members to regulate and monitor the telephone industry and by the 
public to analyze the industry. The information on revenue and total 
plant is compiled and published in the Commission's annual common 
carrier statistical publication and long distance market share report. 
Obligation to comply: Mandatory.
    Public reporting burden for the collections of information is as 
noted above. Send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other 
aspect of the collections of information, including suggestions for 
reducing the burden to Performance Evaluation and Records Management, 
Washington, DC 20554.

Federal Communications Commission.
Magalie Roman Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-27529 Filed 10-20-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P