[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 21, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15870-15872]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-6972]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


Public Information Collections Approved by Office of Management 
and Budget

March 13, 2001.
    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.: 3060-0056.
    Expiration Date: 09/30/2001.
    Title: Part 68--Connection of Terminal Equipment to the Telephone 
Network.
    Form No.: FCC Form 730.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Individuals or 
household.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 54,369 respondents; .5 minutes--20 hours 
per respondent; 2.2 hours per response (avg.); 120,459 total annual 
burden hours.
    Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: 
$2,705,000.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion; Recordkeeping; Third Party 
Disclosure.
    Description: In the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (1996 Act), 
Congress directed the Commission to review its rules every even-
numbered year and repeal or modify those found to be no longer in the 
public interest. Consistent with the directive of Congress, in the year 
2000, the Commission undertook its second comprehensive biennial review 
of the Commission's rules to eliminate regulations that are no longer 
necessary because the public interest can be better

[[Page 15871]]

served through reliance on market forces. In a Report and Order issued 
in CC Docket No. 99-216, Biennial Regulatory Review of Part 68 of the 
Commission's Rules and Regulations, released December 21, 2000 (Order), 
the Commission completely eliminate significant portions of Part 68 of 
our rules governing the connection of customer premises equipment 
(terminal equipment) to the public switched telephone network and 
privatize the standards development and terminal equipment approval 
processes. Specifically, in the Commission transferred responsibility 
for developing technical criteria to Standards Development 
Organizations (SDOs) that are accredited by the American National 
Standards Institute (ANSI), and the responsibility for compiling and 
publishing all standards ultimately adopted as technical criteria for 
terminal equipment to the Administrative Council for Terminal 
Attachments (Administrative Council). The Commission maintains its 
rules' broad principles, including a proscription against causing any 
of four harms to the public switched telephone network by the direct 
connection of terminal equipment. Once the Administrative Council 
publishes the technical criteria, the Commission shall presume the 
criteria to be valid for the prevention of the harms to the public 
switched telephone network by terminal equipment interconnection, 
subject to de novo review by petition to this Commission. Conformance 
with the technical criteria will be considered a demonstration of 
compliance with the Commission's rules prohibiting terminal equipment 
from harming the public switched telephone network. Terminal equipment 
manufacturers either will submit their products to telecommunications 
certification bodies (TCBs) for certification of conformity with the 
technical criteria (instead of submitting them for registration with 
the Commission), or they will use the Commission's Supplier's 
Declaration of Conformity (SDoC) process to show conformity with the 
technical criteria. This process will be more efficient and responsive 
to the needs of all segments of the industry, and remove the Commission 
from role where governmental involvement is no longer necessary or in 
the public interest. Following is a summary of the collections 
contained in the Order and 47 CFR part 68. See the Order and 47 CFR 
part 68 for additional information.
    a. FCC Form 730 and associated requirements--Currently, under rule 
68.102 manufacturers must register terminal equipment. FCC Form 730 is 
used to obtain registration of telephone equipment pursuant to part 68 
of the Commission's rules. In addition to filing the form, applicants 
are required to submit exhibits and other informational showings 
specified by part 68.
    The Commission will cease accepting applications for registration 
of part 68 equipment and transfer responsibility for establishing and 
maintaining the database of approved equipment to the Administrative 
Council when the Council publishes the technical criteria as required 
by the Order. While continued use of the FCC Form 730 is permitted, the 
Commission only requires that the database contain sufficient 
information for providers of telecommunications, this Commission and 
the U.S. Customs Service to carry out their functions. (No. of 
respondents: 2400; hours per response: 24 hours; total annual burden: 
57,600 hours).
    b. Section 68.105, Minimum Point of Entry and Demarcation Point--
Pursuant to Section 68.105, at the time of installation, providers of 
wireline telecommunications must fully inform the premise owner of its 
options and rights regarding the placement of the demarcation point or 
points. The provider of wireline telecommunications services must make 
available information on the location of the demarcation point within 
ten business days of a request from the premises owners. (No. of 
respondents: 50,000; hours per response: .05 hours; total annual 
burden: 2500 hours).
    c. Section 68.106--Notification to Provider of Wireline 
Telecommunications--Section 68.106 requires customers connecting 
terminal equipment or protective circuitry to the public switched 
telephone network shall, upon request of the provider of wireline 
telecommunications inform the provider of wireline telecommunications 
of the particular line(s) to which such connection is made, and any 
other information required to be placed on that terminal equipment 
pursuant to Section 68.354. Customers connecting systems assembled of 
combinations of individually-approved terminal equipment and protective 
circuitry shall provide, upon the request of the provider of wireline 
telecommunications, provide the information delineated in Section 
68.106(b)(i)-(iv). Customers who intend to connect premises wiring 
other than fully protected premises wiring to the public switched 
telephone network shall, in addition to the requirements in Section 
68.106(b), give notice to the provider of wireline telecommunications 
in accordance with Section 68.215(e). (No. of respondents: 50,000; 
hours per response: .05 hours; total annual burden: 2500 hours).
    d. Section 68.108, Notification of Incidence of Harm--Section 
68.108 requires that providers of wireline telecommunications notify 
the customer that temporary discontinuance of service may be required 
should terminal equipment, inside wiring, plugs and jacks, or 
protective circuitry cause harm to the public switched telephone 
network or should the provider reasonably determine that such harm is 
imminent. (No. of respondents: 7500; hours per response: 0.5 hours; 
total annual burden: 750 hours).
    e. Section 68.110, Disclosure of Technical Information--Section 
68.110(a) requires provider of wireline telecommunications to provide, 
upon request, technical information concerning interface parameters not 
specified by the technical criteria published by the Administrative 
Council for Terminal Attachments that are needed to permit terminal 
equipment to operate in a manner compatible with the communications 
facilities of a provider of wireline telecommunications. Section 
68.110(b) requires that a provider of wireline telecommunications give 
the customer adequate notice in writing if changes can be reasonably 
expected to render any customer's terminal equipment incompatible with 
the communications facilities of the provider of wireline 
telecommunications, or require modification or alteration of such 
terminal equipment, or otherwise materially affect its use or 
performance. (No. of respondents: 40; hours per response: .50 hours; 
total annual burden: 20 hours). Section 68.110(c) requires provider of 
wireline telecommunications to provide building owners with all 
available information regarding carrier-installed wiring on the 
customer's side of the demarcation point, including copies of existing 
schematic diagrams and service records. (No. of respondents: 200, with 
1200 responses; hours per response: 1 hours; total annual burden: 1200 
hours).
    f. Section 68.215, Notarized Affidavit--Section 68.215 requires 
that a notarized affidavit and one copy thereof be prepared by the 
installation supervisor in advance of each operation associated with 
the installation, connection, reconfiguration and removal of other than 
fully-protected premises wiring (except when accomplished functionally 
using a cross-connect panel), except when involved with removal of the 
entire premises communications systems

[[Page 15872]]

using such wiring. The affidavit and its copy must contain the 
information specified in 47 CFR 68.215(e)(1)-(9). (No. of respondents: 
7500; hours per response: .50 hours; total annual burden: 3750 hours).
    g. Section 68.218, Compliance Warrants--Section 68.218 requires 
that the responsible party warrants that each unit of equipment 
marketed under such authorization will comply with all applicable rules 
and regulations of Part 68 and with the applicable technical criteria 
of the Administrative Council for Terminal Attachments. (No. of 
respondents: 974, with 2350 responses; hours per response: .5 hours; 
total annual burden: 1175 hours).
    h. Section 68.324, Supplier's Declaration of Conformity--Section 
68.324(a)(1)-(6) lists the information that each responsible party must 
include in the Supplier's Declaration of Conformity.(No. of 
respondents: 974, with 2350 responses; hour per response: 20 hours; 
total annual burden: 47,000 hours).
    i. Section 68.326, Retention of Records--Section 68.326 requires 
that responsible party for a Supplier's Declaration of Conformity 
maintains records containing the information specified in Section 
68.326(a)(1)-(4) for at least ten years after the manufacture of said 
equipment has been permanently discontinued, or until the conclusion of 
an investigation or a proceeding, if the responsible party is 
officially notified prior to the expiration of such ten year period 
that an investigation or any other administrative proceeding involving 
its equipment has been instituted, whichever is later. See 47 CFR 
68.326. (No. of respondents: 974, with 2350 responses; hours per 
response: .5 hours; total annual burden: 1175 hours).
    j. Section 68.346, Description of Testing Facilities--Section 
68.346 requires that each responsible party for equipment that is 
subject to a Supplier's Declaration of Conformity compiles and retains 
a description of the measurement facilities employed for testing the 
equipment. The description shall contain the information required by 
the Administrative Council for Terminal Attachments. See 47 CFR section 
68.346. (No. of respondents: 974, with 2350 responses; hours per 
response: .25 hours; total annual burden: 587 hours).
    k. Section 68.354, Numbering and Labeling Requirements--Section 
68.354 requires that terminal equipment and protective circuitry that 
is subject to a Supplier's Declaration of Conformity or that is 
certified by a Telecommunications Certification Body have labels in a 
place and manner required by the Administrative Council for Terminal 
Attachments. Terminal equipment labels shall include an identification 
numbering system in a manner required by the Administrative Council for 
Terminal Attachments. FCC numbering and labeling requirements existing 
prior to the effective date of these rules shall remain unchanged until 
the Administrative Council for Terminal Attachments publishes its 
numbering and labeling requirements. See 47 CFR 68.354. See also 47 CFR 
68.612. (No. of respondents: 974, with 2350 responses: .25 hours; total 
annual burden: 587 hours).
    l. Sections 68.400-68.417, Complaints. A complaint must be in 
writing and contain the information specified in Section 68.400(a)-(d). 
(No. of respondents: 5; hours per response: 20 hours; total annual 
burden: 20 hours).
    m. Section 68.418, Designation of Agents for Service--Pursuant to 
Section 68.418, every responsible party of equipment approved pursuant 
to Part 68 must designate and identify one or more agents upon whom 
service may be made of all notices, inquiries, orders, decisions, and 
other pronouncements of the Commission in any matter before the 
Commission. See 47 CFR Section 68.418. (No. of respondents: 974, with 
2350 responses: hours per response: .1 hour; total annual burden: 235 
hours).
    n. Section 68.419, Answers to Informal complaints--Section 68.419 
requires that any responsible party to whom the Commission or the 
Consumer Information Bureau directs an informal complaint file an 
answer within the time specified by the Commission or the Consumer 
Information Bureau, as required by in Section 68.419(a)-(e). (No. of 
respondents: 5; hours per response: 20 hours; total annual burden: 100 
hours).
    o. Section 68.604, Requirements for submitting technical criteria--
Any SDO that submits standards to the Administrative Council for 
Terminal Attachments for publication as technical criteria shall 
certify to the Administrative Council for Terminal Attachments the 
information found in Section 68.604(c)(1)-(3). See 47 CFR Section 
68.604. (No. of respondents: 5, with 10 responses; hours per burden: 5 
hours; total annual burden: 5 hours).
    p. Section 68.610, Database of Terminal Equipment--Section 68.610 
requires that the Administrative Council for Terminal Attachments 
operates and maintains a database of all approved terminal equipment. 
(No. of respondents: 974, with 2350 responses; hours per response: .5 
hours; total annual burden: 1175 hours). To ensure that consumers, 
providers of telecommunications, the Administrative Council, TCBs, and 
the Commission are able to trace products to the party responsible for 
placing terminal equipment on the market, it is essential to require 
manufacturers and suppliers to provide the information specified in the 
Order and 47 CFR Part 68.

    Authority: 47 U.S.C. Secs. 151-154; 47 U.S.C. Sec. 201-205; 47 
U.S.C. Sec. 303. Obligation to respond: Required to obtain or retain 
benefits.

    Public reporting burden for the collection 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. 01-6972 Filed 3-20-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P