[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 171 (Wednesday, September 5, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51004-51006]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-17144]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[U.S. DOT Docket No. NHTSA-2007-27523]


Reports, Forms, and Recordkeeping Requirements Agency Information 
Collection Activity Under OMB Review

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 
Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information 
Collection Request (ICR) below has been forwarded to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes 
the nature of the information collection and the expected burden. The 
Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period was published on 
March 14, 2007 (72 FR 11931-11932).

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 1, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to U.S. Department of 
Transportation Dockets, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., W12-140, 
Washington, DC 20590. Docket No. NHTSA-2007-27523.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Laurie Flaherty, Program Analyst, 
Office of Emergency Medical Services, National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., NTI-140, W44-322, 
Washington, DC 20590, (202) 366-2705 or via e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

    Title: Request for Information, National E9-1-1 Implementation 
Coordination Office.
    OMB Number: 2127--New.
    Type of Request: New information collection request.

Supporting Statement for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions

A. Justification

    1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of 
information necessary.
    The ENHANCE 911 Act of 2004 requires the establishment of a 
National E911 Implementation Coordination Office (National 9-1-1 
Office), as a joint effort between the National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration (NHTSA) and the National Telecommunications and 
Information Administration (NTIA). It delineates the responsibilities 
of the office to include a joint program to facilitate coordination and 
communication between Federal, State, and local emergency 
communications systems, emergency personnel, public safety 
organizations, telecommunications carriers, and telecommunications 
equipment manufacturers and vendors involved in the implementation of 
E-911 services.
    The NHTSA and NTIA intend to use the National 9-1-1 Office to work 
cooperatively with public and private 9-1-1 stakeholders to establish a 
vision for the future of 9-1-1 services in the Nation. The 9-1-1 
constituency is a diverse group of entities, including:
    Government Agencies:
     Local, State and Federal policy, regulation, and funding 
agencies.
     Local and State emergency communications agencies.
     Local, State and Federal emergency response agencies.
    Non-Governmental Organizations:
     Professional and industry associations.
     Standards Development Organizations.
     Citizen and special interest advocacy organizations.
     Private emergency response and recovery organizations.
     Research and academic organizations.
    IT/Telecommunications Service Providers:
     ``Traditional'' telecommunication service providers.
     ``Public Safety/emergency'' service providers.
     ``Other'' IT/telecommunication application service 
providers.
     IP-network access infrastructure/service providers.
    IT/Telecommunications Equipment Providers:
     Equipment and support service suppliers to ``traditional'' 
telecommunication companies.
     Equipment and support service suppliers to IT network 
providers.
     ``Public Safety/emergency services network'' equipment 
providers.
     Personal communication device providers.
     Third party service providers such as telematics, poison 
control, medical alert, central alarm monitoring, relay services, and 
N-1-1 services e.g., 4-1-1, 5-1-1).
    In order to collect information needed to develop and implement 
effective strategies that meet the National 9-1-1 Office's mandate to 
provide leadership, coordination, guidance and direction to the 
enhancement of the Nation's 9-1-1 services, NHTSA, in cooperation with 
NTIA, must utilize efficient and effective means of eliciting the input 
and opinions of its constituency groups. The proposed annual RFIs would 
assist the National 9-1-1 Office in addressing the myriad of issues 
posed by implementing new technologies in 9-1-1 services in a 
systematic, prioritized fashion, with active involvement of its 
constituency in this process.
    2. Indicate how, by whom, and for what purpose the information is 
to be used.
    The results of the proposed annual RFIs would be used by staff of 
the

[[Page 51005]]

National 9-1-1 Office to: (1) Identify areas to target programs and 
activities to achieve the greatest benefit; (2) develop programs and 
initiatives aimed at cooperative efforts to Enhance 9-1-1 services 
nationwide; and (3) to provide informational support to States, 
regions, and localities in their own efforts to Enhance 9-1-1 services. 
The survey will answer questions and address issues raised by staff of 
the National 9-1-1 Office.
    The results of the proposed annual RFIs would provide a status 
report on constituent attitudes, knowledge, opinions, and advice 
related to the activities undertaken by the National 9-1-1 Office. The 
results would be studied to determine appropriate emphases for future 
activities. The results would also be disseminated to others for use in 
their program development activities. If the RFI were not conducted, 
the National 9-1-1 Office would lack sufficient direction due to 
inadequate information upon which to base program decisions, and 
limiting the effectiveness of the office in reaching the goals 
established by Congress.
    3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of 
information involves the use of technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    Collection of information will be accomplished through the 
electronic submission of comments and responses to specific questions 
and soliciting comments on the priorities and strategies used by the 
National 9-1-1 Office to accomplish its agreed functions, goals and 
vision. Since the information solicited is almost exclusively 
qualitative in nature, analysis and aggregation of information would 
not be done using technological analysis techniques.
    4. Describe efforts to identify duplication. Show specifically why 
any similar information already available cannot be used.
    The National 9-1-1 Office is the Federal entity established 
specifically to facilitate coordination and communication between 
Federal, State, and local emergency communications systems, emergency 
personnel, public safety organizations, telecommunications carriers, 
and telecommunications equipment manufacturers and vendors involved in 
the implementation of E9-1-1 services. While the Federal Communications 
Commission (FCC) does have jurisdiction over private sector entities 
such as telecommunications carriers, the National 9-1-1 Office is 
responsible for coordinating efforts among both private and public 
entities at the Federal, State and local levels. While the data 
collected by the FCC are useful, these limited excursions into issues 
related to 9-1-1 services do not provide sufficient information to meet 
the needs of the National 9-1-1 Office for programmatic decision 
making, and facilitating coordination and communication among the 
numerous and disparate entities involved in providing and supporting 9-
1-1 services.
    Overall, the following criteria were applied to determine whether 
existing information may be duplicative:
     Currency of information--the data must be current in order 
to have utility for making sound strategic decisions regarding future 
programmatic activity.
     National basis--The efforts of the National 9-1-1 Office 
are national in scope. The National 9-1-1 Office therefore requires 
national-level data for its planning. Data derived from limited 
constituencies are also unsuitable because the data are representative 
of only a small portion of the constituency.
     Focus on program concerns--the items within the proposed 
RFI concern issues crucial to developing appropriate strategies for 
improving the Nation's 9-1-1 services.
    5. If the collection of information impacts small businesses or 
other small entities, describe methods used to minimize burden.
    The collection of information from all respondents has been 
minimized by the limiting the RFI contents to a number of questions 
that would require an average of one hour to complete.
    6. Describe the consequence to Federal program or policy activities 
if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently.
    The information is necessary for the National 9-1-1 Office to be 
able to make strategic planning decisions in program areas on an 
informed basis. This is particularly important with the priority 
assigned to 9-1-1 services by Congress and the Administration. In 
addition, the technology impacting 9-1-1 services has changed 
substantially in recent years. Both public and private sectors have 
increasingly focused on addressing the need to enhance the technology 
utilized by 9-1-1 services across the nation. Without up-to-date 
information, the National 9-1-1 Office will not be able to adequately 
address new opportunities to promote advanced technology for 9-1-1 
services, or identify emerging obstacles.
    7. Explain any special circumstances that would cause the 
information collection to be conducted in a manner inconsistent with 
the guidelines set forth in 5 CFR 1320.6.
    No special circumstances require the collection of information to 
be conducted in a manner inconsistent with the guidelines in 5 CFR 
1320.6.
    8. Provide a copy and identify the date and page number of the 
publication in the Federal Register of the agency's notice, required by 
5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting comments on the information collection 
prior to submission to OMB. Summarize the public comments received in 
response to that notice and describe actions to consult with persons 
outside the agency to obtain their views.
    Federal Register Notice: A copy of the Federal Register Notice is 
provided in Appendix A. The Notice appeared in the Federal Register, 
Volume 72, Number 49, pages 11931-11932, March 14, 2007. The closing 
date for comments was May 14, 2007. No comments were received.
    9. Explain any decision to provide any payment or gift to 
respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.
    No payments or gifts will be offered to the respondents 
participating in the annual RFI process.
    10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to 
respondents.
    No assurances of confidentiality are given by the agency. There is 
no requirement that information be sent to the agency. All information 
submitted by respondents is done so on a voluntary basis and is 
intended for inclusion in a public document.
    11. Provide additional justification for questions of a sensitive 
nature.
    The RFI process will not contain any questions related to matters 
that are commonly considered sensitive or private.
    12. Provide estimates of the hour burden of the collection of 
information on the respondents.
    The NHTSA estimates that responses to the questions included in the 
proposed RFIs would require an average of one hour to complete. 
Estimating the number of respondents at 50, this would result in a 
total burden of 50 hours.
    13. Provide an estimate of the total annual cost burden to 
respondents or record keepers resulting from the collection of 
information.
    There are no record keeping or reporting costs to respondents. Each 
respondent only participates once in the information collection 
process. Thus there is no preparation of data required or expected of 
respondents. Respondents do not incur: (a) Capital or start up costs, 
(b) operation, maintenance or purchase costs, as a result of 
participating in the RFI process.

[[Page 51006]]

    14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government.
    Total estimated cost to the government for conducting the RFI is as 
follows:
    Contractor costs associated with analysis and report: $18,000. This 
estimate is based on the total cost for contractor supported analysis 
and report of information obtained in the RFI process, including 120 
fully loaded hours at $150 per hour.
    15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments 
reported in Items 13 or 14 of the OMB form 83-1.
    Since this is a new request, there are no program changes or 
adjustments to report in Items 13 or 14 of the OMB form 83-1.
    16. For collections of information whose results will be published, 
outline plans for tabulation and publication.
    The NHTSA plans to complete a status report based on the results of 
the RFI, of constituent attitudes, knowledge, opinions, and advice 
related to the activities undertaken by the National 9-1-1 Office. This 
report would also be made available to public and private entities, 
upon request, for use in their program development activities.
    17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB 
approval of the information collection, explain the reasons that 
display would be inappropriate.
    Approval is not sought to not display the expiration date.
    18. Explain each exception to the certification statement 
identified in Item 19, Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act 
Submissions,'' of OMB Form 83-1.
    No exceptions to the certification statement are made.

B. Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods

    The proposed RFI will not employ statistical methods to analyze the 
information collected from respondents.
    Comments are invited on: Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the performance of the functions of the 
National E9-1-1 Implementation Coordination Office, including whether 
the information will have practical utility; the accuracy of the 
Department's estimate of the burden of the proposed information 
collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology. A comment to OMB is most effective if OMB received it 
within 30 days of publication.

(Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A); 47 U.S.C. 942)

    Issued on: August 24, 2007.
Marilena Amoni,
Associate Administrator, Research and Program Development.
 [FR Doc. E7-17144 Filed 9-4-07; 8:45 am]
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