[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 149 (Friday, August 1, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 45008]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-17696]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[WT Docket No. 07-250; DA 08-1331]


Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau Reminds Digital Wireless 
Handset Manufacturers and Public Mobile Service Providers of Obligation 
To Designate an Agent for Hearing Aid Compatibility Issues

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In this document, the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau 
(Bureau) reminds public mobile service providers and digital wireless 
handset manufacturers of their obligation to designate an agent for 
service of informal complaints received by the Commission, as well as 
notices, inquiries, and orders, relating to hearing aid compatibility.

DATES: The requirement to designate a service and contact agent became 
effective June 6, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Arlene Alexander, Consumer and 
Governmental Affairs Bureau, Disability Rights Office at (202) 418-0581 
(voice), (202) 418-0183 (TTY), or e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Bureau's document 
DA 08-1331, released June 5, 2008. A copy of document DA 08-1331 will 
be available for public inspection and copying during regular business 
hours at the FCC Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th 
Street, SW., Room CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554. Document DA 08-1331 
also may be purchased from the Commission's duplicating contractor at 
Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554. 
Customers may contact the Commission's duplicating contractor at its 
Web site http://www.bcpiweb.com or by calling 1-800-378-3160.
    To request materials in accessible formats for people with 
disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), 
send an e-mail to [email protected] or call the Bureau at (202) 418-0530 
(voice) or (202) 418-0432 (TTY). Document DA 08-1331 also can be 
downloaded in Word and Portable Document Format (PDF) at http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/hearing.html.
    The designation required by Amendment of the Commission's Rules 
Governing Hearing Aid-Compatible Mobile Handsets, Petition of American 
National Standards Institute Accredited Standards Committee C63 (EMC) 
ANSI ASC C63[reg], WT Docket No. 07-250, First Report and Order, FCC 
08-68, published at 73 FR 25566, May 7, 2008 (2008 Hearing Aid 
Compatibility First Report and Order), may be sent to the Commission 
via e-mail to [email protected], or by mail to the Commission, 
Attention: Arlene Alexander, Room 3-C408 (see ADDRESSES section of this 
document for mailing address). Designated service agent information may 
be viewed through the Bureau's Disability Rights Office Web site at 
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/section255.html.

Synopsis

    On February 28, 2008, the Commission released the 2008 Hearing Aid 
Compatibility First Report and Order, which modified the Commission's 
hearing aid compatibility requirements applicable to providers of 
public mobile services and manufacturers of digital wireless handsets 
used in the delivery of those services. These modifications include 
requiring manufacturers and service providers to provide hearing aid 
compatibility contact information directly to the Commission for 
posting on the Commission's Web site. Specifically, the Commission 
amended 47 CFR 68.418 to require that manufacturers and service 
providers designate and identify one or more agents upon whom service 
may be made of all informal complaints, as well as notices, inquiries, 
orders, decisions, and other pronouncements of the Commission in any 
matter before the Commission. The regulations further provide that 
``[s]uch designation shall be provided to the Commission and shall 
include a name or department designation, business address, telephone 
number, and, if available, TTY number, facsimile number, and Internet 
e-mail address.'' Finally, the regulations require the Commission to 
make this information available to the public.
    Apart from requiring the provision of contact information directly 
to the Commission, the new regulations do not otherwise change the 
procedures for handling complaints alleging a violation of the 
Commission's hearing aid compatibility rules.

Federal Communications Commission
Nicole McGinnis,
Deputy Chief, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau.
[FR Doc. E8-17696 Filed 7-31-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P