[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 151 (Friday, August 5, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 47476-47478]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-19793]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 64

[CG Docket No. 10-51; FCC 11-118]


Structure and Practices of the Video Relay Service Program

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Interim rule.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Commission adopts interim rules 
requiring that Internet-based Telecommunications Relay Service (iTRS) 
providers certify, under penalty of perjury, that their certification 
applications and annual compliance filings are truthful, accurate, and 
complete. These rules are necessary to help ensure that the Commission 
has true and complete information, thereby ensuring that only qualified 
providers are eligible for compensation from the Interstate TRS Fund 
(Fund).

DATES: Effective September 6, 2011, except 47 CFR 64.606 (a)(2)(v) and 
(g)(2) which contains information collection requirements that have not 
been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The Federal 
Communications Commission will publish a document in the Federal 
Register announcing the effective date. Written comments on the 
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) new information collection requirements 
must be submitted by the public, OMB and other interested parties on or 
before August 30, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20554. Comments on the information collection 
requirements contained herein should be submitted to Cathy Williams, 
Federal Communications Commission, via e-mail at [email protected] and 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gregory Hlibok, Consumer and 
Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 559-5158 (VP), or e-mail: 
[email protected]. For additional information concerning the 
information collection requirements contained in this document, contact 
Cathy Williams at (202) 418-2918, or e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's 
Structure and Practices of the Video Relay Service Program, Order 
(Order), document FCC 11-118 adopted July 28, 2011, and released July 
28, 2011, in CG Docket No. 10-51, adopting interim rules related to the 
Commission certification process for iTRS providers. The full text of 
FCC 11-118 and copies of any subsequently filed documents in this 
matter 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. FCC 11-
118 and copies of subsequently filed documents in this matter may also 
be purchased from the Commission's duplicating contractor, Best Copying 
and Printing, Inc. (BCPI), at Portals II, 445 12th Street SW., Room CY-
B402, Washington, DC 20554. Customers may contact BCPI at its Web site, 
http://www.bcpiweb.com, or by calling 202-488-5300. FCC 11-118 can also 
be downloaded in Word or Portable Document Format (PDF) at: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/trs.html#orders. 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 
Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), 
(202) 418-0432 (TTY).

Congressional Review Act

    The Commission will send a copy of document FCC 11-118 in a report 
to be sent to Congress and the Government Accountability Office 
pursuant to the Congressional Review Act. See 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).

Final Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 Analysis

    The interim rules adopted in document FCC 11-118 contain new 
information collection requirements subject to the PRA. Document FCC 
11-118 will be submitted to OMB for review under section 3507(d) of the 
PRA. OMB, the general public, and other Federal agencies are invited to 
comment on the new information collection requirements contained in 
this proceeding. While the interim rules in document FCC 11-118 are 
being adopted without notice and comment, and therefore are not subject 
to Regulatory Flexibility Act analysis

[[Page 47477]]

under 5 U.S.C. 604(a), the Commission believes that the information 
collection burden on small businesses from the interim rules is de 
minimis. Specifically, to the extent they require that providers 
support their certification applications and annual compliance filings 
with a certification, under penalty of perjury, as to the truthfulness, 
accuracy, and completeness of the filings, this merely entails adding 
the language specifically provided in the interim rules and having the 
filing signed by a senior executive. The Commission therefore concludes 
that the information collection burden associated with the interim 
rules is de minimis.

Synopsis

    In document FCC 11-118, the Commission adopts interim rules 
requiring that providers certify, under penalty of perjury, that their 
certification applications and annual compliance filings required under 
Sec.  64.606(g) of the Commission's rules are truthful, accurate, and 
complete. The Commission finds good cause to adopt the interim rules to 
ensure that providers seeking certification and providers holding 
certifications may be held accountable for their submissions as they 
seek to secure or retain certification under the rules adopted in the 
Second Report and Order portion of document FCC 11-118.
    The Commission previously has found that requiring a signed 
statement sworn to be true under penalty of perjury is a vehicle long 
and regularly used in a myriad of legal contexts to guarantee the 
veracity of the declarations, as well as to provide a means for civil 
enforcement and criminal prosecution to hold high level officials 
accountable for the actions and submissions of their companies. In 
addition, any applicant for, or holder of, any Commission authorization 
already is required to ensure that its statements to the Commission are 
truthful, accurate, and complete under the Commission's rules. 
Consistent with these existing requirements, the Commission concludes 
that interim rules requiring certification by a senior executive, under 
penalty of perjury, to the truthfulness, accuracy, and completeness of 
certification applications and annual compliance filings are a 
necessary and critical component of the Commission's efforts to curtail 
fraud and abuse. In particular, these interim rules will help to ensure 
that the Commission has true and complete information, thereby ensuring 
that only qualified providers are eligible for compensation from the 
Fund.
    The Commission finds good cause to adopt the interim rules without 
notice and comment, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B), in light of the 
impending deadlines for initial and re-certification applications. The 
current stay of the Commission's rule which prohibits revenue sharing 
arrangements expires on October 1, 2011, and iTRS providers who are not 
eligible to receive compensation directly from the Fund but are 
currently providing service under a revenue sharing arrangement will no 
longer be able to provide service through such arrangements. Similarly, 
providers currently eligible for compensation from the Fund via a means 
other than Commission certification must apply for certification within 
30 days after the final rules adopted in document FCC 11-118 become 
effective, and providers with Commission certifications expiring 
November 4, 2011 must apply for recertification after the rules become 
effective but at least 30 days prior to their expirations provided that 
the rules are effective by that date, or risk having to shut down their 
operations and being denied compensation from the Fund. The Commission 
therefore finds that interim rules are consistent with the public 
interest, given the importance of ensuring that only qualified 
providers are certified to become eligible for compensation from the 
Fund. The Commission concludes that notice and comment, in this 
instance, are impracticable given the impending certification 
application deadlines. In a forthcoming Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 
the Commission will seek additional comment on whether to make these 
rules permanent.

Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

    The interim rules adopted in document FCC 11-118 are being adopted 
without notice and comment, and therefore are not subject to Regulatory 
Flexibility Act analysis under 5 U.S.C. 604(a). The Commission will 
perform the appropriate regulatory flexibility analyses for any 
permanent rules adopted at a later date.

Ordering Clauses

    Pursuant to sections 1, 4(i), (j) and (o), 225, and 303(r) of the 
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 151, 154(i), (j) and 
(o), 225, and 303(r), and section 553(b)(3)(B) of the Administrative 
Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B), document FCC 11-118 IS ADOPTED. 
Pursuant to Sec.  1.427(a) of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 1.427(a), 
document FCC 11-118 shall be effective September 6, 2011, except 47 CFR 
64.606 (a)(2)(v) and (g)(2), which require approval by OMB under the 
PRA and which shall become effective after the Commission publishes a 
notice in the Federal Register announcing such approval and the 
relevant effective date.
    The Commission's Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, 
Reference Information Center, shall send a copy of document FCC 11-118 
to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 64

    Individuals with disabilities, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Telecommunications.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.

Rule Changes

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Federal 
Communications Commission amends 47 CFR part 64 as follows:

PART 64--MISCELLANEOUS RULES RELATING TO COMMON CARRIERS

0
1. The authority citation for part 64 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154, 254(k); secs. 403(b)(2)(B), (c), Pub. 
L. 104-104, 110 Stat. 56. Interpret or apply 47 U.S.C. 201, 218, 
225, 226, 228, 254(k), and 620, unless otherwise noted.


0
2. Section 64.606 is amended by revising paragraph (a)(2)(v) and 
paragraph (g) to read as follows:


Sec.  64.606  Internet-based TRS provider and TRS program 
certification.

    (a) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (v) The chief executive officer (CEO), chief financial officer 
(CFO), or other senior executive of an applicant for Internet-based TRS 
certification under this section with first hand knowledge of the 
accuracy and completeness of the information provided, when submitting 
an application for certification under paragraph (a)(2) of this 
section, must certify as follows: I swear under penalty of perjury that 
I am ---- (name and title), ----an officer of the above-named 
applicant, and that I have examined the foregoing submissions, and that 
all information required under the Commission's rules and orders has 
been provided and all statements of fact, as well as all documentation 
contained in this submission, are true, accurate, and complete.
* * * * *
    (g) Internet-based TRS providers certified under this section shall 
file with the Commission, on an annual

[[Page 47478]]

basis, a report demonstrating that they are in compliance with Sec.  
64.604.
    (1) Such reports must update the information required in paragraph 
(a)(2) of this section and include updated documentation and a summary 
of the updates, or certify that there are no changes to the information 
and documentation submitted with the application for certification, 
application for renewal of certification, or the most recent annual 
report, as applicable.
    (2) The chief executive officer (CEO), chief financial officer 
(CFO), or other senior executive of an Internet-based TRS provider 
under this section with first hand knowledge of the accuracy and 
completeness of the information provided, when submitting an annual 
report under paragraph (g) of this section, must, with each such 
submission, certify as follows: I swear under penalty of perjury that I 
am ---- (name and title), an officer of the above-named reporting 
entity, and that I have examined the foregoing submissions, and that 
all information required under the Commission's rules and orders has 
been provided and all statements of fact, as well as all documentation 
contained in this submission, are true, accurate, and complete.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2011-19793 Filed 8-4-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P