[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 138 (Wednesday, July 18, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 42187-42189]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-17346]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 64

[CG Docket No. 10-210; DA 12-430]


Relay Services for Deaf-Blind Individuals

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule; announcement of effective date.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Commission announces that the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) has approved, for a period of three years, 
the information collection associated with the Commission's 
Implementation of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video 
Accessibility Act of 2010, Section 105, Relay Services for Deaf-Blind 
Individuals, Order (Order). This document is consistent with the Order, 
which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the 
Federal Register announcing OMB approval and the effective date of the 
requirement.

DATES: 47 CFR 64.610(f)(2), published at 76 FR 26641, May 9, 2011, and 
modified at 77 FR 20553, April 5, 2012, is effective July 18, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rosaline Crawford, Disability Rights 
Office, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, at (202) 418-2075, or 
email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document announces that, on July 11, 
2012, OMB approved, for a period of three years, the modified 
information collection requirements contained in the Commission's 
Order, DA 12-430, published at 77 FR 20553, April 5, 2012. The OMB 
Control Number is 3060-1146. The Commission publishes this document as 
an announcement of the effective date of the rules. If you have any 
comments on the burden estimates listed below, or how the Commission 
can improve the collections and reduce any burdens caused thereby, 
please contact Cathy Williams, Federal Communications Commission, Room 
1-C823, 445 12th Street SW., Washington, DC 20554. Please include the 
OMB Control Number, 3060-1146, in your

[[Page 42188]]

correspondence. The Commission will also accept your comments via the 
Internet if you send them to [email protected].
    To request materials in accessible formats for people with 
disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), 
send an email to [email protected] or call the Consumer and Governmental 
Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-0432 (TTY).

Synopsis

    As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3507), the FCC is notifying the public that it received OMB approval on 
July 11, 2012, for the modified information collection requirement 
contained in the Commission's rules at 47 CFR 64.610(f)(2).
    Under 5 CFR 1320, an agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection 
of information unless it displays a current, valid OMB Control Number.
    No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply 
with a collection of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act 
that does not display a current, valid OMB Control Number. The OMB 
Control Number is 3060-1146.
    The foregoing notice is required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995, Public Law 104-13, October 1, 1995, and 44 U.S.C. 3507.
    The total annual reporting burdens and costs for the respondents 
are as follows:
    OMB Control Number: 3060-1146.
    OMB Approval Date: July 11, 2012.
    OMB Expiration Date: July 31, 2015.
    Title: Implementation of the Twenty-first Century Communications 
and Video Accessibility Act of 2010, Section 105, Relay Services for 
Deaf-Blind Individuals, CG Docket No. 10-210.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Individuals or households; businesses or other for-
profit entities; not-for-profit institutions; Federal government; 
State, local or tribal governments.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 106 respondents; 989 
responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 1 to 120 hours.
    Frequency of Response: Annual, on occasion, one-time, monthly, and 
semi-annually reporting requirements; Record keeping requirement; Third 
party disclosure requirement.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefit. The 
statutory authority for the information collections is contained in 47 
U.S.C. 154, 254(k); sections 403(b)(2)(B), (c), Public Law 104-104, 110 
Stat. 56. Interpret or apply 47 U.S.C. 201, 218, 222, 225, 226, 228, 
254(k), and 620.
    Total Annual Burden: 21,465 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: None.
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: Confidentiality is an issue 
to the extent that individuals and households provide personally 
identifiable information (PII), which is covered under the FCC's system 
of records notice (SORN), FCC/CGB-3, ``National Deaf-Blind Equipment 
distribution Program.'' As required by the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. 552a, 
the Commission also published a SORN, FCC/CGB-3 ``National Deaf-Blind 
Equipment Distribution Program,'' in the Federal Register on January 
19, 2012 (77 FR 2721) which became effective on February 28, 2012. 
Also, the Commission is in the process of preparing the new privacy 
impact assessment (PIA) related to the PII covered by these information 
collections, as required by OMB's Memorandum M-03-22 (September 26, 
2003) and by the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. 552a.
    Privacy Impact Assessment: Yes. The Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) 
was completed on June 28, 2007. It may be reviewed at: http://www.fcc.gov/omd/privacyact/Privacy_Impact_Assessment.html. The 
Commission is in the process of updating the PIA to incorporate various 
revisions made to the SORN and is in the process of preparing a new 
SORN to cover the PII collected related thereto, as stated above.
    Needs and Uses: On April 6, 2011, in document FCC 11-56, the 
Commission released a Report and Order; published at 76 FR 26641, May 
9, 2011, adopting final rules to implement section 719 of the 
Communications Act of 1934 (the Act), as amended, which was added to 
the Act by the ``Twenty-First Century Communications and Video 
Accessibility Act of 2010'' (CVAA). See Public Law 111-260, Sec.  105. 
Section 719 of the Act authorizes up to $10 million annually from the 
Interstate Telecommunications Relay Service Fund (TRS Fund) to support 
eligible programs that distribute equipment designed to make 
telecommunications service, Internet access service, and advanced 
communications accessible by low-income individuals who are deaf-blind. 
Specifically, the rules adopted in document FCC 11-56 established the 
National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP) as a pilot 
program for two years with an option to extend the program for one 
additional year. The rules adopted in document FCC 11-56 have the 
following information collection requirements:
    (a) State equipment distribution programs, other public programs, 
and private entities may submit applications for NDBEDP certification 
to the Commission. For each state, the Commission will certify a single 
program as the sole authorized entity to participate in the NDBEDP and 
receive reimbursement from the TRS Fund.
    (b) Each program certified under the NDBEDP must submit certain 
program-related data electronically to the Commission, as instructed by 
the NDBEDP Administrator, every six months, commencing with the start 
of the pilot program.
    (c) Each program certified under the NDBEDP must retain all records 
associated with the distribution of equipment and provision of related 
services under the NDBEDP for two years following the termination of 
the pilot program.
    (d) Each program certified under the NDBEDP must obtain 
verification that NDBEDP applicants meet the definition of an 
individual who is deaf-blind.
    (e) Each program certified under the NDBEDP must obtain 
verification that NDBEDP applicants meet the income eligibility 
requirements.
    (f) Programs certified under the NDBEDP shall be reimbursed for the 
cost of equipment that has been distributed to eligible individuals and 
authorized related services, up to the state's funding allotment under 
this program. Within 30 days after the end of each six-month period of 
the Fund Year, each program certified under the NDBEDP pilot must 
submit documentation that supports its claim for reimbursement of the 
reasonable costs of equipment and related services.
    On March 20, 2012 in document DA 12-430, the Commission released an 
Order; published at 77 FR 20553, April 5, 2012, to conditionally waive 
the requirement in section (f), above, for NDBEDP certified programs to 
submit reimbursement claims at the end of each six-month period of the 
TRS Fund Year to permit certified programs to submit reimbursement 
claims as frequently as monthly. Each certified program that wishes to 
take advantage of this waiver will be permitted to elect a monthly or 
quarterly reimbursement schedule, must notify the TRS Fund 
Administrator of its election at the start of each Fund Year, and must 
maintain that schedule for the duration of the Year.


[[Page 42189]]


Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Office of Managing Director.
[FR Doc. 2012-17346 Filed 7-17-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P