[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 150 (Monday, August 7, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36765-36766]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-16566]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[OMB 3060-XXXX]


Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal 
Communications Commission

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, 
and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the 
Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) invites the 
general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to 
comment on the following information collections. Comments are 
requested concerning: Whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the 
Commission, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; 
ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the 
respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology; and ways to further reduce the 
information collection burden on small business concerns with fewer 
than 25 employees.
    The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for 
failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the PRA 
that does not display a valid OMB control number.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted on or before October 6, 
2017. If you anticipate that you will be submitting comments, but find 
it difficult to do so within the period of time allowed by this notice, 
you should advise the contacts below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Direct all PRA comments to Cathy Williams, FCC, via email: 
[email protected] and to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information about the 
information collection, contact Cathy Williams at (202) 418-2918.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As part of its continuing effort to reduce 
paperwork burdens, and as required by the PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520, the 
FCC invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this 
opportunity to comment on the following information collections. 
Comments are requested concerning: Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; 
ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the 
respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology; and ways to further reduce the 
information collection burden on small business concerns with fewer 
than 25 employees.
    OMB Control Number: 3060-XXXX.
    Title: Transition from TTY to Real-Time Text Technology, CG Docket 
No. 16-145 and GN Docket No. 15-178.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: New collection.
    Respondents: Businesses or other for-profit entities.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 967 respondents; 5,557 
responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 0.2 hours (12 minutes) to 60 hours.
    Frequency of Response: Annual, ongoing, one-time, and semiannual

[[Page 36766]]

reporting requirements; recordkeeping requirement.
    Obligation To Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefit. The 
statutory authority can be found at sections 4(i), 225, 255, 301, 
303(r), 316, 403, 715, and 716 of the Communications Act of 1934, as 
amended, and section 106 of the Twenty-First Century Communications and 
Video Accessibility Act of 2010, 47 U.S.C. 154(i), 225, 255, 301, 
303(r), 316, 403, 615c, 616, 617; Public Law 111-260, 106, 124 Stat. 
2751, 2763 (2010).
    Total Annual Burden: 127,360 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: No cost.
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: There is no need for 
confidentiality with this collection of information.
    Privacy Impact Assessment: This information collection does not 
affect individuals or households; therefore, the Privacy Act is not 
impacted.
    Needs and Uses: TTY technology provides the primary means for 
people with disabilities to send and receive text communications over 
the public switched telephone network (PSTN). Changes to communications 
networks, particularly ongoing technology transitions from circuit 
switched to IP-based networks and from copper to wireless and fiber 
infrastructure, have affected the quality and utility of TTY 
technology, prompting discussions on transitioning to an alternative 
advanced communications technology for text communications. 
Accordingly, on December 16, 2016, the Commission released Transition 
from TTY to Real-Time Text Technology, Report and Order, document FCC 
16-169, 82 FR 7699, January 23, 2017, amending its rules that govern 
the obligations of wireless service providers and manufacturers to 
support TTY technology to permit such providers and manufacturers to 
provide support for real-time text (RTT) over wireless IP-based 
networks to facilitate an effective and seamless transition to RTT in 
lieu of continuing to support TTY technology.
    In document FCC 16-169, the Commission adopted measures requiring 
the following:
    (a) Each wireless provider and manufacturer that voluntarily 
transitions from TTY technology to RTT over wireless IP-based networks 
and services is encouraged to develop consumer and education efforts 
that include (1) the development and dissemination of educational 
materials that contain information pertinent to the nature, purpose, 
and timelines of the RTT transition; (2) Internet postings, in an 
accessible format, of information about the TTY to RTT transition on 
the Web sites of covered entities; (3) the creation of a telephone 
hotline and an online interactive and accessible service that can 
answer consumer questions about RTT; and (4) appropriate training of 
staff to effectively respond to consumer questions. All consumer 
outreach and education should be provided in accessible formats 
including, but not limited to, large print, Braille, videos in American 
Sign Language and that are captioned and video described, emails to 
consumers who have opted to receive notices in this manner, and printed 
materials. Service providers and manufacturers are also encouraged to 
coordinate with consumer, public safety, and industry stakeholders to 
develop and distribute education and outreach materials. The 
information will inform consumers of alternative accessible technology 
available to replace TTY technology that may no longer be available to 
the consumer through their provider or on their device.
    (b) Each wireless provider that requested or will request and 
receives a waiver of the requirement to support TTY technology over 
wireless IP-based networks and services must apprise their customers, 
through effective and accessible channels of communication, that (1) 
until TTY is sunset, TTY technology will not be supported for calls to 
911 services over IP-based wireless services, and (2) there are 
alternative PSTN-based and IP-based accessibility solutions for people 
with disabilities to reach 911 services. These notices must be 
developed in coordination with PSAPs and national consumer 
organizations, and include a listing of text-based alternatives to 911, 
including, but not limited to, TTY capability over the PSTN, various 
forms of PSTN-based and IP-based TRS, and text-to-911 (where 
available). The notices will inform consumers on the loss of the use of 
TTY for completing 911 calls over the provider's network and alert them 
to alternatives service for which TTY may be used.
    (c) Once every six months, each wireless provider that requests and 
receives a waiver of the requirement to support TTY technology must 
file a report with the Commission and inform its customers regarding 
its progress toward and the status of the availability of new IP-based 
accessibility solutions. Such reports must include (1) information on 
the interoperability of the provider's selected accessibility solution 
with the technologies deployed or to be deployed by other carriers and 
service providers, (2) the backward compatibility of such solution with 
TTYs, (3) a showing of the provider's efforts to ensure delivery of 911 
calls to the appropriate PSAP, (4) a description of any obstacles 
incurred towards achieving interoperability and steps taken to overcome 
such obstacles, and (5) an estimated timetable for the deployment of 
accessibility solutions. The information will inform consumers of the 
progress towards the availability of alternative accessible means to 
replace TTY, and the Commission will be able to evaluate the reports to 
determine if any changes to the waivers are warranted or of any 
impediments to progress that it may be in a position to resolve.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-16566 Filed 8-4-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6712-01-P