[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 212 (Friday, November 5, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 61077-61079]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-23855]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 64

[CG Docket No. 17-59; DA 21-1240; FRS 54669]


Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau Announces Interim Usage 
Charges for the Reassigned Numbers Database

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Interim action.

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SUMMARY: The Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (Bureau) of the 
Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) announces the 
initial interim usage charges for subscriptions to the Reassigned 
Numbers Database beginning November 1, 2021. Callers and caller agents 
will be able to use the Database to determine whether a telephone 
number has been reassigned from the consumer they intend to reach, thus 
allowing them to avoid calling consumers with reassigned numbers who 
may not wish to receive their call.

DATES: The initial interim usage charges for subscriptions to the 
Reassigned Numbers Database were applicable beginning November 1, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Schroeder, Associate Division 
Chief, Consumer Policy Division, Consumer and Governmental Affairs 
Bureau at (202) 418-0654 or via email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Public Notice, DA 
21-1240, CG Docket No. 17-59, released on October 1, 2021. The full 
text of this document is available online at https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-announces-interim-usage-charges-reassigned-numbers-data. 
To request this document in accessible formats for people with 
disabilities (e.g., Braille, large print, electronic files, audio 
format) or to request reasonable accommodations (e.g., accessible 
format documents, sign language interpreters, CART), send an email to 
[email protected] or call the FCC's Consumer and Governmental Affairs 
Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice).

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 Analysis

    This document does not contain any new or modified information 
collection requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 
Public Law 104-13. It, therefore, does not contain any new or modified 
information collection burden for small business concerns with fewer 
than 25 employees, pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act 
of 2002, Public Law 107-198, see 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(4).

Synopsis

    1. In this document, the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau 
(Bureau) announces the initial interim usage charges for subscriptions 
to the Reassigned Numbers Database (Database or RND). After a 
successful beta test, the Database was available for full use on 
November 1, 2021.
    2. Subscription Tiers and Rates. The RND will offer six 
subscription tiers: Extra Small, Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large, and 
Jumbo, as summarized in the table below and further detailed in the 
Appendix. Those wishing to use the RND may sign up for a one-month 
subscription, a three-month subscription, or a six-month subscription. 
The RND Administrator (Administrator) expects to offer an annual 
subscription option in the future, as well.

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    3. The interim tiers and usage charges are the same regardless of 
whether the subscriber is a caller or a caller agent. Caller agents may 
register for a tier based on the aggregate number of queries needed for 
all of their clients, potentially allowing caller agents to register 
for a higher tier (and thus pay a lower charge per query) than their 
individual clients would use on their own.
    4. Other Usage Charge Features. Under the interim usage charge 
model, if a subscriber exhausts its queries before the end of the 
subscription term, it has three options:
     Buy a new subscription. After using all the queries in the 
original subscription, the caller may purchase a new subscription. The 
new subscription would begin a new term (one-month, three-month, or 
six-month, depending on the option the subscriber selects).
     Upgrade to a higher tier. The subscriber has the option to 
pay the difference between the original tier and a new, higher tier, to 
increase the number of queries available, while keeping the original 
subscription term the same.
     Top off the subscription. The subscriber has the option to 
pay 10% of the usage charge of the subscription to receive 10% more 
queries, while keeping the original subscription term the same.
    5. Basis for the Interim Usage Charges. The interim usage charges 
are based on the Administrator's recommendation guidance, consistent 
with the Advanced Methods to Target and Eliminate Unlawful Robocalls, 
Second Report and Order, 84 FR 11226, March 26, 2019, 33 FCC Rcd 12024, 
12025 (2018); the contract's Performance Work Statement; and a 
recommendation from the North American Numbering Council. In addition, 
the Administrator obtained some information from the volume of queries 
entered by users of the Database during the RND beta test.
    6. Adjustments to the Interim Usage Charges. The Commission 
required the Administrator to provide monthly analyses of the impacts 
of the interim usage charge structure. The Administrator may adjust the 
usage charges, including the number of tiers, the number of queries in 
the tiers, and the charge for each tier, on a monthly basis with 
approval of the Commission. The Bureau welcomes feedback via telephone 
or email to the Administrator. Contact information for the 
Administrator is located on the support page of the RND website, found 
at https://www.reassigned.us/support.
    7. The Administrator will post notice of changes to the interim 
usage charges on the RND website (https://wwww.reassigned.us) two weeks 
before they go into effect. Registered subscribers will receive notice 
of changes to the interim usage charges before their subscription ends 
as part of the RND renewal notification process.
    8. The Bureau anticipates that the Commission may commence a 
proceeding to establish a more permanent rate structure that would go 
into effect no sooner than January 1, 2023. The Bureau acknowledges 
that this is a unique scenario. Given the lack of data available, 
despite prior attempts to obtain it from commenters, and the inability 
to accurately predict the correct usage charges over an extended period 
without making the Database available to users, combined with the 
commitment to setting a usage charge that will encourage Database 
usage, the Bureau has determined that the best course forward is to set 
these interim usage charges and adjust them as the Administrator 
collects data throughout the first year of the Database's operation. 
Users of the Database have the ability to give continuous feedback to 
the Administrator as the Bureau works through setting the usage charge 
structure for the RND.
    9. Ex Parte Rules. The Bureau encourages users of the Database to 
provide feedback on usage charges directly to the Administrator. These 
communications are not subject to ex parte restrictions. However, if 
interested parties desire to make presentations to bureau staff on 
matters concerning the Database and usage charges, this proceeding 
shall be treated as a ``permit-but-disclose'' proceeding in accordance 
with the Commission's ex parte rules. Persons making ex parte 
presentations must file a copy of any written presentation or a 
memorandum summarizing any oral presentations within two business days 
after the presentations (unless a different deadline applicable to the 
Sunshine period applies). Persons making oral ex parte presentations 
are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentation must (1) list 
all persons attending or otherwise participating in the meeting at 
which the ex parte presentation was made, and (2) summarize all data 
presented and arguments made during the presentation. If the 
presentation consisted in whole or in part of the presentation of data 
or arguments already reflected in the presenter's written comments, 
memoranda or other filings in the proceeding, the presenter may provide 
citations to such data or arguments in his or her prior comments, 
memoranda, or other filings (specifying the relevant page and/or 
paragraph numbers where such data or arguments can be found) in lieu of 
summarizing them in the memorandum. Documents shown or given to 
Commission staff during ex parte meetings are deemed to be written ex 
parte presentations and must be filed consistent with rule Sec.  
1.1206(b). In proceedings governed by rule Sec.  1.49(f) or for which 
the Commission has made available a method of electronic filing, 
written ex parte presentations and memoranda summarizing oral ex parte 
presentations, and all attachments thereto, must be filed through the

[[Page 61079]]

electronic comment filing system available for that proceeding, and 
must be filed in their native format (e.g., .doc, .xml, .ppt, 
searchable .pdf). Participants in the proceeding should familiarize 
themselves with the Commission's ex parte rules. The Administrator is 
exempt from the ex parte requirements. This exemption is necessary to 
allow the Administrator to engage in the frequent and close 
communications with Commission staff needed to exercise their 
administrative functions efficiently.
    10. People with Disabilities. To request materials in accessible 
formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic 
files, audio format), send email to [email protected] or call the Consumer 
and Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice).
    11. Additional Information. For further information regarding the 
Public Notice, please contact Karen Schroeder, Associate Division 
Chief, Consumer Policy Division, Consumer and Governmental Affairs 
Bureau at (202) 418-0654 or via email at [email protected].
    12. Applicability Date. Good cause exists for making the interim 
usage charges in this document applicable upon publication of this 
document in the Federal Register, except as to those who have actual 
notice of the interim usage charges and choose to purchase a 
subscription for the Database prior to publication.
    13. The Database was available for use on November 1, 2021. 
Providing a 30-day period after Federal Register publication before the 
interim usage charges in this document become applicable isn't 
necessary because the Database is now available. There is good cause to 
make these usage charges applicable upon Federal Register publication 
for the Administrator to collect subscription payments. Additionally, 
these interim usage charges became effective immediately for Database 
users who have actual notice of the charges and have purchased a 
subscription to the Database prior to Federal Register publication. For 
these reasons, and because participation in the RND is voluntary, there 
is good cause, pursuant to section 553(d)(3) of the Administrative 
Procedure Act, to make the interim usage charges in this document 
applicable upon publication in the Federal Register, except as to those 
parties with actual notice.

Federal Communications Commission.
Robert Garza,
Legal Advisor, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, Federal 
Communications Commission.

    Note:  The following appendix will not appear in the Code of 
Federal Regulations.

Appendix--RND Subscription Tiers and Usage Charges
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[FR Doc. 2021-23855 Filed 11-4-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P