[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 138 (Thursday, July 20, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46797-46798]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-15385]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[OMB 3060-1225; FR ID 156024]


Information Collection Being Submitted for Review and Approval to 
Office of Management and Budget

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, 
as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Federal 
Communications Commission (FCC or the Commission) invites the general 
public and other Federal Agencies to take this opportunity to comment 
on the following information collection. Pursuant to the Small Business 
Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, the FCC seeks specific comment on how it 
might ``further reduce the information collection burden for small 
business concerns with fewer than 25 employees.''

DATES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be submitted on or before August 21, 
2023.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting 
``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using 
the search function. Your comment must be submitted into 
www.reginfo.gov per the above instructions for it to be considered. In 
addition to submitting in www.reginfo.gov also send a copy of your 
comment on the proposed information collection to Cathy Williams, FCC, 
via email to [email protected] and to [email protected]. Include in the 
comments the OMB control number as shown in the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or copies 
of the information collection, contact Cathy Williams at (202) 418-
2918. To view a copy of this information collection request (ICR) 
submitted to OMB: (1) go to the web page http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain, (2) look for the section of the web page called ``Currently 
Under Review,'' (3) click on the downward-pointing arrow in the 
``Select Agency'' box below the ``Currently Under Review'' heading, (4) 
select ``Federal Communications Commission'' from the list of agencies 
presented in the ``Select Agency'' box, (5) click the ``Submit'' button 
to the right of the ``Select Agency'' box, (6) when the list of FCC 
ICRs currently under review appears, look for the Title of this ICR and 
then click on the ICR Reference Number. A copy of the FCC submission to 
OMB will be displayed.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission 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.
    As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, as 
required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-
3520), the FCC invited the general public and other Federal Agencies to 
take this opportunity to comment on the following information 
collection. Comments are requested concerning: (a) 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; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's 
burden estimates; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity 
of the information collected; and (d) 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. Pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 
2002, Public Law 107-198, see 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(4), the FCC seeks 
specific comment on how it might ``further reduce the information 
collection burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 
employees.''
    OMB Control Number: 3060-1225.
    Title: National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

[[Page 46798]]

    Respondents: Individuals or households; businesses or other for-
profit entities; not-for-profit institutions; State, local, or Tribal 
governments.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 2,261 respondents; 6,989 
responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 0.5 hours (30 minutes) to 40 hours.
    Frequency of Response: Annual, semiannual, quarterly, and monthly 
reporting requirements; recordkeeping requirement; third-party 
disclosure requirement.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefit. 
Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 
sections 1, 4(i), 4(j), and 719 of the Communications Act, as amended, 
47 U.S.C. 151, 154(i), 154(j), and 620.
    Total Annual Burden: 20,890 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: $3,000.
    Needs and Uses: Section 105 of the Twenty-First Century 
Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA) added section 
719 to the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (the Act). Public Law 
111-260, 124 Stat. 2751 (2010); Public Law 111-265, 124 Stat. 2795 
(2010) (making technical corrections); 47 U.S.C. 620. Section 719 of 
the Act requires the Commission to establish rules that define as 
eligible for up to $10,000,000 of support annually from the Interstate 
Telecommunications Relay Service Fund (TRS Fund) those programs that 
are approved by the Commission for the distribution of specialized 
customer premises equipment designed to make telecommunications 
service, internet access service, and advanced communications, 
including interexchange services and advanced telecommunications and 
information services, accessible by low-income individuals who are 
deafblind. 47 U.S.C. 620(a), (c). Accordingly, on August 5, 2016, the 
Commission released a Report and Order, document FCC 16-101, published 
at 81 FR 65948, September 26, 2016, adopting rules to establish the 
NDBEDP, also known as ``iCanConnect,'' as a permanent program. See 47 
CFR 64.6201 through 64.6219.
    In document FCC 16-101, the Commission adopted rules requiring the 
following:
    (a) Entities must apply to the Commission for certification to 
receive reimbursement from the TRS Fund for NDBEDP activities. The 
FCC's Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau certified 56 programs--
one for each state, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the 
Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands--for 
a period of five years, from July 1, 2017, through June 30, 2022. 
Incumbent programs must apply to renew their certifications, if 
desired, and potential new entrants must also apply for certification 
by July 1, 2021.
    (b) A program wishing to relinquish its certification before its 
certification expires must provide written notice of its intent to do 
so.
    (c) Certified programs must disclose to the Commission actual or 
potential conflicts of interest.
    (d) Certified programs must notify the Commission of any 
substantive change that bears directly on its ability to meet the 
qualifications necessary for certification.
    (e) A certified entity may present written arguments and any 
relevant documentation as to why suspension or revocation of 
certification is not warranted.
    (f) When a new entity is certified as a state's program, the 
previously certified entity must take certain actions to complete the 
transition to the new entity.
    (g) Certified programs must require an applicant to provide 
verification that the applicant is deafblind.
    (h) Certified programs must require an applicant to provide 
verification that the applicant meets the income eligibility 
requirement.
    (i) Certified programs must re-verify the income and disability 
eligibility of an equipment recipient under certain circumstances.
    (j) Certified programs must permit the transfer of an equipment 
recipient's account when the recipient relocates to another state.
    (k) Certified programs must include an attestation on consumer 
application forms.
    (l) Certified programs must conduct annual audits and submit to 
Commission-directed audits.
    (m) Certified programs must document compliance with NDBEDP 
requirements, provide such documentation to the Commission upon 
request, and retain such records for at least five years.
    (n) Certified programs must submit reimbursement claims as 
instructed by the TRS Fund Administrator, and supplemental information 
and documentation as requested. In addition, the entity selected to 
conduct national outreach will submit claims for reimbursement on a 
quarterly basis.
    (o) Certified programs must submit reports every six months as 
instructed by the NDBEDP Administrator. In addition, the entity 
selected to conduct national outreach will submit an annual report.
    (p) Informal and formal complaints may be filed against NEDBEDP 
certified programs, and the Commission may conduct such inquiries and 
hold such proceedings as it may deem necessary.
    (q) Certified programs must include the NDBEDP whistleblower 
protections in appropriate publications.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-15385 Filed 7-19-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P