[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 203 (Monday, October 23, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72759-72760]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-23307]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[OMB 3060-1248; FR ID 179524]


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.

DATES: Written PRA comments should be submitted on or before December 
22, 2023. 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 contact listed below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Direct all PRA comments to Cathy Williams, FCC, via email to 
[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: 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.
    OMB Control Number: 3060-1248.
    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: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Businesses or other for-profit entities.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 600 respondents; 4,358 
responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 0.2 hours (12 minutes) to 60 hours.
    Frequency of Response: Annual, ongoing, and semiannual reporting 
requirements; recordkeeping requirement.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefit. The 
statutory authority can be found at Sec. Sec.  4(i), 225, 255, 301, 
303(r), 316, 403, 715, and 716 of the Communications Act of 1934, as 
amended, and Sec.  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 No. 111-260, 106, 124 
Stat. 2751, 2763 (2010).
    Total Annual Burden: 71,142 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: No cost.
    Needs and Uses: Text telephone (TTY) technology provides a way 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

[[Page 72760]]

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 websites 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 
receive a waiver of the requirement to support TTY technology over 
wireless IP-based networks and services must apprise its 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 public safety answering points (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 Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-23307 Filed 10-20-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P