80 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 1 / Tuesday, January 2, 2024 / Notices 

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 RealTime 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 IPbased 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. 

Katura Jackson, 

Federal Register Liaison Officer. 

[FR Doc. 2023–28819 Filed 12–29–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6712–01–P 

GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY 

OFFICE 

Request for Medicaid and CHIP 

Payment and Access Commission 

(MACPAC) Nominations 

AGENCY: Government Accountability 

Office. 

ACTION: Request for letters of 

nomination and resumes. 

SUMMARY: The Children’s Health 

Insurance Program Reauthorization Act 

of 2009 (CHIPRA) established MACPAC 

to review Medicaid and CHIP access 

and payment policies and to advise 

Congress on issues affecting Medicaid 

and CHIP. CHIPRA gave the Comptroller 

General of the United States 

responsibility for appointing MACPAC’s 

members. The U.S. Government 

Accountability Office (GAO) is now 

accepting nominations for MACPAC 

appointments that will be effective May 

2024. Nominations should be sent to the 

email address listed below. 

Acknowledgement of receipt will be 

provided within a week of submission. 

DATES: Letters of nomination and 

resumes should be submitted no later 

than January 25, 2024, to ensure 

adequate opportunity for review and 

consideration of nominees prior to 

appointment. 

ADDRESSES: Submit letters of 

nomination and resumes to 

MACPACappointments@gao.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Corissa Kiyan-Fukumoto at (206) 287– 

4808 or KiyanFukumotoC@gao.gov if 

you do not receive an acknowledgment 

or need additional information. For 

general information, contact GAO’s 

Office of Public Affairs, (202) 512–4800. 

Authority: 42 U.S.C. 1396. 

Gene L. Dodaro, 

Comptroller General of the United States. 

[FR Doc. 2023–28102 Filed 12–29–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 1610–02–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 

Services 

[CMS–3446–FN] 

Medicare and Medicaid Programs; 

Application from the Community 

Health Accreditation Program (CHAP) 

for Continued Approval of Its Home 

Health Agency Accreditation Program 

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & 

Medicaid Services (CMS), Health and 

Human Services (HHS). 


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