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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 1 (Thursday, January 2, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 103-106]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-31456]

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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[OMB 3060-0463, OMB 3060-0692, 3060-1299; FR ID 270454]

Information Collections 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 February 3, 
2025.

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: 3060-0463.
    Title: Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech 
Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities; 
Structure and Practices of the Video Relay Service Program; Misuse of 
internet Protocol (IP) Captioned Telephone Service, CG Docket Nos. 03-
123, 10-51, and 13-24.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Individuals or 
household; State, Local and Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 5,075 respondents; 8,468 
responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 0.1 hours (6 minutes) to 80 hours.
    Frequency of Response: Annually, semi-annually, eight times a year,

[[Page 104]]

monthly, on occasion, one-time, and quarterly reporting requirements; 
Recordkeeping and Third-Party Disclosure requirements.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefit. The 
statutory authority for the information collection requirements is 
found at section 225 of the Communications Act, 47 U.S.C. 225. The law 
was enacted on July 26, 1990, in Title IV of the Americans with 
Disabilities Act of 1990, Public Law 101-336, 104 Stat. 327, 366-69.
    Total Annual Burden: 15,850 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: $348,000.
    Needs and Uses: On December 21, 2001, the Commission released the 
2001 TRS Cost Recovery Order, document FCC 01-371, published at 67 FR 
4203, January 29, 2002, in which the Commission, among other things:
    (1) required internet-based TRS providers to submit certain 
projected TRS-related cost and demand data to the TRS Fund 
administrator to be used to calculate the rate; and
    (2) directed the TRS Fund administrator to expand its data 
collection forms accordingly.
    In 2003, the Commission released the 2003 Second Improved TRS 
Order, published at 68 FR 50973, August 25, 2003, which among other 
things required that TRS providers offer certain local exchange carrier 
(LEC)-based improved services and features where technologically 
feasible, including a speed dialing requirement which may entail 
voluntary recordkeeping for TRS providers to maintain a list of 
telephone numbers. See also 47 CFR 64.604(a)(3)(vi)(B).
    In 2007, the Commission released the Section 225/255 VoIP Report 
and Order, published at 72 FR 43546, August 6, 2007, extending the 
disability access requirements that apply to telecommunications service 
providers and equipment manufacturers under 47 U.S.C. 225, 255 to 
interconnected voice over internet protocol (VoIP) service providers 
and equipment manufacturers. As a result, under rules implementing 
section 225 of the Act, interconnected VoIP service providers are 
required to publicize information about telecommunications relay 
services (TRS) and 711 abbreviated dialing access to TRS. See also 47 
CFR 64.604(c)(3).
    In 2007, the Commission also released the 2007 Cost Recovery Report 
and Order and Declaratory Ruling, published at 73 FR 3197, January 17, 
2008, in which the Commission:
    (1) adopted a new cost recovery methodology for interstate 
traditional TRS, interstate speech-to-speech service (STS), captioned 
telephone service (CTS), and internet Protocol captioned telephone 
service (IP CTS) based on the Multi-state Average Rate Structure (MARS) 
plan, under which interstate TRS compensation rates are determined by 
weighted average of the states' intrastate compensation rates, and 
which includes for STS additional compensation approved by the 
Commission for STS outreach;
    (2) adopted a cost recovery methodology for internet Protocol (IP) 
Relay based on a price cap like methodology;
    (3) adopted a cost recovery methodology for video relay service 
(VRS) that adopted tiered rates based on call volume;
    (4) clarified the nature and extent that certain categories of 
costs are compensable from the Fund; and
    (5) addressed certain issues concerning the management and 
oversight of the Fund, including prohibiting financial incentives 
offered to consumers to make relay calls.
    The 2007 TRS Cost Recovery Order requires that state relay 
administrators and TRS providers submit to the TRS Fund administrator 
the following information annually, for intrastate traditional TRS, 
STS, and CTS:
    (1) the per-minute compensation rate(s) and other compensation 
received for the provision of TRS;
    (2) whether the rate applies to session minutes or conversation 
minutes, which are a subset of session minutes;
    (3) the number of intrastate session minutes; and
    (4) the number of intrastate conversation minutes.
    Also, STS providers must file a report annually with the TRS Fund 
administrator and the Commission on their specific outreach efforts 
directly attributable to the additional compensation approved by the 
Commission for STS outreach.
    In 2011, to help prevent waste, fraud, and abuse, the Commission 
adopted three VRS orders to curtail these harmful practices. Each of 
these orders (collectively, the 2011 VRS Orders) included information 
collection requirements.
    On April 6, 2011, in document FCC 11-54, the Commission released 
the 2011 Fraud Prevention Order, published at 76 FR 30841, May 27, 
2011, which included several measures designed to eliminate the waste, 
fraud and abuse, while ensuring that VRS remains a viable and a 
valuable communication tool for Americans who use it on a daily basis.
    On July 28, 2011, in document FCC 11-118 the Commission released 
the VRS Certification Order, published at 76 FR 47469, August 5, 2011, 
amending its rules for certifying internet-based TRS providers as 
eligible for payment from the Interstate TRS Fund (Fund) for their 
provision of internet-based TRS.
    On October 17, 2011, in document FCC 11-155, the Commission 
released the Second VRS Certification Order, published at 76 FR 67070, 
October 31, 2011, addressing three petitions related to the VRS 
Certification Order by revising the burdens contained in the 
requirements for the submission of documentation of a provider's VRS 
equipment and technologies and the submission of documentation 
regarding sponsorship arrangements.
    The following are the final information collection requirements 
contained in the 2011 VRS Orders:
    (1) The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Financial Officer 
(CFO), or other senior executive of a TRS provider shall certify, under 
penalty of perjury, that: (1) minutes submitted to the Interstate TRS 
Fund (Fund) administrator for compensation were handled in compliance 
with the Commission's rules and are not the result of impermissible 
financial incentives to generate calls, and (2) cost and demand data 
submitted to the Fund administrator related to the determination of 
compensation rates are true and correct.
    (2) VRS providers shall: (a) submit to the Commission and the TRS 
Fund administrator a call center report twice a year and (b) notify the 
Commission and the TRS Fund administrator at least 30 days prior to any 
change to their call centers' locations.
    (3) VRS providers shall submit detailed call data records (CDRs) 
and speed of answer compliance data to the Fund administrator.
    (4) TRS providers shall use an automated record keeping system to 
capture the CDRs and shall submit such data electronically in 
standardized form to the TRS Fund administrator.
    (5) Internet-based TRS providers shall retain the CDRs that are 
used to support payment claims submitted to the Fund administrator for 
a minimum of five years, in an electronic format.
    (6) VRS providers shall: (a) maintain copies of all third-party 
contracts or agreements and make them available to the Commission and 
the TRS Fund administrator upon request; and (b) describe all 
agreements in connection with marketing and outreach activities in 
their annual submissions to the TRS Fund administrator.
    (7) TRS providers shall provide information about their TRS 
whistleblower protections to all employees and contractors, in writing.

[[Page 105]]

    In 2018, the Commission released the IP CTS Modernization Order, 
published at 83 FR 30082, June 27, 2018, in which the Commission:
    (1) determined that it would transition the methodology for IP CTS 
cost recovery from the MARS plan to cost-based rates and adopted 
interim rates; and
    (2) added two cost reporting requirements for IP CTS providers: (i) 
In annual cost data filings and supplementary information provided to 
the TRS Fund administrator, IP CTS providers that contract for the 
supply of services used in the provision of TRS, shall include 
information about payments under such contracts, classified according 
to the substantive cost categories specified by the TRS Fund 
administrator; and (ii) in the course of an audit or otherwise upon 
demand, IP CTS providers must make available any relevant 
documentation. 47 CFR 64.604(c)(5)(iii)(D)(1), (6).
    In December 2023, the FCC released the 2023 VRS Improvements Order, 
document FCC 23-116, published at 89 FR 20125, March 21, 2024, amending 
its rules (1) increase from 50% to 80% the portion of monthly VRS 
minutes that may be handled by communications assistants (CAs) working 
at home; (2) modify the amount of prior interpreting experience 
required of VRS CAs who work at home; and (3) allow VRS providers to 
use contract CAs, subject to conditions, for up to 30% of their monthly 
call minutes. 47 CFR 64.604(c)(5)(iii)(D)(8), (d)(1)(iii)(C), 
(d)(2)(iv). The Commission also modified when VRS providers may seek 
compensation for VRS calls that originate from international IP 
addresses from users traveling abroad. 47 CFR 64.604(d)(6).

    OMB Control Number: 3060-0692.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Title: Sections 76.802 and 76.804, Home Wiring Provisions; Section 
76.613, Interference from a Multi-channel Video Programming Distributor 
(MVPD).
    Form Number: N/A.
    Respondents: Individuals or households; Business or other for-
profit entities.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 22,000 respondents and 
253,010.
    Estimated Time per Response: 0.083-2 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement; 
Recordkeeping requirement; Annual reporting requirement; Third party 
disclosure requirement.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The 
statutory authority for this collection is contained in Sections 1, 4, 
224, 251, 303, 601, 623, 624 and 632 of the Communications Act of 1934, 
as amended.
    Total Annual Burden: 36,114 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: No cost.
    Needs and Uses: In the Cable Television Consumer Protection and 
Competition Act of 1992, Congress directed the FCC to adopt rules 
governing the disposition of home wiring owned by a cable operator when 
a subscriber terminates service. The rules at 76.800 et seq., implement 
that directive. The intention of the rules is to clarify the status and 
provide for the disposition of existing cable operator-owned wiring in 
single family homes and multiple dwelling units upon the termination of 
a contract for cable service by the home owner or MDU owner. Section 
76.613(d) requires that when Multichannel Video Programming 
Distributors (MVPDs) cause harmful signal interference MVPDs may be 
required by the District Director and/or Resident Agent to prepare and 
submit a report regarding the cause(s) of the interference, corrective 
measures planned or taken, and the efficacy of the remedial measures.

    OMB Control Number: 3060-1299.
    Title: Section 20.23(b)(1), (3)-(5), (7); (c)(1)-(2), (3), 
(3)(iii)-(iv), (4)(i)-(ii), (v); and (d), Contraband wireless devices 
in correctional facilities.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities, and state, 
local or tribal.
    Estimated Number of Respondents and Responses: 54 respondents and 
4,740 responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 1-10 hours.
    Frequency of Response: One-time application and self-certification 
response, one-time DCFO authorization request response, on occasion 
qualifying request response, on occasion reversal response, 
recordkeeping requirement, third party notification requirement.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. 
Statutory authority for the currently approved information collection 
is contained in sections 1, 2, 4(i), 4(j), 301, 302, 303, 307, 308, 
309, 310, and 332 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 
U.S.C. 151, 152, 154(i), 154(j), 301, 302a, 303, 307, 308, 309, 310, 
and 332.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 21,767 hours.
    Total Annual Costs: No costs.
    Needs and Uses: On July 13, 2021, the Commission released a Second 
Report and Order and Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 
Promoting Technological Solutions to Combat Contraband Wireless Devices 
in Correctional Facilities, GN Docket No. 13-111, in which the 
Commission took further steps to facilitate the deployment and 
viability of technological solutions used to combat contraband wireless 
devices in correctional facilities. In the Second Report and Order, the 
Commission adopted a framework requiring the disabling of contraband 
wireless devices detected in correctional facilities upon satisfaction 
of certain criteria. The Commission further addressed issues involving 
oversight, wireless provider liability, and treatment of 911 calls. 
Finally, the Commission adopted rules requiring advance notice of 
certain wireless provider network changes to promote and maintain 
contraband interdiction system effectiveness.
    In establishing rules requiring wireless providers to disable 
contraband wireless devices in correctional facilities and adopting a 
framework to enable designated correctional facility officials (DCFOs) 
relying on an authorized Contraband Interdiction System (CIS) to submit 
qualifying requests to wireless providers to disable contraband 
wireless devices in qualifying correctional facilities, the Commission 
found that a rules-based process will provide a valuable additional 
tool for departments of corrections to address contraband wireless 
device use. The framework includes a two-phase authorization process: 
(1) CIS applicants will submit applications to the Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau (Bureau) describing the legal and technical 
qualifications of the systems; and (2) CIS applicants will perform on-
site testing of approved CISs at individual correctional facilities and 
file a self-certification with the Commission. After both phases are 
complete, DCFOs will be authorized to submit qualifying requests to 
wireless providers to disable contraband devices using approved CISs at 
each correctional facility. In addition, the Commission adopted rules 
requiring wireless providers to notify certain types of CIS operators 
of major technical changes to ensure that CIS effectiveness is 
maintained. The Commission found that these rules will provide law 
enforcement with the tools necessary to disable contraband wireless 
devices, which, in turn, will help combat the serious threats posed by 
the illegal use of such devices.

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    The new information collection in 47 CFR 20.23(b)(1) regarding the 
application to obtain new CIS certification will be used by the Bureau 
to determine whether to certify a system and ensure that the systems 
are designed to support operational readiness and minimize the risk of 
disabling a non-contraband device, and ensure, to the greatest extent 
possible, that only devices that are in fact contraband will be 
identified for disabling. Bureau certification will also enable 
targeted industry review of solutions by allowing interested 
stakeholders to provide feedback on the application for certification, 
including the proposed test plan.
    The new collections in 47 CFR 20.23(b)(3) include the requirement 
that the CIS operator must file with the Bureau a self-certification 
that complies with paragraph (b)(3)(ii) of section 20.23, confirming 
that the testing at that specific correctional facility is complete and 
successful, and the CIS operator must serve notice of the testing on 
all relevant wireless providers prior to testing and provide such 
wireless providers a reasonable opportunity to participate in the 
tests. Self-certification will help the Bureau to ensure that 
qualifying requests identify contraband wireless devices accurately and 
in accordance with legal requirements. In addition to being used by the 
Bureau, the self-certification will be relied upon by the DCFO in 
conjunction with qualifying requests for disabling at a particular 
correctional facility. The serving of notice to the wireless providers 
will give them awareness and an opportunity to participate in the 
process.
    The new information collections in 47 CFR 20.23(b)(4) requires that 
wireless providers objecting to the certification filing submit 
objections to the Bureau within five business days and serve the DCFO 
and the CIS operator, which allows all stakeholders to participate in 
the process and raise objections. Section 20.23(b)(5) requires that CIS 
operators retest and recertify their systems at least every three years 
and comply with the same requirements as for initial self-
certification. This requirement will enable the Bureau to ensure the 
ongoing accuracy and reliability of a given CIS at a particular 
facility. Section 20.23(b)(7) requires that a CIS operator retain 
records for at least five years and provide them upon request to the 
Bureau, which will support the Bureau's efforts to identify issues with 
CIS operations, resolve interference issues, and resolve complaints 
related to misidentification of contraband devices.
    The new collections in 47 CFR 20.23(c)(1)-(2) include the 
requirement that individuals that seek to be recognized on the 
Commission's DCFO list must sent a letter to the Contraband 
Ombudsperson in order for the Commission to approve that person for the 
qualified DCFO list and provide certainty to wireless providers that 
disabling requests are made by duly authorized individuals. Qualifying 
requests that include the required information will be used by wireless 
carriers to prevent use of contraband devices on their network and on 
other wireless provider networks.
    The new collections 47 CFR 20.23(c)(3)(iii)-(iv) provide that, upon 
receiving a disabling request from a DCFO, the wireless provider must 
verify the request, may reject the request and must notify the DCFO 
whether it is accepting or rejecting the request. This process ensures 
that a wireless provider responds to a DCFO within a reasonable 
timeframe--while giving the provider an opportunity to determine if 
there is an error--and to give the DCFO time to respond quickly if the 
request has been rejected. The wireless provider may contact the 
customer of record to notify them of the disabling and involve them in 
the process.
    The new collections in 47 CFR 20.23(c)(4) provide that a wireless 
provider may reverse a disabled device where it determines that the 
device was erroneously identified as contraband, and the wireless 
provider must notify the DCFO of the reversal. The wireless provider 
may choose to involve the DCFO in the review and reversal process. The 
DCFO must also provide notice to the Contraband Ombudsperson of the 
number of erroneously disabled devices. This process ensures the 
integrity of the contraband device disabling process by giving the 
wireless provider the opportunity to reverse a disabled device--with 
the ability to extend review to the DCFO--and by creating safeguards to 
make sure that the process is efficient and reliable.
    The new collections in 47 CFR 20.23(d) regarding notification from 
CMRS licensees to MAS operators of technical changes to their network 
are required so that MAS operators are given sufficient time to make 
necessary adjustments to maintain the effectiveness of their 
interdiction systems. In order to ensure that issues regarding 
notification to solutions providers of more frequent, localized 
wireless provider network changes are appropriately considered, CMRS 
licensees and MAS operators must negotiate in good faith to reach an 
agreement for notification for those types of network adjustments not 
covered by the notice requirement. CMRS licensees must provide notice 
of technical changes associated with an emergency immediately after the 
exigency to ensure that MAS operators continue to be notified of 
network changes that could impact MAS effectiveness.

Federal Communications Commission.
Katura Jackson,
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-31456 Filed 12-31-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
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