Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Being Submitted for Review to the Office of Management and Budget

SUMMARY:

The Federal Communications Commission, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Public Law 104-13, and as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection(s). An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) that does not display a valid control number. 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 estimate; (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.

DATES:

Written Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) comments should be submitted on or before February 10, 2006. If you anticipate that you will be submitting PRA 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 Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) comments to Leslie F. Smith, Federal Communications Commission, Room 1-A804, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554 or via the Internet to Leslie.Smith@fcc.gov or Kristy L. LaLonde, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Room 10236 NEOB, Washington, DC 20503, (202) 395-3087 or via the Internet at Kristy_L._LaLonde@omb.eop.gov. If you would like to obtain or view a copy of this revised information collection, you may do so by visiting the FCC PRA Web page at: http://www.fcc.gov/omd/pra.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For additional information or copies of the information collection(s), contact Leslie F. Smith at (202) 418-0217 or via the Internet at Leslie.Smith@fcc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control Number: 3060-1053.

Title: Telecommunication Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individual with Hearing and Speech Disabilities, CC Docket No. 98-67 and CG Docket No. 03-123.

Form Number: N/A.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities; and State, local or tribal government.

Number of Respondents: 3 respondents.

Number of Responses: 6 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 8 hours.

Frequency of Response: Recordkeeping; Annual reporting requirement.

Total Annual Burden: 64 hours.

Total Annual Cost: $0.

Privacy Impact Assessment: No impact(s).

Needs and Uses: On August 1, 2003, the Commission released the Declaratory Ruling, In the Matter of Telecommunication Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities, CC 98-67, FCC 03-190. In the Declaratory Ruling, the Commission clarified that one-line captioned telephone voice carry over (VCO) service is a type of telecommunications relay service (TRS) and that eligible providers of such services are eligible to recover their costs in accordance with section 225 of the Communications Act. The Commission also clarified that certain TRS mandatory minimum standards does not apply to one-line captioned VCO service, and waived 47 CFR 64.604(a)(1) and (a)(3) of the Commission's rules for all current and future captioned telephone VCO service providers, for the same period of time beginning August 1, 2003. The waivers were contingent on the filing of annual reports, for a period of three years, with the Commission. Sections 64.604 (a)(1) and (a)(3) of the Commission's rules, which contained information collection requirements under the PRA became effective on March 26, 2004.

On July 19, 2005, the Commission released a subsequent Order, In the Matter of Telecommunication Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities, CC 98-67 and CG Docket No. 03-123, FCC 05-141, that clarified two-line captioned telephone VCO service, like one-line captioned telephone VCO service, is a type of TRS eligible for compensation from the Interstate TRS Fund. Also, the Commission clarified that certain TRS mandatory minimum standards do not apply to two-line captioned VCO service, and waived 47 CFR 64.604(a)(1) and (a)(3) of the Commission's rules, for providers who offer two-line captioned VCO service. This clarification increased the number of providers who will be providing one-line and two-line captioned VCO services.