Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Being Submitted to OMB for Review and Approval

SUMMARY:

The Federal Communications Commission, 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, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13. 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 comments should be submitted on or before January 26, 2005. 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 comments to Les 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control Number: 3060-1043.

Title: Telecommunication Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities, CC Docket No. 98-67 and CC Docket No. 90-571 (Report and Order, Order on Reconsideration), FCC 04-137.

Form Number: N/A.

Type of Review: Revision of currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.

Number of Respondents: 7.

Estimated Time per Response: 10 hours.

Frequency of Response: Annual reporting requirement.

Total Annual Burden: 70 hours.

Total Annual Cost: None.

Privacy Impact Assessment: No impact(s).

Needs and Uses: On June 30, 2004, the Commission released the Report and Order, Order on Reconsideration, (Report and Order) In the Matter of Telecommunication Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities, CC Docket No. 98-67 and CC Docket No. 90-571, FCC 04-137. In the Report and Order, the Commission grants Video Relay Service (VRS) waiver requests of the following Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) mandatory minimum requirements: (1) 47 CFR Section 64.604 (a)(3) types of calls that must be handled; (2) 47 CFR Section 64.604 (a)(3)(iv) pay-per-call services; (3) 47 CFR Section 64.604 (a)(4) emergency call handling; (4) 47 CFR Section 64.604 (b)(2) speed of answer; and (5) 47 CFR Section 64.604 (b)(3) equal access to interexchange carriers. These waivers are granted provided that VRS providers submit an annual report to the Commission, in a narrative form, detailing: (1) The provider's plan or general approach to meet the waived standards; (2) any additional costs that would be required to meet the standards; (3) the development of any new technology that may affect the particular waivers; (4) the progress made by the provider to meet the standards; (5) the specific steps taken to resolve any technical problems that prohibit the provider from meeting the standards; and (6) any other factors relevant to whether the waivers should continue in effect. Further, as requested by the parties and for administrative convenience, VRS providers may combine the reporting requirement established in the Report and Order with existing VRS/IP Relay reporting requirements, which are scheduled to be submitted annually on April 16th of each year pursuant to the IP Relay Order on Reconsideration and Second Improved TRS Order & NPRM. In the Order on Reconsideration, the Commission affirms, except as otherwise specifically provided therein, the cost recovery methodology for VRS established in the June 30, 2003 Bureau TRS Order. The Commission adjusts the VRS compensation rate to a per-minute compensation rate of $8.854. On June 30, 2004, the Commission also released a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, In the Matter of Telecommunication Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities, CG Docket No. 03-123, FCC 04-137, that addressed a number of outstanding issues with respect to VRS and IP Relay, none of which have any implications under the Paperwork Reduction Act.

OMB Control Number: 3060-0874.

Title: Slamming Complaint Form, FCC Form 475.

Form Number: FCC 475.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Individuals or households; Business or other for-profit entities; Not-for-profit institutions; Federal government; State, local or Tribal Government.

Number of Respondents: 83,287.

Estimated Time per Response: 30 minutes.

Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement.

Total Annual Burden: 41,644 hours.

Total Annual Cost: None.

Privacy Impact Assessment: Yes.

Needs and Use: FCC Form 475 allows the Commission to collect detailed data from consumers of the practices of common carriers. The information contained in the collection also allows consumers to provide the FCC with the relevant information required to help consumers develop a concise statement outlining the issue in dispute. The Commission uses the information to assist in resolving informal complaints and the collect data required to assess the practices of common carriers. The Commission has revised FCC Form 475, Consumer Complaint Form to consolidate and streamline the data requirements. In particular, consumers using FCC Form 475 need only prepare and submit this single document instead of submitting multiple documents to seek redress of their concerns; thus, the Commission believes that this revised form will significantly improve the complaint process for consumers, common carriers, and the FCC staff.