Document
Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission
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 Commiss...
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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:
Revision of a currently approved collection.
Respondents:
Businesses or other for-profit entities.
Number of Respondents and Responses:
608 respondents; 3,040 responses.
Estimated Time per Response:
2 hours to 60 hours.
Frequency of Response:
Annual reporting requirements; recordkeeping requirement.
Obligation to Respond:
Required to obtain or retain benefit. The statutory authority can be found at §§ 4(i), 225, 255, 301, 303(r), 316, 403, 715, and 716 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 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:
70,528 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 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.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.