SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

In accordance with section 9(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), 5 U.S.C. 1008, and 41 CFR 102-3.65, the FCC is announcing the CPAAC's renewal and providing herein the Commission-approved public interest determination.

The CPAAC's objectives and scope of activities, as described in its charter, include providing the Commission with advice and recommendations on issues concerning consumer protection, disability access, developments in communications technology, and the impact of emerging technologies and services on consumers—including individuals with disabilities. The CPAAC will operate for two years from the date of renewal unless the Commission directs that the Committee terminate at an earlier date. A copy of the renewal charter will be posted on the CPAAC's website at www.fcc.gov/​cpaac.

Public Interest Determination

Pursuant to 41 U.S.C. 102-3.60(a), to establish, renew, reestablish, or merge a discretionary (agency discretion) advisory committee, an agency must first consult with the General Services Administration's Committee Management Secretariat (the Secretariat) and, as part of the consultation, provide a written public interest determination approved by the head of the agency to the Secretariat with a copy to the Office of Management and Budget. In addition, pursuant to 41 U.S.C. 102-3.35, an agency shall follow the same consultation process and document in writing the same determination of need before creating a subcommittee under a discretionary committee that is not made up entirely of members of a parent advisory committee.

Information on the following factors for the committee is provided to the Secretariat to demonstrate that renewing the committee is in the public interest:

1. Annual budget: The estimated annual operating cost for supporting the CPAAC is $372,154.00.

a. Federal personnel on a full-time equivalent (FTE) basis: 2.8 FTE.

b. Other Federal internal costs: $20,000.

c. Proposed payments to members: The FCC does not compensate CPAAC members for their services.

d. Proposed number of members: Approximately 35.

e. Reimbursable costs: $0.

2. If applicable, the total dollar value of grants expected to be recommended during the fiscal year: $0.

3. Criteria for selecting members to ensure the committee has the necessary ( printed page 61848) expertise and fairly balanced membership: Members selected will represent a wide variety of interests, including consumers, individuals with disabilities, community and/or other non-profit or governmental organizations, regulators, and industry or, if serving as Special Government Employees in their personal capacity, will have significant expertise in the issues to be addressed by the Committee.

Members will represent a wide variety of entities with interests in consumer or disability access issues within the Federal Communications Commission's purview, including: consumer or community organizations, which may include people who are blind or visually impaired, people who are deaf or hard of hearing, people with cognitive disabilities, people with multiple disabilities, including those who are deafblind, and people who have speech disabilities; state, local, or tribal governments; and companies or trade associations in various sectors of the communications industry. Members may also include consumers serving on their own behalf or individuals who have significant expertise regarding the issues to be addressed by the committee, who may serve as Special Government Employees. Together, these members will represent a balance of viewpoints necessary to address effectively the issues to be considered by the committee.

4. List of all other Federal advisory committees of the agency: In addition to the CPAAC, the FCC has three discretionary FACA committees:

(a) Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council

(b) Technological Advisory Council

(c) World Radiocommunication Conference Advisory Committee

5. Justification that the information or advice provided by the Federal advisory committee or subcommittee is not available from another Federal advisory committee, another Federal Government source, or any other more cost-effective and less burdensome source.

The FCC must stay apprised of existing and emerging issues in telecommunications and video programming which may affect consumers, including individuals with disabilities, and take action to benefit the American public and ensure compliance with the Communications Act of 1934, as amended. The FCC must exercise many tools, including by relying on federal advisory committees, to keep pace with opportunities and challenges posed by new and emerging communications technologies. The members of the committee bring outside knowledge and expertise from the perspectives of industry, trade associations, and organizations representing consumers and individuals with disabilities, which will inform agency staff to accomplish our mission.

6. If the consultation is a committee renewal, a summary of the previous accomplishments of the committee and the reasons it needs to continue: Recommendations from past terms of the advisory committee have informed the Commission's work in addressing consumer and disability issues. For example, past recommendations have led to Commission actions that empowered consumers and advanced important consumer protection priorities. Numerous recommendations have informed the Commission's work to combat robocalls, including the use of SHAKEN/STIR and call blocking rules. Recommendations have also focused on advancements in communications technology, mobile device security, changes to FCC consumer complaint intake and reporting, as well as consumer education campaigns for the Digital TV transition. Other recommendations on the Use of Telecommunication Relay Services on Video Conferencing Platforms expedited the deployment of relay on platforms like Zoom and Teams. Another set of recommendations on the Use of Artificial Intelligence to Caption Live Video Programming will help inform future efforts to modernize captioning regulations. And recommendations on Direct Video Calling (DVC) led to a DVC Forum that we hosted at the FCC.

The FCC's top priorities are aligned with the Communications Act of 1934, as amended by Congress, which requires the FCC to protect consumers and ensure accessibility of telecommunications and video programming. The FCC needs to understand how existing and emerging issues in these fields affect consumers, including people with disabilities, to ensure that it adopts regulations such that telecommunications and video programming continue to benefit the American public, by engaging with the stakeholders most affected by these issues, including through federal advisory committee engagement.

7. Explanation of why the committee/subcommittee is essential to the conduct of agency business: The Consumer Protection and Accessibility Advisory Committee is chartered to focus on key issues that are essential to the FCC's business, including issues affecting consumer protection and education; implementation of statutes, Commission rules, and policies to protect consumers; promoting consumer participation and input into Commission rulemaking proceedings and other decision-making processes; impact of new and emerging communications technologies on consumers, including those in underserved areas; communications access for people with disabilities, and video programming access for people with disabilities. Telecommunications and video programming are continually evolving, with opportunities and challenges affecting consumers—including people with disabilities. Continual input and engagement through the Consumer Protection and Accessibility Advisory Committee is essential to ensure that the FCC has the data and tools necessary to address these opportunities and challenges affecting consumers.

91 FR 61847