Hearing Aid Compatibility Status Report and Section 20.19, Hearing-Aid Compatible Mobile Handsets (Hearing Aid Compatibility Act)

Forms and Documents

Document	Type	Status	Availability
Form FCC Form 655 Hearing Aid Compatibility Status Report and Section 20.19, Hearing Aid-Compatible Mobile Handsets (Hearing Aid Compatibility Act)	Form and Instruction	Modified	Available
Supporting statement OMB 3060-0999 04-15-2019 (TO GO TO OMB).docx	Supporting Statement A	Uploaded 2019-04-25	Available

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Collection	Type	Status	Form
31563	Hearing Aid Compatibility Status Report and Section 20.19, Hearing Aid-Compatible Mobile Handsets (Hearing Aid Compatibility Act)	Form and Instruction	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 3060-0999	ICR Reference No: 201904-3060-027
Status: Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201904-3060-003
Agency/Subagency: FCC	Agency Tracking No: WTB
Title: Hearing Aid Compatibility Status Report and Section 20.19, Hearing-Aid Compatible Mobile Handsets (Hearing Aid Compatibility Act)
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 06/25/2019
	Date Received in OIRA: 05/03/2019
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	06/30/2022	36 Months From Approved	06/30/2021
Responses	934	0	934
Time Burden (Hours)	13,049	0	12,140
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: The Commission is requesting a revision to its currently approved hearing aid compatibility information collection that applies to wireless wireless service providers. The revision is necessary to implement the final rules promulgated in the 2018 Report and Order in WT Docket No. 17-228, FCC 18-167 (2018 Order), which eliminated unnecessary and outdated information collection requirements for wireless service providers and replaced these requirements for service providers with a revised web site posting and record retention requirement and a streamlined annual certification requirement. The 2018 Order did not make changes to the currently approved reporting requirements for device manufacturers. The Commission’s previous hearing aid compatibility reporting requirements for service providers were intended to provide the Commission with a way to verify compliance with rules requiring service providers to offer specified numbers of hearing aid-compatible handset models, to monitor the status of hearing aid-compatible handset deployment in the marketplace, and to ensure that consumers have access to information about the handset models that serve their needs. The Commission’s revised and enhanced web site posting, record retention, and annual certification requirements for service providers are an improved means of promoting those goals. The Commission now seeks approval for new FCC Form 855 and its instructions which will be used to ensure that service providers are in compliance with the Commission’s hearing aid compatibility provisions. To implement the changes made by the 2018 Order, the Commission modified the FCC Form 655 and its instructions for manufacturers. These non-substantive changes to FCC Form 655 and its instructions were already approved by OMB. The Form 655 and its instructions have been modified to eliminate references to wireless service providers. FCC Form 655 will only be used by device manufacturers on a going forward basis to ensure their compliance with the Commission’s hearing aid compatibility provisions.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 47 USC 201, 202, 208, 214, 301 Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as amended
   US Code: 47 USC 303, 308, 309(j), 310 Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as amended
   US Code: 47 USC 160 Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as amended
   US Code: 47 USC 151, 154(i), 157 Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as amended
   US Code: 47 USC 610 Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as amended
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
3060-AK72	Final or interim final rulemaking	83 FR 63098	12/07/2018

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	84 FR 6147	02/26/2019
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	84 FR 19074	05/03/2019
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Hearing Aid Compatibility Status Report and Section 20.19, Hearing Aid-Compatible Mobile Handsets (Hearing Aid Compatibility Act)	FCC Form 655 , FCC Form 855	Hearing Aid Compatibility Status Report ,   HEARING AID COMPATIBILITY CERTIFICATION FOR SERVICE PROVIDERS

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	934	934	0	0	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	13,049	12,140	0	909	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Changing Regulations

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: The revisions to the currently approved information collection are a direct result of the Commission’s actions in the 2018 Order. These revisions represent program changes and are not adjustments. As explained above, the Commission made changes to the reporting burden for service providers but did not make any changes to device manufacturers’ burden. Specifically, the Commission adopted an enhanced web site posting requirement for service providers, a record retention requirement, and a new certification requirement that replaces a much more burdensome reporting requirement. As explained above, the Commission has not made any changes to device manufacturers’ burden. Service providers’ burden related to standards development and labeling requirements also remain unchanged. The Commission estimates that there will be no change in the total of number of respondents and annual responses. However, the annual burden hours have increased by 909 hours.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $27,883

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

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Common Form ICR:  No

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On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).

The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(i) Why the information is being collected;

(ii) Use of information;

(iii) Burden estimate;

(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);

(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and

(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.

Certification Date: 05/03/2019

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