Hearing Loss Compatible Wireless Handsets, 47 CFR § 20.19, Hearing Aid Compatibility Act, 47 U.S.C. § 610

Forms and Documents

Document	Type	Status	Availability
PRA comment 250131 CTIA HAC FINAL.pdf	Public Comments	Uploaded 2025-01-31	Available
250312 CTIA HAC PRA Comment Withdrawal Letter.pdf	Public Comments	Uploaded 2025-03-12	Repair queued
Supporting statement OMB 3060-0999 HAC PRA (3.13.2025) FINAL.docx	Supporting Statement A	Uploaded 2025-03-17	Repair queued
Supporting statement OMB 3060-0999 HAC PRA (3.13.2025) FINAL.docx	Supporting Statement A	Uploaded 2025-03-17	Repair queued

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Collection	Type	Status	Form
31563	Hearing Loss Compatible Wireless Handsets, 47 CFR § 20.19, Hearing Aid Compatibility Act, 47 U.S.C. § 610	Instruction	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 3060-0999	ICR Reference No: 202503-3060-018
Status: Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 202408-3060-007
Agency/Subagency: FCC	Agency Tracking No: WTB
Title: Hearing Loss Compatible Wireless Handsets, 47 CFR § 20.19, Hearing Aid Compatibility Act, 47 U.S.C. § 610
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: 05/07/2025
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)	Date Received in OIRA: 03/19/2025
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	05/31/2028	36 Months From Approved	09/30/2027
Responses	934	0	934
Time Burden (Hours)	12,998	0	13,049
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

---

Abstract: The Federal Communications Commission (Commission) is requesting that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approve a revision to the Commission’s currently approved information collection for OMB Control No. 3060-0999. This information collection relates to the Commission’s Hearing Loss Compatible Wireless Handsets rules in section 20.19 of the Commission’s rules. This revision is necessary to implement the final rules that the Commission unanimously adopted in a Report and Order, WT Docket No. 23-388, FCC 24-112, on October 17, 2024, and released on October 18, 2024 (100% HAC Report and Order). The 100% HAC Report and Order adopted rules requiring 100% of all future wireless handset models to be hearing aid compatible. The revisions to these rules included revising the heading of section 20.19 of the Commission’s rules from “Hearing aid-compatible mobile handsets” to “Hearing loss compatible wireless handsets.” In addition, the Commission unanimously adopted revisions to the currently approved information collection in order to implement the 100% hearing aid compatibility requirement and to remove outdated information collection provisions. As a result of this rulemaking, the changes to sections 20.19(b)(3)(iii), (f), (h), and (i)(4)-(5) constitute new or modified information collections subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Public Law 104-13. These rules will become effective once OMB completes its review of these rules, and the Commission publishes a notice in the Federal Register announcing the effective date of the rules.

---

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, 303(b), 303(r), 307 Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as amended
   US Code: 47 USC 151, 154(i), 157,152(a), Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as amended
   US Code: 47 USC 610, 155, 222, 251(e), 302 Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as amended
   US Code: 47 USC 307(a), 309, 316, 316(a) Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as amended
   US Code: 47 USC 332, 610, 615, 615(a) Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as amended
   US Code: 47 USC 615(b), 615(c) Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as amended
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

---

Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
3060-AL89	Final or interim final rulemaking	89 FR 89832	11/13/2024

---

Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	89 FR 95209	12/02/2024
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	90 FR 12731	03/19/2025
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

---

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

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Hearing Loss Compatible Wireless Handsets, 47 CFR § 20.19, Hearing Aid Compatibility Act, 47 U.S.C. § 610

---

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)	12,998	13,049	0	-51	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

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

Burden Increase Due to:

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

Burden Reduction Due to: Changing Regulations

Short Statement: The changes to the total cumulative annual burden hour estimate for respondents is due to a reduction in the information collection requirements related to annual certification requirements for handset manufacturers and also the reduction takes into consideration the elimination of record retention obligations and the removal of outdated labeling, website posting and certification questions.. The total annual burden hours reduced from 13,049 hours to 12,998 hours (program reduction of -51 hours). Primarily, this reduction is a result of moving handset manufacturers from the longer more detailed FCC Form 655 to the streamlined FCC Form 855. After the handset manufacturer 100% hearing aid compatibility transition period ends, handset manufacturers will start filing revised FCC Form 855. Prior to the end of the handset manufacturer 100% hearing aid compatibility transition period, handset manufacturers will continue to file the currently approved FCC Form 655. Similarly, after the applicable 100% hearing aid compatibility transition period ends for nationwide and non-nationwide service providers, these companies will begin filing the revised FCC Form 855. Until the end of the applicable transition period, these companies will continue to file the currently approved FCC Form 855.

---

Annual Cost to Federal Government: $29,916

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? No

---

Common Form ICR:  No

---

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: 03/19/2025

---