Hearing Aid Compatibility Status Report and Section 20.19, Hearing-Aid Compatible Mobile Handsets (Hearing Aid Compatibility Act)
Revision of a currently approved collection
No
Regular
08/04/2021
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
06/30/2022
934
934
13,049
13,049
0
0
The Federal Communications Commission (Commission) is submitting this request to obtain the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of a revised information collection contained at 47 CFR § 20.19(f), (h)(1), and (i). This modified information collection reflects changes made by the Commission in its recently adopted Report and Order in WT Docket No. 20-3, FCC 21-28 (2021 Report and Order) that addressed the Commission’s wireless hearing aid compatibility requirements. The Commission’s wireless hearing aid compatibility provisions require, among other things, that handset manufacturers and service providers make available to the public a minimum number of hearing aid-compatible wireless handsets that meet industry agreed upon technical standards.
The Commission originally adopted wireless hearing aid compatibility requirements in a 2003 Report and Order in WT Docket 01-309, FCC 03-168. The 2003 Report and Order modified the exemption for telephones used with public mobile services from the requirements of the Hearing Aid Compatibility Act of 1988. Besides requiring that handset manufacturers and service providers offer a minimum number of hearing aid-compatible handsets that meet agreed upon technical standards, the Commission’s hearing aid compatibility rules include consumer outreach, product labeling and disclosure, record retention, reporting, and website posting requirements. These provisions allow the Commission to verify compliance with the Commission’s rules and to monitor the status of hearing aid-compatible handset deployment in the marketplace, as well as to ensure that consumers have the information that they need to make informed purchasing decisions.
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:
(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;
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.