[Federal Register: October 21, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 203)] [Notices] [Page 56789] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr21oc99-67] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Public Information Collections Approved by Office of Management and Budget October 14, 1999. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has received Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the following public information collections pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. An agency may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. For further information contact Shoko B. Hair, Federal Communications Commission, (202) 418- 1379. Federal Communications Commission OMB Control No.: 3060-0854. Expiration Date: 09/30/2002. Title: Truth-In-Billing Format--CC Docket No. 98-170 (Final Rule). Form No.: N/A. Respondents: Business or other for-profit. Estimated Annual Burden: 3099 respondents; 62.72 hours per response (avg.); 194,388 total annual burden hours for all collections. Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: $1,800,000-$9,000,000. Frequency of Response: On occasion; Third party disclosures. Description: Under Section 201(b) of the Communications Act, the charges, practices, and classifications of common carriers must be just and reasonable. The Commission believes that the telephone bill is an integral part of the relationship between a carrier and its customer. The manner in which charges are identified and articulated on the bills is essential to the consumer's understanding of the services that have been rendered, such that a carrier's provision of misleading or deceptive billing information may be an unjust and unreasonable practice in violation of Section 201(b). In the First Report and Order issued in CC Docket No. 98-170, released May 11, 1999, the Commission imposes the following collections of information to ensure that telephone bills contain the information necessary for consumers to determine the validity of charges assessed on the bills and to combat telecommunications fraud. a. Clear identification of service providers. Section 64.2001 requires that all telephone bills clearly identify the name of the service provider associated with each charge. (No. of respondents: 3099; hours per response: 1 hour; total annual burden: 3099). b. Separation of charges by service provider and highlighting new service provider information. Section 64.2001 requires that all telephone bills containing charges for wireline common carrier service (1) separate charges by service provider and (2) clearly and conspicuously show any change in service providers by identifying all service providers that did not bill for services on the previous billing statement and, where applicable, describing any new presubscribed or continuing relationship with the customer. (No. of respondents: 2295; hours per response: 80 hours; total annual burden: 183,600 hours). c. Full and non-misleading billed charges. Section 64.2001 requires that (1) all telephone bills for wireline service, include for each charge a brief, clear, plain-language description of the services rendered; and (2) all telephone bills that contain additional carrier charges along with charges for local wireline service must differentiate between charges for which non-payment could result in termination of local telephone service and those charges for which non- payment would not result in termination of such basic service. (No. of respondents: 2295; hours per response: 2 hours; total annual burden: 4590 hours). d. Clear and Conspicuous Disclosure of Inquiry Contacts. Section 64.2001 requires that all telephone bills display a toll-free number or numbers by which consumers may inquire about or dispute any charge on the bill. The number(s) must be displayed in a manner that permits a customer to identify easily the appropriate number to use to inquire about a particular charge. (No. of respondents: 3099; hours per response: 1 hour; total annual burden: 3099 hours). The information will be used by consumers to help them understand their telephone bills. Consumers need this information to protect themselves against fraud and to resolve billing disputes on their own. Obligation to comply: Required to obtain or retain benefits. Note: The Commission issued a Public Notice announcing the effective date of the requirements. See DA 99-2030, released 9/30/ 99. OMB Control No.: 3060-0515. Expiration Date: 10/31/2002. Title: Miscellaneous Common Carrier Annual Letter Filing Requirement--47 CFR Section 43.21(c). Form No.: N/A. Respondents: Business or other for-profit. Estimated Annual Burden: 32 respondents; 1 hour per response (avg.); 32 total annual burden hours. Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: $0. Frequency of Response: Annually. Description: Pursuant to Section 43.21(c), each miscellaneous common carrier with operating revenues in excess of the indexed threshold as defined in 47 CFR Section 32.9000 must file a letter showing its operating revenues for that year and the value of its total communications plant at the end of that year. The letter must contain information pertaining to the carrier's revenues, expenses, net income, assets, liabilities and owners' equity. These letters must be filed by no later than April 1 of the following year. Those miscellaneous common carriers with annual operating revenues that equal or surpass the indexed revenue threshold for the first time may file the letter up to one month after publication of the adjusted revenue threshold in the Federal Register, but in no event shall such carriers be required to file the letter prior to April 1. The information is used by staff members to regulate and monitor the telephone industry and by the public to analyze the industry. The information on revenue and total plant is compiled and published in the Commission's annual common carrier statistical publication and long distance market share report. Obligation to comply: Mandatory. Public reporting burden for the collections of information is as noted above. Send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of the collections of information, including suggestions for reducing the burden to Performance Evaluation and Records Management, Washington, DC 20554. Federal Communications Commission. Magalie Roman Salas, Secretary. [FR Doc. 99-27529 Filed 10-20-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6712-01-P