47 CFR 64 - MISCELLANEOUS RULES RELATING TO COMMON CARRIERS

In this document, the Commission adopts rules to create a Do-Not-Call registry for public safety answering points (PSAPs) as required by the “Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012” (Tax Relief Act). Specifically, section 6507 of the Tax Relief Act requires the Commission, among other things, to establish a registry that allows PSAPs to register telephone numbers on a Do-Not-Call list and prohibit the use of automatic dialing equipment to contact those numbers. Therefore, the Commission adopts rules necessary for the creation and ongoing management of the Do-Not-Call registry, including requirements for adding PSAP telephone numbers, granting and tracking access by operators of automatic dialing equipment, and protecting the registry from unauthorized disclosure or dissemination of registered numbers. In addition, the Commission adopts specific monetary penalties for unauthorized disclosure or contact of any numbers on the PSAP registry. These provisions are designed to address concerns about the use automatic dialing equipment which can generate large numbers of phone calls in a short period of time, tie up public safety lines, divert critical responder resources away from emergency services, and impede access by the public to emergency lines.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is correcting a final rule that appeared in the Federal Register of October 16, 2012. The document announces the effective date of rules containing information collection requirements approved by the Office of the Management and Budget that were adopted to address unwanted telemarketing calls.

In this document, the Commission announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved, for a period of three years, the information collection associated with the Commission's document Empowering Consumers to Prevent and Detect Billing for Unauthorized Charges (“Cramming”); Consumer Information and Disclosure; Truth-in-Billing Format. This notice is consistent with the Report and Order, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective dates of those sections.

In this document, the Commission announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved, for a period of three years, the information collection associated with the Commission's document Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 (Report and Order). This notice is consistent with the Report and Order, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date of those amendments.

This document contains a correction to the final regulations of the Commission's rules, which were published in the Federal Register on Monday, May 2, 2011, 76 FR 24393. The final regulations address fraud, waste, and abuse in the Video Relay Service (VRS) industry.

In this document, the Commission adopts a measure that prohibits Internet-Protocol (IP) Relay providers from handling non-emergency calls made by new IP Relay registrants as guest users prior to taking reasonable measures to verify their registration information. The Commission's action is intended to eliminate abuse that has resulted from unauthorized users having access to IP Relay services prior to verification of their registration information.

In this document, the Commission announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved, for a period of three years, the information collection associated with the Commission's Implementation of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010, Section 105, Relay Services for Deaf-Blind Individuals, Order ( Order ). This document is consistent with the Order, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing OMB approval and the effective date of the requirement.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or “Commission”) revises its rules to: require prior express written consent for all autodialed or prerecorded telemarketing calls to wireless numbers and for prerecorded calls to residential lines and, accordingly, eliminate the established business relationship exemption for such calls to residential lines while maintaining flexibility in the form of consent needed for purely informational calls; require all prerecorded telemarketing calls to allow consumers to opt out of future prerecorded telemarketing calls using an interactive, automated opt-out mechanism; and limit permissible abandoned calls on a per-calling campaign basis, in order to discourage intrusive calling campaigns. The Commision also exempts from its telemarketing requirements prerecorded calls to residential lines made by health care-related entities governed by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. Taken together, today's actions offer consumers greater protection from intrusive telemarketing calls and protect consumers from unwanted autodialed or prerecorded telemarketing calls to wireless numbers and from unwanted prerecorded telemarketing calls to residential lines, also known as “telemarketing robocalls,” and maximize consistency with the analogous Telemarketing Sales Rule (“TSR”) of the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”), as contemplated by the Do-Not-Call Implementation Act (“DNCIA”) in a way that reduces industry confusion about telemarketers' obligations and does not increase compliance burdens for most telemarketers.

This document contains a correction to the interim regulations of theCommission's rules, which were published in the Federal Register on Monday, August 5, 2011. The interim regulations require Internet-based Telecommunications Relay Service (iTRS) providers certify, under penalty of perjury, that their certification applications and annual compliance filings are truthful, accurate, and complete.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) adopts rules to help consumers prevent and detect the placement of unauthorized charges on their telephone bills, an unlawful and fraudulent practice commonly referred to as “cramming.” The rules amend the Commission's existing Truth-in-Billing (TiB) rules, build on existing industry efforts to prevent cramming, and apply to wireline telephone carriers. The fact that the number of complaints received by the FCC, the Federal Trade Commission, and state agencies remains high and the widespread nature of cramming are strong evidence that current voluntary industry practices have been ineffective to prevent cramming and make clear the need for additional protection for consumers.

In this document, the Commission conditionally waives the requirement for National Deaf Blind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP) certified programs to submit reimbursement claims only once every six months, to permit certified programs to submit reimbursement claims as frequently as monthly. The Commission waives this requirement for good cause shown, to reduce the financial burden on programs that the Commission certifies to participate in the NDBEDP, and to better enable selected participants to fully meet the needs of eligible low-income, deaf-blind individuals in a timely manner.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is correcting a final rule that appeared in the Federal Register of September 26, 2011. The document announces the effective date of rules containing information collection requirements approved by the Office of Management and Budget that were adopted by the FCC to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse in the Video Relay Service (VRS) industry.

In this document, Petitions for Reconsideration (Petitions) have been filed in the Commission's Rulemaking proceeding concerning rules that comprehensively reform and modernize the universal service and intercarrier compensation systems to ensure that robust, affordable voice and broadband service, both fixed and mobile, are available to Americans throughout the nation.

In this document, a Petition for Reconsideration (Petition) has been filed in the Commission's Rulemaking proceeding concerning rules that govern access to toll-free numbers by users of Internet-based Telecommunications Relay Services (iTRS).

In this document, the Commission adopts rules to create a Do-Not-Call registry for public safety answering points (PSAPs) as required by the “Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012” (Tax Relief Act). Specifically, section 6507 of the Tax Relief Act requires the Commission, among other things, to establish a registry that allows PSAPs to register telephone numbers on a Do-Not-Call list and prohibit the use of automatic dialing equipment to contact those numbers. Therefore, the Commission adopts rules necessary for the creation and ongoing management of the Do-Not-Call registry, including requirements for adding PSAP telephone numbers, granting and tracking access by operators of automatic dialing equipment, and protecting the registry from unauthorized disclosure or dissemination of registered numbers. In addition, the Commission adopts specific monetary penalties for unauthorized disclosure or contact of any numbers on the PSAP registry. These provisions are designed to address concerns about the use automatic dialing equipment which can generate large numbers of phone calls in a short period of time, tie up public safety lines, divert critical responder resources away from emergency services, and impede access by the public to emergency lines.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is correcting a final rule that appeared in the Federal Register of October 16, 2012. The document announces the effective date of rules containing information collection requirements approved by the Office of the Management and Budget that were adopted to address unwanted telemarketing calls.

In this document, the Commission seeks comment on matters related to access technology and enhanced database operations for video relay service (VRS) raised in recent filings submitted by CSDVRS, LLC, a VRS provider. In order for the Commission to be in a position to set new rates as it moves forward with the next phase of VRS reform, it also seeks comment on a proposal by the Fund administrator, Rolka Loube Saltzer Associates (RLSA), to modify VRS compensation rates.

In this document, the Commission announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved, for a period of three years, the information collection associated with the Commission's document Empowering Consumers to Prevent and Detect Billing for Unauthorized Charges (“Cramming”); Consumer Information and Disclosure; Truth-in-Billing Format. This notice is consistent with the Report and Order, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective dates of those sections.

In this document, the Commission announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved, for a period of three years, the information collection associated with the Commission's document Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 (Report and Order). This notice is consistent with the Report and Order, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date of those amendments.

This document contains a correction to the final regulations of the Commission's rules, which were published in the Federal Register on Monday, May 2, 2011, 76 FR 24393. The final regulations address fraud, waste, and abuse in the Video Relay Service (VRS) industry.

In this document, Petitions for Reconsideration (Petitions) have been filed in the Commission's Rulemaking proceeding by Kourtney Keough, President/CEO of Marketlink, Inc., on behalf of Marketlink, Inc., Michele A. Shuster, Esq. and Nicholas Whisler, Esq. for Mac Murray, Petersen & Shuster LLP, on behalf of Professional Association for Customer Engagement, and Anthony S. Mendoza, Esq. on behalf of SatCom Marketing, LLC.

In this document, the Commission adopts a measure that prohibits Internet-Protocol (IP) Relay providers from handling non-emergency calls made by new IP Relay registrants as guest users prior to taking reasonable measures to verify their registration information. The Commission's action is intended to eliminate abuse that has resulted from unauthorized users having access to IP Relay services prior to verification of their registration information.

In this document, the Commission announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved, for a period of three years, the information collection associated with the Commission's Implementation of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010, Section 105, Relay Services for Deaf-Blind Individuals, Order ( Order ). This document is consistent with the Order, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing OMB approval and the effective date of the requirement.

In this document, the Commission extends the deadline for filing reply comments on the Commission's Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking ( FNPRM ) proposing additional rules to help consumers prevent and detect the placement of unauthorized charges on their telephone bills, an unlawful and fraudulent practice commonly referred to as cramming. The extension will facilitate the development of a full record given the importance of the issues in this proceeding.

In this document, the Commission initiates a proceeding to create a Do-Not-Call registry for public safety answering points (PSAPs) as required by the “Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012” (Tax Relief Act). Specifically, section 6507 of the Tax Relief Act requires the Commission, among other things, to establish a registry that allows PSAPs to register telephone numbers on a Do-Not-Call list and prohibit the use of automatic dialing equipment to contact those numbers. Therefore, the Commission seeks comment on a variety of issues relating to the establishment and ongoing management of the PSAP registry. The proposed rules are designed to address concerns about the use automatic dialing equipment, which can generate large numbers of phone calls in a short period of time, tie up public safety lines, divert critical responder resources away from emergency services, and impede access by the public to emergency lines.

This document seeks comment on the privacy and data security practices of mobile wireless services providers with respect to customer information stored on their users' mobile communications devices. In addition, the document seeks comment on the application of existing privacy and security requirements to such information.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or “Commission”) revises its rules to: require prior express written consent for all autodialed or prerecorded telemarketing calls to wireless numbers and for prerecorded calls to residential lines and, accordingly, eliminate the established business relationship exemption for such calls to residential lines while maintaining flexibility in the form of consent needed for purely informational calls; require all prerecorded telemarketing calls to allow consumers to opt out of future prerecorded telemarketing calls using an interactive, automated opt-out mechanism; and limit permissible abandoned calls on a per-calling campaign basis, in order to discourage intrusive calling campaigns. The Commision also exempts from its telemarketing requirements prerecorded calls to residential lines made by health care-related entities governed by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. Taken together, today's actions offer consumers greater protection from intrusive telemarketing calls and protect consumers from unwanted autodialed or prerecorded telemarketing calls to wireless numbers and from unwanted prerecorded telemarketing calls to residential lines, also known as “telemarketing robocalls,” and maximize consistency with the analogous Telemarketing Sales Rule (“TSR”) of the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”), as contemplated by the Do-Not-Call Implementation Act (“DNCIA”) in a way that reduces industry confusion about telemarketers' obligations and does not increase compliance burdens for most telemarketers.

This document contains a correction to the interim regulations of theCommission's rules, which were published in the Federal Register on Monday, August 5, 2011. The interim regulations require Internet-based Telecommunications Relay Service (iTRS) providers certify, under penalty of perjury, that their certification applications and annual compliance filings are truthful, accurate, and complete.

In this document, the Commission conditionally waives the requirement for National Deaf Blind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP) certified programs to submit reimbursement claims only once every six months, to permit certified programs to submit reimbursement claims as frequently as monthly. The Commission waives this requirement for good cause shown, to reduce the financial burden on programs that the Commission certifies to participate in the NDBEDP, and to better enable selected participants to fully meet the needs of eligible low-income, deaf-blind individuals in a timely manner.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is correcting a final rule that appeared in the Federal Register of September 26, 2011. The document announces the effective date of rules containing information collection requirements approved by the Office of Management and Budget that were adopted by the FCC to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse in the Video Relay Service (VRS) industry.

In this document, the Commission, via the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (Bureau) seeks comment to refresh the record regarding misuse of Internet Protocol relay service. Further comments are requested to bring the record up to date on proposed additional rules that would have the intended effect of reducing or eliminating misuse of Internet Protocol Relay.

In this document, the Commission continues the process of reexamining the fundamentals of the Commission's Video Relay Service (VRS) rules to ensure the VRS program fulfills the goals set for the Commission in section 225 of the Communications Act (the Act). Specifically, the Commission sets forth a series of options and proposals to improve the structure and efficiency of the program, to ensure that it is available to all eligible users and offers functional equivalence—particularly given advances in commercially available technology—and is as immune as possible from the waste, fraud, and abuse that threaten the long-term viability of the program as it currently operates.

In this document, Petitions for Reconsideration (Petitions) have been filed in the Commission's Rulemaking proceeding concerning rules that comprehensively reform and modernize the universal service and intercarrier compensation systems to ensure that robust, affordable voice and broadband service, both fixed and mobile, are available to Americans throughout the nation.

In this document, a Petition for Reconsideration (Petition) has been filed in the Commission's Rulemaking proceeding concerning rules that govern access to toll-free numbers by users of Internet-based Telecommunications Relay Services (iTRS).