47 CFR Part 64, Subpart U - Protecting Customer Information

The Federal Communications Commission (Commission) published a document in the Federal Register on March 4, 2015, concerning its rural call completion recordkeeping and reporting requirements. That document inadvertently omitted reference to the Order on Reconsideration ( Reconsideration Order ) WC Docket No. 13-39, FCC 14-175, which adopted minor amendments to those requirements. This document corrects that error.

In this document, the Commission takes steps to further improve the quality of video relay service (VRS) by authorizing skills-based routing and deaf-interpreter trials, directing the publication of speed-of-answer data, permitting assignment of ten-digit telephone numbers to hearing persons for point-to-point video communication in sign language with VRS users, and authorizing a pilot program in which some VRS calls are interpreted by communications assistants (CAs) at home workstations.

In this document, the Commission seeks comment on establishing performance goals and service quality metrics to evaluate the efficacy of the video relay service (VRS) program and on the incidence of “phony” VRS calls and the handling of such calls. The Commission also proposes a four-year plan for VRS compensation and rule amendments to permit server-based routing of VRS and point-to-point video calls, provide safeguards regarding who may use VRS at enterprise and public videophones, allow customer service support centers to access the Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) Numbering Directory for direct video calling, and make a technical change to per-call validation requirements. The Commission also seeks comment on whether to continue including research and development in the TRS Fund budget, prohibit non-service related inducements to register for VRS, and prohibit the use of non-compete provisions in VRS communications assistant (CA) employment contracts.

A Petition for Clarification, or in the Alternative Reconsideration (Petition) has been filed in the Commission's rulemaking proceeding by T-Mobile USA, Inc.

In this document, the Commission announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved, for a period of three years, the annual reporting and certification requirement, consumer disclosure requirement, and one-time data collection associated with the Commission's Inmate Calling Services Order (Order), FCC 15-136, published on December 18, 2015.

Petitions for Reconsideration (Petitions) have been filed in the Commission's rulemaking proceeding: Kenneth Gueck, on behalf of Oracle Corporation; Jonathan Banks, on behalf of United States Telecom Association; Thomas C. Power, on behalf of CTIA; Thomas Cohen, on behalf of American Cable Association; Stuart P. Ingis, on behalf Association of National Advertisers et al.; Steven K. Berry, on behalf of Competitive Carriers Association; Julie M. Kearney, on behalf of Consumer Technology Association; Genevieve Morelli, on behalf of ITTA—The Voice of Mid-Size Communications Companies; Brita D. Strandberg, on behalf of Level 3; Rick Chessen, on behalf of NCTA—The Internet & Television Association; and Stephen E. Coran, on behalf of Wireless Internet Service Providers Association.

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 rules adopted in the Commission's document Implementation of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010, Section 105, Relay Services for Deaf-Blind Individuals, Report and Order ( Report and Order ). This document 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 rules.

A Petition for Reconsideration (Petition) has been filed in the Commission's rulemaking proceeding, Sarah E. Ducich and Mark W. Brennan on behalf of Navient Corp., Joseph Popevis and Rich Benenson on behalf of Nelnet Servicing LLC, Rebecca Emily Rapp on behalf of Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation, Jason L. Swartley on behalf of Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, and Winfield P. Crigler on behalf of Student Loan Servicing Alliance.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) adopts final rules based on public comments applying the privacy requirements of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, to broadband Internet access service (BIAS) and other telecommunications services. In adopting these rules the Commission implements the statutory requirement that telecommunications carriers protect the confidentiality of customer proprietary information. The privacy framework in these rules focuses on transparency, choice, and data security, and provides heightened protection for sensitive customer information, consistent with customer expectations. The rules require carriers to provide privacy notices that clearly and accurately inform customers; obtain opt-in or opt-out customer approval to use and share sensitive or non-sensitive customer proprietary information, respectively; take reasonable measures to secure customer proprietary information; provide notification to customers, the Commission, and law enforcement in the event of data breaches that could result in harm; not condition provision of service on the surrender of privacy rights; and provide heightened notice and obtain affirmative consent when offering financial incentives in exchange for the right to use a customer's confidential information. The Commission also revises its current telecommunications privacy rules to harmonize today's privacy rules for all telecommunications carriers, and provides a tailored exemption from these rules for enterprise customers of telecommunications services other than BIAS.

In this document, the Commission modifies its rules under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) to implement a provision of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 that excepts from the TCPA's prior-express-consent requirement autodialed and prerecorded calls “made solely to collect a debt owed to or guaranteed by the United States.” While certain debt servicing calls are permitted under the exception, the Commission caps the number of permitted calls to wireless numbers at no more than three within a thirty-day period; ensures that consumers have the right to stop such calls at any time; and adopts other consumer protections. These measures implement Congress's mandate to ensure the TCPA does not thwart important calls that can help consumers avoid debt troubles while preserving consumers' ultimate right to determine what calls they wish to receive.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) adopts rules to convert the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP) from a pilot program to a permanent program. The NDBEDP supports the distribution of communications devices to low-income individuals who are deaf-blind.

In this document, the Commission continues its reform of the inmate calling services (ICS) marketplace by responding to points raised in a petition filed by Michael S. Hamden, seeking reconsideration of certain aspects of the Commission's 2015 ICS Order. Specifically, the Commission amends its rate caps to better allow ICS providers to recover costs incurred as a result of providing inmate calling services, including the costs of reimbursing facilities for any costs they may incur that are reasonably and directly related to the provision of service. The Order also clarifies the definition of “mandatory taxes and fees” and addresses other arguments raised by Mr. Hamden.

In this document, the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB or Bureau) of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission), pursuant to a delegation of authority, proposes to incorporate into the Commission's rules the Video Relay Service (VRS) interoperability and portability standards developed by the VRS Task Group of the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Forum and a successor group, the Relay User Equipment (RUE) Forum.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) extends the National Deaf Blind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP) as a pilot program for one additional year. The NDBEDP provides up to $10 million annually to support programs that distribute communications equipment to low-income individuals who are deaf-blind. Extending the pilot program enables the NDBEDP to continue providing communications equipment to low-income individuals who are deaf-blind without interruption while the Commission considers whether to adopt rules to govern a permanent NDBEDP.

In this document, the Commission proposes amendments to its rules to facilitate a transition from outdated text telephone (TTY) technology to a reliable and interoperable means of providing real-time text (RTT) communication for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, speech disabled, and deaf-blind over Internet Protocol (IP) enabled networks and services.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) invites comment on proposed revisions to its rules under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) to implement a provision of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 that excepts from the TCPA's prior-express-consent requirement autodialed and prerecorded calls “made solely to collect a debt owed to or guaranteed by the United States.”

The Federal Communications Commission initiates a rulemaking seeking public comment on how to apply the privacy requirements of the Communications Act to broadband Internet access service (BIAS). This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) focuses on transparency, choice, and data security, in a manner that is consistent with the Commission's history of protecting privacy, the Federal Trade Commission's leadership, and various sector-specific statutory approaches, tailored to the particular circumstances that consumers face when they use broadband networks and with an understanding of the particular nature and technologies underlying those networks. The NPRM would recognize that consumers cannot give their permission for the use of protected data unless relevant broadband provider practices are transparent. The NPRM proposes a framework to ensure that consumers; understand what data the broadband provider is collecting and what it does with that information; can decide how their information is used; and are protected against the unauthorized disclosure of their information. The NPRM also seeks comment on a number of closely-related questions.

In this document, the Commission modifies its four-year compensation rate plan for Video Relay Service (VRS), adopted in 2013, by temporarily “freezing” the rate of compensation paid from the Interstate Telecommunications Relay Services Fund (TRS Fund) to VRS providers handling 500,000 or fewer monthly minutes and directs the TRS Fund administrator to pay compensation to such providers at a rate of $5.29 per VRS minute for a 16-month period.

A Petition for Reconsideration (Petition) has been filed in the Commission's Rulemaking proceeding by Michael S. Hamden, on behalf of himself.

In this document, the Commission seeks comment on a Petition for Rulemaking (Petition) filed by IDT Telecom, Inc. (IDT) requesting that the Commission issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to review and revise its rules and policies on the contribution methodology for the Interstate Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) Fund to include intrastate revenue within the TRS Fund contribution base. Additionally IDT requests that the Commission remove the rule provision requiring that video relay service (VRS) costs be recovered from only interstate and international revenue.

In this document, the Commission proposes to amend its rules to modify its current four-year compensation rate plan for Video Relay Service (VRS), adopted in 2013, by adopting a limited-duration compensation rate freeze applicable to VRS providers with 500,000 or fewer monthly minutes, and solicits comment on whether to adopt a number of service quality measures that could enhance the functional equivalence of VRS.

The Commission affirms and further clarifies the requirements of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), focusing on consumers' rights to stop unwanted robocalls, including both voice calls and text messages. The Commission acted in an Omnibus Declaratory Ruling and Order (Omnibus Order) in response to 21 petitions for rulemaking, clarification, or other action regarding the TCPA or the Commission's rules and orders. In addition to denying one petition for rulemaking and dismissing another petition for rulemaking, the Omnibus Order took a number of actions, including clarifying when certain conduct violates the TCPA and providing guidance intended to assist callers in avoiding violations and consequent litigation.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) initiates a rulemaking that seeks to update the Commission's rules to better reflect current requirements and technology by removing outmoded regulations from the CFR. The Commission proposes to update the CFR by eliminating certain rules from which the Commission has forborn and eliminating references to telegraph service in certain rules. The Commission would clarify regulatory requirements, and modernize our rules to better reflect the state of the current telecommunications market.

In this document, the Commission grants a request to exempt package delivery notifications from the Telephone Consumer Protection Act's (TCPA) restrictions on autodialed and prerecorded calls and messages to wireless telephone numbers, as long as consumers are not charged and may easily opt out of future messages if they wish, among other pro-consumer conditions. Congress gave the Commission the authority to exclude from this prohibition calls and texts that are not charged to the called party, subject to conditions necessary to protect the called party's privacy rights. This action is necessary to allow wireless consumers to receive package delivery notifications that will be welcome both as a convenience and as a way to guard against package theft.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (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 Report and Order (Order) WC Docket No. 13-39, FCC 13-135. 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 requirements.

The Commission published in the Federal Register of December 10, 2014, a document concerning an Order on Reconsideration ( Order ) affirming the Commission's commitment to ensuring that high quality telephone service must be available to all Americans. In the Order, the Commission established rules to combat extensive problems with successfully completing calls to rural areas, and created a framework to improve the ability to monitor call problems and take appropriate enforcement action. In the Order, the Commission denies several petitions for reconsideration that, if granted, would impair the Commission's ability to monitor, and take enforcement action against, call completion problems. The Commission does, however, grant one petition for reconsideration because the Commission finds that modifying its original determination will significantly lower providers' compliance costs and burdens without impairing the Commission's ability to obtain reliable and extensive information about rural call completion problems.

This document affirms the Commission's commitment to ensuring that high quality telephone service must be available to all Americans. In the underlying Order, the Commission established rules to combat extensive problems with successfully completing calls to rural areas, and created a framework to improve the ability to monitor call problems and take appropriate enforcement action. In the Order on Reconsideration, the Commission denies several petitions for reconsideration that, if granted, would impair the Commission's ability to monitor, and take enforcement action against, call completion problems. The Commission does, however, grant one petition for reconsideration because the Commission finds that modifying its original determination will significantly lower providers' compliance costs and burdens without impairing the Commission's ability to obtain reliable and extensive information about rural call completion problems.

In this document, the Commission seeks comment on additional measures it could take to ensure that interstate and intrastate inmate calling services are provided consistent with the statute and the public interest and the Commission's authority to implement these measures. The Commission believes that additional action on inmate calling service will help maintain familial contacts stressed by confinement while still ensuring the critical security needs of correction facilities of various sizes.

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 Structure and Practices of the Video Relay Service Program; Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities ( VRS Reform Report and Order ). This document is consistent with the VRS Reform Report and Order, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date of those rules.

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 Misuse of Internet Protocol (IP) Captioned Telephone Service; Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities ( Report and Order ). This announcement 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 rules.

On September 26, 2013, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) released a Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Rates for Interstate Inmate Calling Services, WC Docket No. 12-375, FCC 13-113, (Report and Order) which required, among other things, that all ICS providers comply with a one-time mandatory data collection provided in the Report and Order to enable the Commission to determine what costs ICS providers incur in order to guide the Commission as it evaluates next steps toward permanently reforming ICS rates, including the adoption of rates that are just, reasonable, and fair. This information collection required approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This document announces the due date to file data with the Commission responsive to the one-time mandatory data collection requirement.

On September 26, 2013, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) released a Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Rates for Interstate Inmate Calling Services, WC Docket No. 12-375, FCC 13-113, (Report and Order) which required, among other things, that all ICS providers comply with a one-time mandatory data collection provided in Section III.I of the Report and Order. This information collection requirement in the Report and Order required approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This document announces the approval of and effective date of the one-time mandatory data collection requirement.

This document seeks comment on whether additional guidance, clarification, or modification regarding the “answered” and “ring no answer” categories of call attempts described in Appendix C of the Rural Call Completion Order is necessary. Appendix C provides a spreadsheet that covered providers must use to file the required call completion data with the Commission each quarter. This document seeks comment on whether Appendix C should be clarified to eliminate any basis for interpreting it inconsistently with the definition of “answered call” in the Order, and revise the description of “ring no answer” call attempts in Appendix C to provide clearer guidance to covered providers.

In this document, Petitions for Reconsideration (Petitions) have been filed in the Commission's Rulemaking proceeding by W. Scott McCollugh, on behalf of Transcom Enhanced Services, Inc.; Mary C. Albert on behalf of Comptel; David L. Nace, on behalf of Carolina West Wireless, Inc.; Charles W. McKee, on behalf of Sprint Corporation; David Cohen, on behalf of United States Telecom Association; and Genevieve Morelli, on behalf of the Independent Telephone & Telecommunications Alliance.