Public Information Collections Approved by Office of Management and Budget

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

Public Information Collections Approved by Office of Management

and Budget

April 6, 1998.

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.: 3060-0825.

Expiration Date: 10/31/98.

Title: Requirements for Toll Free Service Access Codes 888/877.

Form No.: N/A.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit.

Estimated Annual Burden: 370,430 respondents; 1 hour per response

(avg.); 370,430 total annual burden hours for all collections.

Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: $0.

Frequency of Response: On occasion; one time.

Description: On March 31, 1998, the Commission released an Order

and Memorandum Opinion and Order, (CC Docket 95-155), FCC 98-48 (Fourth

Report and Order) resolving how vanity numbers should be assigned. The

Commission delegated authority to the Bureau to resolve those issues

necessary for the assignment of the 888 set-aside vanity numbers and

implementation of 877, including conservation plans, if needed on any

or all toll free codes in use to prevent exhaust of toll free numbers

before deployment of the next toll free code. The Commission concluded

that vanity numbers in the 877 toll free code, and toll free codes

beyond 877, shall be released and made available on a first-come,

first-served basis as each toll free code is deployed. The Commission

further concluded that 800 subscribers holding 800 vanity numbers that

correspond to the 888 vanity numbers that were initially set aside

shall be offered a right of first refusal to those 888 set-aside

numbers. If the 800 subscriber refrains from exercising its option to

reserve the corresponding 888 vanity number, that number shall be

released and made available on a first-come, first-served basis. The

888 set-aside numbers are to be made available for assignment 90 days

after the 877 code is deployed. This proceeding was initiated to ensure

the promotion of efficient, fair, and orderly allocation and use of

these limited numbering resources. In a letter order, the Bureau

instructs DSMI to release 877 numbers into the general pool of

available numbers on April 5, 1998 for reservation on a first-come,

first-served basis. Further, the Bureau instructs DSMI to inform

RespOrgs to notify their 800 subscribers of their right of first

refusal of the set-aside 888 numbers. RespOrgs will have 15 days from

the date of 877 deployment to notify customers of their rights of first

refusal. These 800 subscribers will have 45 days to respond in writing

to their RespOrgs. This means that these

[[Page 18198]]

subscribers must submit their written responses to their RespOrgs no

later than 60 days from the date of 877 deployment. RespOrgs will then

have 30 days to submit all required documentation to DSMI. This means

that RespOrgs must submit to DSMI all required documentation no later

than 90 days from the date of 877 deployment. If the 800 subscriber

chooses to obtain the corresponding number in the 888 code, that number

should be placed in the control of that 800 subscriber's RespOrg 90

days after the 877 code is deployed for assignment to that subscriber.

We require DSMI to place that number in the control of the appropriate

RespOrg only if it receives a letter within the proper time period from

that RespOrg making that request along with a letter that the 800

subscriber sent to its RespOrg or Toll Free Service Provider expressing

interest in obtaining that 888 number. If the 800 subscriber is not

interested in obtaining the set-aside 888 number, that 888 number shall

be released into the spare pool of available numbers, 90 days after

deployment of 877, for assignment on a first-come, first-served basis.

We require that DSMI release any 888 set-aside number into the spare

pool of available numbers only if one of three events occur: 1) DSMI

receives a letter from the RespOrg authorizing DSMI to release that

particular 888 number along with a letter that the current 800

subscriber sent to its RespOrg or Toll Free Service Provider refusing

that 888 number; 2) DSMI receives a letter from the RespOrg certifying

that the RespOrg notified the 800 subscriber and the subscriber failed

to respond within the required period of time; or 3) the 800 number

corresponding to the 888 set-aside number is not assigned to a

subscriber. Finally, the Bureau directs DSMI to place all ``877-555-

XXXX'' numbers in unavailable status along with the ``888-555-XXXX''

numbers until the Commission has reached a decision on the issues

related to the development of competitive directory assistance service.

The Bureau has provided these requirements to assist DSMI in releasing

the 888 vanity numbers pursuant to a right of first refusal and to

ensure that toll free subscribers are given adequate notice and

opportunity to reserve the numbers of their choice. In order to protect

the interest of the involved parties, DSMI will not release any set-

aside 888 number until it has received the authorizing letters from

both the RespOrg and 800 number subscriber. Burden estimates for the

information collection requirements are as follows: a. Notification to

Subscribers by RespOrgs (number of respondents: 215; avg. burden per

respondent: 1 hour; total annual burden: 215 hours); b. Letter and

other documentation from RespOrgs to DSMI (number of respondents: 215;

avg. burden per respondent: 1 hour; total annual burden: 215 hours); c.

Letter from Subscribers to RespOrgs (number of respondents: 370,000;

avg. burden per respondent: 1 hour; total annual burden: 370,000

hours). The requirements are necessary to ensure that toll free

subscribers are given notice and opportunity to reserve numbers of

their choice. Obligation to respond: Required. 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, D.C. 20554.

Federal Communications Commission.

William F. Caton,

Deputy Secretary.

[FR Doc. 98-9699 Filed 4-13-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6712-01-F