FCC Revises Rules for Captioned Telephone Service

August 2013 — The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) in the Matter of Misuse of Internet Protocol (IP) Captioned Telephone Service and Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities [CG Docket No. 13-24 and 03-123]. The Report and Order addresses improper practices relating to the Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service (IP CTS), a service which provides captioned phone calls for people who are able to speak but are hard of hearing. Specifically, the Report and Order prohibits IP CTS providers from using financial incentives or rewards to entice consumers to register for IP CTS, while requiring all existing and new IP CTS users to provide proof of eligibility for the service.  Also adopted are rules requiring a minimum cost of $75 for IP CTS equipment, noting that TRS providers are not able to receive compensation for “any IP CTS minutes of use generated by IP CTS equipment that [is distributed], directly or indirectly, for free or for less than $75.”  The rules also require all potential IP CTS providers to submit a plan to the FCC outlining how the provider will ensure payment collected for IP CTS service satisfies the “registration and certification requirements.”  In the FNPRM the FCC seeks comment on the appropriate method for calculating IP CTS compensation rates and the interval for which compensation rates should be calculated.  Finally, the FCC also seeks comment on the creation of a centralized registration and verification process for IP CTS users.