Wireless RERC - Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS)

FCC Revises Rules for Captioned Telephone Service

mz22 — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 20:16:56 +0000

Internet Protocol (IP) Captioned Telephone Service

Speech-to-Speech Telecommunications Relay Services

Report and Order and FNPRM [CG Docket No. 13-24 and 03-123]

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.

FCC Open Meeting in July

mz22 — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 20:29:50 +0000

The FCC has released the tentative agenda for the upcoming open meeting scheduled for Friday, July 19, 2013. The agenda includes considerations for a Report and Order addressing mandatory minimum standards applicable to the Speech-to-Speech Relay program, and a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for modernization of the E-Rate program to include broadband for digital learning technologies. In addition, the meeting will include a review of the implementation of the CVAA since its passage in 2010. The meeting will begin at 10:30 in Room TW-C305 at the FCC Headquarters.

Start Date:

Friday, July 19, 2013 - 10:30am

Additional Information:

FCC July Open Meeting

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS)

Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act

Subscriptions:

FCC Sets TRS Compensation Rates

mz22 — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 20:06:54 +0000

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS)

Hearing Loss

Speech Disability

Order [CG Docket No. 03-123] and [CG Docket No. 10-51]

July 2013 — The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released an Order in the Matter of Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities [CG Docket No. 03-123] and Structure and Practices of the Video Relay Service Program [CG Docket No. 10-51]. The Order adopts per-minute compensation rates for all telecommunication relay services (TRS), excluding video relay services (VRS). Specifically, for the 2013-2014 fund year, the Order sets the compensation rates as follows:

Interstate traditional TRS - $2.1647
Interstate Speech-to-Speech (STS) relay service - $3.2957
Interstate captioned telephone service (CTS) and IP captioned telephone service (IP CTS) - $1.7877
IP relay - $1.0147

The rates were set by the current TRS fund administrator through application of the MARS analysis, which averages each state’s intrastate rates and minutes of use. The new rates will be implemented between August 1, 2013 and September 1, 2013.

FCC Extends TRS and IP Relay Waivers

mz22 — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 20:02:54 +0000

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS)

Hearing Loss

Speech Disability

Order [CG Docket No. 03-123] and [WC Docket No. 05-196]

July 2013 — The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released an Order in the Matter of Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities [CG Docket No. 03-123] and E911 Requirements for IP-Enabled Service Providers [WC Docket No. 05-196]. The Order extends waivers one year to July 1, 2014 or until the FCC amends the rules underlying these waivers, whichever occurs first. The FCC has extended the waivers to providers of VRS and IP Relay due to the belief that “each of the waived standards are either technically infeasible for providers to achieve or not applicable to the form of TRS (i.e. IP Relay or VRS) for which the standards are waived. Waivers have been extended for the following rules:

Types of calls
Pay-per-call (900) calls
One-line Voice Carry Over (VCO), VCO-to-TTY, and VCO-to-VCO
One-line Hearing Carry Over (HCO), HCO-to-TTY, and HCO-to-HCO
Call release

The FCC similarly extends the waiver applying to VRS and IP Relay “service providers serving newly registered customers who use their former default service provider’s customer premises equipment (CPE).” These waivers have been extended in recognition that a transition period is needed to ensure full implementation of the interoperability and portability standards under the VRS Reform Order.