To: Consumer Contact List
From: Karen Peltz Strauss
Re: FCC TRS/VRS Rate Proceedings; Reminder on Access to Emergency TV Programming; Section 255 POC; Hurricane Katrina panel
Date: August 7, 2006

1. FCC Orders on relay service cost recovery. On June 29, 2006, the FCC released new compensation rates for various types of relay services. On July 12, 2006, the FCC also released two orders concerning TRS and VRS cost recovery matters that had been raised through various petitions several years ago. The urls for these 3 proceedings follow, and are summarized in this memo. summary-rate issues.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS RELAY SERVICES AND SPEECH- TO- SPEECH SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH HEARING AND SPEECH DISABILITIES. Issued an Order freezing VRS 2005-2006 rate of $6.644 per minute for a one-year period ending June 30, 2007, or until such time as the Commission adopts a new VRS rate pursuant to new VRS cost recovery rules, whichever is sooner.
(Dkt No. 03-123). Action by: Chief, Consumer & Governmental Affairs
Bureau. Adopted: 06/29/2006 by ORDER. (DA No. 06-1345). CGB
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1345A1.doc>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1345A1.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1345A1.txt>

TRS AND SPEECH-TO-SPEECH SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH HEARING AND SPEECH DISABILITIES. Granted in part and denied in part the petitions for reconsideration. (Dkt No. 03-123). Action by: the Commission.
Adopted: 06/20/2006 by Order on Reconsideration. (FCC No. 06-87). CGB
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-87A1.doc>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-87A2.doc>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-87A3.doc>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-87A1.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-87A2.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-87A3.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-87A1.txt>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-87A2.txt>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-87A3.txt>

TRS AND SPEECH-TO-SPEECH SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH HEARING AND SPEECH DISABILITIES. Denied the applications for review. Affirmed the 2004-2005 VRS compensation rate adopted by the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau. (Dkt No. 03-123). Action by: the Commission. Adopted:
06/20/2006 by MO&O. (FCC No. 06-88). CGB
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-88A1.doc>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-88A2.doc>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-88A3.doc>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-88A1.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-88A2.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-88A3.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-88A1.txt>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-88A2.txt>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-88A3.txt>

2. FCC seeks comment on cost recovery methodology. The FCC has released a notice of proposed rulemaking seeking recommendations for how best to distribute compensation to TRS and VRS providers. The URL for this proceeding is below, and a summary of the feedback now sought by the Commission is linked here. TRS Rate Methodology. Comment dates have not yet been set for this proceeding.

TRS AND SPEECH-TO-SPEECH SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH HEARING AND SPEECH DISABILITIES. Seek comment on a broad range of issues concerning the compensation of providers of telecommunications relay services from the Interstate TRS Fund for their costs of providing TRS.
(Dkt No. 03-123). Action by: the Commission. Adopted: 07/13/2006 by
FNPRM. (FCC No. 06-106). CGB
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-106A1.doc>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-106A2.doc>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-106A3.doc>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-106A4.doc>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-106A5.doc>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-106A6.doc>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-106A1.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-106A2.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-106A3.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-106A4.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-106A5.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-106A6.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-106A1.txt>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-106A2.txt>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-106A3.txt>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-106A4.txt>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-106A5.txt>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-106A6.txt>

3. FCC reminds video programming distributors to provide emergency information in an accessible format. Every now and then, the FCC releases a reminder to broadcasters and other television programming providers that they must make emergency information accessible by people with hearing and vision disabilities. The FCC released another one of these notices on July 20, 2006. This particular notice makes clear that larger stations that are not permitted to provide electronic newsroom reporting must now provide closed captioning of their emergency programming to meet this obligation. The URL for this notice is below.

Released: 07/20/2006. REMINDER TO VIDEO PROGRAMMING DISTRIBUTORS OF OBLIGATION TO MAKE EMERGENCY INFORMATION ACCESSIBLE TO PERSONS WITH HEARING OR VISION DISABILITIES. (DA No. 06-1483). CGB. Contact: Traci Randolph at 418-0569, e-mail: traci.randolph@fcc.gov; TTY: (202) 418-0537
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1483A1.doc>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1483A1.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1483A1.txt>

4. Point of Contact under Section 255. The FCC has released a notice reminding telecommunications manufacturers and service providers that they must provide a point of contact for the receipt of complaints.

Released: 07/21/2006. THE CONSUMER & GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS BUREAU REMINDS TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE PROVIDERS OF OBLIGATION TO DESIGNATE AGENT FOR COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY THE FCC. (DA No. 06-1485). CGB. Contact:
Arlene Alexander at (202) 418-0581; email: Arlene.Alexander@fcc.gov; TTY: (202) 418-0183
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1485A1.doc>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1485A1.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1485A1.txt>

5. Recommendations of Hurricane Katrina Panel. The FCC is seeking comments on the recommendations made by the independent panel established to review the impact of Hurricane Katrina. Initial comments were due today, August 7 but, reply comments are due on August 21, 2006.

Released: 07/26/2006. IN THE MATTER OF RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE INDEPENDENT PANEL REVIEWING THE IMPACT OF HURRICANE KATRINA ON COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS; NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING; REQUEST FOR COMMENT ON APPLICABILITY OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO ALL TYPES OF DISASTERS.
(DA No. 06-1524). (Dkt No 06-119). Comments Due: 08/07/2006. Reply
Comments Due: 08/21/2006. EB. Contact: Lisa M. Fowlkes at (202) 418-7452, email: Lisa.Fowlkes@fcc.gov. News Media Contact: Janice Wise
at (202) 418-8165, email: Janice.Wise@fcc.gov
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1524A1.doc>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1524A1.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1524A1.txt>

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