[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 167 (Tuesday, August 28, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45310-45312]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-21625]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[CC Docket No. 98-67; DA 01-1969]


FCC To Convene a Public Forum and Technology Expo on 
Telecommunications Relay Services; Ex Parte Comments Invited

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Announcement of meeting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice invites interested person to a Public Forum and 
Technology Expo on telecommunications relay services (TRS). The purpose 
of this Forum and Expo is for TRS administrators, consumers, providers, 
and Commission staff to share information on, among other things, 
current state TRS outreach programs, implementation of a nationwide TRS 
outreach program, and new TRS technologies.

DATES: The Public Forum and Technology Expo on TRS will be held on 
Wednesday, October 10, 2001 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the 
Commission Meeting Room, Room TW-C305 and adjacent rooms, at 445 12th 
St., SW., Washington, DC 20554. Ex parte comments are due on or before 
October 20, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20554.

[[Page 45311]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For more information about the Forum, 
please contact Suzanne Perrin at (202) 418-2874 (voice), (202) 418-1085 
(TTY), or [email protected] (e-mail); or Pat Chew at (202) 418-0514 
(voice) or [email protected] (e-mail). For more information about the 
Technology Expo or how to exhibit at the Expo, please contact Arlene 
Alexander at (202) 418-0581 (voice), (202) 418-0183 TTY, or 
[email protected]. This document is available to individuals with 
disabilities requiring accessible formats (electronic ASCII text, 
Braille, large print, and audio) by contacting Brian Millin at (202) 
418-7426 (voice), (202) 418-7365 (TTY), or by sending an email to 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Forum will offer an opportunity for 
everyone, including consumers and industry representatives, to exchange 
ideas with the Commission and TRS administrators and to have their 
comments become part of the formal public record in CC Docket 98-67. In 
conjunction with the Forum, the Consumer Information Bureau will hold a 
Technology Expo to showcase TRS and other accessibility technologies. 
The Forum agenda is tentatively as follows:

9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.--Technology Expo
9:15 a.m.-9:30 a.m.--Opening Remarks
9:30 a.m.-9:45 a.m.--TRS Overview
9:45 a.m.-11:10 a.m.--Panels on TRS Outreach
11:20 a.m.-12:15 p.m.--Panel on TRS Technologies for the 21st Century
12:15 p.m.-1:30 p.m.--Expo Demonstrations (Lunch Break)
1:30 p.m.-3:00 p.m.--Open Microphone
3:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m.--Expo Demonstrations

    Interested parties who choose to file ex parte comments by paper in 
accordance with Section 1.1206 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 
1.1206, should file an original and four (4) copies of their comments 
with the FCC's Office of the Secretary, 445 12th Street, SW., TW-A325, 
Washington DC, 20554 and should reference CC Docket No. 98-67. In 
addition, where filings are made prior to August 28, 2001, one (1) copy 
of those filings should be sent to our duplicating contractor, 
International Transcription Service, Inc. (ITS), at 445 12th Street, CY 
B400, SW., Washington, DC, 20554. Effective August 28, 2001, please use 
the following address for the duplicating contractor: Qualex 
International, Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW., Room CY-B402, 
Washington, DC, 20554. Additionally, two (2) copies should be forwarded 
to Greg Hlibok, Consumer Information Bureau, FCC, 445 12th Street, SW., 
Room 6-A236, Washington, DC, 20554. All filings concerning any of the 
matters referenced in this Public Notice should refer to CC Docket 98-
67. You may also file ex parte comments using the Commission's 
Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). Ex parte comments filed 
through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file via the Internet to 
http://www.fcc.gov/e-file/ecfs.html. If using this method, please 
reference CC Docket No. 98-67 in the Proceeding Block. Generally, only 
one copy of an electronic submission must be filed. In completing the 
transmittal screen, commenters should include their full name, Postal 
Service mailing address, and the applicable docket or rulemaking 
number. Parties may also submit an electronic ex parte comment by 
Internet e-mail. To get filing instructions for e-mail ex parte 
comments, commentaries should send an e-mail to [email protected], including 
``get form [your e-mail address]'' in the body of the message. A sample 
form and directions will be sent in reply. The full text of this 
document is available for public inspection and copying during regular 
business hours at the FCC Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 
12th Street, SW., Room CY-A257, Washington, DC, 20554. After August 28, 
2001, this document may also be purchased from the Commission's 
duplicating contractor, Qualex International, Portals II, 445 12th 
Street, SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC, 20554, telephone 202-863-
2893, facsimile 202-863-2898, or via e-mail [email protected]. Those 
unable to attend the Forum can watch and listen to it live over the 
Internet through RealAudio from the FCC web site at: http://www.fcc.gov/realaudio/ or hear it via telephone, for a fee, from 
National Narrowcast Network, (202) 966-2211 (voice/TRS) or (202) 966-
1770 (fax). The Forum also will be live captioned on the Internet. 
Individuals can send their views and/or questions during the Forum to: 
[email protected] (e-mail). The e-mails should have the heading, ``Ex 
Parte Comments in CC Docket 98-67.'' If time permits, views and/or 
questions received during the Forum via this e-mail site will be 
addressed at the Forum. These views will be included in the record of 
the TRS proceeding. Any hand-outs that are distributed at this meeting 
from in-person presenters or Commission presenters will be posted on 
the Internet at the Consumer Information Bureau web page at http://www.fcc.gov/cib. Hand-outs will be made available in alternative 
formats (computer diskette, large print, audio cassette and Braille) to 
persons with disabilities by contacting Brian Millin at (202) 418-7426 
(voice), (202) 418-7365 (TTY), or [email protected] (e-mail).

Synopsis

    TRS is required by Title IV of the Americans with Disabilities Act 
(Section 225 of the Communications Act of 1934). TRS now utilizes a 
variety of services to facilitate telephone communication between 
persons with hearing or speech disabilities and persons who use voice 
telephones. Relay services between TTY and voice users utilize a relay 
operator, called a Communications Assistant (CA), to read what the TTY 
user types to a voice telephone user, and to type responses back to the 
TTY user throughout the duration of a telephone call. Speech-to-speech 
(STS) relay utilizes CAs trained in understanding certain speech 
patterns to relay conversations for people with speech disabilities. 
Video relay services (VRS) utilize CAs skilled in sign language to 
relay conversations for users of American Sign Language. The Forum will 
provide an opportunity for a full exchange of ideas on state and 
nationwide outreach efforts related to TRS. In March 2000, the 
Commission issued a Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking (FNPRM), In the Matter of Telecommunications Relay Services 
and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech 
Disabilities, CC Docket 98-67, which tentatively concluded that TRS 
service could be improved with a nationwide awareness campaign that 
reaches all potential TRS users, including consumers with disabilities, 
senior citizens who have lost hearing late in life, potential STS 
users, and the general public. The FNPRM asked for comment about the 
extent to which a national outreach effort should be supported by the 
interstate TRS fund and whether the interstate TRS fund administrator 
should administer the funding for such educational outreach programs. 
The FNPRM further proposed to amend the mission of the Interstate TRS 
Advisory Council to include establishing guidelines and a procedure to 
fund a coordinated national outreach campaign. In August 2000, the 
Commission also adopted a Second Report and Order in its proceeding on 
The Use of N11 Codes and Other Abbreviated Dialing Arrangements, CC 
Docket 92-105, which required common carriers to provide access to all 
relay services via the 711 dialing code by October 1, 2001. Among other 
things, that Order directed each common carrier providing telephone 
voice

[[Page 45312]]

transmission services to conduct, not later than October 1, 2001, 
ongoing education and outreach programs that publicize the availability 
of 711 access to TRS, in a manner reasonably designed to reach the 
largest number of consumers possible. To supplement and refresh the 
record initiated with the March FNPRM, at the Forum we will seek to 
further identify the guidelines and procedures necessary to fund a 
coordinated nationwide outreach program. In addition, information will 
be shared to facilitate ongoing efforts to comply with the August 
Report and Order mandating 711 outreach. While time constraints limit 
the number of individuals who may make in-person presentations at the 
Forum, we encourage all interested individuals to submit written ex 
parte comments, by October 20, 2001, identifying proposed national 
outreach guidelines and procedures. Written ex parte comments will aid 
us in our decision-making with regard to identifying the best means of 
achieving nationwide outreach on TRS.

Consumer Information Bureau.
Pamela Gregory,
Chief, Disabilities Rights Office.
[FR Doc. 01-21625 Filed 8-27-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P