[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 45 (Wednesday, March 8, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11644-11645]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-2085]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[CG Docket No. 03-123; DA 06-387]


Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services 
for Individuals With Hearing and Speech Disabilities

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Commission seeks comment on a petition 
for clarification filed by Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD) 
requesting the Commission to clarify that the providers of American 
Sign Language (ASL)-to-Spanish Video Relay Service (VRS) are not 
required to offer the service 24 hours a day and 7 days a week to be 
eligible for compensation from the Interstate Telecommunications Relay 
Service (TRS) Fund (Fund).

DATES: Comments are due on or before April 7, 2006. Reply comments are 
due on or before April 24, 2006.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by CG Docket No. 03-123, 
by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Federal Communications Commission's Web site: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Parties who choose to file by paper should also 
submit their comment on diskette. These diskettes should be submitted, 
along with three paper copies to Dana Jackson, Consumer & Governmental 
Affairs Bureau, Disability Rights Office, 445 12th Street, SW., Room 3-
C418, Washington, DC 20554. Such a submission should be on a 3.5 inch 
diskette formatted in an IBM compatible format using Word 97 or 
compatible software. The diskette should be accompanied by a cover 
letter and should be submitted in ``read only'' mode. The diskette 
should be clearly labeled with the commenter's name, proceeding 
(including the lead docket number in this case (CG Docket No. 03-123)), 
type of pleading (comment or reply comment), date of submission, and 
the name of the electronic file on the diskette. The label should also 
include the following phrase ``Disk Copy--Not an Original.'' Each 
diskette should contain only one party's pleadings, preferably in a 
single electronic file. In addition, commenters must send diskette 
copies to the Commission's contractor at Portals II, 445 12th Street, 
SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554.
     People with Disabilities: Contact the FCC to request 
reasonable accommodations (accessible format documents, sign language 
interpreters, CART, etc.) by e-mail: [email protected] or phone (202) 418-
0539 or TTY: (202) 418-0432.
    For detailed instructions for submitting comments and additional 
information on the rulemaking process, see the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dana Jackson, (202) 418-2247 (voice), 
(202) 418-7989 (TTY), or e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 19, 2005, the Commission released 
Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for 
Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities, Order on 
Reconsideration, FCC 03-139, CC Docket No. 98-67 and CG Docket No. 03-
123, which published in the Federal Register on August 31, 2005 (70 FR 
51642), reversing its conclusion that translation from ASL into Spanish 
is not a TRS eligible for compensation from the Fund. Also, on July 19, 
2005, the Commission released Telecommunications Relay Services and 
Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech 
Disabilities, Report and Order, FCC 05-140, CC Docket No. 98-67 and CG 
Docket No. 03-123, which published in the Federal Register on August 
31, 2005 (70 FR 51649), establishing a mandatory speed of answer 
requirement for VRS, requiring VRS to be offered 24 hours a day, 7 days 
a week. This is a summary of the Commission's public notice DA 06-387, 
released February 22, 2006. Pursuant to Sec. Sec.  1.415 and 1.419 of 
the Commission rules, 47 CFR 1.415 and 1.419, interested parties may 
file comments on or before the dates indicated on the first page of 
this document. Comments may be filed using: (1) The Commission's 
Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), (2) the Federal Government's 
eRulemaking Portal, or (3) by filing paper copies. See Electronic 
Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121, May 1, 
1998.
     Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically 
using the Internet by accessing the ECFS: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/ 
or the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Filers 
should follow the instructions provided on the Web site for submitting 
comments.
     For ECFS filers, if multiple docket or rulemaking numbers 
appear in the caption of this proceeding, filers must transmit one 
electronic copy of the comments for each docket or rulemaking number 
referenced in the caption. In completing the transmittal screen, filers 
should include their full name, U.S. Postal Service mailing address, 
and the applicable docket or rulemaking number. Parties may also submit 
an electronic comment by Internet e-mail. To get filing instructions, 
filers should send an e-mail to [email protected], and include the following 
words in the body of the message, ``get form.'' A sample form and 
directions will be sent in response. All comments received are viewable 
by the general public at any time through the Web site.
     Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must 
file an original and four copies of each filing. If more than one 
docket or rulemaking number appears in the caption of this proceeding, 
filers must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or 
rulemaking number. Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, 
by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. 
Postal Service mail (although the Commission continues to experience 
delays in receiving U.S. Postal Service mail). All filings must be 
addressed to the Commission's Secretary, Office of the Secretary, 
Federal Communications Commission.
     The Commission's contractor will receive hand-delivered or 
messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission's Secretary at 236 
Massachusetts Avenue, NE., Suite 110, Washington, DC 20002. The filing 
hours at this location are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. All

[[Page 11645]]

hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. 
Any envelopes must be disposed of before entering the building.
     Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service 
Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton 
Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743.
     U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority 
mail should be addressed to 445 12th Street, SW., Washington DC 20554.
    Pursuant to Sec.  1.1206 of the Commission s rules, 47 CFR 1.1206, 
this proceeding will be conducted as a permit-but-disclose proceeding 
in which ex parte communications are subject to disclosure.
    The full text of document DA 06-387 and copies of any subsequently 
filed documents relating to this matter will be 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. This document and copies of subsequently 
filed documents in this matter may also be purchased from the 
Commission's contractor at Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW., Room CY-
B402, Washington, DC 20554. Customers may contact the Commission's 
contractor at their Web site http://www.bcpiweb.com or by calling 1-
800-378-3160. A copy of the Petition for Rulemaking may also be found 
by searching ECFS at http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs (insert CG Docket No. 
03-123 into the proceeding block).
    To request materials in accessible formats for people with 
disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), 
send an e-mail to [email protected] or call the Consumer & Governmental 
Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice) or (202) 418-0432 (TTY). 
Document DA 06-387 can also be downloaded in Word and Portable Document 
Format (PDF) at http://www.fcc.gov/cgb.dro.

Synopsis

    On July 19, 2005, the Commission concluded that non-shared language 
Spanish translation VRS--i.e., relay service in which the communication 
assistant (CA) translates what is signed in ASL into spoken Spanish, 
and vice versa--is a form of TRS compensable from the Fund. Also, on 
July 19, 2005, the Commission concluded that, effective January 1, 
2006, providers seeking compensation from the Fund for offering VRS 
must offer the service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
    The public notice seeks comment on whether ASL-to-Spanish VRS, if 
provided, must be offered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to be eligible 
for compensation from the Fund.

Federal Communications Commission.
Jay Keithley,
Deputy Bureau Chief, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau.
[FR Doc. 06-2085 Filed 3-7-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P