[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 40 (Thursday, March 1, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 9333]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-3526]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[CG Docket No. 03-123; DA 06-2386]


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 Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau 
dismisses 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: Effective November 28, 2006.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gregory Hlibok, Consumer and 
Governmental Affairs Bureau, Disability Rights Office, (800) 311-4381 
(voice), (202) 418-0431 (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 at 70 
FR 51642, reversing its conclusion that translation from ASL into 
Spanish is not a form of 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 at 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. On February 6, 2006, a Petition 
for Clarification was filed by CSD concerning the provision of ASL-to-
Spanish VRS. The petition was placed on public notice, and several 
comments were filed. The notice was published in the Federal Register 
on March 8, 2006 at 71 FR 11644. This is a summary of the Commission's 
document DA 06-2386, released November 28, 2006.

Synopsis

    On February 6, 2006, CSD filed a petition for clarification 
concerning whether providers of ASL-to-Spanish VRS, a form of TRS, must 
offer service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (24/7) to be eligible for 
compensation from the Fund. The CSD Petition was placed on public 
notice, and several comments were filed. On October 19, 2006, CSD filed 
a letter with the Commission withdrawing its petition. See Letter from 
Karen Peltz Strauss, Legal Consultant for CSD, to Monica Desai, Chief, 
Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, Federal Communications 
Commission (October 19, 2006). Accordingly, the Consumer and 
Governmental Affairs Bureau dismisses the CSD Petition.

Federal Communications Commission.
Jay Keithley,
Deputy Bureau Chief, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau.
[FR Doc. E7-3526 Filed 2-28-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P