[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 198 (Friday, October 10, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 60172-60173]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-24006]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Parts 52 and 64

[CG Docket No. 03-123 and WC Docket No. 05-196; DA 08-2130]


Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau Modifies Cost Submission 
Timeframes Associated With Implementation of the Numbering System for 
Internet-Based Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS)

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau 
(Bureau) modifies the filing timeframes in which Video Relay Service 
(VRS) and Internet Protocol (IP) Relay providers requesting 
compensation from the Interstate TRS Fund (Fund) must submit their 
initial filing for costs associated with implementation of the 
numbering system for Internet-based TRS.

DATES: Initial filing deadline is January 30, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Chandler, Consumer and 
Governmental Affairs Bureau, Disability Rights Office at (202) 418-1475 
(voice), (202) 418-0597 (TTY), or e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Bureau's document 
DA 08-2130, released September 22, 2008 in CG Docket No. 03-123 and WC 
Docket No. 05-196. The full text of document DA 08-2130 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. Document DA 08-2130 
and copies of subsequently filed documents in this matter may also be 
purchased from the Commission's duplicating contractor at Portals II, 
445 12th Street, SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554. Customers may 
contact the Commission's duplicating contractor at its Web site, http://www.bcpiweb.com, or by calling 1-800-378-3160. 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 and Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 
(voice) or (202) 418-0432 (TTY). Document DA 08-2130 also can be 
downloaded in Word or Portable Document Format (PDF) at: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/trs.html#orders.

Synopsis

    On June 24, 2008, the Commission released Telecommunications Relay 
Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and 
Speech Disabilities; E911 Requirements for IP-Enabled Service 
Providers, CG Docket No. 03-123, WC Docket No. 05-196, Report and Order 
and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 23 FCC Rcd 11591 (Numbering 
Order), published at 73 FR 41286, July 18, 2008 and 73 FR 41307, July 
18, 2008. In document DA 08-2130, the Bureau modifies the filing 
timeframes in which VRS and IP Relay providers requesting compensation 
from the Fund must submit their initial filing for costs associated 
with implementing the requirements of the June 24, 2008 Numbering 
Order. Specifically, VRS and IP Relay providers must submit their 
initial filings by January 30, 2009, for the period of June 24, 2008 
through December 31, 2008. Further, VRS and IP Relay providers 
subsequently must submit costs 30 days after the end of each calendar 
quarter for costs incurred during the preceding quarter.
    In the Numbering Order, the Commission adopted a system for 
assigning users of Internet-based TRS, specifically VRS and IP Relay, 
ten-digit telephone numbers linked to the North American Numbering 
Plan. In so doing, the Commission also determined that VRS and IP Relay 
providers could be compensated for their costs of implementing the 
mandates of the Numbering Order. The Commission noted that although VRS 
and IP Relay providers presently are compensated based on a per-minute 
rate calculated pursuant to the Commission's rules, the providers' 
additional costs necessary to implement the numbering and emergency 
call handling requirements have not been factored into the present 
compensation rates. The Commission therefore concluded that it would 
``compensate these costs separately from the other costs presently 
encompassed by the per-minute compensation rates.'' The Commission 
directed that VRS and IP Relay providers seeking compensation for their 
actual reasonable costs of complying with the new requirements in the 
Numbering Order submit to the Fund administrator (currently, the 
National Exchange Carrier Association) reasonably detailed explanations 
of those costs. The Commission further directed that those costs be 
submitted to the Fund administrator every three months, beginning three 
months after the release date of the Numbering Order, for the costs 
actually incurred during the prior three-month period. By these terms 
of the Numbering Order, which was released on June 24, 2008, the 
initial submission of those costs would be due September 24, 2008.
    In order to allow sufficient time for providers to prepare their 
filings upon the close of the cost reporting period, the Bureau 
recognizes that it is appropriate to afford providers additional time 
to report their costs. Accordingly, and in order to ensure that 
providers' filings include costs that are incurred up to and including 
the final date of the reporting period, the Bureau modifies the 
reporting timeframes to allow providers an additional 30 days to file 
their costs after the end of a reporting period. In addition, for 
administrative convenience, the Bureau conforms the three-month 
reporting periods to calendar quarters. Finally, because these cost 
submissions constitute new information collections subject to the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Public Law 104-13, this 
requirement cannot go into effect until the Office of Management and 
Budget approves the collections under the PRA and the Commission 
publishes a notice in the Federal Register announcing such approval and 
the relevant effective date(s). In order to afford time for the 
Commission to receive and publish PRA approval to be received and 
announced, the Bureau extends the initial filing deadline until January 
30, 2009. In other words, the first cost submissions to the Fund 
administrator must be filed by January 30, 2009, and will cover the 
period from the release date of the Numbering Order, June 24, 2008, 
through December 31, 2008. Subsequent reports will be due 30 days after 
the close of each calendar quarter.
    To illustrate, the first few subsequent reporting periods and 
filing due dates will be as follows:

January 1, 2009, through March 31, 2009: Cost submission due April 30, 
2009.
April 1, 2009, through June 30, 209: Cost submission due July 30, 2009.
July 1, 2009, through September 30, 2009: Cost submission due October 
30, 2009.

[[Page 60173]]

October 1, 2009, through December 31, 2009: Cost submission due January 
30, 2010.

Federal Communications Commission.
Nicole McGinnis,
Deputy Chief, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau.
[FR Doc. E8-24006 Filed 10-9-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P