[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 114 (Tuesday, June 16, 2009)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 28471-28472]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-13864]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 64

[CG Docket 03-123; DA 09-1255]


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

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Commission via the Consumer and 
Governmental Affairs Bureau (Bureau) extends the comment filing 
deadline for the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) published in the 
Federal Register May 21, 2009 (73 FR 23815). The Bureau finds that in 
this case an extension of the comment period is warranted to afford 
parties the necessary time to file comments that will result in a more 
complete record in this proceeding.

DATES: Comments are due July 6, 2009. Reply Comments are due July 20, 
2009.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties 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 electronic filings.
     Federal Communications Commission's Electronic Comment 
Filing System (ECFS): http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs. Follow the 
instructions for submitting electronic filings.
     By filing paper copies.
    For electronic filers through ECFS or the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal, 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 CG Docket No. 
03-123. 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.
    Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file an 
original and four copies of each filing. 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 hand deliveries must be 
held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes must be 
disposed of before entering the building.
    Commercial mail sent by 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.
    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), (202) 418-0432 (TTY). DA 09-
1255 can also be downloaded in Word or Portable Document Format (PDF) 
at: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/trs.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Chandler, Consumer and

[[Page 28472]]

Governmental Affairs Bureau, Disability Rights Office, at (202) 418-
1475 (voice), (202) 418-0597 (TTY), or e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Consumer and 
Governmental Affairs Bureau's document DA 09-1255. Pursuant to 47 CFR 
1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's rules, interested parties may file 
comments and reply comments on or before the dates indicated in the 
Dates section. The full text of DA 09-1255 and subsequently filed 
documents in this matter are 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. They may also be purchased from the Commission's duplicating 
contractor at Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW., Room CY-B402, 
Washington, DC 20554; the contractor's Web site, http://www.bcpiweb.com; or by calling (800) 378-3160. DA 09-1255 and 
subsequently filed documents in this matter may also be found by 
searching ECFS at http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs (insert CG Docket No. 03-
123 into the Proceeding block).

Synopsis

    The Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau extends the comment 
period for issues raised in the Telecommunications Relay Services and 
Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech 
Disabilities, Public Notice and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, CG 
Docket No. 03-123, FCC 09-39, published at 74 FR 23815, May 21, 2009 
and 74 FR 23859, May 21, 2009 (PN and NPRM).
    The NPRM portion seeks comment on whether, notwithstanding the rate 
methodology established in Telecommunications Relay Services and 
Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech 
Disabilities, Report and Order and Declaratory Ruling, CG Docket No. 
03-123, FCC 07-186, published at 73 FR 44170, July 30, 2008, the 
Commission should modify the compensation rates for Video Relay Service 
(VRS) for the 2009-2010 Fund year. Pursuant to the NPRM, comments are 
presently due on June 4, 2009, and reply comments are due June 11, 
2009. Sorenson Communications, Inc. (Sorenson), a VRS provider, filed 
Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for 
Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities, Motion to Rescind VRS 
Rate NPRM or, in the Alternative, to Extend the Comment Period, CG 
Docket No. 03-123 (May 19, 2009) (Motion to Rescind). A coalition of 
consumer organizations filed comments taking no position on Sorenson's 
Motion to Rescind, but supporting an extension of the comment period, 
see Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for 
Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities, CG Docket No. 03-123, 
Comments on Sorenson Communications, Inc.'s Motion to Rescind VRS Rate 
NPRM or, in the Alternative, to Extend the Comment Period, filed by 
Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc.; Association 
of Late-Deafened Adults, Inc.; National Association of the Deaf; Deaf 
and Hard of Hearing Consumer Advocacy Network; California Coalition of 
Agencies Serving the Deaf and Hard of Hearing; American Association of 
the Deaf-Blind; and Hearing Loss Association of America (May 26, 2009).
    Although the Commission does not routinely grant extensions of 
time, pursuant to 47 CFR 1.46(a), the Commission finds that in this 
case an extension of the comment period is warranted to afford parties 
the necessary time to file comments that will result in a more complete 
record in this proceeding. This limited extension will not unduly delay 
the Commission's consideration of the issues.

Ordering Clauses

    The Motion to Extend the Comment Period filed by Sorenson 
Communications, Inc., is granted to the extent indicated herein.
    This action is taken pursuant to the authority provided in Sec.  
1.46 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 1.46, and under delegated 
authority pursuant to Sec. Sec.  0.141 and 0.361 of the Commission's 
rules, 47 CFR 0.141, 0.361.

Federal Communications Commission.
Suzanne M. Tetreault,
Acting Deputy Chief, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau.
[FR Doc. E9-13864 Filed 6-15-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P