[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 133 (Tuesday, July 13, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39945-39946]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-17075]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[CG Docket No. 10-51; FCC 10-88]


Structure and Practices of the Video Relay Service Program

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Commission reiterates that Interstate 
Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) Fund (Fund) payments may be 
suspended to providers that do not submit to audits. The Commission is 
authorized to do so pursuant to its rules intended to protect the 
integrity of the Fund and to deter and detect waste, fraud, and abuse. 
The Commission and the Fund administrator have conducted some audits, 
but not all providers have submitted to the auditing process.

DATES: Effective July 13, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gregory Hlibok, Consumer and 
Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202)

[[Page 39946]]

559-5158 (VP), or e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's 
Structure and Practices of the Video Relay Service Program, Declaratory 
Ruling, document FCC 10-88, adopted May 24, 2010, and released May 27, 
2010, in CG Docket No. 10-51. Simultaneously with the Declaratory 
Ruling, the Commission also issued an Order and Notice and Proposed 
Rulemaking in CG Docket No. 10-51.
    The full text of document FCC 10-88 and copies of any subsequently 
filed documents in 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. Document FCC 10-88 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 FCC 10-88 can also be 
downloaded in Word or Portable Document Format (PDF) at: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/trs.html#orders.

Synopsis

    The TRS mandatory minimum standards expressly provide that the 
``Commission shall have the authority to audit providers and have 
access to all data, including carrier specific data, collected by the 
Fund administrator.'' The Commission's rules also state that the 
``[F]und administrator shall have authority to audit TRS providers 
reporting data to the administrator.'' Further, the rules state that 
``the administrator shall establish procedures to verify payment 
claims, and may suspend or delay payments to a TRS provider if the TRS 
provider fails to provide adequate verification of payment upon 
reasonable request, or if directed by the Commission to do so.'' 
Finally, the rules state that the ``Fund administrator shall make 
payments only to eligible TRS providers operating pursuant to the 
mandatory minimum standards as required in Sec.  64.604 [of the 
Commission's rules].'' These rules are intended to protect the 
integrity of the Fund and to deter and detect waste, fraud, and abuse.
    The Commission and the TRS Fund administrator have conducted some 
audits, but not all providers have submitted to the auditing process. 
Therefore, the Commission reminds providers that the above-cited rules, 
which provide for the suspension or delay of payments to TRS providers 
who do not provide verification of payment upon reasonable request, 
authorize the Commission to withhold payment from providers who do not 
submit to audits, whether requested by the Commission or the Fund 
administrator.

Congressional Review Act

    The Commission will send a copy of document FCC 10-88 in a report 
to be sent to Congress and the Government Accountability Office 
pursuant to the Congressional Review Act, see 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).

Ordering Clauses

    Pursuant to sections 1, 4(i) and (o), 225, 303(r), 403, 624(g), and 
706 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 151, 
154(i) and (o), 225, 303(r), 403, 554(g), and 606, document FCC 10-88 
is adopted.
    The Commission's Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, 
Reference Information Center, shall send a copy of document FCC 10-88 
to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2010-17075 Filed 7-12-10; 8:45 am]
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