[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 111 (Wednesday, June 10, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 32857-32859]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-13717]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 64

[CG Docket No. 10-210; FCC 15-57]


Relay Services for Deaf-Blind Individuals

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Commission extends the National Deaf-
Blind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP) as a pilot program for 
one additional year. The NDBEDP provides up to $10 million annually to 
support programs that distribute communications equipment to low-income 
individuals who are deaf-blind. Extending the pilot program enables the 
NDBEDP to continue providing communications equipment to low-income 
individuals who are deaf-blind without interruption while the 
Commission considers whether to adopt rules to govern a permanent 
NDBEDP.

DATES: Effective June 10, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rosaline Crawford, Consumer and

[[Page 32858]]

Governmental Affairs Bureau, Disability Rights Office, at 202-418-2075 
or email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's 
document FCC 15-57, Implementation of the Twenty-First Century 
Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010, Section 105, Relay 
Services for Deaf-Blind Individuals, Order (Order), adopted on May 21, 
2015 and released on May 27, 2015, in CG Docket No. 10-210. The full 
text of document FCC 15-57 will be available for public inspection and 
copying via the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), 
through the Commission's Web site at http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs2/, 
and during regular business hours at the FCC Reference Information 
Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street SW., Room CY-A257, Washington, DC 
20554. Document FCC 15-57 can also be downloaded in Word or Portable 
Document Format (PDF) at http://www.fcc.gov/ndbedp. To request 
materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, 
large print, electronic files, audio format), send an email to 
[email protected] or call the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at 
202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (TTY).

Synopsis

I. Background

    1. Section 105 of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video 
Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA) added section 719 to the 
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, which directed the Commission 
to establish rules to provide up to $10 million annually from the 
Interstate Telecommunications Relay Service Fund (TRS Fund) to support 
programs that distribute communications equipment to low-income 
individuals who are deaf-blind. Public Law 111-260, 124 Stat. 2751 
(2010); Public Law 111-265, 124 Stat. 2795 (2010); 47 U.S.C. 620. In 
2011, the Commission established the NDBEDP as a two-year pilot 
program, with an option to extend it for an additional year. 
Implementation of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video 
Accessibility Act of 2010, Section 105, Relay Services for Deaf-Blind 
Individuals, CG Docket No. 10-210, Report and Order, published at 76 FR 
26641, May 9, 2011 (NDBEDP Pilot Program Order); 47 CFR 64.610 (NDBEDP 
pilot program rules). The Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB 
or Bureau) launched the pilot program on July 1, 2012. To implement the 
program, the Bureau certified 53 entities to participate in the 
NDBEDP--one entity to distribute communications equipment in each 
state, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin 
Islands, hereinafter referred to as ``state programs'' or ``certified 
programs''--and selected a national outreach coordinator to support the 
outreach and distribution efforts of these state programs. On February 
7, 2014, the Bureau extended the pilot program for a third year, until 
June 30, 2015. Many individuals who have received equipment and 
training through the NDBEDP have reported that this program has vastly 
improved their daily lives, significantly enhancing their ability to 
live independently and expanding their educational and employment 
opportunities.
    2. On August 1, 2014, the Bureau released a Public Notice inviting 
comment on which rules governing the NDBEDP pilot program should be 
retained and which should be modified to make the permanent NDBEDP more 
effective and more efficient. Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau 
Seeks Comment on the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution 
Program, CG Docket No. 10-210, Public Notice, 29 FCC Rcd 9451 (CGB 
2014). In response to the Public Notice, the Commission received over 
40 comments from disability organizations, certified programs, and 
individual consumers, which will help to inform the preparation of a 
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to establish a permanent NDBEDP when the 
pilot program ends.

II. Extension of Pilot Program

    3. In the Order, the Commission extends the existing NDBEDP pilot 
program rules for one additional year, until June 30, 2016. As noted in 
the Order, the Commission has sought comment on whether certain changes 
should be made when the NDBEDP transitions from a pilot to a permanent 
program. Completion of this rulemaking and implementation of any new 
rules may take longer than June 30, 2015, when the rules governing the 
NDBEDP pilot program will expire. Extending the pilot program will 
provide time to receive and thoroughly consider public input on 
proposed rules for a permanent program, as well as to implement final 
rules for the permanent NDBEDP without interrupting the distribution of 
communications equipment and provision of related services to low-
income individuals who are deaf-blind, which the Commission finds 
serves the public interest. The extension will also provide greater 
programmatic certainty to entities that are currently certified to 
participate in the NDBEDP and enable the Commission to provide a smooth 
transition from the NDBEDP pilot program to a permanent program. The 
Commission commits to continue the pilot NDBEDP as long as necessary to 
ensure a seamless transition between the pilot and permanent programs 
to ensure the uninterrupted distribution of equipment to this target 
population. When the Commission adopts final rules for the permanent 
program, it will consider the extent to which the pilot program needs 
to be extended further. To provide reasonable notice to the certified 
programs operating under the pilot program rules prior to June 30, 
2015, this extension of the pilot program rules shall be effective June 
10, 2015.

Final Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 Analysis

    The Commission currently has an Office and Management and Budget 
(OMB) collection 3060-1146 pending OMB's review and approval of an 
extension submitted to OMB on April 22, 2015. This collection contains 
information collection requirements for the NDBEDP pilot program, which 
are subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995. Public Law 
104-13. However, document FCC 15-57 does not modify the existing 
information collection requirements contained in OMB collection 3060-
1146, and it does not contain new or modified information collection 
requirements subject to the PRA. In addition, therefore, it does not 
contain any new or modified information collection burden for small 
business concerns with fewer than 25 employees, pursuant to the Small 
Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002. Public Law 107-198. See also 44 
U.S.C. 3506(c)(4).

Congressional Review Act

    The Commission will not send a copy of FCC 15-57 pursuant to the 
Congressional Review Act, because the Commission adopted no rules 
therein. See 5 U.S.C 801(a)(1)(A). Rather than adopting rules, the 
Commission exercised its statutory authority to extend the NDBEDP as a 
pilot program by Order for one additional year.

Ordering Clause

    Pursuant to the authority contained in sections 1, 4(i), 4(j), and 
719 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 151, 
154(i), 154(j), and 620, that document FCC 15-57 is adopted.


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Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-13717 Filed 6-9-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6712-01-P