[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 33 (Wednesday, February 19, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9390-9392]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-02723]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 64

[PS Docket Nos. 18-261, 17-239; GN Docket No. 11-117; FCC 19-76; FRS 
16425]


Implementing Kari's Law and RAY BAUM'S Act; Inquiry Concerning 
911 Access, Routing, and Location in Enterprise Communications Systems; 
Amending the Definition of Interconnected VoIP Service; Corrections

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule; correction.

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SUMMARY: This document corrects the final rules portion of a Federal 
Register document published on December 5, 2019. That Federal Register 
document inadvertently removed definitions from the Commission's rules 
for telecommunications relay services.

DATES: Effective on February 19, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Scott, Consumer and 
Governmental Affairs Bureau, (202) 418-1264, or email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document corrects the final rules 
document published at 84 FR 66716, December 5, 2019.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 64

    Individuals with disabilities, Telecommunications, 
Telecommunications relay services.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary.

Final Rules

    Accordingly, 47 CFR part 64 is corrected by making the following 
correcting amendments:

PART 64--MISCELLANEOUS RULES RELATING TO COMMON CARRIERS

0
1. The authority citation for part 64 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154, 201, 202, 217, 218, 220, 222, 225, 
226, 227, 228, 251(a), 251(e), 254(k), 262, 403(b)(2)(B), (c), 616, 
620, and 1401-1473, unless otherwise noted.

0
2. Amend Sec.  64.601 by adding paragraphs (a)(1) through (51) to read 
as follows:


Sec.  64.601  Definitions and provisions of general applicability.

    (a) * * *
    (1) 711. The abbreviated dialing code for accessing relay services 
anywhere in the United States.
    (2) ACD platform. The hardware and/or software that comprise the 
essential call center function of call distribution, and that are a 
necessary core component of internet-based TRS.
    (3) American Sign Language (ASL). A visual language based on hand 
shape, position, movement, and orientation of the hands in relation to 
each other and the body.
    (4) ANI. For 911 systems, the Automatic Number Identification (ANI) 
identifies the calling party and may be used as the callback number.
    (5) ASCII. An acronym for American Standard Code for Information 
Interexchange which employs an eight bit code and can operate at any 
standard transmission baud rate including 300, 1200, 2400, and higher.
    (6) Authorized provider. An iTRS provider that becomes the iTRS 
user's new default provider, having obtained the user's authorization 
verified in accordance with the procedures specified in this part.
    (7) Baudot. A seven bit code, only five of which are information 
bits. Baudot is used by some text telephones to communicate with each 
other at a 45.5 baud rate.
    (8) Call release. A TRS feature that allows the CA to sign-off or 
be ``released'' from the telephone line after the CA has set up a 
telephone call between the originating TTY caller and a called TTY 
party, such as when a TTY user must go through a TRS facility to 
contact another TTY user because the called TTY party can only be 
reached through a voice-only interface, such as a switchboard.
    (9) Common carrier or carrier. Any common carrier engaged in 
interstate Communication by wire or radio as defined in section 3(h) of 
the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (the Act), and any common 
carrier engaged in intrastate communication by wire or radio, 
notwithstanding sections 2(b) and 221(b) of the Act.
    (10) Communications assistant (CA). A person who transliterates or 
interprets conversation between two or more end users of TRS. CA 
supersedes the term ``TDD operator.''
    (11) Default provider. The iTRS provider that registers and assigns 
a ten-digit telephone number to an iTRS user pursuant to Sec.  64.611.
    (12) Default provider change order. A request by an iTRS user to an 
iTRS

[[Page 9391]]

provider to change the user's default provider.
    (13) Direct video customer support. A telephone customer support 
operation that enables callers with hearing or speech disabilities to 
engage in real-time direct video communication in ASL with ASL speakers 
in a call center operation.
    (14) Enterprise videophone. A videophone maintained by a business, 
organization, government agency, or other entity, and designated for 
use by its employees or other individuals in private or restricted 
areas.
    (15) Hearing carry over (HCO). A form of TRS where the person with 
the speech disability is able to listen to the other end user and, in 
reply, the CA speaks the text as typed by the person with the speech 
disability. The CA does not type any conversation. Two-line HCO is an 
HCO service that allows TRS users to use one telephone line for hearing 
and the other for sending TTY messages. HCO-to-TTY allows a relay 
conversation to take place between an HCO user and a TTY user. HCO-to-
HCO allows a relay conversation to take place between two HCO users.
    (16) Hearing point-to-point video user. A hearing individual who 
has been assigned a ten-digit NANP number that is entered in the TRS 
Numbering Directory to access point-to-point service.
    (17) Interconnected VoIP service. The term ``interconnected VoIP 
service'' has the meaning given such term under Sec.  9.3 of this 
chapter, as such section may be amended from time to time.
    (18) internet-based TRS (iTRS). A telecommunications relay service 
(TRS) in which an individual with a hearing or a speech disability 
connects to a TRS communications assistant using an internet Protocol-
enabled device via the internet, rather than the public switched 
telephone network. Except as authorized or required by the Commission, 
internet-based TRS does not include the use of a text telephone (TTY) 
or RTT over an interconnected voice over internet Protocol service.
    (19) internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service (IP CTS). A 
telecommunications relay service that permits an individual who can 
speak but who has difficulty hearing over the telephone to use a 
telephone and an internet Protocol-enabled device via the internet to 
simultaneously listen to the other party and read captions of what the 
other party is saying. With IP CTS, the connection carrying the 
captions between the relay service provider and the relay service user 
is via the internet, rather than the public switched telephone network.
    (20) internet Protocol Relay Service (IP Relay). A 
telecommunications relay service that permits an individual with a 
hearing or a speech disability to communicate in text using an internet 
Protocol-enabled device via the internet, rather than using a text 
telephone (TTY) and the public switched telephone network.
    (21) IP Relay access technology. Any equipment, software, or other 
technology issued, leased, or provided by an internet-based TRS 
provider that can be used to make and receive an IP Relay call.
    (22) iTRS access technology. Any equipment, software, or other 
technology issued, leased, or provided by an internet-based TRS 
provider that can be used to make and receive an internet-based TRS 
call.
    (23) New default provider. An iTRS provider that, either directly 
or through its numbering partner, initiates or implements the process 
to become the iTRS user's default provider by replacing the iTRS user's 
original default provider.
    (24) Non-English language relay service. A telecommunications relay 
service that allows persons with hearing or speech disabilities who use 
languages other than English to communicate with voice telephone users 
in a shared language other than English, through a CA who is fluent in 
that language.
    (25) Non-interconnected VoIP service. The term ``non-interconnected 
VoIP service''--
    (i) Means a service that--
    (A) Enables real-time voice communications that originate from or 
terminate to the user's location using internet protocol or any 
successor protocol; and
    (B) Requires internet protocol compatible customer premises 
equipment; and
    (ii) Does not include any service that is an interconnected VoIP 
service.
    (26) Numbering partner. Any entity with which an internet-based TRS 
provider has entered into a commercial arrangement to obtain North 
American Numbering Plan telephone numbers.
    (27) Original default provider. An iTRS provider that is the iTRS 
user's default provider immediately before that iTRS user's default 
provider is changed.
    (28) Point-to-point video call. A call placed via a point-to-point 
video service.
    (29) Point-to-point video service. A service that enables a user to 
place and receive non-relay video calls without the assistance of a CA.
    (30) Public videophone. A videophone maintained by a business, 
organization, government agency, or other entity, and made available 
for use by the public in a public space, such as a public area of a 
business, school, hospital, library, airport, or government building.
    (31) Qualified direct video entity. An individual or entity that is 
approved by the Commission for access to the TRS Numbering Directory 
that is engaged in direct video customer support and that is the end-
user customer that has been assigned a telephone number used for direct 
video customer support calls or is the designee of such entity.
    (32) Qualified interpreter. An interpreter who is able to interpret 
effectively, accurately, and impartially, both receptively and 
expressively, using any necessary specialized vocabulary.
    (33) Real-Time Text (RTT). The term real-time text shall have the 
meaning set forth in Sec.  67.1 of this chapter.
    (34) Registered internet-based TRS user. An individual who has 
registered with a VRS, IP Relay, or IP CTS provider as described in 
Sec.  64.611.
    (35) Registered Location. The most recent information obtained by a 
VRS, IP Relay, or IP CTS provider that identifies the physical location 
of an end user.
    (36) Sign language. A language which uses manual communication and 
body language to convey meaning, including but not limited to American 
Sign Language.
    (37) Speech-to-speech relay service (STS). A telecommunications 
relay service that allows individuals with speech disabilities to 
communicate with voice telephone users through the use of specially 
trained CAs who understand the speech patterns of persons with speech 
disabilities and can repeat the words spoken by that person.
    (38) Speed dialing. A TRS feature that allows a TRS user to place a 
call using a stored number maintained by the TRS facility. In the 
context of TRS, speed dialing allows a TRS user to give the CA a short-
hand'' name or number for the user's most frequently called telephone 
numbers.
    (39) Telecommunications relay services (TRS). Telephone 
transmission services that provide the ability for an individual who is 
deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind, or who has a speech disability to 
engage in communication by wire or radio with one or more individuals, 
in a manner that is functionally equivalent to the ability of a hearing 
individual who does not have a speech disability to communicate using 
voice communication services by wire or radio.
    (40) Text telephone (TTY). A machine that employs graphic 
communication in the transmission of coded signals through a wire or 
radio communication

[[Page 9392]]

system. TTY supersedes the term ``TDD'' or ``telecommunications device 
for the deaf,'' and TT.
    (41) Three-way calling feature. A TRS feature that allows more than 
two parties to be on the telephone line at the same time with the CA.
    (42) TRS Numbering Administrator. The neutral administrator of the 
TRS Numbering Directory selected based on a competitive bidding 
process.
    (43) TRS Numbering Directory. The database administered by the TRS 
Numbering Administrator, the purpose of which is to map each registered 
internet-based TRS user's NANP telephone number to his or her end 
device.
    (44) TRS User Registration Database. A system of records containing 
TRS user identification data capable of:
    (i) Receiving and processing subscriber information sufficient to 
identify unique TRS users and to ensure that each has a single default 
provider;
    (ii) Assigning each VRS user a unique identifier;
    (iii) Allowing VRS providers and other authorized entities to query 
the TRS User Registration Database to determine if a prospective user 
already has a default provider;
    (iv) Allowing VRS providers to indicate that a VRS user has used 
the service; and
    (v) Maintaining the confidentiality of proprietary data housed in 
the database by protecting it from theft, loss or disclosure to 
unauthorized persons. The purpose of this database is to ensure 
accurate registration and verification of VRS users and improve the 
efficiency of the TRS program.
    (45) Unauthorized provider. An iTRS provider that becomes the iTRS 
user's new default provider without having obtained the user's 
authorization verified in accordance with the procedures specified in 
this part.
    (46) Unauthorized change. A change in an iTRS user's selection of a 
default provider that was made without authorization verified in 
accordance with the verification procedures specified in this part.
    (47) Video relay service (VRS). A telecommunications relay service 
that allows people with hearing or speech disabilities who use sign 
language to communicate with voice telephone users through video 
equipment. The video link allows the CA to view and interpret the 
party's signed conversation and relay the conversation back and forth 
with a voice caller.
    (48) Visual privacy screen. A screen or any other feature that is 
designed to prevent one party or both parties on the video leg of a VRS 
call from viewing the other party during a call.
    (49) Voice carry over (VCO). A form of TRS where the person with 
the hearing disability is able to speak directly to the other end user. 
The CA types the response back to the person with the hearing 
disability. The CA does not voice the conversation. Two-line VCO is a 
VCO service that allows TRS users to use one telephone line for voicing 
and the other for receiving TTY messages. A VCO-to-TTY TRS call allows 
a relay conversation to take place between a VCO user and a TTY user. 
VCO-to-VCO allows a relay conversation to take place between two VCO 
users.
    (50) VRS access technology. Any equipment, software, or other 
technology issued, leased, or provided by an internet-based TRS 
provider that can be used to make and receive a VRS call.
    (51) VRS Access Technology Reference Platform. A software product 
procured by or on behalf of the Commission that provides VRS 
functionality, including the ability to make and receive VRS and point-
to-point calls, dial-around functionality, and the ability to update 
user registration location, and against which providers may test their 
own VRS access technology and platforms for compliance with the 
Commission's interoperability and portability rules.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2020-02723 Filed 2-18-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6712-01-P