FCC acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel called text telephone (TTY) “outdated” technology for the deaf and hearing impaired and said the agency will push the use of real-time text (RTT) on wireline networks. Rosenworcel, like past chairs, pledged to make disability issues a top focus. “The FCC is committed to meaningful stakeholder engagement, to ensure modern communications, accessibility gaps are both identified and addressed,” she told the Disability Advisory Committee Thursday. The virtual meeting was the first since February (see 1909240058).

FCC commissioners approved 4-0 an NPRM on modifying compensation methodology for IP relay service supported by the Telecom Relay Service Fund. It’s the first time in 14 years the commission is considering such new TRS methodology. The current IP relay compensation period ends June 30.

Increasing maximum potential rates for some telecom services used by the deaf and hard of hearing, as the FCC would propose, is generally backed by stakeholders. They noted in recent interviews that the proposed changes could ultimately increase some per-minute rates. They said that would ensure the service is sustainable for users who can't rely on other services. Commissioners are to vote Aug. 5 on an NPRM (see 2107150066).

Details revealed Thursday of what FCC members are to vote on Aug. 5 showed some impermissible telecom relay service-related fees would be OK, outlined how new innovation zones would work and showed how political advertising thresholds would change. Commissioners will consider modifying the compensation methodology for IP relay service providers to use “only projected costs and demand” to calculate base level compensation, said a fact sheet. The current compensation period, which follows a cost-based base level of per-minute compensation, ends June 30. The draft NPRM would rescind prohibition on outreach cost recovery because there's one IP relay provider, and would modify rules allowing recovery for indirect overhead.

The FCC Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau announced new telecom relay service rates for FY 2021-22, said an order Wednesday in docket 03-123. Interstate rates are $4.1944 per minute for TTY-based TRS; $5.3254 for speech-to-speech relay service; $2.3662 for captioned telephone service; and $1.7146 for IP relay service. The order didn't address IP captioned telephone service and video relay service rates. The bureau approved a funding requirement of $1.3 billion based on compensation levels, projected demand and projected TRS fund administration expenses. The carrier contribution factors are 0.01331 for non-IP CTS TRS and 0.00831 for IP CTS. The bureau granted T-Mobile's request to renew its waiver to allow recovery of outreach costs and denied the provider's request for an increase in the recommended compensation level to cover indirect overhead costs. T-Mobile “has not demonstrated with particularity good cause to depart from the general rule prohibiting indirect recovery of overhead on a non-cost-causative basis,” the order said.

The FCC Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau granted Communication Services for the Deaf's application to access the telecom relay services numbering directory as a qualified direct video entity, said a public notice Friday.

Telecom relay services providers must submit summaries of their consumer complaint logs by July 1, said an FCC Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau public notice Tuesday on docket 03-123.

The Regulatory Commission of Alaska reduced its telecom relay service surcharge to one penny from 9 cents. Monthly revenue collection was exceeding Sprint’s revenue requirement by more than 2.5 times, said Friday's order in docket U-20-018.

Comments are due May 25, replies June 4, on the Interstate Telecom Relay Services Fund administrator's proposed compensation formulas, funding requirements and carrier contribution factors for FY 2021-22, said an FCC Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau public notice Tuesday in docket 03-123. CGB also wants comment on T-Mobile's waiver request regarding IP relay service compensation (see 2103100061).

Inmate calling service providers could be required to provide telecom relay services for deaf, hard of hearing and blind incarcerated people, ICS rates will be cut for interstate and international calls, and providers will have one less year to comply with caller ID authentication requirements if all draft items are approved during the FCC's May 20 meeting (see 2104280084).