The FCC adopted interim emergency call handling rules for Internet-based telecommunications relay service (TRS) providers. The late Wednesday order aims to ensure Internet TRS users access to 911 services, pending a permanent fix, it said. The FCC “plans to move forward on adopting a ten-digit numbering plan in an expeditious manner,” it said. The agency seeks to “refresh quickly the record on relay service numbering issues and then plans to hold a stakeholder workshop immediately thereafter,” it said. A final FCC order will address the ten-digit plan second quarter, with implementation “no later than” Dec. 31, the order said. The order is a “much-needed first step” while the Commission arranges a permanent and automated emergency access solution, said FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein. Adelstein and Commissioner Michael Copps lauded the FCC for committing to a 10-digit plan. Commissioner Deborah Tate also endorsed the order: “While I often advocate a light regulatory touch for Internet-based services, it is essential that critical social goals -- such as TRS -- are implemented in an equitable and non-discriminatory manner across platforms, service providers and specific technologies.” The FCC won’t renew waivers of the emergency call handling requirement for video relay services or IP Relay providers, it said. But the waivers, once set to expire Dec. 31, now will expire after the order becomes effective. The commission terminated the waiver for IP captioned telephone service providers.

The FCC adopted interim emergency call handling rules for Internet-based telecommunications relay service (TRS) providers. The late Wednesday order aims to ensure Internet TRS users access to 911 services, pending a permanent fix, it said. The FCC “plans to move forward on adopting a ten-digit numbering plan in an expeditious manner,” it said. Under the plan, IP relay providers would be required to accept an emergency call and forward it to a designated 10- digit phone number, the commission said. The agency seeks to “refresh quickly the record on relay service numbering issues and then plans to hold a stakeholder workshop immediately thereafter,” it said. A final FCC order will address the ten-digit plan second quarter, with implementation “no later than” Dec. 31, the order said. The order is a “much-needed first step” while the Commission arranges a permanent and automated emergency access solution, said FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein. Adelstein and Commissioner Michael Copps lauded the FCC for committing to a 10-digit plan. Commissioner Deborah Tate also endorsed the order: “While I often advocate a light regulatory touch for Internet-based services, it is essential that critical social goals -- such as TRS -- are implemented in an equitable and non-discriminatory manner across platforms, service providers and specific technologies.” The FCC won’t renew waivers of the emergency call handling requirement for video relay services or IP Relay providers, it said. But the waivers, once set to expire Dec. 31, now will expire after the order becomes effective. The commission terminated the waiver for IP captioned telephone service providers.

Qwest sought a “limited extension of time” to implement 711-dialing and routing requirements for nomadic VoIP services. The requirements were part of a June order saying interconnected VoIP providers must offer telecom relay services and contribute to the TRS fund (CD June 1 p4). Qwest said it would be able to route VoIP 711 calls to the appropriate TRS center for fixed VoIP locations by April 5, the date the FCC’s reconsideration order becomes effective. “At this time, however, Qwest is not technically able to route a nomadic VoIP 711-dialed call to the ‘appropriate’ relay center,” it said, and won’t be able to until Q1 2009.

The FCC Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau asked for comments on whether IP Speech-to-Speech Service should be deemed a Telecommunications Relay Service eligible for TRS Fund compensation. Comments will be due 30 days after the FCC notice appears in the Federal Register and replies 15 days after that. Hawk Relay sought clarification, calling speech-to-speech a form of relay service that lets speech- disabled people make phone calls, aided by translators. Users communicate with the relay service through the Internet, with translators relaying messages by phone.

Sorenson Communications asked the FCC to put on hold part of a Nov. 19 ban on contact by providers of telecommunications relay services with users. Sorenson, a video relay service provider, said the ban violates First Amendment protections of free speech. The company said if the commission doesn’t act on its request by Feb. 11, it will seek a stay in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit, where Sorenson has filed an appeal. The company said it doesn’t object to the FCC goal of keeping providers from using “improper financial or similar incentives to stimulate TRS demand.” But the ban in paragraphs 95 and 96 of the order goes “beyond these issues and restricts all TRS providers’ contacts with their users.”

Comments are due at the FCC by Feb. 4 on whether a new Deaf Blind Relay Service can be considered a type of Telecom Relay Service and thus be eligible for compensation under the Interstate TRS Fund. Hawk Relay asked for the clarification, saying its proposed DBRS would use an interpreter who would sit with the deaf/blind user, place or receive conventional voice-to-voice calls and interpret the resulting conversations for the user. Replies are due Feb. 19.

The FCC is expected to act soon on an order requiring 911 capability on video relay and IP relay services used by people with disabilities, industry and consumer sources said Tuesday. The item ran Monday on the FCC “circulation list,” meaning FCC Chairman Kevin Martin has sent a draft to other commissioners’ offices for a vote. The FCC is expected to require providers to accept 911 calls, arrange expedited handling and use a database, such as one provided by Intrado, to pass the call to the nearest Public Service Answering Point. Prioritizing calls matters especially with VRS, which takes longer to set up than other TRS services. The agency isn’t expected to require use of automatic number identification at the start. All telecommunications relay services long have been required to handle 911 calls, a requirement waived for video and IP relay services because providers weren’t immediately able to offer 911 capability. The waiver expires Dec. 31, demanding action soon, said a consumer representative. Most VRS and IP relay providers “have figured out ways to deal with 911,” but VRS providers face more challenges, said an industry source. Since video relay doesn’t use phone numbers, no ANI can be generated, and a translator is in the middle of the call, the industry official said. Industry and consumer representatives voiced frustration that the order didn’t appear until a month before the waiver expires. They expect the FCC to offer some leeway, perhaps issuing an order spelling out new requirements but giving providers more time to adopt them. The FCC has been talking about the order since at least June, an industry source said. “I don’t see how providers can do this overnight,” a consumer consultant said.

The FCC adopted new ways to compensate providers of telecommunications relay services that commissioners called fair, simple and more “predictable” than the current system. The FCC adopted a rate plan by TRS provider Hamilton Relay for some relay services. It adopted one based on price caps for IP relay and for Video Relay Service it adopted a “tiered” compensation system in which rates fall based on call volume. VRS provider Sorenson Communications said it likes the system’s predictability. “The stable and predictable multi-year rate established by the FCC will allow Sorenson Communications to make the necessary longer-term investments to increase access to VRS for more deaf individuals, train new interpreters and [improve] VRS technology,” said Sorenson President Pat Nola. The compensation rate isn’t a price charged to users but determines what providers get from the TRS Fund, the FCC order said. FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein praised part of the order that provides compensation for “outreach” to alert disabled people to new services like speech-to-speech. “The message was clear from providers and consumers alike that the Commission needed to improve its administration of the Fund and to increase awareness of these critical services,” Adelstein said.

Verizon will spin off its Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) division to GoAmerica for $50 million cash and up to an additional $8 million in contingent cash consideration, GoAmerica said Thursday. The move is part of Verizon’s plan to “focus on core broadband and IP services,” a Verizon spokesman said. The deal is expected to close in 120 to 180 days, subject to approval by public utility commissions in California, Tennessee and the District of Columbia, he said. The deal is not subject to a separate financing contingency, GoAmerica said. GoAmerica and Verizon also entered into a transition service agreement under which Verizon will provide support services to GoAmerica during the integration period after closing. Stellar Nordia, a GoAmerica call center contractor, will assume facilities, employee and operational responsibilities for the Verizon’s two primary TRS call centers. Clearlake Capital Group will fund the transaction with $35 million committed equity and $30 million of committed senior debt. In return, Clearlake gets a third seat on the GoAmerica board. Clearlake will also commit an additional $55 million for “investments, acquisitions or combinations” if requested by GoAmerica’s board and approved by Clearlake by Sept. 14. TRS, created by Title IV of the Americans with Disabilities Act, enables speech or hearing impaired individuals to communicate over the phone with a person without such a disability through a communications assistant at a relay center. Verizon’s TRS division includes nationwide IP-based text and video relay services, and contracts to provide text-telephone relay services in California, Tennessee and the District of Columbia. The unit generated $67 million in 2006 revenue, Verizon said.

Verizon will spin off its Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) division to GoAmerica for $50 million cash and up to an additional $8 million in contingent cash consideration, GoAmerica said Thursday. The move is part of Verizon’s plan to “focus on core broadband and IP services,” a Verizon spokesman said. The deal is expected to close in 120 to 180 days, subject to approval by public utility commissions in California, Tennessee and the District of Columbia, he said. The deal is not subject to a separate financing contingency, GoAmerica said.