FCC staff adopted telecom relay service per-minute compensation rates that had been proposed by TRS fund administrator Rolka Loube Associates (see 1605100030). As proposed for the coming funding year, total annual funding was set at $1.14 billion, with carriers to contribute 1.86 percent of their interstate and international (long-distance) telecom revenue to the fund, said the order from the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau in docket 03-123 listed in Friday's Daily Digest. Starting July 1, "the per-minute compensation rates for interstate and Internet-based TRS, other than video relay service (VRS), shall be: (1) for interstate traditional TRS, $2.6245; (2) for interstate Speech-to-Speech relay service (STS), $3.7555; (3) for interstate captioned telephone service (CTS) and Internet Protocol captioned telephone service (IP CTS), $1.9058; and (4) for IP Relay, $1.30," said the order. "For VRS providers with more than 500,000 monthly minutes, the per-minute VRS compensation rates for the period from July 1, 2016, through December 31, 2016, are: Tier I (a provider’s 1st 500,000 monthly minutes), $4.44; Tier II (a provider’s 2nd 500,000 monthly minutes), $4.44; and Tier III (a provider’s monthly minutes in excess of 1 million), $3.68. The applicable per-minute VRS compensation rates for the period from January 1, 2017, through June 30, 2017, are: Tier I, $4.06; Tier II, $4.06; Tier III,$3.49. For VRS providers with 500,000 or fewer monthly minutes, the per-minute VRS compensation rates are: For the period from July 1 to October 31, 2016, $5.29; for the period from November 1, 2016, to April 30, 2017, $5.06; for the period from May 1 to June 30, 2017, $4.82."

Telecom relay service providers objected to proposed changes in their compensation, particularly a possible shift from market-based to cost-based rates. Meanwhile, USTelecom voiced renewed concerns about the TRS contribution system funding the communications program for people with hearing and speech disabilities. Parties filed comments Tuesday in docket 10-51 responding to an FCC notice on the recommendations of TRS administrator Rolka Loube Associates for the funding year beginning July 1 (see 1605100030).

Telecom relay service providers objected to proposed changes in their compensation, particularly a possible shift from market-based to cost-based rates. Meanwhile, USTelecom voiced renewed concerns about the TRS contribution system funding the communications program for people with hearing and speech disabilities. Parties filed comments Tuesday in docket 10-51 responding to an FCC notice on the recommendations of TRS administrator Rolka Loube Associates for the funding year beginning July 1 (see 1605100030).

The World Customs Organization issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:​

The FCC set the pleading cycle for proposed telecom relay service funding and payment formulas for the program year beginning July 1. Comments on the proposal from TRS administrator Rolka Loube Associates are due May 24 and replies June 3, said a Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau public notice in docket 10-51 listed in Tuesday's Daily Digest. Rolka proposed $1.14 billion in funding and an industry contribution factor of 1.86 percent of carrier interstate and international telecom end user revenues. It proposed per-minute compensation rates of $2.62 for interstate traditional TRS, $3.76 for interstate speech-to-speech relay service and $1.91 for interstate captioned telephone service and interstate and intrastate IP captioned telephone service, all of which are subject to a multistate average rate structure methodology. It also proposed a cut in the $1.37/minute IP relay service compensation rate to $1.21/minute. Rolka didn't make a proposal on video relay service rates because the commission already established a schedule of declining rates, as modified in March, to provide some relief for small, Tier 1 video relay service (VRS) providers with fewer than 500,000 calling minutes per month (see 1603020033 and 1603030065). But it said the weighted average of VRS provider reported projected costs (excluding outreach) of $2.72 per minute remains "well below" the FCC's related compensation rates for the coming year. Providers have disputed FCC cost assessments. The PN sought comment on various other questions and issues related to the TRS program.

The FCC set the pleading cycle for proposed telecom relay service funding and payment formulas for the program year beginning July 1. Comments on the proposal from TRS administrator Rolka Loube Associates are due May 24 and replies June 3, said a Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau public notice in docket 10-51 listed in Tuesday's Daily Digest. Rolka proposed $1.14 billion in funding and an industry contribution factor of 1.86 percent of carrier interstate and international telecom end user revenues. It proposed per-minute compensation rates of $2.62 for interstate traditional TRS, $3.76 for interstate speech-to-speech relay service and $1.91 for interstate captioned telephone service and interstate and intrastate IP captioned telephone service, all of which are subject to a multistate average rate structure methodology. It also proposed a cut in the $1.37/minute IP relay service compensation rate to $1.21/minute. Rolka didn't make a proposal on video relay service rates because the commission already established a schedule of declining rates, as modified in March, to provide some relief for small, Tier 1 video relay service (VRS) providers with fewer than 500,000 calling minutes per month (see 1603020033 and 1603030065). But it said the weighted average of VRS provider reported projected costs (excluding outreach) of $2.72 per minute remains "well below" the FCC's related compensation rates for the coming year. Providers have disputed FCC cost assessments. The PN sought comment on various other questions and issues related to the TRS program.

The Iowa Utilities Board issued a request for proposal to select a service provider for the state’s telecom relay service, Relay Iowa, and captioned telephone relay service, CapTel Relay. The board plans to award a three-year contract -- Jan. 1, 2017, to Dec. 31, 2019 -- with one possible three-year extension, according to the RFP. The board will use a formal competitive process to choose the provider, and plans to announce the contract on or about Sept. 20, it said. Proposals are due June 30. Relay Iowa provides phone accessibility in English and Spanish, to people who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind or have difficulty speaking. CapTel Relay service enables users to view word-for-word captions of phone conversations and requires the use of a specialized captioned telephone.

The World Customs Organization issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:

Hamilton Relay asked for FCC interim relief from equal-access and billing-option duties for offering traditional telecom relay services (TRS) and captioned telephone services (CTS). In a petition Tuesday in docket 03-123, Hamilton said it and Sprint petitioned in September for a rulemaking to modify rules requiring TRS and CTS providers (1) to offer consumers with hearing disabilities access to their long-distance carrier of choice to the same extent they do for voice users (equal access) and (2) to be able to handle any type of call normally provided by telecom carriers "to the extent that it requires providers to offer users the same billing options (e.g., sent-paid long distance, operator-assisted, collect, and third party billing) traditionally offered to wireline voice users." Sprint also sought interim relief from those rules in September, and Hamilton is now requesting a similar interim waiver until whenever the FCC adopts a permanent exemption from the rules. "Even underlying carriers are actively seeking to discontinue such services," said Hamilton. "AT&T has filed a petition to discontinue operator services, among other services" (see 1603080036).

The World Customs Organization issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters: