Comments are due Jan. 30, replies Feb. 13, on an FCC telecom relay service modernization proposal to eliminate equal access and multiple billing requirements from TRS mandatory minimum standards and to cease Federal Register publication of state requests for TRS program certification but continue to publish such on the agency's website and electronic document management system, says Thursday's Federal Register on docket 03-123. The FCC also finalized a rule adopted in September that updates the definition of TRS in accordance with the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (see 1909230007). The rule is effective Feb. 10, says Thursday's FR.
Intrastate carriers and VoIP service providers must contribute to a telecom relay services fund to support IP captioned telephone service starting July 1, says Monday's Federal Register. Commissioners voted in November to modify cost recovery rules for the TRS fund (see 1911150011). The rule is effective Feb. 5.
Intrastate carriers and VoIP service providers must contribute to a telecom relay services fund to support IP captioned telephone service starting July 1, says Monday's Federal Register. Commissioners voted in November to modify cost recovery rules for the TRS fund (see 1911150011). The rule is effective Feb. 5.
The FCC proposes precluding anyone or entity debarred or suspended from a government funding program such as the USF from serving on an FCC advisory committee "or comparable Commission groups or task forces," said the final NPRM on docket 19-309 and in Tuesday's Daily Digest. That's an addition from the initial draft.
The World Customs Organization issued the following release on commercial trade and related matters:
The FCC released drafts of rules Tuesday to modernize unbundling and resale requirements for LECs, update suspension and debarment rules for telecom relay services programs, and modify cost recovery rules for IP-captioned telephone service (IP CTS), a form of TRS. Commissioners tentatively will vote at their Nov. 19 meeting (see 1910280054). Deregulating what incumbents must provide rival telecoms would include transition periods.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai circulated an order Monday for the Nov. 19 commissioners’ meeting that would bar providers from using USF support to buy from suppliers deemed a threat to national security. Pai mentioned Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE (see 1910280021). FCC officials said the order singles out those two. Pai proposes to seek comment on rules requiring eligible telecom carriers remove from their networks existing equipment from the suppliers and on how to provide financial assistance to carriers to help them transition to a trusted supplier.
Telecom relay services (TRS) equipment providers sparred over ZVRS/Purple Communications attempts to give Convo video relay service (VRS) customers incentives to port to the ZVRS/Purple home VRS product, posted Tuesday in FCC docket 03-123. ZVRS included an email from a Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau official directing the company to file, memorializing emails where Convo asks for clarification of whether giveaways of TRS equipment is permissible. ZVRS warned Convo its practice of "misinforming the community through several mediums that ZVRS and Purple's Complete Home Package offering is a violation of FCC rules and policies" was tortuous interference with its customer relationships. Convo accused ZVRS/Purple of spending millions of dollars "solely to buy market share by incenting other VRS providers' customers to port them through free expensive consumer electronics that ultimately will be paid by the Telecommunications Relay Service Fund." Convo said the giveaways "are not compliant with FCC rules regarding impermissible financial incentives" and could undermine TRS Fund long-term health.
Telecom relay services (TRS) equipment providers sparred over ZVRS/Purple Communications attempts to give Convo video relay service (VRS) customers incentives to port to the ZVRS/Purple home VRS product, posted Tuesday in FCC docket 03-123. ZVRS included an email from a Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau official directing the company to file, memorializing emails where Convo asks for clarification of whether giveaways of TRS equipment is permissible. ZVRS warned Convo its practice of "misinforming the community through several mediums that ZVRS and Purple's Complete Home Package offering is a violation of FCC rules and policies" was tortuous interference with its customer relationships. Convo accused ZVRS/Purple of spending millions of dollars "solely to buy market share by incenting other VRS providers' customers to port them through free expensive consumer electronics that ultimately will be paid by the Telecommunications Relay Service Fund." Convo said the giveaways "are not compliant with FCC rules regarding impermissible financial incentives" and could undermine TRS Fund long-term health.
The FCC's definition of telecommunications relay service (TRS) was updated to remove the specification that one of the parties to a TRS call must be a hearing person, to meet the standards of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010, its Consumer Bureau said in an order in docket 03-123 and in Monday's Daily Digest. The change recognizes that "achieving communication between two individuals who have speech or hearing disabilities requires more than one type of relay service." Comments on an accompanying Further NPRM will be due 21 days after Federal Register publication, replies 14 days later, on a proposal to eliminate the equal access and multiple billing requirements for the TRS program, and to cease FR publication of state requests for TRS program certification, but the FCC would still publish them on its website.