An FCC order denying petitions from T-Mobile and IDT on a 2020 IP captioned telephone services compensation decision and joint request from six IP CTS providers to maintain the 2021-22 TRS Fund year compensation level is effective March 24, said a notice for Wednesday's Federal Register. Commissioners adopted the item in December (see 2212210054).

In a busy end-of-year meeting, the FCC tackled digital discrimination, IP captioned telephone services rates and the space application review process, all with unanimous votes by commissioners. Commissioners also approved a record-setting fine for alleged robocalls, at Wednesday's meeting.

The Wyoming Public Service Commission will keep a state surcharge for telecom relay services at four cents per access line, commissioners agreed 3-0 at a partially virtual Tuesday meeting. The commission adopted an order in docket 90000-172-XO-21 that will take effect Jan. 1. “We are on track to continue to draw down the cash reserve balance and hit the target … of 10 times the average monthly expenditures by the end of next year,” said TRS program consultant Lori Ceilinski. Revenue increased this year due to an increase in access lines, “which has been a little bit surprising to us” because they had been steadily declining for many years, she said. Expenditures that dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic “are coming back up,” she said.

Consumer advocacy organizations and telecom relay services providers asked the FCC to make several changes to a draft NPRM on IP captioned telephone services (see 2211300072). Commissioners will consider the item Wednesday, which would seek comment on a proposal to establish a three-year compensation plan for IP CTS that would compensate providers based on the model used to provide the service. Some sought additional questions on how the proposed ratemaking would affect functional equivalence and the overall marketplace.

Inmate calling services providers and advocacy organizations disagreed whether the FCC should establish rules to better facilitate refunds of inactive accounts, in comments posted Friday in docket 12-375 (see 2211140038). Some groups sought additional information from ICS providers after the third mandatory data collection, and urged better access to telecom relay services for incarcerated individuals with disabilities.

The FCC will consider an NPRM that would define digital discrimination and adopt best practices for states and local governments to combat it, during the commissioners' Dec. 21 meeting. Also on the agenda are an Enforcement Bureau action and NPRMs seeking comment on ways the FCC can facilitate acceptance of satellite and earth station applications under its Part 25 rules, on a proposal to require wireless carriers and text providers to use location-based routing to avoid misrouting wireless 911 calls and texts, and on proposed modifications to the Telecom Relay Service Fund.

The FCC will consider "specific proposals for preventing and eliminating digital discrimination" during the commissioners' Dec. 21 meeting, Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said Tuesday. Commissioners will also consider changes to satellite application processing rules, a proposal on wireless 911 call routing, and a proposal to modify the Telecom Relay Service Fund compensation formula.

The FCC Wireline Bureau wants comments by Dec. 15, replies Jan. 17, on a Further NPRM on unused funds in inmate calling service accounts and telecom relay services for incarcerated individuals, said a notice for Tuesday's Federal Register. The bureau wants comments on TRS obligations for providers and whether to adopt enterprise registration for IP captioned telephone services. It also wants comments on how to use the third mandatory data collection to establish permanent caps on ICS rates and ancillary fees. Commissioners adopted the item in September (see 2209290017).

The FCC approved a requirement that satellites in low earth orbit deorbit within five years of end of life, and the International Bureau anticipates further orbital debris rule-making action but can't say when, Deputy Chief Patrick Webre said Thursday. The 4-0 approval at the commissioners' September meeting was expected (see 2209230003). It also adopted unanimously orders updating emergency alert system rules, an NPRM removing FCC rules references to analog TV now that no analog TV services remain, and an order expanding access to telecom relay services for deaf or hard of hearing individuals. The agency said it's acting in Florida in response to Hurricane Ian (see 2209290055).

Consumer advocacy organizations and inmate calling services (ICS) providers welcomed a draft order expanding access to telecom relay services for deaf or hard of hearing individuals and an FCC Further NPRM that would seek comment on whether the commission should amend its rules for refunds (see 2209080057). Some sought to eliminate the population threshold for facilities to require compliance with the proposed rules. ICS providers raised implementation concerns. Commissioners will consider the item Thursday.