IP captioned telephone service providers and deaf groups objected to FCC proposals to change the IP CTS telecom relay service program, but some telco interests offered support. IP CTS providers and deaf groups also generally backed Sprint petitions to reconsider a June order and declaratory ruling that were combined with an NPRM and notice of inquiry (see Notebook at end of 1806070021). Comments on the notices and replies on the reconsideration petitions were posted through Tuesday in docket 13-24. Sprint said the proposals "are based on flawed premise," including cost-based rate-setting mechanisms that would "harm" deaf and hard-of-hearing users. Hamilton Relay and other IP CTS providers also expressed concerns. Providers and deaf advocates disputed the program was riddled with waste, fraud and abuse. "Given no evidence to the contrary, we believe the increased use is the result of an aging population that is becoming more generally aware of accessibility technologies like IP CTS," said Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA), Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and other groups. But ITTA said the FCC should "build upon the reforms" in its order, lower IP CTS compensation rates further and take other actions to curb abuses. IDT Telecom backed FCC efforts to establish a permanent IP CTS funding mechanism, and recommended a "single contribution factor methodology" to expand the industry base to include intrastate revenue. HLAA and the other deaf groups urged the FCC not to transfer IP CTS administration to states. NARUC said the FCC should continue to cooperate with states and engage their expertise in TRS decisions, "including, but not limited to, the option of State IP-CTS administration with funding authority." The California Public Utilities Commission opposed the transfer unless the FCC "provides detailed information regarding potential state impacts, requisite funding and sufficient transition time" to effect state statutory changes. Hamilton Relay supported Sprint petitions to reconsider a 10 percent IP CTS compensation rate cut and the authorization of automated speech recognition (ASR) technology. HLAA and the other deaf groups also generally supported Sprint's request that the FCC reconsider or clarify approach to ASR applications, but MachineGenius opposed the ASR petition.

IP captioned telephone service providers and deaf groups objected to FCC proposals to change the IP CTS telecom relay service program, but some telco interests offered support. IP CTS providers and deaf groups also generally backed Sprint petitions to reconsider a June order and declaratory ruling that were combined with an NPRM and notice of inquiry (see Notebook at end of 1806070021). Comments on the notices and replies on the reconsideration petitions were posted through Tuesday in docket 13-24. Sprint said the proposals "are based on flawed premise," including cost-based rate-setting mechanisms that would "harm" deaf and hard-of-hearing users. Hamilton Relay and other IP CTS providers also expressed concerns. Providers and deaf advocates disputed the program was riddled with waste, fraud and abuse. "Given no evidence to the contrary, we believe the increased use is the result of an aging population that is becoming more generally aware of accessibility technologies like IP CTS," said Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA), Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and other groups. But ITTA said the FCC should "build upon the reforms" in its order, lower IP CTS compensation rates further and take other actions to curb abuses. IDT Telecom backed FCC efforts to establish a permanent IP CTS funding mechanism, and recommended a "single contribution factor methodology" to expand the industry base to include intrastate revenue. HLAA and the other deaf groups urged the FCC not to transfer IP CTS administration to states. NARUC said the FCC should continue to cooperate with states and engage their expertise in TRS decisions, "including, but not limited to, the option of State IP-CTS administration with funding authority." The California Public Utilities Commission opposed the transfer unless the FCC "provides detailed information regarding potential state impacts, requisite funding and sufficient transition time" to effect state statutory changes. Hamilton Relay supported Sprint petitions to reconsider a 10 percent IP CTS compensation rate cut and the authorization of automated speech recognition (ASR) technology. HLAA and the other deaf groups also generally supported Sprint's request that the FCC reconsider or clarify approach to ASR applications, but MachineGenius opposed the ASR petition.

ZVRS, parent of CSDVRS and Purple Communications, can be compensated for video relay service calls handled at a ZVRS call center that moved in June under limited waivers, the FCC Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau ordered in docket 10-51, said Friday's Daily Digest. CGB said ZVRS notified the FCC about the move but didn't give the telecom relay service fund administrator 30 days' advance notice and the administrator withheld compensation for all calls processed by that call center. The amount of withheld funds was redacted. The bureau said the requested retroactive waiver of the call center notice rule (see 1807300022) was warranted because ZVRS partially complied and took prompt steps to fix the problem: "Denial of so large a payment ... would be disproportionate to the gravity of the violation."

Video relay service providers urged expedited FCC approval of their waiver petition to serve new users or those ported from other providers while verification is pending through a telecom relay service user registration database. "Such rapid action is particularly justified in this proceeding given the unanimous views of the VRS Providers [petition] and the Consumer Groups [here], as well as the absence of any opposition," replied ASL Services (Global VRS), Convo Communications, Purple Communications, Sorenson Communications and CSDVRS (ZVRS), posted Monday in docket 03-123. Enterprise Users criticized AT&T, Verizon and CenturyLink arguments backing an ITTA petition seeking a ruling that confirms carriers can recover TRS Fund contributions in line-item charges to customers. The telcos ask the FCC "to rewrite history -- to retroactively reverse the Commission's long standing prohibition against the use of line items to recover TRS Fund contributions -- in order to insulate them from the consequences of their current and past unlawful actions," said 3M, Coca-Cola, Mastercard, Office Depot, Sears and a dozen others. They recognized the FCC has the authority to change the rule prospectively.

The FCC gave Sprint and Hamilton Relay an extension of previously granted waivers of mandatory minimum standards for certain telecom relay services offered under state TRS programs. "The waived standards require providers of traditional TRS, speech-to-speech relay service (STS), and non-Internet Protocol (IP) forms of captioned telephone service (CTS) to offer consumers (1) their choice of long distance carrier (equal access rule) and (2) multiple billing options for long distance calls," said the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau public notice Wednesday in docket 03-123. The waivers now extend "until the earlier of August 24, 2019, or the effective date of a Commission decision" on the continuing application of the related standards.

Sprint asked the FCC to reconsider its new IP captioned telephone service rate for provider compensation, which was cut from $1.95 per minute to $1.75 July 1 and will drop to $1.58 July 1, 2019 (see Notebook at end of 1806070021). The commission failed to rely on an updated record and fully assess reasonable IP CTS costs in setting "unreasonably low interim rates," said a petition posted in docket 13-24, one of several filings posted Monday and Friday on telecom relay service issues. Sprint urged the FCC to freeze the rate at $1.95 until it resolves fundamental questions. Advocates for the deaf and hard of hearing largely backed a previous Sprint petition to clarify or reconsider an accompanying IP CTS ruling authorizing automatic speech recognition (ASR) technology (see 1807100066). "The Commission is putting the cart before the horse by allowing ASR-based IP CTS services without developing standards and metrics for the provision of IP CTS to ensure that consumers receive robust service from all providers," said the Hearing Loss Association of America, Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc. (TDI) and others. "Grant in significant part" the petition and lay out "the contours of a framework ... as a baseline for evaluating pending applications and others that are submitted," they advised. TDI, the National Association for the Deaf and Cerebral Palsy and Deaf Organization backed video relay service providers' petition (see 1806210011) for a limited waiver to serve new users or those ported from other providers, while verification is pending through a TRS user registration database, said the groups' filing in docket 10-51. ZVRS, parent of CSDVRS and Purple Communications, petitioned for a retroactive waiver of a requirement to file written notifications "of a change in a call center's location, including the opening, closing, or relocation of any center, at least 30 days prior to any such change."

Sprint asked the FCC to reconsider its new IP captioned telephone service rate for provider compensation, which was cut from $1.95 per minute to $1.75 July 1 and will drop to $1.58 July 1, 2019 (see Notebook at end of 1806070021). The commission failed to rely on an updated record and fully assess reasonable IP CTS costs in setting "unreasonably low interim rates," said a petition posted in docket 13-24, one of several filings posted Monday and Friday on telecom relay service issues. Sprint urged the FCC to freeze the rate at $1.95 until it resolves fundamental questions. Advocates for the deaf and hard of hearing largely backed a previous Sprint petition to clarify or reconsider an accompanying IP CTS ruling authorizing automatic speech recognition (ASR) technology (see 1807100066). "The Commission is putting the cart before the horse by allowing ASR-based IP CTS services without developing standards and metrics for the provision of IP CTS to ensure that consumers receive robust service from all providers," said the Hearing Loss Association of America, Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc. (TDI) and others. "Grant in significant part" the petition and lay out "the contours of a framework ... as a baseline for evaluating pending applications and others that are submitted," they advised. TDI, the National Association for the Deaf and Cerebral Palsy and Deaf Organization backed video relay service providers' petition (see 1806210011) for a limited waiver to serve new users or those ported from other providers, while verification is pending through a TRS user registration database, said the groups' filing in docket 10-51. ZVRS, parent of CSDVRS and Purple Communications, petitioned for a retroactive waiver of a requirement to file written notifications "of a change in a call center's location, including the opening, closing, or relocation of any center, at least 30 days prior to any such change."

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Application programming interfaces must be included in the Lifeline national verifier so carriers can help low-income fund recipients with enrollment, said a NARUC resolution passed Wednesday. NARUC cleared that and other resolutions on separations, IP captioned telephone service (IP CTS) and precision agriculture (see 1807030052). NARUC is following the national verifier closely, with the API resolution setting up a big push planned for Lifeline Awareness Week this September, a spokesperson said.

The Florida Public Service Commission kept a 10 cent monthly surcharge on landline bills for telecom relay services while reducing the annual budget for the Florida Relay System administrator by almost $60,000. The commission trimmed legal and insurance expenses for Florida Telecommunications Relay, authorizing transfer of about $261,500 from a reserve account to cover any possible budget shortfall, the PSC said Tuesday.

Convo Communications joined a group of "enterprise users" in opposing an ITTA petition that asked the FCC to ensure carrier telecom relay service fund costs can be passed on to consumers through specific line-item fees, while AT&T and Verizon continued to back it. "As a deaf owned and operated company which provides [TRS], Convo is of the view that ITTA’s request to identify TRS as a line item description in customer bills subverts the Americans with Disabilities Act’s (ADA) mandate of telecommunications as a universally available service and consequentially would segregate and stigmatize TRS as a 'special' need which adds cost to ratepayers, but is done to provide a 'social' service for the disabled," said the video relay service provider's filing posted Thursday in docket 03-123. Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and other groups took no position on the petition proposal but said they "hope that the Commission, carriers, and other stakeholders will join accessibility organizations in making clear to the public that TRS is not just a regulatory fee, but a service that is beneficial to the general public because it allows all individuals to communicate with each other."