Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services

Final rule; extension of waiver.

In this document, the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (Bureau) extends for an additional year waivers of certain Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) mandatory minimum standards for Video Relay Service (VRS) and Internet Protocol Relay (IP Relay). The waived TRS mandatory minimum standards are: One-line voice carry over(VCO); VCO-to-teletypewriter (TTY); VCO-to-VCO; one-line hearing carry over (HCO); HCO-to-TTY; HCO-to-HCO; call release; pay-per-call (900)calls; types of calls; equal access to interexchange carriers; and speech-to-speech (STS). Also, in this document, the Bureau grants a limited extension of the waiver of the speed dialing requirement for IP Relay. The Bureau extends the waivers for one year (four months in the case of speed dialing for IP Relay) because the record demonstrates that it is technologically infeasible for VRS and IP Relay providers to offer these services at this time.

DATES: The waivers of certain TRS mandatory minimum standards for VRS and IP Relay will expire on January 1, 2010, except the limited extension of the wavier of the speed dialing requirement for IP Relay, which expired on May 1, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Parties may submit documentation related to the waivers, identified by [CG Docket No. 03-123 and/or DA 08-2808], by mail, to:
Dana Wilson, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, Disability Rights Office, 445 12th Street, SW., Room 3-C418, Washington, DC 20554.