Comments Requested on Petition for Declaratory Ruling and Request for Clarification Filed Concerning Two-Line Captioned Telephone Voice Carry Over Service, a Form of Telecommunications Relay Service, 1894-1895 [05-469]

Download as PDF 1894 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 7 / Tuesday, January 11, 2005 / Notices Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission’s burden estimate; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. DATES: Written Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) comments should be submitted on or before March 14, 2005. If you anticipate that you will be submitting comments, but find it difficult to do so within the period of time allowed by this notice, you should advise the contact listed below as soon as possible. ADDRESSES: Direct all Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) comments to Judith B. Herman, Federal Communications Commission, Room 1– C804, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554 or via the Internet to JudithB.Herman@fcc.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or copies of the information collection(s), contact Judith B. Herman at 202–418–0214 or via the Internet at Judith-B.Herman@fcc.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OMB Control No.: 3060–0804. Title: Universal Service ‘‘Health Care Providers Universal Service Program. Form Nos.: FCC Forms 465, 466, 466– A and 467. Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection. Respondents: Business or other forprofit, not-for-profit institutions, and State, local or tribal government. Number of Respondents: 14,440. Estimated Time Per Response: 1–3 hours. Frequency of Response: On occasion and annual reporting requirements, recordkeeping requirement and third party disclosure requirement. Total Annual Burden: 17,720 hours. Total Annual Cost: N/A. Privacy Act Impact Assessment: N/A. Needs and Uses: The Commission implemented the rural health care mechanism at the direction of Congress as provided in the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (1996 Act). In past years of its operation, the rural health care mechanism has provided discounts that have facilitated the ability of health care providers to provide critical access to modern telecommunications and information services for medical and health maintenance purposes to rural America. Participation in the rural health care universal service support mechanism, however, has not met the Commission’s projections. VerDate jul<14>2003 17:22 Jan 10, 2005 Jkt 205001 In the Second Report and Order, Order on Reconsideration, and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, released on December 17, 2004, in FCC 04–289, the Commission modifies the definition of ‘‘rural’’ for purposes of the rural health care universal service support mechanism. The Commission also revises its policy to allow mobile rural health care clinics to receive discounts for telecommunications services. In addition, the Commission permits States and territories that are entirely rural to receive funding for advanced telecommunications and information services. The Commission also establishes a deadline for filing the FCC Form 466. Finally, the Commission seeks comment on whether support for Internet access should be increased and whether support should be provided for upgrades to the public switched or backbone telecommunications networks. Federal Communications Commission. Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary. [FR Doc. 05–468 Filed 1–10–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6712–01–P FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION [CC Docket No. 98–67 and CG Docket No. 03–123; DA 04–3921] Comments Requested on Petition for Declaratory Ruling and Request for Clarification Filed Concerning TwoLine Captioned Telephone Voice Carry Over Service, a Form of Telecommunications Relay Service Federal Communications Commission. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: SUMMARY: This document seeks public comment on Ultratec, Inc., Sprint Corporation, and Hamilton Relay, Inc., Request for Clarification and the National Exchange Carrier Association, Inc., Petition for Declaratory Ruling concerning two-line captioned telephone voice carry over (VCO) service, a form of telecommunications relay service (TRS). DATES: Interested parties may file comments in this proceeding on or before January 7, 2005. Reply comments may be filed on or before January 19, 2005. ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dana Jackson, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, Disability PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Rights Office at (202) 418–2247 (voice), (202) 418–7898 (TTY), or e-mail at Dana.Jackson@fcc.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission’s Public Notice DA 04–3921, released December 16, 2004. On August 1, 2003, the Commission released a Declaratory Ruling, published at 68 FR 55898, September 29, 2003, in CC Docket No. 98–67; FCC 03–190. In the Declaratory Ruling, the Commission clarified that certain TRS mandatory minimum standards do not apply to captioned telephone VCO service. When filing comments, please reference CC Docket No. 98–67 and CG Docket No. 03–123. Comments may be filed using the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies. See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121, May 1, 1998. Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file via the Internet to https://www.fcc.gov/e-file/ecfs.html. Generally, only one copy of an electronic submission must be filed. If multiple docket or rulemaking numbers appear in the caption of this proceeding, however, commenters must transmit one electronic copy of the comment to each docket or rulemaking number referenced in the caption. In completing the transmittal screen, commenters should include their full name, Postal Service mailing address, and the applicable docket or rulemaking number. Parties may also submit electronic comments by Internet e-mail. To get filing instructions, commenters should send an e-mail to ecfs@fcc.gov, and should include the following words in the body of the message, ‘‘get form <your e-mail address>.’’ A sample form and directions will be sent in reply. Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and four copies of each filing. If more than one docket or rulemaking number appears in the caption of this proceeding, commenters must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or rulemaking number. Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by electronic media, by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Services mail (although we continue to experience delays in receiving U.S. Postal Service mail). The Commission’s contractor, Natek, Inc., will receive hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings or electronic media for the Commission’s Secretary at 236 Massachusetts Avenue, NE., Suite 110, Washington, DC 20002. The filing hours at this location are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held together E:\FR\FM\11JAN1.SGM 11JAN1 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 7 / Tuesday, January 11, 2005 / Notices with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes must be disposed of before entering the building. Commercial and electronic media sent by overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. U.S. Postal Service first-class mail, Express Mail, and Priority Mail should be addressed to 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554. All filings must be addressed to the Commission’s Secretary, Marlene H. Dortch, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., Room TW–B204 Washington, DC 20554. Parties who choose to file by paper should also submit their comments on diskette. These diskettes should be submitted, along with three paper copies, to: Dana Jackson, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, Disability Rights Office, 445 12th Street, SW., Room CY–A626, Washington, DC 20554. Such a submission should be on a 3.5 inch diskette formatted in an IBM compatible format using Word 97 or compatible software. The diskette should be accompanied by a cover letter and should be submitted in ‘‘read only’’ mode. The diskette should be clearly labeled with the commenter’s name, proceeding (including the lead docket number in this case, CC Docket No. 98– 67 and CG Docket No. 03–123, type of pleading (comment or reply comment), date of submission, and the name of the electronic file on the diskette. The label should also include the following phrase ‘‘Disk Copy—Not an Original.’’ Each diskette should contain only one party’s pleadings, preferably in a single electronic file. In addition, commenters must send diskette copies to the Commission’s copy contractor, Best Copy and Printing (BCPI), Inc., Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW., Room CY–B402, Washington, DC 20554. Pursuant to § 1.1206 of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR 1.1206, this proceeding will be conducted as a permit-but-disclose proceeding in which ex parte communications are subject to disclosure. The full text of this document and copies of any subsequently filed documents in this matter will be available for public inspection and copying during regular business hours at the FCC Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW., Room CY–A257, Washington, DC 20554. This document and copies of subsequently filed documents in this matters may also be purchased from the Commission’s duplicating contract, BCPI, Inc., Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW., Room CY–B402, VerDate jul<14>2003 17:22 Jan 10, 2005 Jkt 205001 1895 Washington, DC 20554. Customers may contact BCPI, Inc. at their Web site https://www.bcpiweb.com or call 1–800– 378–3160. To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418–0530 (voice), (202) 418–0432 (TTY). The Public Notice can also be downloaded in Word or Portable Document Format (PDF) at: https:// www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro. See 47 CFR 64.601(18). Captioned telephone VCO service permits the user to both listen to what is said over the telephone and simultaneously read captions of what the other person is saying. Synopsis FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION On December 7, 2004, Ultratec, Inc., Sprint Corporation, and Hamilton Relay, Inc., (‘‘the Petitioners’’) filed a Request for Clarification, (see Ultratec, Inc., Sprint Corporation, and Hamilton Relay, Inc., Request for Clarification, CC Docket No. 98–67 and CG Docket No. 03–123, filed December 7, 2004), seeking clarification that a two-line voice carryover (VCO) service called two-line captioned telephone VCO service is a form of telecommunications relay service (TRS) eligible for reimbursement from the Interstate TRS Fund. On December 10, 2004, the National Exchange Carrier Association, Inc. (‘‘NECA’’), (see National Exchange Carrier Association, Inc., Petition for Declaratory Ruling, CC Docket No. 98– 67 and CG Docket No. 03–123, filed December 10, 2004), on behalf of the Interstate Telecommunications Relay Service Advisory Council (‘‘the Council’’), filed a Petition for Declaratory Ruling requesting that the Commission approve its proposed methodology for the jurisdictional allocation of costs for the provision of inbound two-line captioned telephone VCO service. NECA proposes that ten percent of the inbound two-line captioned telephone VCO service minutes would be allocated for payment from the Interstate TRS Fund. Captioned telephone service is an enhanced VCO service. See generally Telecommunications Relay Services, and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities, Declaratory Ruling, CC Docket No. 98–67, FCC 03–190, 68 FR 55898, September 29, 2003, finding that captioned telephone VCO service is a form of TRS eligible for compensation from the Interstate TRS Fund. VCO service is a type of TRS used by persons who have a hearing disability but are able to speak directly to the other end user. The communications assistant types the response back to the person with the hearing disability, but does not voice the conversation. PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Federal Communications Commission. Jay Keithley, Deputy Bureau Chief, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau. [FR Doc. 05–469 Filed 1–10–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6712–01–P Sunshine Act Meeting; Open Commission Meeting, Thursday, January 13, 2005 January 6, 2005. The Federal Communications Commission will hold an Open Meeting on the subjects listed below on Thursday, January 13, 2005, which is scheduled to commence at 9:30 a.m. in Room TW–C305, at 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC. The Meeting will focus on presentations by senior agency officials regarding implementations of the agency’s strategic plan and a comprehensive review of FCC policies and procedures. Presentations will be made in four panels: Panel One will feature the Chief of the Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis and the Managing Director. Panel Two will feature the Chiefs of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, the Office of Engineering and Technology and the International Bureau. Panel Three will feature the Chief of the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, the Director of the Office of Workplace Diversity and the Chief of the Enforcement Bureau. Panel Four will feature the Chief of the Media Bureau, the General Counsel and the Chief of the Wireline Competition Bureau. Additional information concerning this meeting may be obtained from Audrey Spivack or David Fiske, Office of Media Relations, (202) 418–0500; TTY 1–888–835–5322. Audio/Video coverage of the meeting will be broadcast live over the Internet from the FCC’s Audio/Video Events Web page at www.fcc.gov/realaudio. For a fee this meeting can be viewed live over George Mason University’s Capitol Connection. The Capitol Connection also will carry the meeting live via the Internet. To purchase these services call (703) 993–3100 or go to www.capitolconnection.gmu.edu. E:\FR\FM\11JAN1.SGM 11JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 7 (Tuesday, January 11, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1894-1895]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-469]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[CC Docket No. 98-67 and CG Docket No. 03-123; DA 04-3921]


Comments Requested on Petition for Declaratory Ruling and Request 
for Clarification Filed Concerning Two-Line Captioned Telephone Voice 
Carry Over Service, a Form of Telecommunications Relay Service

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This document seeks public comment on Ultratec, Inc., Sprint 
Corporation, and Hamilton Relay, Inc., Request for Clarification and 
the National Exchange Carrier Association, Inc., Petition for 
Declaratory Ruling concerning two-line captioned telephone voice carry 
over (VCO) service, a form of telecommunications relay service (TRS).

DATES: Interested parties may file comments in this proceeding on or 
before January 7, 2005. Reply comments may be filed on or before 
January 19, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dana Jackson, Consumer & Governmental 
Affairs Bureau, Disability Rights Office at (202) 418-2247 (voice), 
(202) 418-7898 (TTY), or e-mail at Dana.Jackson@fcc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Public 
Notice DA 04-3921, released December 16, 2004. On August 1, 2003, the 
Commission released a Declaratory Ruling, published at 68 FR 55898, 
September 29, 2003, in CC Docket No. 98-67; FCC 03-190. In the 
Declaratory Ruling, the Commission clarified that certain TRS mandatory 
minimum standards do not apply to captioned telephone VCO service. When 
filing comments, please reference CC Docket No. 98-67 and CG Docket No. 
03-123. Comments may be filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment 
Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies. See Electronic Filing 
of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121, May 1, 1998. 
Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file via 
the Internet to https://www.fcc.gov/e-file/ecfs.html. Generally, only 
one copy of an electronic submission must be filed. If multiple docket 
or rulemaking numbers appear in the caption of this proceeding, 
however, commenters must transmit one electronic copy of the comment to 
each docket or rulemaking number referenced in the caption. In 
completing the transmittal screen, commenters should include their full 
name, Postal Service mailing address, and the applicable docket or 
rulemaking number. Parties may also submit electronic comments by 
Internet e-mail. To get filing instructions, commenters should send an 
e-mail to ecfs@fcc.gov, and should include the following words in the 
body of the message, ``get form .'' A sample form 
and directions will be sent in reply. Parties who choose to file by 
paper must file an original and four copies of each filing. If more 
than one docket or rulemaking number appears in the caption of this 
proceeding, commenters must submit two additional copies for each 
additional docket or rulemaking number. Filings can be sent by hand or 
messenger delivery, by electronic media, by commercial overnight 
courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Services mail 
(although we continue to experience delays in receiving U.S. Postal 
Service mail). The Commission's contractor, Natek, Inc., will receive 
hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings or electronic media 
for the Commission's Secretary at 236 Massachusetts Avenue, NE., Suite 
110, Washington, DC 20002. The filing hours at this location are 8 a.m. 
to 7 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held together

[[Page 1895]]

with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes must be disposed of 
before entering the building. Commercial and electronic media sent by 
overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail and 
Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol 
Heights, MD 20743. U.S. Postal Service first-class mail, Express Mail, 
and Priority Mail should be addressed to 445 12th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20554. All filings must be addressed to the Commission's 
Secretary, Marlene H. Dortch, Office of the Secretary, Federal 
Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., Room TW-B204 
Washington, DC 20554. Parties who choose to file by paper should also 
submit their comments on diskette. These diskettes should be submitted, 
along with three paper copies, to: Dana Jackson, Consumer & 
Governmental Affairs Bureau, Disability Rights Office, 445 12th Street, 
SW., Room CY-A626, Washington, DC 20554. Such a submission should be on 
a 3.5 inch diskette formatted in an IBM compatible format using Word 97 
or compatible software. The diskette should be accompanied by a cover 
letter and should be submitted in ``read only'' mode. The diskette 
should be clearly labeled with the commenter's name, proceeding 
(including the lead docket number in this case, CC Docket No. 98-67 and 
CG Docket No. 03-123, type of pleading (comment or reply comment), date 
of submission, and the name of the electronic file on the diskette. The 
label should also include the following phrase ``Disk Copy--Not an 
Original.'' Each diskette should contain only one party's pleadings, 
preferably in a single electronic file. In addition, commenters must 
send diskette copies to the Commission's copy contractor, Best Copy and 
Printing (BCPI), Inc., Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW., Room CY-B402, 
Washington, DC 20554. Pursuant to Sec.  1.1206 of the Commission's 
rules, 47 CFR 1.1206, this proceeding will be conducted as a permit-
but-disclose proceeding in which ex parte communications are subject to 
disclosure. The full text of this document and copies of any 
subsequently filed documents in this matter will be available for 
public inspection and copying during regular business hours at the FCC 
Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW., Room 
CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554. This document and copies of subsequently 
filed documents in this matters may also be purchased from the 
Commission's duplicating contract, BCPI, Inc., Portals II, 445 12th 
Street, SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554. Customers may contact 
BCPI, Inc. at their Web site https://www.bcpiweb.com or call 1-800-378-
3160. To request materials in accessible formats for people with 
disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), 
send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental 
Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-0432 (TTY). The 
Public Notice can also be downloaded in Word or Portable Document 
Format (PDF) at: https://www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro.

Synopsis

    On December 7, 2004, Ultratec, Inc., Sprint Corporation, and 
Hamilton Relay, Inc., (``the Petitioners'') filed a Request for 
Clarification, (see Ultratec, Inc., Sprint Corporation, and Hamilton 
Relay, Inc., Request for Clarification, CC Docket No. 98-67 and CG 
Docket No. 03-123, filed December 7, 2004), seeking clarification that 
a two-line voice carryover (VCO) service called two-line captioned 
telephone VCO service is a form of telecommunications relay service 
(TRS) eligible for reimbursement from the Interstate TRS Fund. On 
December 10, 2004, the National Exchange Carrier Association, Inc. 
(``NECA''), (see National Exchange Carrier Association, Inc., Petition 
for Declaratory Ruling, CC Docket No. 98-67 and CG Docket No. 03-123, 
filed December 10, 2004), on behalf of the Interstate 
Telecommunications Relay Service Advisory Council (``the Council''), 
filed a Petition for Declaratory Ruling requesting that the Commission 
approve its proposed methodology for the jurisdictional allocation of 
costs for the provision of inbound two-line captioned telephone VCO 
service. NECA proposes that ten percent of the inbound two-line 
captioned telephone VCO service minutes would be allocated for payment 
from the Interstate TRS Fund. Captioned telephone service is an 
enhanced VCO service. See generally Telecommunications Relay Services, 
and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech 
Disabilities, Declaratory Ruling, CC Docket No. 98-67, FCC 03-190, 68 
FR 55898, September 29, 2003, finding that captioned telephone VCO 
service is a form of TRS eligible for compensation from the Interstate 
TRS Fund. VCO service is a type of TRS used by persons who have a 
hearing disability but are able to speak directly to the other end 
user. The communications assistant types the response back to the 
person with the hearing disability, but does not voice the 
conversation.
    See 47 CFR 64.601(18). Captioned telephone VCO service permits the 
user to both listen to what is said over the telephone and 
simultaneously read captions of what the other person is saying.

Federal Communications Commission.
Jay Keithley,
Deputy Bureau Chief, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau.
[FR Doc. 05-469 Filed 1-10-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
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