Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals With Hearing and Speech Disabilities, 11789-11791 [E7-4248]
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 49 / Wednesday, March 14, 2007 / Rules and Regulations
2. Section 180.451 is amended by
alphabetically adding commodities to
the table in paragraph (a) to read as
follows:
I
PART 180—[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for part 180
continues to read as follows:
I
11789
§ 180.451 Tribenuron methyl; tolerances
for residues.
(a) * * *
Authority: 21 U.S.C. 321(q), 346a and 371.
Commodity
Parts per million
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Corn, field, forage ................................................................................................................................................................
Corn, field, grain ..................................................................................................................................................................
Corn, field, stover ................................................................................................................................................................
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Rice, grain ............................................................................................................................................................................
Rice, straw ...........................................................................................................................................................................
Sorghum, grain, forage ........................................................................................................................................................
Sorghum, grain, grain ..........................................................................................................................................................
Sorghum, grain, stover ........................................................................................................................................................
Soybean, seed .....................................................................................................................................................................
Sunflower, seed ...................................................................................................................................................................
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[FR Doc. E7–4645 Filed 3–13–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–S
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 64
[CG Docket 03–123; DA 06–2532]
Telecommunications Relay Services
and Speech-to-Speech Services for
Individuals With Hearing and Speech
Disabilities
Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Final rule; extension of waiver.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: In this document, the
Commission extends for an additional
year the waiver of the emergency call
handling requirement for providers of
Video Relay Service (VRS). The
Commission extends the waiver for one
year in view of continued technological
challenges to determining the
geographic location of
telecommunications relay service (TRS)
calls that originate via the Internet.
DATES: The waiver of the emergency call
handling requirement will expire on
January 1, 2008, or upon the release of
an order addressing the VRS emergency
call handling issue, whichever comes
first.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Thomas Chandler, (202) 418–1475
(voice), (202) 418–0597 (TTY), or e-mail
Thomas.Chandler@fcc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On
December 31, 2001, the Commission
released Telecommunications Relay
Services and Speech-to-Speech Services
for Individuals with Hearing and Speech
VerDate Aug<31>2005
14:23 Mar 13, 2007
Jkt 211001
Disabilities, Waiver Order, DA 01–3029,
CC Docket No. 98–67, 17 FCC Rcd 157
(2001), granting VRS providers a waiver
until December 31, 2003, of certain TRS
mandatory minimum standards,
including the emergency call handling
requirement. On December 19, 2003, the
Commission released
Telecommunications Relay Services and
Speech-to-Speech Services for
Individuals with Hearing and Speech
Disabilities, Order, DA 03–4029, CC
Docket No. 98–67, 18 FCC Rcd 26309
(2003), extending the waiver to June 30,
2004. On June 30, 2004, the Commission
released Telecommunications Relay
Services and Speech-to-Speech Services
for Individuals with Hearing and Speech
Disabilities, 2004 TRS Report and
Order, FCC 04–137, CC Docket No. 98–
67, published at 69 FR 53382,
September 1, 2004, extending the
waiver until January 1, 2006. On
December 5, 2005, the Commission
released Telecommunications Relay
Services and Speech-to-Speech Services
for Individuals with Hearing and Speech
Disabilities, Order, DA 05–3139, CG
Docket No. 03–123, published at 70 FR
76712, December 28, 2005, again
extending the waiver until January 1,
2007. This is a summary of the
Commission’s document DA 06–2532,
adopted December 15, 2006, released
December 15, 2006.
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) or (202) 418–0432
(TTY). The Commission’s document DA
06–2532 can also be downloaded in
Word and Portable Document Format
(PDF) at https://www.fcc.gov/cgb.dro.
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Synopsis
The Commission’s TRS regulations set
forth operational, technical, and
functional mandatory minimum
standards applicable to the provision of
TRS. See 47 CFR 64.604 of the
Commission’s rules (the TRS
‘‘mandatory minimum standards’’). To
be eligible for reimbursement from the
Interstate TRS Fund for the provision of
TRS, the provider must offer service in
compliance with all applicable
mandatory minimum standards, unless
waived. See Telecommunications Relay
Services and Speech-to-Speech Services
for Individuals with Hearing and Speech
Disabilities, Report and Order and
Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
(Improved TRS Order and FNPRM), FCC
00–56, CC Docket No. 98–67, published
at 65 FR 38432, June 21, 2000 and 65
FR 38490, June 21, 2000.
The mandatory minimum standards
require TRS providers to handle
emergency calls by immediately and
automatically transferring the calls to an
appropriate public safety answering
point (PSAP). See 47 CFR 64.604(a)(4) of
the Commission’s rules. The
Commission recognized that many
individuals use VRS and IP Relay to
contact emergency services despite the
fact that persons with hearing and
speech disabilities can make calls
directly to the PSAP by calling 911
through a TTY and a traditional
telephone line. See
Telecommunications Relay Services and
Speech-to-Speech Services for
Individuals with Hearing and Speech
Disabilities, Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (VRS 911 NPRM), FCC 05–
196, CG Docket No. 03–123, published
at 71 FR 5221, February 1, 2006.
Regulations require state and local
governments to make emergency
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11790
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 49 / Wednesday, March 14, 2007 / Rules and Regulations
services directly accessible to TTY users
(i.e., for direct TTY to TTY calls).
In March 2000, the Commission
recognized VRS as a form of TRS
eligible for compensation from the
Interstate TRS Fund. See Improved TRS
Order and FNPRM, 15 FCC Rcd 5152–
5154, paragraphs 21–27. On December
31, 2001, the Commission granted VRS
providers a two-year waiver of certain
TRS mandatory minimum standards,
including the emergency call handling
requirement. This waiver was extended
to January 1, 2007. See
Telecommunications Relay Services
Speech-to-Speech Services for
Individuals with Hearing and Speech
Disabilities, Order (2005 VRS 911
Waiver Order), DA 05–3139, CG Docket
No. 03–123, published at 70 FR76712,
December 28, 2005.
On November 30, 2005, the
Commission released the VRS 911
NPRM, seeking comment on how
providers of the Internet-based TRS
services, including VRS, may determine
the appropriate PSAP to contact when
they receive an emergency call. See
(VRS 911 NPRM). The Commission
emphasized the importance of
developing the technology required to
promptly route VRS calls seeking
emergency assistance to the appropriate
emergency service provider. VRS 911
NPRM, 20 FCC Rcd 19476—19477,
paragraphs 1–2, 19484, paragraph 18.
On November 14, 2006, Sprint Nextel
Corporation filed a petition to extend
the waiver until January 1, 2008, or
until the release of an order addressing
this matter, whichever happens first.
Sprint Nextel Corporation (Sprint),
Petition for Waiver, CG Docket No. 03–
123, filed November 14, 2006 (Sprint
Petition). In its petition, Sprint states
that the technological challenges that
led to the extension of the current
waiver for VRS are still present. Sprint
therefore states that because providers
are still unable to automatically
determine the geographic location of
VRS callers, there is good cause for
extending the waiver.
On November 15, 2006, the
Commission held the E9–1–1 Disability
Access Summit (Summit) to discuss
advances in E9–1–1 calling technology
and access for persons with hearing and
speech disabilities, including via VRS
calls. FCC Releases Agenda for
November 15 E9–1–1 Disability Access
Summit, News Release (November 13,
2006). The Summit brought together
representatives from the government,
industry, and consumer groups to
exchange information and evaluate
options for addressing this critical issue.
During the Summit, Sprint,
Communications Services for the Deaf
VerDate Aug<31>2005
14:23 Mar 13, 2007
Jkt 211001
(CSD), Communications Access Center
(CAC), Hands On Video Relay Services
(Hands On), Hamilton Relay (Hamilton),
and Sorenson Communications
(Sorenson), all VRS providers, noted
that technology has not yet been
developed to allow them to
automatically forward emergency VRS
calls to the appropriate PSAP. See E9–
1–1 Disability Access Summit, Meeting
Transcript (November 15, 2006). They
also explained the interim methods
being used to connect VRS calls to
PSAPs. These include ensuring that
incoming emergency VRS calls are given
priority call handling, using two CAs
during an emergency call to ensure that
location and other necessary
information is gathered from the VRS
user, in other words, in addition to the
CA handling the relay call, a second CA
would assist in relaying the call and use
of a national database to locate the
appropriate PSAP to call. CSD
Comments, E9–1–1 Disability Access
Summit, Provider Panel. In other words,
if the VRS caller is able to do so, the
caller provides the CA with his or her
location, the CA determines the
appropriate PSAP for that location
through a national database, and the CA
then makes the outbound call to the
PASP. Another provider noted that its
CAs will stay on the call until the first
responders arrive at the emergency
location to ensure that the VRS user is
able to communicate with the
emergency personnel. Sorenson
Comments, E9–1–1 Disability Access
Summit, Provider Panel.
Also during the Summit, Consumer
groups acknowledged that users are
moving away from using TTYs and that
VRS is now widely used in the deaf
community. See, e.g., NorCal Center on
Deafness Comments, E9–1–1 Disability
Access Summit, Consumer Panel.
Consumers also advocated for the
development of automated methods for
determining the location of VRS callers,
the ability to handle emergency calls
from mobile devices, training for 911
operators on responding to calls from
persons with speech or hearing
disabilities, and interoperability
between PSAPs. See E9–1–1 Disability
Access Summit, Consumer Panel
(panelist representing consumers
included Sheri Farinha Mutti, Claude
Stout, Rebecca Ladew, Ed Bosson, and
Elizabeth Spiers).
Discussion
The Commission recognizes the vital
importance of access to emergency
services for all relay services,
particularly VRS. For this reason, the
Commission sought detailed comment
on this issue in the VRS 911 NPRM, and
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recently held the E9–1–1 Disability
Access Summit to explore continuing
developments to finding a solution to
this issue. The Commission also
recognizes, however, that although
providers and other interested parties
are actively working toward a solution
to this critical issue, presently a
technological solution does not exist to
automatically route Internet-based
emergency VRS calls to the appropriate
PSAP—i.e., to automatically determine
the geographic location of the VRS
caller so the call can be linked to the
appropriate PSAP. For this reason, some
providers have taken interim measures
for handling emergency calls. For
example, some providers are able to give
emergency calls priority call handling.
See, e.g., Sorenson Comments, E9–1–1
Disability Access Summit, Provider
Panel. Providers may consider the
feasibility of using a dedicated
emergency calling ‘‘link’’ on their VRS
Web-site that callers making an
emergency VRS call can use and that
will allow providers to promptly
identify and handle incoming
emergency calls. Others use two CAs on
an emergency call to assist in gathering
accurate information from the caller.
See, e.g., E9–1–1 Disability Access
Summit, Provider Panel (remarks of
CSD and Verizon). At least one provider
uses a national database to determine
the appropriate PSAP for the caller’s
location. See, e.g., Sorenson Comments,
E9–1–1 Disability Access Summit,
Provider Panel (noting that it uses
Intrado to determine the appropriate
PSAP and its telephone number for a
particular address). Until a
technological solution is adopted that
automatically routes VRS 911 calls, the
Commission encourages all VRS
providers to take similar or other steps
to ensure that emergency calls are
routed to the appropriate PSAP as
quickly as possible.
The Commission may waive a
provision of its rules for ‘‘good cause
shown.’’ 47 CFR 1.3; see generally 2004
TRS Report and Order, 19 FCC Rcd
12520, paragraph 110 (discussing
standard for waiving Commission rules).
Because it is apparent that the current
state of technology does not allow a
means of automatically determining the
geographic location of TRS calls
originating via the Internet, including
VRS calls, the Commission finds good
cause exists to extend the present
waiver of the emergency call handling
requirement for VRS providers until
January 1, 2008 or upon the release of
an order addressing this issue,
whichever comes first. The Commission
also notes that a similar issue exists
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 49 / Wednesday, March 14, 2007 / Rules and Regulations
with respect to VoIP service (i.e., voice
telephone calls made via the Internet
rather than the PSTN), and that for this
reason, the Commission has presently
mandated that VoIP providers obtain a
registered location for each of their
customers so that the providers can
direct an emergency VoIP call to the
appropriate PSAP. In the pending VRS
911 NPRM, the Commission sought
comment on the adoption of a registered
location requirement similar to the VoIP
requirement. VRS 911 NPRM, 20 FCC
Rcd 19484–19486, paragraphs 19–22. In
addition, the Commission raised other
potential options for addressing
emergency call handling, including
developing a unified database of PSAPs
that providers could use when receiving
an emergency call, requiring providers
to give priority access to emergency
calls, and structuring VRS and IP Relay
calls in such a way that they include a
VoIP call, so that the VoIP registration
could apply to the VRS or IP Relay call.
VRS 911 NPRM, 20 FCC Rcd 19487,
paragraphs 24–26. These issues remain
pending.
Ordering Clause
Pursuant to the authority contained in
sections 225 of the Communications Act
of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 225, and
§ § 0.141, 0.361, and 1.3 of the
Commission’s rules, 47 CFR 0.141,
0.361, 1.3, the Order is adopted.
Federal Communications Commission.
Jay Keithley,
Deputy Bureau Chief, Consumer &
Governmental Affairs Bureau.
[FR Doc. E7–4248 Filed 3–13–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
short-spacing to the license site of FM
Station KBRQ, Channel 273C1,
Hillsboro, Texas. A counterproposal
filed by Starboard Media Foundation,
Inc., proposing the reservation of
Channel 274A at Milano, Texas for
noncommercial educational use was
dismissed pursuant to Section 73.525(c)
of the Commission’s Rules.
DATES: Effective April 9, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Secretary, Federal
Communications Commission, 445
Twelfth Street, SW., Washington, DC
20554.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Rolanda F. Smith, Media Bureau, (202)
418–2180.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a
summary of the Commission’s Report
and Order, MB Docket No. 05–97,
adopted February 21, 2007, and released
February 23, 2007. The Notice of
Proposed Rule Making proposed the
allotment of Channel 274A at Milano,
Texas. See 70 FR 15046, published
March 24, 2005. The full text of this
Commission decision is available for
inspection and copying during normal
business hours in the Commission’s
Reference Center, 445 Twelfth Street,
SW., Washington, DC 20554. The
complete text of this decision may also
be purchased from the Commission’s
duplicating contractor, Best Copy and
Printing, Inc., 445 12th Street, SW.,
Room CY–B402, Washington, DC 20554,
telephone 1–800–378–3160 or
www.BCPIWEB.com. The Commission
will send a copy of this Report and
Order in a report to be sent to Congress
and the Government Accountability
Office pursuant to the Congressional
Review Act, see 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 73
47 CFR Part 73
I
Radio, Radio broadcasting.
As stated in the preamble, the Federal
Communications Commission amends
47 CFR Part 73 as follows:
[DA 07–810; MB Docket No. 05–97; RM–
11186; RM–11251]
Radio Broadcasting Services; Milano,
TX
PART 73—RADIO BROADCAST
SERVICES
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14:23 Mar 13, 2007
Jkt 211001
[DA 07–809; MB Docket No. 05–229; RM–
10780]
Radio Broadcasting Services;
Madisonville and Rosebud, TX
Federal Communications
Commission.
AGENCY:
Final rule; denial of petition for
reconsideration.
ACTION:
SUMMARY: This document denies a
petition for reconsideration filed by
Gerald Proctor (‘‘Proctor’’) directed to
the Report and Order in this proceeding.
In denying the petition for
reconsideration, the Media Bureau
affirms the dismissal of Proctor’s
untimely expression of interest because
it would prejudice a conflicting
application.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Helen McLean, Media Bureau, (202)
418–2738.
This is a
synopsis of the Commission’s
Memorandum Opinion and Order, MB
Docket No. 05–229, adopted February
21, 2007, and released February 23,
2007. The full text of this Commission
decision is available for inspection and
copying during regular business hours
at the FCC’s Reference Information
Center, Portals II, 445 Twelfth Street,
SW., Room CY–A257, Washington, DC
20554. The complete text of this
decision may also be purchased from
the Commission’s duplicating
contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc.,
445 12th Street, SW., Room CY–B402,
Washington, DC 20554, telephone 1–
800–378–3160 or https://
www.BCPIWEB.com.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Federal Communications Commission.
John A. Karousos,
Assistant Chief, Audio Division, Media
Bureau.
[FR Doc. E7–4543 Filed 3–13–07; 8:45 am]
Federal Communications Commission.
John A. Karousos,
Assistant Chief, Audio Division, Media
Bureau.
[FR Doc. E7–4548 Filed 3–13–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154, 303, 334, 336.
§ 73.202
VerDate Aug<31>2005
47 CFR Part 73
2. Section 73.202(b), the Table of FM
Allotments under Texas, is amended by
adding Milano, Channel 274A.
1. The authority citation for part 73
continues to read as follows:
The Audio Division granted a
Petition for Rule Making filed by
Charles Crawford, requesting the
allotment of Channel 274A at Milano,
Texas, as its first local service. The
reference coordinates for Channel 274A
at Milano, Texas are 30–38–30 NL and
96–55–00 WL. This allotment requires a
site restriction of 9.2 kilometers (5.7
miles) southwest of Milano to avoid a
SUMMARY:
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
This document is not subject to the
Congressional Review Act. The
Commission is, therefore, not required
to submit a copy of this Memorandum
Opinion and Order to the Government
Accountability Office pursuant to the
Congressional Review Act, see 5 U.S.C.
801(a)(1)(A) because the aforementioned
petition for reconsideration was denied.
I
Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
11791
[Amended]
I
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 14, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 11789-11791]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-4248]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 64
[CG Docket 03-123; DA 06-2532]
Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services
for Individuals With Hearing and Speech Disabilities
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Final rule; extension of waiver.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In this document, the Commission extends for an additional
year the waiver of the emergency call handling requirement for
providers of Video Relay Service (VRS). The Commission extends the
waiver for one year in view of continued technological challenges to
determining the geographic location of telecommunications relay service
(TRS) calls that originate via the Internet.
DATES: The waiver of the emergency call handling requirement will
expire on January 1, 2008, or upon the release of an order addressing
the VRS emergency call handling issue, whichever comes first.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Chandler, (202) 418-1475
(voice), (202) 418-0597 (TTY), or e-mail Thomas.Chandler@fcc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 31, 2001, the Commission
released Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech
Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities, Waiver
Order, DA 01-3029, CC Docket No. 98-67, 17 FCC Rcd 157 (2001), granting
VRS providers a waiver until December 31, 2003, of certain TRS
mandatory minimum standards, including the emergency call handling
requirement. On December 19, 2003, the Commission released
Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for
Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities, Order, DA 03-4029, CC
Docket No. 98-67, 18 FCC Rcd 26309 (2003), extending the waiver to June
30, 2004. On June 30, 2004, the Commission released Telecommunications
Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with
Hearing and Speech Disabilities, 2004 TRS Report and Order, FCC 04-137,
CC Docket No. 98-67, published at 69 FR 53382, September 1, 2004,
extending the waiver until January 1, 2006. On December 5, 2005, the
Commission released Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-
Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities,
Order, DA 05-3139, CG Docket No. 03-123, published at 70 FR 76712,
December 28, 2005, again extending the waiver until January 1, 2007.
This is a summary of the Commission's document DA 06-2532, adopted
December 15, 2006, released December 15, 2006.
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) or (202) 418-0432 (TTY). The
Commission's document DA 06-2532 can also be downloaded in Word and
Portable Document Format (PDF) at https://www.fcc.gov/cgb.dro.
Synopsis
The Commission's TRS regulations set forth operational, technical,
and functional mandatory minimum standards applicable to the provision
of TRS. See 47 CFR 64.604 of the Commission's rules (the TRS
``mandatory minimum standards''). To be eligible for reimbursement from
the Interstate TRS Fund for the provision of TRS, the provider must
offer service in compliance with all applicable mandatory minimum
standards, unless waived. See Telecommunications Relay Services and
Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech
Disabilities, Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (Improved TRS Order and FNPRM), FCC 00-56, CC Docket No. 98-
67, published at 65 FR 38432, June 21, 2000 and 65 FR 38490, June 21,
2000.
The mandatory minimum standards require TRS providers to handle
emergency calls by immediately and automatically transferring the calls
to an appropriate public safety answering point (PSAP). See 47 CFR
64.604(a)(4) of the Commission's rules. The Commission recognized that
many individuals use VRS and IP Relay to contact emergency services
despite the fact that persons with hearing and speech disabilities can
make calls directly to the PSAP by calling 911 through a TTY and a
traditional telephone line. See Telecommunications Relay Services and
Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech
Disabilities, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (VRS 911 NPRM), FCC 05-196,
CG Docket No. 03-123, published at 71 FR 5221, February 1, 2006.
Regulations require state and local governments to make emergency
[[Page 11790]]
services directly accessible to TTY users (i.e., for direct TTY to TTY
calls).
In March 2000, the Commission recognized VRS as a form of TRS
eligible for compensation from the Interstate TRS Fund. See Improved
TRS Order and FNPRM, 15 FCC Rcd 5152-5154, paragraphs 21-27. On
December 31, 2001, the Commission granted VRS providers a two-year
waiver of certain TRS mandatory minimum standards, including the
emergency call handling requirement. This waiver was extended to
January 1, 2007. See Telecommunications Relay Services Speech-to-Speech
Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities, Order
(2005 VRS 911 Waiver Order), DA 05-3139, CG Docket No. 03-123,
published at 70 FR76712, December 28, 2005.
On November 30, 2005, the Commission released the VRS 911 NPRM,
seeking comment on how providers of the Internet-based TRS services,
including VRS, may determine the appropriate PSAP to contact when they
receive an emergency call. See (VRS 911 NPRM). The Commission
emphasized the importance of developing the technology required to
promptly route VRS calls seeking emergency assistance to the
appropriate emergency service provider. VRS 911 NPRM, 20 FCC Rcd
19476--19477, paragraphs 1-2, 19484, paragraph 18.
On November 14, 2006, Sprint Nextel Corporation filed a petition to
extend the waiver until January 1, 2008, or until the release of an
order addressing this matter, whichever happens first. Sprint Nextel
Corporation (Sprint), Petition for Waiver, CG Docket No. 03-123, filed
November 14, 2006 (Sprint Petition). In its petition, Sprint states
that the technological challenges that led to the extension of the
current waiver for VRS are still present. Sprint therefore states that
because providers are still unable to automatically determine the
geographic location of VRS callers, there is good cause for extending
the waiver.
On November 15, 2006, the Commission held the E9-1-1 Disability
Access Summit (Summit) to discuss advances in E9-1-1 calling technology
and access for persons with hearing and speech disabilities, including
via VRS calls. FCC Releases Agenda for November 15 E9-1-1 Disability
Access Summit, News Release (November 13, 2006). The Summit brought
together representatives from the government, industry, and consumer
groups to exchange information and evaluate options for addressing this
critical issue.
During the Summit, Sprint, Communications Services for the Deaf
(CSD), Communications Access Center (CAC), Hands On Video Relay
Services (Hands On), Hamilton Relay (Hamilton), and Sorenson
Communications (Sorenson), all VRS providers, noted that technology has
not yet been developed to allow them to automatically forward emergency
VRS calls to the appropriate PSAP. See E9-1-1 Disability Access Summit,
Meeting Transcript (November 15, 2006). They also explained the interim
methods being used to connect VRS calls to PSAPs. These include
ensuring that incoming emergency VRS calls are given priority call
handling, using two CAs during an emergency call to ensure that
location and other necessary information is gathered from the VRS user,
in other words, in addition to the CA handling the relay call, a second
CA would assist in relaying the call and use of a national database to
locate the appropriate PSAP to call. CSD Comments, E9-1-1 Disability
Access Summit, Provider Panel. In other words, if the VRS caller is
able to do so, the caller provides the CA with his or her location, the
CA determines the appropriate PSAP for that location through a national
database, and the CA then makes the outbound call to the PASP. Another
provider noted that its CAs will stay on the call until the first
responders arrive at the emergency location to ensure that the VRS user
is able to communicate with the emergency personnel. Sorenson Comments,
E9-1-1 Disability Access Summit, Provider Panel.
Also during the Summit, Consumer groups acknowledged that users are
moving away from using TTYs and that VRS is now widely used in the deaf
community. See, e.g., NorCal Center on Deafness Comments, E9-1-1
Disability Access Summit, Consumer Panel. Consumers also advocated for
the development of automated methods for determining the location of
VRS callers, the ability to handle emergency calls from mobile devices,
training for 911 operators on responding to calls from persons with
speech or hearing disabilities, and interoperability between PSAPs. See
E9-1-1 Disability Access Summit, Consumer Panel (panelist representing
consumers included Sheri Farinha Mutti, Claude Stout, Rebecca Ladew, Ed
Bosson, and Elizabeth Spiers).
Discussion
The Commission recognizes the vital importance of access to
emergency services for all relay services, particularly VRS. For this
reason, the Commission sought detailed comment on this issue in the VRS
911 NPRM, and recently held the E9-1-1 Disability Access Summit to
explore continuing developments to finding a solution to this issue.
The Commission also recognizes, however, that although providers and
other interested parties are actively working toward a solution to this
critical issue, presently a technological solution does not exist to
automatically route Internet-based emergency VRS calls to the
appropriate PSAP--i.e., to automatically determine the geographic
location of the VRS caller so the call can be linked to the appropriate
PSAP. For this reason, some providers have taken interim measures for
handling emergency calls. For example, some providers are able to give
emergency calls priority call handling. See, e.g., Sorenson Comments,
E9-1-1 Disability Access Summit, Provider Panel. Providers may consider
the feasibility of using a dedicated emergency calling ``link'' on
their VRS Web-site that callers making an emergency VRS call can use
and that will allow providers to promptly identify and handle incoming
emergency calls. Others use two CAs on an emergency call to assist in
gathering accurate information from the caller. See, e.g., E9-1-1
Disability Access Summit, Provider Panel (remarks of CSD and Verizon).
At least one provider uses a national database to determine the
appropriate PSAP for the caller's location. See, e.g., Sorenson
Comments, E9-1-1 Disability Access Summit, Provider Panel (noting that
it uses Intrado to determine the appropriate PSAP and its telephone
number for a particular address). Until a technological solution is
adopted that automatically routes VRS 911 calls, the Commission
encourages all VRS providers to take similar or other steps to ensure
that emergency calls are routed to the appropriate PSAP as quickly as
possible.
The Commission may waive a provision of its rules for ``good cause
shown.'' 47 CFR 1.3; see generally 2004 TRS Report and Order, 19 FCC
Rcd 12520, paragraph 110 (discussing standard for waiving Commission
rules). Because it is apparent that the current state of technology
does not allow a means of automatically determining the geographic
location of TRS calls originating via the Internet, including VRS
calls, the Commission finds good cause exists to extend the present
waiver of the emergency call handling requirement for VRS providers
until January 1, 2008 or upon the release of an order addressing this
issue, whichever comes first. The Commission also notes that a similar
issue exists
[[Page 11791]]
with respect to VoIP service (i.e., voice telephone calls made via the
Internet rather than the PSTN), and that for this reason, the
Commission has presently mandated that VoIP providers obtain a
registered location for each of their customers so that the providers
can direct an emergency VoIP call to the appropriate PSAP. In the
pending VRS 911 NPRM, the Commission sought comment on the adoption of
a registered location requirement similar to the VoIP requirement. VRS
911 NPRM, 20 FCC Rcd 19484-19486, paragraphs 19-22. In addition, the
Commission raised other potential options for addressing emergency call
handling, including developing a unified database of PSAPs that
providers could use when receiving an emergency call, requiring
providers to give priority access to emergency calls, and structuring
VRS and IP Relay calls in such a way that they include a VoIP call, so
that the VoIP registration could apply to the VRS or IP Relay call. VRS
911 NPRM, 20 FCC Rcd 19487, paragraphs 24-26. These issues remain
pending.
Ordering Clause
Pursuant to the authority contained in sections 225 of the
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 225, and Sec. Sec.
0.141, 0.361, and 1.3 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 0.141, 0.361,
1.3, the Order is adopted.
Federal Communications Commission.
Jay Keithley,
Deputy Bureau Chief, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau.
[FR Doc. E7-4248 Filed 3-13-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P