Video Relay Service Providers’ Cost and Demand Data To Be Placed In The Record

Oppositions Due: May 3, 2023

On May 20, 2021, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) adopted a Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) seeking comment on Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) Fund
compensation for the provision of video relay service (VRS). The current compensation plan for VRS
expires on June 30, 2023.

To assist the Commission’s consideration of compensation options, the Consumer and
Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB or Bureau) intends to place in the record of this rulemaking
proceeding the cost and demand data filed this year by each VRS provider with the Interstate TRS Fund
administrator. Specifically, the Bureau intends to place in the record each VRS provider’s completed
TRS Fund Annual Provider Form and TRS Fund Annual Provider Form Appendix, as filed with the TRS
Fund administrator (2023 VRS Provider Cost and Demand Data). The 2023 VRS Provider Cost and
Demand Data will be designated as Highly Confidential Information subject to the terms of the Third
Protective Order and will not be available to the general public, but may be examined by appropriate
persons on behalf of interested parties, subject to protections for confidentiality.
Affected parties have until May 3, 2023, to oppose placing the 2023 VRS Provider Cost and
Demand Data in the record, subject to the Third Protective Order. If submission of the data into the
record is opposed, the procedures set forth in 47 CFR § 0.461(i) shall apply. All filings should refer to
CG Docket No. 10-51 and CG Docket No. 03-123.

After the 2023 VRS Provider Cost and Demand Data is placed in the record, outside persons
participating or intending to participate in the proceeding who are not involved in competitive decision-making activities and who have signed the Acknowledgment of Confidentiality attached to the Third
Protective Order may review the 2023 VRS Provider Cost and Demand Data in accordance with the terms of the Third Protective Order. Reviewing Parties should request the 2023 VRS Provider Cost and
Demand Data from the relevant Submitting Parties, i.e., from each VRS provider whose filed data they
wish to review. We emphasize that persons seeking to review the VRS Provider Cost and Demand Data
may do so only for purposes of participating in this proceeding and must have adequate protections in
place to prevent improper use or disclosure of the information. The Submitting Party has three business
days to file with the Commission and serve an objection to the disclosure of the data to a specific
individual requesting access. A Submitting Party that has not filed an objection must provide access to
the data no later than the fourth business day from the date of the request. Submitting Parties that do not
object to a disclosure are encouraged to provide access to the 2023 VRS Provider Cost and Demand Data
at an earlier date.

The Submitting Party shall make the 2023 VRS Provider Cost and Demand Data available in an
electronic format. Submitting Parties are not required to transmit the data electronically,9
but may choose to do so. Under the Commission’s current procedures for the submission of filings and other documents, submissions in this matter may be filed electronically (i.e., through ECFS) or on paper to the
Commission.

Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing the
ECFS: https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings.

• Paper Filers:
o Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and one copy of each filing. If
more than one docket or rulemaking number appears in the caption of this proceeding,
filers must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or rulemaking
number.
o Filings can be sent by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S.
Postal Service mail. All filings must be addressed to the Commission’s Secretary, Office
of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.
o Currently, the Commission does not accept any hand delivered or messenger delivered
filings as a temporary measure taken to help protect the health and safety of individuals,
and to mitigate the transmission of COVID-19. In the event that the Commission
announces the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, a filing window will be opened at the
Commission’s office located at 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, Maryland
20701.10

o Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority
Mail) must be sent to 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701.