FCC Seeks Comment on Petition for Limited Waiver of VRS Privacy Screen Rule
Comments due: February 13, 2023
Reply Comments due: February 28, 2023
On January 12, 2023 the FCC released a Public Notice seeking comment on a Petition for Limited Waiver filed by Sorenson Communications, LLC (Sorenson), seeking waiver of the Video Relay Service (VRS) privacy screen rule. The privacy screen rule requires a communications assistant to disconnect a VRS call if the caller or called party enables a privacy screen or similar feature for more than five minutes or is otherwise unresponsive for more than five minutes. A privacy screen is a feature that prevents one party on the video leg of a VRS call from viewing the other party. This rule was adopted to prevent fraudulent practices where VRS minutes were logged while no one was engaged in a conversation. Sorenson seeks a waiver of the rule so that VRS users on video conferencing calls are allowed to turn off their video connections when not presenting or for other reasons not related to inactivity.
Interested parties may file comments by accessing the FCC’s Electronic Comment Filing System at https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings. All filings must reference CG Docket Nos. 03-123 and 10-51. People with disabilities who need assistance to file comments online may request assistance by email to FCC504@fcc.gov
Public Notice:
URL: https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-seeks-comment-petition-waiver-vrs-privacy-screen-rule
Word: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-23-28A1.docx
PDF: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-23-28A1.pdf
Text: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-23-28A1.txt
Link to Sorenson’s Petition for a Limited Waiver:
https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/12190888126091/1
General information about VRS is available at www.fcc.gov/vrs. For further information, please contact William Wallace, Disability Rights Office, Consumer and Governmental Bureau, at 202-418-2716, or William.Wallace@fcc.gov. Individuals who use videophones and are fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) may call the FCC’s ASL Consumer Support Line at (844) 432-2275 (videophone).
FCC Extends Reply Comment Deadline for Accessible Carceral Communications Proceeding
Reply Comments Due: March 3, 2023
On January 5, 2023, the FCC released an Order granting a 45-day extension of time until March 3, 2023, for filing reply comments on the Sixth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Sixth Further Notice) released on September 30, 2022.
The Order addresses the motion to extend the reply comment deadline filed by HEARD, the Wright Petitioners, Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc., Hearing Loss Association of America, National Association of the Deaf, the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Technology for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Gallaudet University, Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, Prison Policy Initiative, Public Knowledge, United Church of Christ Media Justice Ministry, and Worth Rises.
The Sixth Further Notice seeks comment on, among other things:
Whether to allow enterprise registration for Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service (IP CTS) in correctional facilities;
Whether to adopt the FCC’s proposal to extend inmate calling services providers’ TRS-related access obligations to include Video Relay Service (VRS), IP Relay, and IP CTS as well as American Sign Language (ASL) point-to-point video calling, where broadband is available, and analog captioned telephone service (CTS) where broadband is not available, in jurisdictions with average daily populations of fewer than 50 incarcerated persons; and
Whether charges for any inmate calling services for incarcerated people with disabilities should be disclosed in accessible formats.
Interested parties may file comments by accessing the FCC’s Electronic Comment Filing System at https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings/. All filings must reference WC Docket No. 12-375. People with disabilities who need assistance to file comments online may request assistance by email to FCC504@fcc.gov.
Order Extending the Reply Comment Deadline:
URL: https://www.fcc.gov/document/order-extending-deadline-inmate-calling-services-rulemaking
Word: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-23-10A1.docx
PDF: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-23-10A1.pdf
Text: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-23-10A1.txt
Sixth Further Notice:
URL: https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-mandates-trs-access-incarcerated-people-disabilities
Word: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-22-76A1.docx
PDF: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-22-76A1.pdf
Text: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-22-76A1.txt
For further information, please contact Michael Scott, Disability Rights Office, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, at (202) 418-1264 or Michael.Scott@fcc.gov. Individuals who use videophones and are fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) may call the FCC’s ASL Consumer Support Line at (844) 432‐2275.
Comment Dates for Accessible Carceral Communications Proceeding
Comments Due: December 15, 2022
Reply Comments Due: January 17, 2022
On September 30, 2022, the Commission released its Fourth Report and Order and Sixth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to improve access to communications services for incarcerated people with communication disabilities. On November 15, 2022, a summary of the Further Notice was published in the Federal Register, which establishes the comment due dates for the Sixth Further Notice.
The Sixth Further Notice seeks comment on, among other things:
Whether to allow enterprise registration for Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service (IP CTS) in correctional facilities;
Whether to adopt the FCC’s proposal to extend inmate calling services providers’ TRS-related access obligations to include VRS, IP Relay, and IP CTS as well as ASL point-to-point video calling, where broadband is available, and analog captioned telephone service (CTS) where broadband is not available, with average daily populations of fewer than 50 incarcerated persons; and
Whether charges for any inmate calling services for incarcerated people with disabilities should be disclosed in accessible formats.
Interested parties may file comments by accessing the FCC’s Electronic Comment Filing System at https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings/. All filings must reference WC Docket No. 12-375. People with disabilities who need assistance to file comments online may request assistance by email to FCC504@fcc.gov.
Links to Further Notice:
URL: https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-mandates-trs-access-incarcerated-people-disabilities
Word: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-22-76A1.docx
PDF: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-22-76A1.pdf
Text: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-22-76A1.txt
For further information, please contact Michael Scott, Disability Rights Office, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, at (202) 418-1264 or Michael.Scott@fcc.gov. Individuals who use videophones and are fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) may call the FCC’s ASL Consumer Support Line at (844) 432‐2275.
FCC Selects Maine National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program
On October 13, 2022, the FCC released a Public Notice to announce Perkins School for the Blind (Perkins) as the certified entity for the National Deaf Blind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP). Perkins will start on December 1, 2022 and replace Disability Rights Maine.
Links to the public notice:
URL: https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-certifies-perkins-school-blind-administer-maine-ndbedp
Word: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-1091A1.docx
PDF: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-1091A1.pdf
Text: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-1091A1.txt
For more information about the NDBEDP, visit http://www.fcc.gov/ndbedp . For more information about this public notice, contact Jackie Ellington, NDPEDP Administrator. Disability Rights Office, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, at 202-418-1153 or Jackie.Ellington@fcc.gov. Individuals who use videophones and are fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) may call the FCC’s ASL Consumer Support Line at 844-432-2275 (videophone).
FCC Seeks Comment on InnoCaption’s Application for Full Certification to Provide IP CTS
Comments Due: October 26, 2022
Reply Comments Due: November 7, 2022
On October 12, 2022, the FCC released a Public Notice seeking comment on an application filed by Mezmo Corporation, dba InnoCaption, for full certification to provide Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service (IP CTS).
Interested parties may file comments by accessing the Electronic Comment Filing System at https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings. All filings must reference CG Docket Nos. 03-123 and 13-24. People with disabilities who need assistance to file comments online may request assistance by email to FCC504@fcc.gov.
Public Notice:
URL: https://www.fcc.gov/document/seeks-comment-innocaption-ip-cts-full-cert-application
Word: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-1087A1.docx
PDF: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-1087A1.pdf
Text: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-1087A1.txt
InnoCaption’s Application (redacted):
https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/10912237476222/1
General information about IP CTS is available at www.fcc.gov/ipcts. For further information, please contact Joshua Mendelsohn, Disability Rights Office, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, at (202) 599-7304 or by e-mail at Joshua.Mendelsohn@fcc.gov, or Ike Ofobike at (202) 744-3916 or by e-mail at Ike.Ofobike@fcc.gov. Individuals who use videophones and are fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) may call the FCC’s ASL Consumer Support Line at (844) 432-2275 (videophone).
FCC Seeks Comment on Nagish Inc.’s Application to Provide IP CTS and IP Relay Service
Comments Due: November 14, 2022
Reply Comments Due: November 29, 2022
On October 12, 2022, the FCC released a Public Notice seeking comment on an Internet-Based TRS Certification Application filed by Nagish, Inc. to provide fully automatic speech recognition-based Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service (IP CTS) and Internet Protocol Relay Service (IP Relay).
Interested parties may file comments by accessing the FCC’s Electronic Comment Filing System at https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings. All filings must reference CG Docket No. 03-123. People with disabilities who need assistance to file comments online may request assistance by email to FCC504@fcc.gov.
Links to the Public Notice:
URL: https://www.fcc.gov/document/seeks-comment-nagish-ip-cts-ip-relay-application
Word: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-1090A1.docx
PDF: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-1090A1.pdf
Text: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-1090A1.txt
For further information, please contact Ike Ofobike at (202) 744-3916 or by e-mail at Ike.Ofobike@fcc.gov or Joshua Mendelsohn at (202) 599-7304 or by e-mail at Joshua.Mendelsohn@fcc.gov. Individuals who use videophones and are fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) may call the FCC’s ASL Consumer Support Line at (844) 432‐2275.
FCC Announces November 1 Disability Advisory Committee Meeting
On September 26, 2022, the FCC announced that the next Disability Advisory Committee (DAC) meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 1, 2002, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The DAC meeting will be held remotely and will be webcast with open captioning and ASL interpreting at https://www.fcc.gov/live.
At this meeting, DAC members are expected to:
consider a working group report and recommendation on the transmittal of captioning files by video programming providers and distributors; and
discuss other topics relevant to the DAC’s work.
Links to Public Notice:
URL: https://www.fcc.gov/document/dac-november-1-2022-meeting-announced
Word: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-1002A1.docx
PDF: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-1002A1.pdf
Text: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-100A1.txt
For general information about the DAC and the agenda, visit www.fcc.gov/dac. For specific questions, please contact Joshua Mendelsohn, DAC Designated Federal Officer at 202-599-7304 (voice or videophone) or DAQ@fcc.gov.
FCC Reminds States and Territories to Apply for TRS Recertification
On September 26, 2022, the FCC released a Public Notice requesting states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories apply for renewal of their telecommunications relay service (TRS) certifications no later than December 1, 2022. Current TRS certifications are scheduled to expire on July 25, 2023. The Public Notice also reminds certified state and territory TRS programs that they must provide traditional (TTY-based) TRS, Spanish language traditional TRS, and speech-to-speech relay (STS) service. Additionally, the Public Notice includes a timeline of FCC action for the certification process.
Links to the Public Notice:
URL: https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-reminds-states-and-territories-recertify-trs-programs
Word: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-1007A1.docx
PDF: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-1007A1.pdf
Text: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-1007A1.txt
For general information about TRS, visit www.fcc.gov/trs. For specific information, please contact Dana Warrick, Disability Rights Office, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, at (202) 418-2247 or Dana.Warrick@fcc.gov. Individuals who use videophones and are fluent in ASL may call the FCC’s ASL Consumer Support Line at (844) 432-2275 (videophone).
FCC Seeks Comment on T-Mobile Accessibility’s Petition for Rulemaking
Comments Due: October 24, 2022
Reply Comments Due: November 8, 2022
On September 22, 2022, the FCC released a Public Notice seeking comment on a Petition for rulemaking filed by T-Mobile Accessibility. T-Mobile asks the FCC to initiate a rulemaking proceeding to amend the FCC’s rules to eliminate requirements regarding the use of the American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) format. According to T-Mobile, the requirement that TTY-based relay service be capable of communicating with the ASCII format has outlived its utility.
Interested parties may file comments by accessing the FCC’s Electronic Comment Filing System at https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings. All filings must reference CG Docket No. 03-123. People with disabilities who need assistance to file comments online may request assistance by email to FCC504@fcc.gov.
Links to the Public Notice:
URL: https://www.fcc.gov/document/seeks-comment-t-mobile-trs-petition-rulemaking
Word: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-996A1.docx
PDF: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-996A1.pdf
Text: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-996A1.txt
For further information, please contact Joshua Mendelsohn at (202) 599-7304 or by e-mail at Joshua.Mendelsohn@fcc.gov, or Ike Ofobike at (202) 744-3916 or by e-mail at Ike.Ofobike@fcc.gov. 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 and Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530.
FCC Announces Application Period for NDBEDP Certification for Maine
Deadline: September 8, 2022
On August 9, 2022, the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB) released a Public Notice inviting applications from entities interested in being certified to distribute equipment under the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP), also known as iCanConnect, to eligible individuals in Maine. CGB will accept applications for this purpose until September 8, 2022.
Links to the Public Notice:
URL: https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-invites-applications-maine-ndbedp
Word: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-835A1.docx
PDF: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-835A1.pdf
Text: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-835A1.txt
For more information about the NDBEDP, visit http://www.fcc.gov/ndbedp. For more information about this Public Notice, contact Jackie Ellington, NDBEDP Administrator, Disability Rights Office, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, at 202-418-1153 or Jackie.Ellington@fcc.gov. Individuals who use videophones and are fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) may call the FCC’s ASL Consumer Support Line at 844-432-2275 (videophone).
FCC Settles with MachineGenius Over TRS Violations
On July 8, 2022, the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau entered into a Consent Decree with MachineGenius, Inc., a provider of Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service (IP CTS), to resolve investigations into whether MachineGenius violated the Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) rules by failing to collect proper user self-certifications prior to seeking compensation from the TRS Fund and submitting inaccurate data to the TRS Fund administrator.
Under the Consent Decree, MachineGenius will collect compliant self-certifications from all its IP CTS users registered prior to June 1, 2022, implement a compliance plan, and pay a $400,000 civil penalty.
Order and Consent Decree:
URL: https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-settles-machinegenius-over-self-certification-compliance
PDF: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-729A1.pdf
Text: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-729A1.txt
General information about TRS is available at www.fcc.gov/trs and about IP CTS at www.fcc.gov/ipcts. For further information, please contact Stacy Ruffin-Smith, Telecommunications Consumers Division, Enforcement Bureau, at stacy.ruffin-smith@fcc.gov. Individuals who use videophones and are fluent in American Sign Language may call the FCC’s ASL Consumer Support Line at (202) 432-2275.
Rolka Loube Seeks Auditing Firm to Conduct TRS Fund Annual Audit
Rolka Loube, LLC, the Interstate Telecommunications Relay (iTRS) Service Fund Administrator, is requesting proposals from governmental auditing firms to conduct an annual audit of the iTRS Fund Financial Statements. The Request for Proposal (RFP) describes the services requested and provides instructions on how to respond.
Comment Due Dates Set for Interoperable Video Conferencing Services
Comments Due: June 21, 2022
Reply Comments Due: July 18, 2022
On May 20, 2022, the FCC released a public notice announcing the due dates for comments in response to an April 27, 2022 Public Notice (Video Conferencing Public Notice), inviting comments to refresh the record on the coverage of rules to enable people with disabilities to access and use interoperable video conferencing services.
According to a summary of the Video Conferencing Public Notice published in the Federal Register on May 19, 2022, comments must be filed on or before June 21, 2022, and reply comments must be filed on or before July 18, 2022.
Links to Public Notice Announcing Comment Dates:
URL: https://www.fcc.gov/document/interoperable-video-conferencing-services-refresh-comment-dates
Word: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-563A1.docx
PDF: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-563A1.pdf
Text: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-563A1.txt
Links to Video Conferencing Public Notice:
URL: https://www.fcc.gov/document/pn-refresh-record-re-interoperable-video-conferencing
Word: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-463A1.docx
PDF: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-463A1.pdf
Text: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-463A1.txt
For general information about the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA), visit https://www.fcc.gov/general/twenty-first-century-communications-and-video-accessibility-act-0. For further information, please contact Darryl Cooper, Disability Rights Office, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, at (202) 418-7131 or Darryl.Cooper@fcc.gov. Individuals who use videophones and are fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) may call the FCC’s ASL Consumer Support Line at (844) 432‐2275.
FCC Seeks Comment on State of Competition in Communications Marketplace
Comments Due: July 1, 2022
Reply Comments Due: August 1, 2022
On May 16, 2022, the FCC released a Public Notice seeking comments regarding the state of competition in the communications marketplace. This input will help inform the Commission’s 2022 Communications Marketplace Report to Congress.
Specifically about accessibility, the FCC seeks comment regarding:
• The impact of innovation on device availability and usage, especially for individuals with disabilities and lower income individuals,
• The criteria or metrics that could be used to evaluate the impacts of the pandemic and the accessibility and affordability of wireless services.
• Technological developments (e.g., deployment of ATSC 3.0 service),
• Provision of video and audio programming accessible to people with disabilities, and
• Any issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the communications marketplace.
Interested parties may file comments by accessing the FCC’s Electronic Comment Filing System at https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings. All filings must reference GN Docket No. 22-203. People with disabilities who need assistance to file comments online at https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings may request assistance by email to FCC504@fcc.gov.
Links to the Public Notice:
URL: https://www.fcc.gov/document/comment-sought-state-competition-communications-marketplace
Word: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-535A1.docx
PDF: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-535A1.pdf
Text: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-535A1.txt
For general information about the Reports, visit: https://www.fcc.gov/reports-research/reports/consolidated-communications-marketplace-reports. For questions about this Public Notice, contact Kate Matraves, Economic Analysis Division, Office of Economics and Analytics, (202) 391-6272 or Catherine.Matraves@fcc.gov, or Judith Dempsey, Economic Analysis Division, Office of Economics and Analytics, (202) 418-1861 or Judith.Dempsey@fcc.gov. Individuals who use videophones and are fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) may call the FCC’s ASL Consumer Support Line at (844) 432-2275 (videophone).
FCC Announces 2022-2023 NDBEDP Allocations
On May 18, 2022, the FCC released a Public Notice announcing the allocations for the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP or iCanConnect) for the 2022-2023 fund year, which begins July 1, 2022 and ends June 30, 2023. The FCC provides up to $10 million annually for the NDBEDP.
Links to the Public Notice:
URL: https://www.fcc.gov/document/2022-2023-annual-nbdedp-allocations
Word: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-549A1.docx
PDF: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-549A1.pdf
Text: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-549A1.txt
For information about NDBEDP, visit http://www.fcc.gov/ndbedp. For questions about this Public Notice, contact Jackie Ellington, NDBEDP Administrator, Disability Rights Office, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, at (202) 418-1153 or Jackie.Ellington@fcc.gov. Individuals who use videophones and are fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) may call the FCC’s ASL Consumer Support Line at (844) 432-2275 (videophone).