## DA 08-1673

## Released: July 16, 2008 

NOTICE OF CERTIFICATION OF STATE TELECOMMUNICATIONS RELAY SERVICE (TRS)
PROGRAMS

CG DOCKET NO. 03-123

Notice is hereby given that the applications for certification of
Telecommunication Relay Services (TRS) programs of the states[^1] listed
below have been granted, pursuant to Title IV of the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA), 47 U.S.C. § 225(f)(2), and section 64.606(b) of
the Commission's rules.[^2] On the basis of the state applications, the
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau (Bureau) has determined that:

(1) The TRS program of the states meet or exceed all operational,
    technical, and functional minimum standards contained in section
    64.604 of the Commission's rules;[^3]

(2) The TRS programs of the listed states make available adequate
    procedures and remedies for enforcing the requirements of the state
    program; and

(3) The TRS programs of the listed states in no way conflict with
    federal law.

The Bureau also has determined that, where applicable, the intrastate
funding mechanisms of the listed states are labeled in a manner that
promotes national understanding of TRS and does not offend the public,
consistent with section 64.606(d) of the Commission's rules.[^4]

Because the Commission may adopt changes to the rules governing relay
programs, including state relay programs, the certification granted
herein is conditioned on a demonstration of compliance with any
additional new rules that are adopted by the Commission. The Commission
will provide guidance to the states on demonstrating compliance with
such rule changes.

In response to the *Public Notice* released seeking comment on the
applications for certification of state TRS programs,[^5] the Commission
received 84 comments, all of which address Speech-to-Speech (STS)
outreach.[^6] As part of their applications for certification, states
were required to submit specific examples of all outreach activities,
including those targeted to users and receivers of STS services. We
reviewed each of the outreach plans submitted by the states in
conjunction with each of the applications listed below and found them to
be in compliance with the Commission\'s requirements. The Bureau reminds
states receiving certification herein of their continued obligation to
engage in outreach activities, or to ensure that their contracted TRS
providers conduct outreach in accordance with 47 C.F.R. §
64.604(c)(3).[^7]

This certification, as conditioned herein, shall remain in effect for a
five year period, beginning July 26, 2008, and ending July 25, 2013,
pursuant to 47 C.F.R. § 64.606(c). One year prior to the expiration of
this certification, July 25, 2012, the states may apply for renewal of
their TRS program certification by filing documentation in accordance
with the Commission\'s rules, pursuant to 47 C.F.R. §§ 64.606(a) and
(b).

**[STATES APPROVED FOR CERTIFICATION]{.underline}**

> **File No: TRS-46-07 File No: TRS-19-07**
>
> Alabama Public Service Commission Department of Commerce
>
> State of Alabama State of Alaska
>
> **File No: TRS-47-07 File No: TRS-02-07**
>
> Arkansas Deaf and Hearing Impaired Commission for the Deaf and Hard of
> Hearing
>
> State of Arkansas State of Arizona
>
> **File No: TRS-32-07 File No: TRS-23-07**
>
> California Public Utilities Commission Colorado Public Utilities
> Commission
>
> State of California State of Colorado
>
> **File No: TRS-48-07 File No: TRS-35-07**
>
> Connecticut Department of Public Utility Delaware Public Service
> Commission
>
> State of Connecticut State of Delaware
>
> **File No: TRS-49-07 File No: TRS-50-07**
>
> Public Service Commission Florida Public Service Commission
>
> District of Columbia State of Florida
>
> **File No: TRS-51-07 File No: TRS-22-07**
>
> Georgia Pubic Service Commission Hawaii Public Utilities Commission
>
> State of Georgia State of Hawaii
>
> **File No: TRS-43-07 File No: TRS-10-07**
>
> Idaho Public Service Commission Illinois Commerce Commission
>
> State of Idaho State of Illinois
>
> **File No: TRS-08-07 File No: TRS-03-07**
>
> Indiana Telephone Relay Access Corporation Iowa Utilities Board
>
> State of Indiana State of Iowa
>
> **File No: TRS-07-07 File No: TRS-52-07**
>
> Kansas Relay Services, Inc. Kentucky Public Service Commission
>
> State of Kansas Commonwealth of Kentucky
>
> **File No: TRS-13-07 File No: TRS-53-07**
>
> Louisiana Relay Administration Board Maine Public Utilities Commission
>
> State of Louisiana State of Maine
>
> **File No: TRS-33-07 File No: TRS-34-07**
>
> Telecommunications Access of Maryland Department of Telecommunications
> and Energy
>
> State of Maryland Commonwealth of Massachusetts
>
> **File No: TRS-54-07 File No: TRS-39-07**
>
> Michigan Public Service Commission Minnesota Department of Commerce
>
> State of Michigan State of Minnesota
>
> **File No: TRS-55-07 File No: TRS-15-07**
>
> Mississippi Public Service Commission Missouri Public Service
> Commission
>
> State of Mississippi State of Missouri
>
> **File No: TRS-56-07 File No: TRS-40-07**
>
> Telecommunications Access Program Nebraska Public Service Commission
>
> State of Montana State of Nebraska
>
> **File No: TRS-25-07 File No: TRS-42-07**
>
> Relay Nevada New Hampshire Public Service Commission
>
> State of Nevada State of New Hampshire
>
> **File No: TRS-45-07 File No: TRS-14-07**
>
> New Jersey Board of Utilities Commission for the Deaf and Hard of
> Hearing
>
> State of New Jersey State of New Mexico
>
> **File No: TRS-16-07 File No: TRS-30-07**
>
> New York State Department of Public Service Department of Health and
> Human Service
>
> State of New York State of North Carolina
>
> **File No: TRS-12-07 File No: TRS-37-07**
>
> Information Technology Department Public Utilities Commission of Ohio
>
> State of North Dakota State of Ohio
>
> **File No: TRS-57-07 File No: TRS-36-07**
>
> Oklahoma Telephone Association Oregon Public Utilities Commission
>
> State of Oklahoma State of Oregon
>
> **File No: TRS-58-07 File No: TRS-28-07**
>
> Pennsylvania Bureau of Consumer Services Telecommunications Regulatory
> Board
>
> Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Puerto Rico
>
> **File No: TRS-59-07 File No: TRS-11-07**
>
> Division of Public Utilities and Carriers South Carolina Office of
> Regulatory Staff
>
> State of Rhode Island State of South Carolina
>
> **File No: TRS-60-07 File No: TRS-20-07**
>
> Department of Human Services Tennessee Regulatory Authority Services
>
> State of South Dakota State of Tennessee
>
> **File No: TRS-17-07 File No: TRS-61-07**
>
> Texas Public Utility Commission Virgin Islands Public Services
> Commission
>
> State of Texas U.S. Virgin Islands
>
> **File No: TRS-09-07 File No: TRS-44-07**
>
> Utah Public Service Commission Vermont Department of Public Service
>
> State of Utah State of Vermont
>
> **File No: TRS-04-07 File No: TRS-27-07**
>
> Department of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Office of the Deaf and Hard
> of Hearing
>
> Commonwealth of Virginia State of Washington
>
> **File No: TRS-06-07 File No: TRS-01-07**
>
> Public Service Commission of West Virginia Wisconsin Department of
> Administration
>
> State of West Virginia State of Wisconsin
>
> **File No: TRS-18-07**
>
> Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
>
> State of Wyoming

The full text of this document and filings will be available for public
inspection and copying during regular business hours at the FCC
Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12^th^ Street, S.W., Room
CY-A257, Washington, D.C. 20554. These documents and copies of
subsequently filed documents in this matter may also be purchased from
the Commission's duplicating contractor at, Portals II, 445 12^th^
Street, S.W., Room CY-B402, Washington, D.C. 20554. Customers may
contact the duplicating contractor at their website:
[www.bcpiweb.com](http://www.bcpiweb.com/) or call 1-800-378-3160.
Filings may also be viewed on the Consumer & Governmental Affairs
Bureau's, Disability Rights Office homepage at
<http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/trs_by_state.html>.

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). This *Public Notice* can
also be downloaded in Word and Portable Document Format (PDF) at
<http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro>.

For further information regarding this *Public Notice*, contact Diane
Mason, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, Disabilities Rights
Office (202) 418-7126 (voice), (202) 418-7828 (TTY), or e-mail
<Diane.Mason@fcc.gov>.

**- FCC -**

[^1]: For purposes of this proceeding, the term "states" refers to
    states, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia where
    applicable.

[^2]: 47 C.F.R. § 64.606(b).

[^3]: 47 C.F.R. § 64.604.

[^4]: 47 C.F.R. § 64.606(d).

[^5]: *Applications for Certification as Certified State
    Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) Programs Filed; Pleading
    Cycle Established for Comment on Applications*, CG Docket No.
    03-123, Public Notice, DA 08-60 (Jan. 10, 2008).

[^6]: Each comment was directed to a specific state program, and
    requested that the Commission review the STS outreach activities of
    the specified state prior to granting certification. The Commission
    received the following number of comments regarding the following
    states: California- 36, Colorado- 2, Georgia- 1, Hawaii- 4,
    Illinois- 5, Kansas- 2, Massachusetts- 1, Minnesota- 1, Montana- 5,
    Nebrask-1, New Jersey- 1, New Mexico- 1, New York- 3, Ohio- 2,
    Oregon- 2, Pennsylvania- 1, South Carolina- 2, South Dakota- 1,
    Vermont- 1, Virginia- 3, Washington- 1, Wisconsin- 8.

[^7]: *See* 47 C.F.R. § 64.604(c)(3) Public Access to Information. This
    rule states, "\[c\]arriers, through publication in their
    directories, periodic billing inserts, placement of TRS instructions
    in telephone directories, through directory assistance services, and
    incorporation of TTY numbers in telephone directories, shall assure
    that callers in their service areas are aware of the availability
    and use of all forms of TRS. Efforts to educate the public about TRS
    should extend to all segments of the public, including individuals
    who are hard of hearing, speech disabled, and senior citizens as
    well as members of the general population. In addition, each common
    carrier providing telephone voice transmission services shall
    conduct, not later than October 1, 2001, ongoing education and
    outreach programs that publicize the availability of 711 access to
    TRS in a manner reasonably designed to reach the largest number of
    consumers possible."