**STATEMENT OF**

**COMMISSIONER JONATHAN S. ADELSTEIN**

*Re: Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for
Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities; E911 Requirements for
IP-Enabled Service Providers,* CG Docket No. 03-123 and WC Docket No.
05-196, Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.

Earlier this year, the Commission made a commitment to establish a
permanent and automated emergency access solution and a ten-digit
dialing plan for Internet-based relay services. So, I am pleased that we
honor that commitment today by adopting this Order, which sets us on a
course to complete those tasks by December 31, 2008 and marks
significant progress toward ensuring "functionally equivalent" service
for consumers with hearing and speech disabilities.

With this Order, we adopt a permanent emergency access solution and a
system of traditional ten-digit numbers for Internet-based relay
services. A permanent emergency access solution will enable
Internet-based relay service customers to automatically reach the
appropriate emergency services, just as hearing users of interconnected
VoIP services do. It is telling that users of Internet relay services
described emergency access as "unequivocally the most important aspect
of VRS and IP Relay functional equivalency."[^1] Similarly, the decision
to adopt a true ten-digit dialing system will greatly improve the value
of Internet-based relay services for consumers. We establish a
comprehensive system, for the first time, that will allow VRS and IP
Relay Service users to call and be called by other relay service
customers and by hearing customers. It will also permit relay service
users to port their numbers when they switch providers. I am also
pleased that the accompanying Further Notice seeks comment on consumer
protection issues, like slamming and customer privacy. Establishing
appropriate consumer safeguards is another important element of ensuring
"functional equivalence."

The progress we make today would not be possible were it not for the
tireless efforts of the many consumer representatives who have
championed these issues, participated in our stakeholder workshops, and
provided critical input to my office and Commission staff. We have also
benefited from the numerous providers who have shared their technical
expertise and experience as we develop solutions to these long
recognized problems, and we will need their continued cooperation as we
implement the decisions reached here. I am also grateful for the
attention and input of leading members of Congress who on a bipartisan
basis have recognized the importance of these issues and asked us to
move quickly.[^2]

Finally, the talented staff from our Consumer and Governmental Affairs
Bureau and Wireline Competition Bureau deserve particular praise for
bringing their expertise and dedication to this task. They have done
yeoman's work sorting through complicated numbering proposals, comparing
advantages and disadvantages, and crafting the best elements of each
into the current approach. We will need to rely on their continued
efforts in order to meet the December 31^st^ deadline for
implementation, so I thank them for their contributions to this item and
look forward to continuing the effort.

[^1]: *See* Partial Opposition of Telecommunications For The Deaf And
    Hard Of Hearing, Inc.; Association Of Late-Deafened Adults, Inc.;
    National Association Of The Deaf; Deaf And Hard Of Hearing Consumer
    Advocacy Network; And California Coalition Of Agencies Serving The
    Deaf And Hard Of Hearing (Dec. 20, 2007).

[^2]: *See* Letter from Chairman John D. Dingell, Ranking Member Joe
    Barton, Chairman Edward J. Markey, Ranking Member Fred Upton (Nov.
    26, 2007).