**DA 08-607**

**Released: March 19, 2008**

**CONSUMER & GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS BUREAU SEEKS TO REFRESH RECORD ON
ASSIGNING INTERNET PROTOCOL (IP)-BASED TELECOMUNICATIONS RELAY SERVICE
(TRS) USERS TEN-DIGIT TELEPHONE NUMBERS LINKED TO NORTH AMERICAN
NUMBERING PLAN (NANP) AND RELATED ISSUES**

**CG DOCKET NO. 03-123**

**PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED**

**Comments Due: April 8, 2008**

**Reply Comments Due: April 18, 2008**

By this Public Notice, we seek to refresh the record on the numbering
issue identified in the *Interoperability FNPRM,* which was released on
May 9, 2006.[^1] Among other things, the *Interoperability FNPRM* sought
comment on the feasibility of establishing a global, uniform ten-digit
telephone numbering system for Video Relay Services (VRS).[^2]
Specifically, we seek to ensure that the record reflects current
viewpoints and any new developments that have been made since the
deadline for filing comments in response to the *Interoperability
FNPRM*, including any developments with respect to technical, economic,
and administrative issues relevant to assigning users of all IP-based
forms of TRS uniform and static end-point numbers linked to the North
American Numbering Plan (NANP).[^3] In this regard, we also seek to
refresh the record on issues directly related to numbering, including
application of the "slamming"[^4] and other consumer protection rules
(such as the Commission's Consumer Proprietary Network Information
(CPNI) rules[^5]), local number portability (LNP) rules,[^6] and number
resource conservation.[^7]

Pursuant to sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's rules, 47
C.F.R. §§ 1.415, 1.419, interested parties may file comments in this
proceeding by April 8, 2008, and reply comments by April 18, 2008. When
filing comments, please reference **CG Docket No. 03-123.** Comments may
be filed using: (1) the Commission\'s Electronic Comment Filing System
(ECFS), (2) the Federal Government's eRulemaking Portal, or (3) by
filing paper copies. *See* Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking
Proceedings, 63 Fed. Reg. 24,121 (1998). Comments filed through the ECFS
can be sent as an electronic file via the Internet by accessing the
ECFS: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/ or the Federal Rulemaking Portal:
http://www.regulations.gov. Filers should follow the instructions
provided on the website for submitting comments. If multiple docket or
rulemaking numbers appear in the caption of this proceeding, commenters
must transmit one electronic copy of the comment to each docket or
rulemaking number referenced in the caption. In completing the
transmittal screen, commenters should include their full name, U.S.
Postal Service mailing address, and the applicable docket or rulemaking
number. Parties may also submit an electronic comment by Internet
e-mail. To get filing instructions, commenters should send an e-mail to
ecfs@fcc.gov, and should include the following words in the body of the
message, \"get form.\" A sample form and directions will be sent in
reply.

Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and four
copies of each filing. If more than one docket or rulemaking number
appears in the caption of this proceeding, commenters must submit two
additional copies for each additional docket or rulemaking number.
Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by electronic media,
by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S.
Postal Services mail (although we continue to experience delays in
receiving U.S. Postal Service mail). All filings must be addressed to
the Commission's Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal
Communications Commission. The Commission\'s contractor will receive
hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings or electronic media
for the Commission\'s Secretary at 236 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, Suite
110, Washington, D.C. 20002. The filing hours at this location are 8:00
a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber
bands or fasteners. Any envelopes must be disposed of *before* entering
the building. Commercial and electronic media sent by overnight mail
(other than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be
sent to 9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. U.S. Postal
Service first-class mail, Express Mail, and Priority Mail should be
addressed to 445 12^th^ Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20554.

Parties who choose to file by paper should also submit their comments on
CD-Rom. The CD-Rom should be submitted, along with three paper copies,
to: Dana Wilson, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, Disability
Rights Office, 445 12^th^ Street, SW, Room 3-C418, Washington, D.C.
20554. Such a submission should be on CD-Rom formatted in an IBM
compatible format using Word 2003 or compatible software. The CD-Rom
should be accompanied by a cover letter and should be submitted in
\"read only\" mode. The CD-Rom should be clearly labeled with the
commenter\'s name, proceeding (including the lead docket number, in this
case, **CG Docket No. 03-123),** type of pleading (comment or reply
comment), date of submission, and the name of the electronic file on the
CD-Rom. The label should also include the following phrase: \"CD-Rom
Copy - Not an Original.\" Each CD-Rom should contain only one party\'s
pleadings, preferably in a single electronic file. In addition,
commenters must send CD-Rom copies to the Commission\'s copy contractor,
Portals II, 445 12^th^ Street, SW, Room CY- B402, Washington, D.C.
20554.

Pursuant to section 1.1206 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R. §
1.1206, this proceeding will be conducted as a permit-but-disclose
proceeding in which *ex parte* communications are subject to disclosure.

The full text of this document and copies of any subsequently filed
documents in this matter will be available for public inspection and
copying during regular business hours at the FCC Reference Information
Center, Portals II, 445 12^th^ Street, SW, Room CY-A257, Washington,
D.C. 20554. This document 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, SW, Room CY-B402,
Washington, DC 20554. Customers may contact the Commission's contractor
at its web site www.bcpiweb.com or by calling 1-800-378-3160. 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 or Portable Document Format (PDF) at:
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/trs.html.

For further information, please contact Gregory Hlibok, Consumer &
Governmental Affairs Bureau, Disability Rights Office, at (800) 311-4381
(voice/VRS), (202) 418-0431 (TTY), or e-mail at Gregory.Hlibok@fcc.gov.

**-FCC-**

## 

[^1]: *Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services
    for Individuals with Hearing Disabilities*, CG Docket No. 03-123,
    Declaratory Ruling and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 21 FCC
    Rcd 5442, 5459-60, at paras. 44-50 (May 9, 2006) (*Interoperability
    FNPRM*). We note that, in a related matter, the Commission is
    releasing today a Report and Order adopting interim emergency call
    handling requirements for the Internet-based forms of TRS.
    *Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for
    Individuals with Hearing Disabilities;* *E911 Requirements for
    IP-Enabled Service Providers,* CG Docket No. 03-123, WC Docket No.
    05-196, Report and Order, FCC 08-78 (rel. Mar. 19, 2008).

[^2]: VRS is a form of telecommunications relay service (TRS) that
    allows individuals with hearing or speech disabilities to
    communicate using sign language through video equipment and the
    Internet. *See* 47 C.F.R. § 64.601(17). Other Internet Protocol
    (IP)-based TRS services include IP Relay and IP Captioned Telephone
    Service (CTS). *See generally* 47 U.S.C. § 225; 47 C.F.R. §§ 64.601
    *et seq.*

[^3]: *See* *Interoperability FNPRM*, 21 FCC Rcd. at 5459-60, paras.
    47-49 (requesting comments on technical and economic issues related
    to numbering and on assigning VRS users ten-digit numbers linked to
    NANP). We note that the Alliance for Telecommunication Industry
    Solutions (ATIS) recently released a report addressing the need for
    a ten-digit numbering system for IP-based TRS services. *See*
    "Numbering for Internet-Based Relay Services," ATIS Report 0300093
    (December 19, 2007) (available at
    <http://www.atis.org/INC/Docs/finaldocs/Numbering-for-Internet-Based-Relay-Services-12-19-07.doc>).
    We seek comment on the suggestions and conclusions identified in
    that report.

[^4]: *See* 47 U.S.C. § 258(a) and 47 C.F.R. § 64.1120 (setting forth
    "slamming" restrictions).

[^5]: *See* 47 U.S.C. § 222; 47 C.F.R. § 64.2001 *et seq*. (the CPNI
    rules).

[^6]: *See* 47 U.S.C. § 153(30) (defining number portability); 47 C.F.R.
    § 52.20 *et seq.* (setting forth LNP requirements).

[^7]: *See, e.g.,* *Interoperability FNPRM*: Comments of Communication
    Service for the Deaf, Inc. in CG Docket No. 03-123 at 6-8 (July 17,
    2006) (addressing numbering-related slamming and LNP issues); *see
    also* Ex Parte of Hands On Video Relay Services, Inc. in CG Docket
    No. 03-123 at 2 (Nov. 7, 2007) (asserting that number conservation
    efforts should not hinder the deployment of a numbering system for
    IP-based TRS).