> **DA 02-1006**
>
> **Released: May 1, 2002**

**TELECOMMUNICATIONS RELAY SERVICES (TRS)**

**APPLICATIONS FOR STATE CERTIFICATION AND RENEWAL OF CURRENT**

**CERTIFICATIONS ACCEPTED UNTIL OCTOBER 1, 2002**

Notice is hereby given that the Commission will accept applications for
the renewal of state telecommunications relay services (TRS) program
certifications from July 26, 2002 until October 1, 2002.

Current state certifications expire July 26, 2003. The Commission's
rules provide that states may apply for a renewal of their certified
state TRS program one year prior to the expiration of their current
certification. *See* 47 C.F.R.§ 64.605(c). To facilitate the processing
of applications, the Commission will accept applications until October
1, 2002.

**[Requirements for FCC Certification]{.underline}**

The Commission's rules for the provision of TRS, pursuant to Title IV of
the Americans with Disabilities Act, 47 U.S.C. § 225, are codified at 47
C.F.R. §§ 64.601-605. Pursuant to 47 C.F.R. § 64.605(b), a state
desiring certification of its TRS program must establish that:

(1) The state program meets or exceeds all operational, technical, and
    functional minimum standards contained in 47 C.F.R. § 64.604;

(2) The state program makes available adequate procedures and remedies
    for enforcing the state program; and

(3) Where a state program exceeds the mandatory minimum standards
    contained in §64.604, the state establishes that its program in no
    way conflicts with federal law.

Pursuant to 47 C.F.R. § 64.605(a), documentation must be submitted
through the state's office of the governor or other delegated executive
office empowered to provide TRS. All documentation in support of the
application must be submitted in narrative form, and must clearly
describe the state program for implementing intrastate TRS, and the
procedures and remedies for enforcing any requirements imposed by the
state program. To the maximum extent possible, states should provide
historical, statistical, and illustrative evidence demonstrating
compliance with the Commission's TRS rules.

Upon receipt, the Commission will give public notice of state TRS
certification applications and provide notification in the *Federal
Register*, pursuant to 47 C.F.R. § 64.605(a). Interested parties will be
invited to comment on each application within a period of time set by
the Commission. In the event that a state's application is opposed or
incomplete, the Commission may contact the responsible state officer to
seek further documentation. If it appears that a state program will not
meet certification requirements, the Commission will send notice to the
responsible state officer prior to July 26, 2003, giving the state an
opportunity to demonstrate that it has taken, or will take measures to
bring its program into compliance with the Commission rules by July 26,
2003.

The Commission will act to approve the applications for certification of
states that demonstrate compliance with all applicable requirements of
the Commission's rules on or before July 26, 2003. Approved
certifications will be in effect for five (5) years until July 26, 2008
pursuant to 47 C.F.R. § 64.605(c). In the event a state does not apply
for certification, the Commission will contact common carriers providing
voice transmission service in that state to ensure that TRS service
meeting the Commission minimum operational, functional and technical
standards is available within their service areas. *See* 47 U.S.C. §
225(c).

**[Documentation and Electronic Copies]{.underline}**

Parties who choose to submit by paper must submit an original and four
copies of each filing on or before October 1, 2002. To expedite the
processing of applications, applicants are encouraged to submit an
additional copy to Attn: Dana Jackson, Federal Communications
Commission, Consumers and Governmental Affairs Bureau, 445 12^th^
Street, SW, Room 5-A741, Washington, DC 20554 or by email at
<dljackso@fcc.gov>. Applicants should also submit electronic disk copies
of their application on a standard 3.5 inch diskette formatted in an IBM
compatible format using Word 97 or compatible software. The diskette
should be submitted in "read-only" mode and must be clearly labeled with
the state's name, the filing date and captioned "TRS Certification
Application."

Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial
overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service
mail (although we continue to experience delays in receiving U.S. Postal
Service mail). The Commission\'s contractor, Vistronix, Inc., will
receive hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the
Commission\'s Secretary at 236 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E., 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 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 12th Street, SW,
Washington, D.C. 20554. All filings must be addressed to the
Commission\'s Secretary, Marlene H. Dortch, Office of the Secretary,
Federal Communications Commission, 445 12^th^ Street, SW, Room TW-A325,
Washington, DC 20554.

The filings and comments 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, DC
20554. They may also be purchased from the Commission's duplicating
contractor, Qualex International, Portals II, 44512^th^ Street, Room
CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554, telephone (202) 863-2893, facsimile (202)
863-2898, or via e-mail <qualexint@aol.com>. Copies of this document in
other alternative formats (computer diskette, large print and Braille)
are available to persons with disabilities by contacting Brian Millin of
the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-7426 (voice),
(202) 418-7365 (TTY), or email <bmillin@fcc.gov>. This Public Notice can
also be downloaded in Text and ASCII formats at
<http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro>.

For further information regarding this Public Notice, contact Dana
Jackson, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, Disabilities Rights
Office (202) 418-2247 (voice), (202) 418-7898 (TTY), or e-mail
<dljackso@fcc.gov>.

**-FCC-**