**DA 05-1175**

**Released: April 28, 2005**

**NATIONAL EXCHANGE CARRIER ASSOCIATION (NECA) SUBMITS THE PAYMENT
FORMULA AND FUND SIZE ESTIMATE FOR INTERSTATE TELECOMMUNICATIONS RELAY
SERVICES (TRS) FUND FOR JULY 2005 THROUGH JUNE 2006**

**CC Docket 98-67**

**Comments: May 13, 2005**

**Reply Comments: May 25, 2005**

On April 25, 2005, pursuant to 47 C.F.R. § 64.604(c)(5)(iii)(H), the
National Exchange Carrier Association (NECA), the Interstate
Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) Fund Administrator, submitted
its annual payment formula and fund size estimate for the Interstate TRS
Fund for the period July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006.[^1]

NECA proposes a carrier contribution factor of 0.00528, and a fund size
requirement of \$413.3 million. NECA proposes per completed minute
compensation rates of: \$1.312 for traditional TRS and for Internet
Protocol (IP) Relay (compared to \$1.398 for the 2004-2005 fund year);
\$1.579 for Speech-to-Speech (STS) (compared to \$1.596 for the
2004-2005 fund year); and \$5.924 for Video Relay Service (VRS)
(compared to \$7.596 for the 2004-2005 fund year).

In the *2004 TRS Report and Order and FNPRM*, the Commission sought
comment on whether the Commission should require the TRS Fund
administrator to determine and propose separate compensation rates for
IP Relay and traditional TRS.[^2] NECA indicates that if the Commission
did require separate compensation rates, NECA would propose an IP Relay
rate of \$1.278, and a traditional TRS rate of \$1.440. We seek further
comment on whether the Commission should adopt separate compensation
rates for IP Relay and traditional TRS for the 2005-2006 fund year.

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 on or
before May 13, 2005, and reply comments on or before May 25, 2005. All
filings must reference **CC Docket 98-67**. Comments may be filed using
the Commission\'s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or by filing
paper copies. Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an
electronic file via the Internet to <http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/>.
Generally, only one copy of an electronic submission must be filed. If
multiple docket or rulemaking numbers appear in the caption of this
proceeding, however, commenters must transmit one electronic copy of the
comments 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 for e-mail
comments, 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, electronic media, 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, Natek, Inc.,
will receive hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings or
electronic media filings 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 mail 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. All filings must be addressed to the
Commission\'s Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications
Commission, 445 12^th^ Street, SW, Room TW-B204, Washington, D.C. 20554.

Parties who choose to file by paper should also submit their comments on
diskette. These diskettes should be submitted, along with three paper
copies, to: Dana Jackson, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau,
Disability Rights Office, 445 12^th^ Street, SW, Room CY-C417,
Washington, D.C. 20554. Such a submission should be on a 3.5 inch
diskette formatted in an IBM compatible format using Word 97 or
compatible software. The diskette should be accompanied by a cover
letter and should be submitted in \"read only\" mode. The diskette
should be clearly labeled with the commenter\'s name, proceeding
(including the lead docket number in this case **(CC Docket No.
98-67)**, type of pleading (comment or reply comment), date of
submission, and the name of the electronic file on the diskette. The
label should also include the following phrase \"Disk Copy - Not an
Original.\" Each diskette should contain only one party\'s pleadings,
preferably in a single electronic file. In addition, commenters must
send diskette copies to the Commission\'s copy contractor, Best Copy and
Printing (BCPI), Inc., Portals II, 445 12^th^ Street, SW, Room,
CY-CB402, 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.

A copy of this document, NECA\'s submission and any subsequently filed
documents in this matter will be available during regular business hours
at the FCC Reference Center, Portals II, 445 12^th^ Street, SW, Room
CY-A257, Washington, D.C. 20554, (202) 418-0270. This document, NECA's
submission and any subsequently filed documents in this matter may also
be purchased from the Commission's duplicating contractor, BCPI, Inc.
Customers may contact BCPI, Inc. at their website,
[www.bcpiweb.com](http://www.bcpiweb.com/), or call 1-800-378-3160. A
copy of the submission may also be found by searching on the
Commission\'s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) at
[http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs]{.underline} (insert **CC Docket No.
98-67** into the Proceeding block).

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 Text and ASCII formats at:
<http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro>.

For further information, please contact Dana Jackson, Consumer &
Governmental Affairs Bureau, Disability Rights Office, at (202) 418-2247
(voice), (202) 418-7898 (TTY), or e-mail at <Dana.Jackson@fcc.gov>.

**-FCC-**

[^1]: *Telecommunications Services for Individuals with Hearing and
    Speech Disabilities, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of
    1990*, Interstate Telecommunications Relay Services Fund Payment
    Formula and Fund Size Estimate (filed April 25, 2005) (*2005 TRS
    Rate Filing*).

[^2]: *Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services
    for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities*, Report and
    Order, Order on Reconsideration, and Further Notice of Proposed
    Rulemaking, CC Docket Nos. 90-571 and 98-67, CG Docket No. 03-123,
    19 FCC Rcd 12475 at 12564-12565, ¶ 233 (June 30, 2004) (*2004 TRS
    Report and Order and FNPRM*).