**DA 04-2062**

**Released: July 9, 2004**

**PETITION FOR DECLARATORY RULING FILED REGARDING PROVISION OF VIDEO
RELAY SERVICE (VRS) VIDEO MAIL**

**CG DOCKET NO. 03-123**

**Comments Due: August 15, 2004**

**Reply Comments Due: August 30, 2004**

On March 31, 2004, Hands On Video Relay Service, Inc. (HOVRS) filed a
*Petition for Declaratory Ruling*, requesting that the Commission
declare that the provision of Video VRS Mail to deaf and hard of hearing
persons is eligible for compensation from the Interstate TRS Fund.[^1]
VRS -- Video Relay Service -- is "a telecommunications relay service
that allows people with hearing or speech disabilities who use sign
language to communicate with voice telephone users with video equipment.
The video link allows the \[communications assistant\] to view and
interpret the party's signed conversation and relay the conversation
back and forth with a voice caller."[^2] According to HOVRS, Video VRS
Mail is a means by which hearing persons can have a VRS communications
assistant send a message in video format (American Sign Language) to a
deaf or hard of hearing VRS user who is not available to answer the
call, so that the VRS user can retrieve the video message at a later
time.

Interested parties may file comments in this proceeding on or before
August 15, 2004 and reply comments may be filed on or before August 30,
2004. When filing comments, please reference CG Docket No. 03-123.
Comments may be filed using the Commission\'s Electronic Comment Filing
System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies. *See* [Electronic Filing of
Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 Fed. Reg. 24,121
(1998)](http://web2.westlaw.com/find/default.wl?DB=1037&SerialNum=0108807413&FindType=Y&ReferencePositionType=S&ReferencePosition=24121&AP=&RS=WLW4.05&VR=2.0&FN=_top&SV=Split&MT=Westlaw).
Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file via
the Internet to \<http://www.fcc.gov/e- file/ecfs.html\>. Generally,
only one copy of an electronic submission must be filed. In completing
the transmittal screen, commenters should include their full name,
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 \<your e-mail
address\>.\" 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. 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). The
Commission\'s contractor, Natek, Inc., 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, DC 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, DC 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-B204 Washington, DC 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 6C-410 Washington
DC 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, CG Docket No. 03-123, 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 duplicating contractor, Best
Copy and Printing, Inc. (BCPI), Portals II, 445 12^th^ Street, SW, Room
CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554. Pursuant to section 1.1206 of the
Commission\'s rules, [47 C.F.R. §
1.1206](http://web2.westlaw.com/find/default.wl?DB=1000547&DocName=47CFRS1.1206&FindType=L&AP=&RS=WLW4.05&VR=2.0&FN=_top&SV=Split&MT=Westlaw),
this proceeding will be conducted as a permit-but-disclose proceeding in
which ex parte communications are subject to disclosure.

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, DC 20554. The complete text of
this Public Notice may be purchased from the Commission\'s duplicating
contractor, BCPI, Portals II, 445 12^th^ Street, SW, Room CY-B402,
Washington, DC 20554, telephone (202) 863-2893, facsimile (202)
863-2898, or via e-mail at [www.bcpiweb.com](http://www.bcpiweb.com/).

To request materials in accessible formats (such as Braille, large
print, electronic files, or audio format), send an e-mail to
<fcc504@fcc.gov> or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at
(202) 418-0530 (voice) or (202) 418-0432 (TTY).  This *Public Notice*
can also be downloaded in Word and Portable Document Format at
<http://www.fcc.gov/cgb.dro>.

For further information, please contact Cheryl King, Consumer &
Governmental Affairs Bureau, Disability Rights Office, at (202) 418-2284
(voice), (202) 418-0416 (TTY), or e-mail at <Cheryl.King@fcc.gov>.

**-FCC-**

[^1]: HOVRS, Petition for Declaratory Ruling, CC Docket No. 98-67, filed
    March 31, 2004. The petition may be viewed at
    [www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs](http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs). This petition
    will be considered under CG Docket No. 03-123.

[^2]: 47 C.F.R. § 64.601(17).