**DA 02-756**

**Released: April 3, 2002**

**CONSUMER AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS BUREAU ANNOUNCES**

**AGENDA FOR THE MAY 3, 2002 RESCHEDULED PUBLIC FORUM**

**AND TECHNOLOGY EXPO ON**

**TELECOMMUNICATIONS RELAY SERVICE (CC Docket 98-67)**

The Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB) of the Federal
Communications Commission invites interested persons to a Public Forum
and Technology Expo on Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) on Friday,
May 3, 2002, from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. in the Commission Meeting Room
(Room TW-C305) and adjacent rooms, at 445 12th St., SW, Washington, DC
20554.

The purpose of this Forum and Expo is for TRS administrators, consumers,
providers, and Commission staff to share information on, among other
things, the current state of TRS, renewal of state TRS certifications
and new TRS technologies. The Forum will offer an opportunity for
everyone, including consumers and industry representatives, to exchange
ideas with the Commission and TRS administrators and to have their
comments become part of the formal public record in CC Docket 98-67. In
conjunction with the Forum, the CGB will hold a Technology Expo to
showcase TRS and other accessibility technologies.

The Forum agenda is tentatively as follows:

9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Technology Expo

10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Opening Remarks

10:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Status of TRS and Current Issues

11:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Renewal of State TRS Certifications

12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Expo Demonstrations (Lunch Break)

1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Panel on TRS Technologies for the 21^st^ Century

2:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Open Microphone

3:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Expo Demonstrations

TRS now utilizes a variety of services to facilitate telephone
communication between persons with hearing or speech disabilities and
persons who use voice telephones. Relay services between TTY and

voice users utilize a relay operator, called a Communications Assistant
(CA), to read what the TTY user types to a voice telephone user, and to
type responses back to the TTY user throughout the duration of a
telephone call. Speech-to-speech (STS) relay utilizes CAs trained in
understanding certain speech patterns to relay conversations for people
with speech disabilities. Video relay services (VRS) utilize CAs skilled
in sign language to relay conversations for users of American Sign
Language.

The Forum will provide an opportunity for a full exchange of ideas on
the status of TRS. While time constraints limit the number of
individuals who may make in-person presentations at the Forum, we
encourage all interested individuals to submit written *ex parte*
submissions, by May 10, 2002.

*Ex parte* submissions may be filed using the Commission\'s Electronic
Comment Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies.
[See]{.underline} [Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking
Proceedings]{.underline}, 63 Fed. Reg. 24121 (1998).

Submissions 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, 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 \<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.
All filings must be addressed to the Commission\'s Acting Secretary,
William F. Caton, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications
Commission, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554. Filings can be
sent first class by the US Postal Service, by an overnight courier or
hand and messenger-delivered. Hand and messenger-delivered paper filings
must be delivered to 236 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E., Suite 110,
Washington, DC 20002. Overnight courier (other than U.S. Postal Service
Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton Drive,
Capitol Heights, MD 20743.

Those unable to attend the Forum can watch and listen to it live over
the Internet with open captioning in Real Audio/Real Video format at:
[\<http://www.fcc.gov/realaudio/\>](http://www.fcc.gov/realaudio/) or
hear it via telephone, for a fee, from National Narrowcast Network,
(202) 966-2211 (voice/TRS) or (202) 966-1770 (fax). Individuals can send
their views and/or questions before or during the Forum to:
[TRSFORUM@fcc.gov](../TRSFORUM@fcc.gov) (e-mail). The e-mails should
have the heading, \"Ex Parte Submission in CC Docket 98-67.\" These
views will be included in the record of the TRS proceeding.

A transcript of the forum will be available 10 business days after the
event on the FCC\'s Internet site at the Consumer and Governmental
Affairs Bureau web page at
[\<http://www.fcc.gov/cgb\>](../%3Chttp://www.fcc.gov/cgb%3E).
Transcripts may also be obtained from the FCC\'s duplicating contractor,
Qualex International, 445 12th St., S.W., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC
20554, telephone 202-863-2893, facsimile 202-863-2898, or via e-mail
qualexint@aol.com.

Audio and video tapes of the forum be purchased from Infocus, 341
Victory Drive, Herndon, VA 20170, by calling Infocus at (703) 834-0100
or by faxing Infocus at (703) 834-0111.

Sign language interpretation, open captioning and assistive listening
devices will be provided. Meeting agenda and handout materials will be
provided in accessible formats. The meeting site is fully accessible to
people using wheelchairs or other mobility aids. Copies of the
transcript in other alternative formats (computer diskette, large print,
and Braille) are available to persons with disabilities by contacting
Brian Millin (202) 418-7426 voice, (202) 418-7365 TTY, or
<bmillin@fcc.gov>. Send requests for other reasonable accommodations to
[fcc504@fcc.gov](../fcc504@fcc.gov), or contact Helen Chang, Section 504
Officer, 202-418-0424, 202-418-0432 TTY, or
[hchang@fcc.gov](../hchang@fcc.gov).

For more information about the TRS Forum or Technology Expo, including
how to exhibit at the Expo, please contact Suzanne Perrin at (202)
418-2874 (voice), (202) 418-1085 (TTY), or <sperrin@fcc.gov>.

-FCC-