PUBLIC NOTICE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 1919 M STREET, N.W. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554 DA 99-297 News media information 202/418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202/418-2830 TTY 202/418-0484 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov ftp.fcc.gov Released: February 4, 1999 FCC REQUESTS PROPOSALS FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS RELAY SERVICES (TRS) FUND ADMINISTRATOR AND COMMENTS ON THE AUTHORIZATION OF AN ADDITIONAL TRS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBER TO REPRESENT THE SPEECH-DISABLED COMMUNITY The Commission requests proposals from parties interested in being appointed TRS Fund administrator at the end of the current administrator's term, and comments on whether the Commission should authorize reimbursement of an additional TRS advisory committee member in the category for the hearing and speech disability community. On June 29, 1995, the Common Carrier Bureau (the Bureau) reappointed the National Exchange Carrier Association, Inc. (NECA) as the administrator of the TRS Fund for a four-year term ending July 25, 1999. See Appointment of the Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) Fund Administrator and Composition of the TRS Advisory Committee, CC Docket No. 90-571, Memorandum Opinion and Order, 10 FCC Rcd 7223 (Com.Car. Bur. 1995). The Bureau stated that it would review NECA's performance at the end of this term. Id. at 7224. As part of our review of NECA's performance, we will accept comments on that performance as well as proposals from other parties interested in serving as administrator. Proposals should include: (1) the name and address of the proposed administrator; (2) evidence that the party is capable of managing a fund of the kind and size of the TRS fund; (3) a detailed statement and itemization of expected administrative expenses; (4) evidence that the party is capable of carrying out the administrator's duties with respect to the TRS advisory committee; and (5) a statement of why the public interest would be served by the party's appointment as administrator of the TRS Fund. On July 20, 1993, the Commission directed NECA, as fund administrator, to establish a voluntary advisory committee, composed of individuals from the hearing and speech disability community, TRS users, interstate service providers, TRS providers, and state representatives, to provide guidance on TRS issues. See Telecommunications Relay Services, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, CC Docket No. 90-571, Third Report and Order, 8 FCC Rcd 5300 (1993). Currently, all of the representatives in the category for the hearing and speech disability community are from the hearing disabled community. Recently, however, Speech-to-Speech relay services have become available for many individuals with speech disabilities; thus, a representative from the speech disabled community may also be required on the Committee. Accordingly, the Commission requests comments on whether it should authorize an additional reimbursable position on the Committee, in the category for the hearing and speech disability community, for a representative from the speech disability community. Interested parties may file comments and proposals concerning these issues on or before February 26, 1999. Reply comments may be filed on or before March 12, 1999. 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, 13 FCC Rcd 11322 (1998). Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file via the Internet to . 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 ." 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 all comments and reply comments. All filings must be sent to the Commission's Secretary, Magalie Roman Salas, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, S.W., TW-A325, Washington, D.C. 20554. In addition, one copy of each pleading must be filed with the Commission's duplicating contractor, International Transcription Services (ITS), 1231 20th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036, and one copy with Al McCloud, Network Services Division, 2000 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20554. Copies of documents filed with the Commission may be obtained from the International Transcription Service (ITS), 1231 20th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036, (202) 857-3800. Alternative formats (computer diskette, large print, audio cassette, and Braille) are available to persons with disabilities by contacting Martha Contee at (202) 418-0260, TTY (202) 418-2555, or at mcontee@fcc.gov. This Public Notice can also be downloaded at: http://www.fcc.gov/dtf/. For further information contact Debra Sabourin at (202) 418-0976, dsabouri@fcc.gov, or Marilyn Jones at (202) 418-2357, majones@fcc.gov, of the Common Carrier Bureau, Network Services Division. TTY Number: (202) 418-0484. - FCC -