PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission ion 445 12th St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 DA 08-1055 Released: May 2, 2008 NATIONAL EXCHANGE CARRIER ASSOCATION (NECA) SUBMITS THE PAYMENT FORMULA AND FUND SIZE ESTIMATE FOR THE INTERSTATE TELECOMMUNICATIONS RELAY SERVICES (TRS) FUND FOR THE JULY 2008 THROUGH JUNE 2009 FUND YEAR CG Docket No. 03-123 Comments: May 16, 2008 Reply Comments: May 23, 2008 On May 1, 2008, 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, 2008, through June 30, 2009.1 NECA proposes per minute compensation rates based on the new rate calculation methodologies established in the 2007 TRS Rate Methodology Order.2 These calculations result in the following proposed rates: $1.5938 for interstate traditional TRS;3 $2.7248 for interstate Speech-to-Speech (STS);4 $1.6569 for interstate captioned telephone service (CTS) and interstate and intrastate Internet Protocol (IP) captioned telephone service (IP CTS);5 $1.2865 for interstate and intrastate IP Relay;6 and tiered rates 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 May 1, 2008) (2008 TRS Rate Filing). 2 See Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities, CG Docket No. 03-123, Report and Order, and Declaratory Ruling, 22 FCC Rcd 20140 (Nov. 19, 2007) (2007 TRS Rate Methodology Order). 3 The Commission adopted the Multistate Average Rate Structure (MARS) plan to calculate the annual interstate traditional TRS rate. See 2007 TRS Rate Methodology Order, 22 FCC Rcd at 20149-57, paras. 16-35; see also 2008 TRS Rate Filing at 6-8 and App. C. 4 The traditional TRS MARS rate also applies to interstate STS. See 2007 TRS Rate Methodology Order, 22 FCC Rcd 20140 at 20156, para. 34. Consistent with the 2007 TRS Rate Methodology Order, however, NECA’s proposed STS rate includes an additional per-minute amount of $1.131 to be used for STS outreach. See 2007 TRS Rate Methodology Order, 22 FCC Rcd at 20165, para. 57; see also 2008 TRS Rate Filing at 6-8 and App. C. 5 The Commission also adopted the MARS Plan for interstate CTS and interstate and intrastate IP CTS. See 2007 TRS Rate Methodology Order; 22 FCC Rcd at 20157-58, paras. 36-38; see also 2008 TRS Rate Filing at 8 and App. D. 2 of $6.7362 for the first 50,000 monthly minutes, $6.4675 for monthly minutes between 50,001 and 500,000, and $6.2685 for minutes above 500,000 for interstate and intrastate Video Relay Service (VRS).7 Based on these rates, NECA proposes a carrier contribution factor of 0.01012, and a Fund size requirement of $805.5 million.8 The Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau seeks comment on NECA’s proposed compensation rates for traditional TRS, STS, CTS and IP CTS, IP Relay, and VRS for the period of July 1, 2008, through June 30, 2009, as well as the proposed carrier contribution factor and Fund size requirement. 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 16, 2008, and reply comments on or before May 23, 2008. All filings must reference CG Docket No. 03-123. Comments may be filed using: (1) the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), (2) the Federal Government’s eRulemaking Portal, or (3) by filing paper copies. See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings.9 Comments may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing the ECFS: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb.ecfs/ or the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Filers should follow the instructions provided on the website for submitting comments. 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, filers should send an e-mail to ecfs@fcc.gov, and include the following words in the body of the message: “get form.” A sample form and directions will be sent in response. 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, 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). All filings must be addressed to the Commission’s Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. The Commission’s contractor 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, Capital 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. Parties who choose to file by paper should also submit their comments on CD-Rom. The CD- Rom should be submitted, along with three paper copies, to: Dana Wilson, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, Disability Rights Office, 445 12th Street, SW, Room 3-C418, Washington, D.C. 20554. 6 For interstate and intrastate IP Relay, the Commission adopted a price cap methodology. See 2007 TRS Rate Methodology Order, 22 FCC Rcd at 20158-60, paras. 39-46; see also 2008 TRS Rate Filing at 9. 7 For interstate and intrastate VRS, the Commission adopted a tiered rate methodology. See 2007 TRS Rate Methodology Order, 22 FCC Rcd at 20160-65, paras. 47-56; see also 2008 TRS Rate Filing at 10-11. 8 See 2008 TRS Rate Filing at 2-4 and 11-13. 9 63 FR 24121 (1998). 3 Such a submission should be on CD-Rom formatted in an IBM compatible format using Word 2003 or compatible software. The CD-Rom should be accompanied by a cover letter and should be submitted in "read only" mode. The CD-Rom 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 CD-Rom. The label should also include the following phrase: "CD-Rom Copy - Not an Original." Each CD-Rom should contain only one party's pleadings, preferably in a single electronic file. In addition, commenters must send CD- Rom copies to the Commission's copy contractor, Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW, Room CY- B402, Washington, D.C. 20554. 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 12th 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 at their website, 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 (insert CG Docket No. 03-123 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 document can also be downloaded in Word and Portable Document Format (PDF) at: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/trs.html. For further information, please contact Diane Mason, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, Disability Rights Office, at (202) 418-7126 (voice), (202) 418-7828 (TTY), or e-mail at Diane.Mason@fcc.gov. -FCC-