PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 News Media Information: 202-418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 DA 11-1591 Released: September 22, 2011 FCC ANNOUNCES 60-DAY PERIOD TO APPLY FOR CERTIFICATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NATIONAL DEAF-BLIND EQUIPMENT DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM Washington, D.C. – On September 21, 2011, rules issued by the Federal Communications Commission (“Commission”) establishing the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program (“NDBEDP”) pilot program became effective.1 The Commission will accept applications from programs interested in receiving certification to participate in the NDBEDP pilot program for a period of 60 days, starting from the date on which the rules became effective through November 21, 2011.2 Section 105 of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (“CVAA”), signed into law by President Obama on October 8, 2010,3 directed the Commission to establish rules that define as eligible for funding support programs that distribute specialized customer premises equipment to low-income individuals who are deaf-blind. In accordance with this directive, in April of this year, the Commission established the NDBEDP as a pilot program to distribute equipment used for telecommunications services, Internet access services, and advanced communications, including interexchange services and advanced telecommunications and information services, to eligible people who are deaf-blind. The duration of this pilot program will be two years, with a Commission option to extend the program for an additional year. Certification to Receive Funding. As provided in the Commission’s rules,4 for each state, the Commission will certify a single program as the sole authorized entity to participate in the NDBEDP and receive reimbursement for its NDBEDP activities from the Interstate Telecommunications Relay Service Fund (“TRS Fund”).5 Such entity will have full oversight and responsibility for distributing equipment 1 See Relay Services for Deaf-Blind Individuals, 76 Fed. Reg. 58,412 (September 21, 2011). 2 See Implementation of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010, Section 105, Relay Services for Deaf-Blind Individuals, Report and Order, 26 FCC Rcd 5640, 5647, ¶ 14 (2011) (“NDBEDP Report and Order”), available at http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-11-56A1.doc. 3 Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010, Pub. L. No. 111-260, 124 Stat. 2751 (2010) (as codified in various sections of 47 U.S.C.). See also Amendment of Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010, Pub. L. 111-265, 124 Stat. 2795 (2010), also enacted on October 8, 2010, making technical corrections to the CVAA. Section 105 adds Section 719 to the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and is codified at 47 U.S.C. § 620. 4 47 C.F.R. § 64.610 (b). 5 Claims for reimbursement must be submitted, at a minimum, within 30 days after the end of each six-month period of the Fund Year. See 47 C.F.R. § 64.610(f)(2). See also NDBEDP Report and Order, 26 FCC Rcd at 5678-79, ¶¶ 86-88. 2 and providing related services in the state for which it is certified,6 either directly or through collaboration, partnership, or contract with other individuals or entities in-state or out-of-state, including other NDBEDP certified programs.7 Who May Apply: Any public program or private entity may apply to the Commission for certification to become the sole authorized entity for a state to participate in the NDBEDP and receive reimbursement for NDBEDP activities from the TRS Fund.8 For example, public programs, such as state equipment distribution programs, vocational rehabilitation programs, assistive technology programs, or schools for the deaf, blind or deaf-blind may apply. Likewise, private entities, such as organizational affiliates, independent living centers, or private educational facilities, may apply. Either local or national entities may apply, so long as the application is clear as to the specific state(s) to be covered by the applicant’s proposed program(s). Applications: There is no application form or fee to apply for certification in the NDBEDP pilot program. Applicants may compile their application in any manner that they believe will most effectively present their qualifications for certification. The Commission shall review applications and determine whether to grant certification based on the ability of a program to meet the following qualifications, either directly or in coordination with other programs or entities, as evidenced in the application and any supplemental materials, including letters of recommendation:9 · expertise in the field of deaf-blindness, including familiarity with the culture and etiquette of people who are deaf-blind, to ensure that equipment distribution and the provision of related services occurs in a manner that is relevant and useful to consumers who are deaf-blind; · ability to communicate effectively with people who are deaf-blind (for training and other purposes), by among other things, using sign language, providing materials in Braille, ensuring that information made available online is accessible, and using other assistive technologies and methods to achieve effective communication; · staffing and facilities sufficient to administer the program, including the ability to distribute equipment and provide related services to eligible individuals throughout the state, including those in remote areas; · experience with the distribution of specialized customer premises equipment, especially to people who are deaf-blind; · experience in training users on how to use the equipment and how to set up the equipment for its effective use; and · familiarity with the telecommunications, Internet access, and advanced communications services that will be used with the distributed equipment. 6 See NDBEDP Report and Order, 26 FCC Rcd at 5659-5676, ¶¶ 45-80 (discussing various categories of related services). 7 47 C.F.R. § 64.610 (b). 8 47 C.F.R. § 64.610 (b)(2). 9 47 C.F.R. § 64.610 (b)(3). 3 Applicants are encouraged to include the identity of the other programs or entities with whom the applicant will collaborate, partner, or contract, and the functions or services that they or individual contractors (who do not need to be identified by name) will fulfill. Applicants may also include recommendations with their certification applications from members of the deaf-blind community in their state, experts or others with direct knowledge of their capabilities and qualifications.10 Applications may be submitted electronically to NDBEDP@fcc.gov or mailed to the following address: NDBEDP Administrator Disability Rights Office Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, SW Washington, DC 20554 This Public Notice summarizes the qualifications for obtaining certification to participate in the NDBEDP pilot program. Certification will be granted for the duration of the pilot program, subject to compliance with program requirements.11 We encourage every applicant to familiarize itself with the complete requirements for program participation and the rules governing the NDBEDP pilot program contained in 47 C.F.R. § 64.610 before submitting its application. Certified applicants must comply with the NDBEDP rules.12 ACCESSIBLE FORMATS: 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 and Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (TTY). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jackie Ellington, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, 202-418-1153, e-mail Jackie.Ellington@fcc.gov; or Rosaline Crawford, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, 202-418-2075, e-mail Rosaline.Crawford@fcc.gov. -FCC- 10 NDBEDP Report and Order, 26 FCC Rcd at 5649, ¶ 21. 11 As noted in the NDBEDP Report and Order, the Commission reserves the right, after this 60-day period has concluded, to continue accepting applications for certification at any time during the pilot program, as may be needed to fill program gaps, with the goal of ensuring that one certified program is operating in every state. NDBEDP Report and Order, 26 FCC Rcd at 5647,¶ 14, n.49. 12 See NDBEDP Report and Order, 26 FCC Rcd at 5694-5701, Appendix A (setting out the NDBEDP pilot program rules). See also 47 C.F.R. § 64.610.