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 14-608 Released: May 2, 2014 FCC EXTENDS DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS FOR CERTIFICATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NATIONAL DEAF-BLIND EQUIPMENT DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM FOR THE STATE OF NEBRASKA Washington, D.C. – By this Public Notice, the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB) of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) extends the deadline for submitting applications for certification to participate in the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP) pilot program for Nebraska to May 20, 2014.1 On April 21, 2014, CGB released a Public Notice inviting applications for certification to replace the entity currently certified to participate in the NDBEDP pilot program for Nebraska.2 In that Public Notice, CGB set a deadline of May 6, 2014 for the submission of such applications.3 To allow additional time for interested applicants to apply and to provide for maximum variety in the applicant pool from which to select an entity that can effectively fulfill the NDBEDP’s mission, the Commission now extends the deadline to May 20, 2014.4 Because the entity currently certified to distribute equipment under the NDBEDP for Nebraska will not be relinquishing its certification until June 30, 2014,5 we conclude that extending this deadline for two additional weeks will not interfere with the provision of NDBEDP equipment and related services to qualifying residents in Nebraska beginning July 1, 2014.6 1 The NDBEDP supports programs that distribute equipment to make telecommunications, advanced communications, and Internet services accessible to low-income individuals who are deaf-blind. 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 (2011). The Commission certified 53 entities to distribute equipment under the NDBEDP in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. See Commission Announces Launch of the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program, Public Notice, 27 FCC Rcd 7403 (2012). 2 FCC Invites Applications for Certification to Participate in the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program in the States of Vermont and Nebraska, DA 14-524 (April 21, 2014). 3 Id. at 1. 4 See Letter from Leslie Novacek, Director, Assistive Technology Partnership, to Jacqueline Ellington, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, FCC (April 29, 2014) (requesting additional time to apply). 5 See Letter from John C. Wyvill, Executive Director, Nebraska Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, to Jacqueline Ellington, Attorney Advisor, Disability Rights Office, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, FCC (March 31, 2014). 6 In the Public Notice released April 21, 2014, the Commission also invited applications for certification to participate in the NDBEDP pilot program for the state of Vermont. Unlike the certified entity for Nebraska, the certified entity for Vermont announced its intent to withdraw from the NDBEDP effective immediately. See Letter from William Gurney, President, Vermont Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc., to the Federal Communications Commission, Jacqueline Ellington, Attorney Advisor, Disability Rights Office, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (March 4, 2014). As such, it is necessary to move quickly to enable Vermont’s residents to benefit from funding that remains in the state’s NDBEDP allocation before the close of the current fund 2ACCESSIBLE 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- year on June 30, 2014. Therefore, no extension of time will be provided for the submission of applications to become the NDBEDP-certified entity for Vermont.