PUBLIC NOTICE
Federal Communications Commission
445 12
th
St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554
News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
TTY: 1-888-835-5322
DA 15-901
Released:  August 7, 2015
COMMISSION ANNOUNCES ENTITY SELECTED FOR
CERTIFICATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NATIONAL DEAF-BLIND
EQUIPMENT DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM FOR MAINE
Washington, D.C. – The Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB or Bureau) of the 
Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) has selected Disability Rights Maine 
(DRM) for certification to participate in the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program 
(NDBEDP) for the state of Maine, effective July 1, 2015.
The NDBEDP is a program mandated by Section 105 of the Twenty-First Century 
Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) that provides funding of up to $10 million 
annually for the distribution of communications equipment to low-income individuals who are deaf-
blind.
1
  On April 4, 2011, the Commission adopted the NDBEDP Pilot Program Order, establishing the 
framework for a pilot program to fulfill this CVAA mandate.
2
  In that Order, the Commission determined 
that it would certify one entity per state as eligible to receive support for the local distribution of 
equipment to low-income individuals who are deaf-blind.
3
  Each certified entity has primary oversight 
and responsibility for compliance with program requirements for its state, but certified entities may fulfill 
their responsibilities either directly or through collaboration, partnership, or contract with other 
individuals or entities in-state or out-of-state, including other NDBEDP certified programs.
4
  Participation 
in the NDBEDP also entails the provision of related services, including local outreach, individual 
assessments and training, as well as equipment installation and maintenance, that may be needed to 
effectively provide a person who is deaf-blind with the equipment that he or she needs to access the 
communications services covered by the CVAA.
5
                                                     
1
Pub. L. 111-260, 124 Stat. 2751 (2010); see also Pub. L. 111-265, 124 Stat. 2795 (2010) (making technical 
corrections to the CVAA).  Section 105 of the CVAA adds Section 719 to the Communications Act of 1934, as 
amended, and is codified at 47 U.S.C. § 620.  The CVAA authorizes the Commission to allocate these funds from 
the interstate telecommunications relay service fund (TRS Fund).
2
See Implementation of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010, Section 
105, Relay Services for Deaf-Blind Individuals, CG Docket No. 10-210, Report and Order, 26 FCC Rcd 5640 (2011) 
(NDBEDP Pilot Program Order).  
3
Id., 26 FCC Rcd at 5646, ¶ 12.
4
Id., 26 FCC Rcd at 5647, ¶ 13.
5
Id., 26 FCC Rcd at 5667-5676, ¶¶ 63-79.  The NDBEDP pilot program will cover the reasonable costs of such 
related services.  See 47 C.F.R. § 64.610(f)(2). 
2The Commission launched the NDBEDP on July 1, 2012.
6
  On July 2, 2012, the Commission 
announced that it had selected one entity for each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, 
and the Virgin Islands to participate in the NDBEDP.
7
  The Commission selected Maine Center on 
Deafness (MCD) for the state of Maine.
8
  
On June 25, 2015, MCD notified the Commission that it would not continue participating in the 
NDBEDP and that it would relinquish its certification effective June 30, 2015.
9
  On July 21, 2015, the 
Bureau invited applications for certification to participate in the NDBEDP for the state of Maine.
10
  In 
response, the Bureau received one application from DRM.
11
  In accordance with the NDBEDP Pilot 
Program Order, the Bureau reviewed DRM’s application for its ability to meet the following 
qualifications, either directly or in coordination with other programs or entities: 
? 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.
12
                                                     
6
Commission Announces Launch of the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program, CG Docket No. 10-
210, Public Notice, 27 FCC Rcd 7403 (CGB 2012).
7
Commission Announces Entities Certified to Participate in the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution 
Program, CG Docket No. 10-210, Public Notice, 27 FCC Rcd 7397 (CGB 2012) (NDBEDP Certification Public 
Notice).
8
Id.
9
Electronic mail from Kim Moody, Executive Director, MCD, to Jacqueline Ellington, Attorney Advisor, Disability 
Rights Office, CGB, FCC (June 25, 2015).
10
See FCC Invites Applications for Certification to Participate in the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution 
Program in the State of Maine, Public Notice, DA 15-845, 30 FCC Rcd 7393 (CGB 2015).
11
See Letter from Kim Moody, Executive Director, DRM, submitting application for NDBEDP certification to 
NDBEDP Administrator, Disability Rights Office, CGB, FCC (July 30, 2015) (DRM Application).
12
See 47 C.F.R. § 64.610(b)(3).
3The Bureau has determined that DRM meets the Commission’s qualifications for certification to 
operate the NDBEDP in Maine.  Since it was founded in 1977, DRM’s goals have included “ensuring 
equal opportunity, full access, and inclusion and involvement in the community for individuals with 
disabilities.”
13
  DRM provides information and referral services,
14
operates the Maine Relay Services 
outreach program,
15
and administers a peer support group program for individuals with intellectual 
disabilities.
16
  In addition, for the past 25 years, DRM has worked with MCD to ensure equal access and 
communication access for Maine’s deaf, hard of hearing, and late-deafened populations.
17
  DRM also 
works closely with the Iris Network, an organization that serves individuals in Maine who are blind, 
visually impaired, or deaf-blind.
18
In 2015, in preparation for the impending closure of MCD, DRM hired 
MCD staff who had been managing and providing services for the NDBEDP in Maine that MCD had 
administered since 2012.
19
In addition, MCD assumed the contract for and hired MCD staff who had
been operating Maine’s telecommunications equipment distribution program for 14 years.
20
  In these and 
other respects, DRM and its staff have demonstrated extensive experience in providing accessible 
services, cultural awareness of the deaf-blind community, and expertise in communications technology 
used by individuals who are deaf-blind.
21
  
As the NDBEDP certified program for Maine, DRM will work in partnership with other
organizations to meet the needs of the deaf-blind population throughout Maine.
22
  In addition, the DRM
application included letters of support from four organizations that provide related services to individuals 
who are deaf-blind and will work collaboratively with DRM to fulfill NDBEDP requirements.
23
  
Accordingly, the Bureau has selected DRM for certification to participate in the NDBEDP for the 
state of Maine.  Certification for DRM will continue for the duration of the NDBEDP pilot program,
24
subject to DRM’s compliance with the Commission’s program requirements.
25
                                                     
13
DRM Application at 5.
14
Id. at 7.
15
Id. at 6-7.
16
Id. at 8.
17
Id. at 5.
18
Id. at 5, 12.
19
Id. at 9.  
20
Id. at 3.  This equipment distribution program existed prior to the NDBEDP and distributes telecommunications 
devices to individuals with various types of disabilities. 
21
See id. at 9-11, 14-17.
22
Id. at 21.  
23
See Letter from James E. Phipps, MBA/JD, President and Executive Director, The Iris Network, to Kim Moody, 
Executive Director, DRM (July 30, 2015); Letter from Mary Beth Walsh, President, Mainely Access Inc., to Kim 
Moody, Executive Director, DRM (July 26, 2015); Letter from Marcia Brooks, National Project Manager, 
NDBEDP, Perkins School for the Blind, to Kim Moody, Executive Director, DRM (July 24, 2015); Letter from 
Stephen Perreault, New England Regional Representative, Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and 
Adults, to Kim Moody, Executive Director, DRM (July 23, 2015).
24
The termination date for the NDBEDP pilot program is June 30, 2016.  See Implementation of the Twenty-First 
Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010, Section 105, Relay Services for Deaf-Blind 
Individuals, CG Docket No. 10-210, Order, 30 FCC Rcd 5247 (2015).
25
NDBEDP Pilot Program Order, 26 FCC Rcd at 5647, ¶ 14.  See generally, 47 C.F.R. §§ 64.610(a)-(k).
4ACCESSIBLE 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-