Federal Communications Commission DA 18-1137 DA 18-1137 Released: November 7, 2018 CONSUMER AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON PETITION FOR RULEMAKING BY SPRINT CORPORATION TO ESTABLISH A NEW RATEMAKING METHODOLOGY FOR IP RELAY SERVICE CG Docket No. 03-123; RM-11820 Comment Date: December 7, 2018 Reply Comment Date: December 24, 2018 With this Public Notice, the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (Bureau) of the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) seeks comment on a petition for rulemaking filed by Sprint Corporation (Sprint) to establish a new ratemaking methodology for IP Relay service, a form of telecommunications relay service (TRS) supported by the Interstate TRS Fund. Petition for Rulemaking of Sprint Corporation (filed Nov. 1, 2018), https://ecfsapi.fcc.gov/file/1101203244827/Sprint%20IP%20Relay%20Rate%20Petition%20-%20REDACTED%20%5BAS%20FILED%5D%20-%2011.1.2018.pdf (Sprint Petition). Sprint has redacted portions of the petition for which it requests confidential treatment. Access to the redacted material is governed by the Third Protective Order in this proceeding. See Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities; Structure and Practices of the Video Relay Service Program; Misuse of Internet Protocol (IP) Captioned Telephone Service, Order and Third Protective Order, DA 18-751 (Jul. 20, 2018). The current three-year price-cap period for IP Relay service expires at the end of the 2018-19 telecommunications relay service (TRS) Fund Year. Sprint Petition at 1. Sprint proposes a hybrid rate methodology that is based on a combination of the Multistate Average Rate Structure (MARS) and provider costs to set future rates for IP Relay service. Sprint Petition at 2. Filing Requirements. Interested parties may file comments on or before the date indicated on the first page of this document. 47 CFR §§ 1.405, 1.419. All filings must reference CG Docket No. 03-123 and RM-11820. Comments may be filed using the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121 (1998). · Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing ECFS: https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/. · Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and one copy of each filing. · Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail. All filings must be addressed to the Commission’s Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. o All hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission’s Secretary must be delivered to FCC Headquarters at 445 12th Street, SW, Room TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554. The filing hours are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes and boxes must be disposed of before entering the building. o Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701. o U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail must be addressed to 445 12th Street, SW, Washington DC 20554. Ex Parte Rules. The proceeding this Notice initiates shall be treated as a “permit-but-disclose” proceeding in accordance with the Commission’s ex parte rules. 47 CFR §§ 1.1200 et seq. Persons making ex parte presentations must file a copy of any written presentation or a memorandum summarizing any oral presentation within two business days after the presentation (unless a different deadline applicable to the Sunshine period applies). Persons making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentation must (1) list all persons attending or otherwise participating in the meeting at which the ex parte presentation was made, and (2) summarize all data presented and arguments made during the presentation. If the presentation consisted in whole or in part of the presentation of data or arguments already reflected in the presenter’s written comments, memoranda or other filings in the proceeding, the presenter may provide citations to such data or arguments in his or her prior comments, memoranda, or other filings (specifying the relevant page and/or paragraph numbers where such data or arguments can be found) in lieu of summarizing them in the memorandum. Documents shown or given to Commission staff during ex parte meetings are deemed to be written ex parte presentations and must be filed consistent with rule 1.1206(b). In proceedings governed by rule 1.49(f) or for which the Commission has made available a method of electronic filing, written ex parte presentations and memoranda summarizing oral ex parte presentations, and all attachments thereto, must be filed through the electronic comment filing system available for that proceeding, and must be filed in their native format (e.g., .doc, .xml, .ppt, searchable .pdf). Participants in this proceeding should familiarize themselves with the Commission’s ex parte rules. People with Disabilities. 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), 844-432-2275 (videophone), or 202-418-0432 (TTY). Additional Information. For further information regarding this Notice, please contact Michael Scott, Disability Rights Office, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, at 202-418-1264 or by e-mail to Michael.Scott@fcc.gov. – FCC– 2