Federal Communications Commission	DA 21-1604



DA 21-1604
Released:  December 17, 2021

COMMENT SOUGHT ON APPLICATION OF ARIEL GP HOLDCO, LLC AND SORENSON COMMUNICATIONS, LLC FOR CONDITIONAL CERTIFICATION AS A PROVIDER OF VIDEO RELAY SERVICE

COMMENT SOUGHT ON APPLICATION OF ARIEL GP HOLDCO, LLC AND CAPTIONCALL, LLC FOR CONDITIONAL CERTIFICATION AS A PROVIDER OF INTERNET PROTOCOL CAPTIONED TELEPHONE SERVICE

CG Docket Nos. 03-123 and 10-51

Comments Due:  January 7, 2022
Reply Comments Due:  January 18, 2022

The Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB or Bureau) of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) seeks comment on: (1) the application of Ariel GP Holdco, LLC (Ariel), and Sorenson Communications, LLC (Sorenson), for conditional certification as a provider of Video Relay Service (VRS); See Application of Ariel GP Holdco, LLC and Sorenson Communications, LLC for Conditional Certification to Provide Video Relay Service and Request for Confidential Treatment, CG Docket Nos. 03-123 and 10-51 (filed Dec. 10, 2021) (Ariel-Sorenson Application), https://ecfsapi.fcc.gov/file/1210104894515/Redacted%20‌Sorenson‌%20‌VRS%20‌CC%20‌Application%20(12.10.21)-c3.pdf (redacted).  
 and (2) the application of Ariel and CaptionCall, LLC, for conditional certification as a provider of Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service (IP CTS). See Application of Ariel GP Holdco, LLC and CaptionCall, LLC for Conditional Certification to Provide Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service and Request for Confidential Treatment, CG Docket No. 03-123 (filed Dec. 10, 2021) (Ariel-CaptionCall Application), https://ecfsapi.fcc.gov/file/12100110222456/%5BRedacted%5D%20‌CaptionCall%20IPCTS%20CC%20Application%20(12.10.21)-c3.pdf (redacted).
  Sorenson currently is the direct parent company of CaptionCall. See Ariel-CaptionCall Application at 1-2.
  
Conditional certification would allow Sorenson and CaptionCall, after acquisition of control by Ariel, to remain eligible to receive compensation from the Interstate Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) Fund for providing VRS and IP CTS, respectively, on an interim basis pending the filing of, and Commission action on, applications for full certification that will be filed after Ariel’s proposed acquisition of Sorenson and CaptionCall is consummated. See Ariel-Sorenson Application at 4-9 (detailing proposed transaction); Ariel-CaptionCall Application at 4-9 (detailing proposed transaction); see also Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau Clarifies the Transferability of Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) Provider Certification, CG Docket No. 03-123, Public Notice, 23 FCC Rcd 10438 (CGB 2008) (clarifying that Commission certifications to provide TRS cannot be transferred, and if an acquiring entity is not already eligible to receive compensation from the TRS Fund, it must be certified before it can offer service for which it seeks compensation from the Fund).

	Both applications contain redacted portions for which confidential treatment is requested.  Access to the redacted material is governed by the Third Protective Order in this docket. See Misuse of Internet Protocol (IP) Captioned Telephone Service; Structure and Practices of the Video Relay Service Program; Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities, CG Docket Nos. 13-24, 10-51, and 03-123, Order and Third Protective Order, 33 FCC Rcd 6802, 6803, para. 4 (CGB 2018).

Filing Requirements.  Interested parties may file comments on or before the dates indicated on the first page of this document. See 47 CFR §§ 1.1, 1.49.
  All filings must reference CG Docket Nos. 03-123 and 10-51.  Comments may be filed using the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). See FCC, Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 Fed. Reg. 24121 (May 1, 1998).
    
· Electronic Filers:  Comments may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing the ECFS:  https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings.  
· Paper Filers:  
o Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and one copy of each filing.  If more than one docket or rulemaking number appears in the caption of this proceeding, filers must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or rulemaking number.
o 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 Currently, the Commission does not accept any hand delivered or messenger delivered filings as a temporary measure taken to help protect the health and safety of individuals, and to mitigate the transmission of COVID-19.  In the event that the Commission announces the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, a filing window will be opened at the Commission’s office located at 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD  20701. See FCC Announces Closure of FCC Headquarters Open Window and Change in Hand-Delivery Policy, Public Notice, 35 FCC Rcd 2788 (OMD 2020), https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-closesheadquarters-open-window-and-changes-hand-delivery-policy. 
  
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 may be addressed to 45 L Street, NE, Washington, DC 20554.
o During the time the Commission’s building is closed to the general public and until further notice, if more than one docket or rulemaking number appears in the caption of a proceeding, paper filers need not submit two additional copies for each additional docket or rulemaking number; an original and one copy are sufficient.
Ex Parte Rules.  The proceeding this Public 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 section 1.1206(b).  In proceedings governed by section 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.
Additional Information:  For additional information on this proceeding, contact William Wallace at 202-418-2716, or William.Wallace@fcc.gov, of the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, Disability Rights Office.
-FCC-
2