DA 21-989 Released: August 12, 2021 FCC ANNOUNCES APPLICANTS FOR CERTIFICATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NATIONAL DEAF-BLIND EQUIPMENT DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM CG Docket No. 10-210 Under the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP), also called “iCanConnect,” the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) may provide up to $10 million annually from the interstate telecommunications relay service fund (TRS Fund) to support local programs that distribute equipment to eligible low-income individuals who are deafblind, so that these individuals can access telecommunications service, Internet access service, and advanced communications services. 47 U.S.C. § 620; see also 47 CFR §§ 64.6201-64.6219; Implementation of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010, Section 105, Relay Services for Deaf-Blind Individuals, CG No. 10-210, Report and Order, 31 FCC Rcd 9178 (2016) (NDBEDP Permanent Program Order). Every five years, the Commission’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB) must certify a single entity for each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as the sole entity for that jurisdiction to administer the NDBEDP and receive reimbursement for NDBEDP activities from the TRS Fund. 47 CFR § 64.6207; see also NDBEDP Permanent Program Order, 31 FCC Rcd at 9184, para. 9. By this notice, CGB announces the applicants for NDBEDP certification for the certification cycle July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2027. Pursuant to NDBEDP rules, applications for this certification cycle were required to be filed one year before the end of the current certification period, or by June 30, 2021. 47 CFR § 64.6207; see also NDBEDP Permanent Program Order, 31 FCC Rcd at 9194, para. 32. In accordance with the NDBEDP Permanent Program Order, CGB publishes this list of entities that have applied for certification to participate in the NDBEDP. NDBEDP Permanent Program Order, 31 FCC Rcd at 9186-87, para. 16. In addition, this announcement provides notice to all certification applicants of any competing applications. Id. CGB received at least one application for certification for each jurisdiction and two applications for the state of Florida. CGB will release additional public notices announcing entities selected for certification under the NDBEDP after reviewing applications and supplemental materials received for each state. In addition, CGB will take appropriate steps to minimize possible service disruptions by providing as much advance notice as possible about such selections. See id. APPLICANTS FOR CERTIFICATION: State Applicants Alabama · Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind Alaska · Assistive Technology of Alaska Arizona · Perkins School for the Blind Arkansas · Perkins School for the Blind California · Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired Colorado · Colorado Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and DeafBlind Connecticut · Connecticut Tech Act Project Delaware · University of Delaware – Center for Disabilities Studies Florida · Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adults · Florida Alliance for Assistive Services & Technology, Inc. Georgia · Georgia Center of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc. Hawaii · Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adults Idaho · University of Idaho – Center on Disabilities and Human Development Illinois · Lester and Rosalie Anixter Center Indiana · Perkins School for the Blind Iowa · Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adults Kansas · Assistive Technology for Kansans Kentucky · Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adults Louisiana · Affiliated Blind of Louisiana Training Center Maine · Disability Rights Maine Maryland · Perkins School for the Blind Massachusetts · Perkins School for the Blind Michigan · Perkins School for the Blind Minnesota · Perkins School for the Blind Mississippi · Perkins School for the Blind Missouri · Missouri Assistive Technology Montana · Perkins School for the Blind Nebraska · Nebraska Assistive Technology Partnership Nevada · Perkins School for the Blind New Hampshire · Northeast Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, Inc. New Jersey · New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired New Mexico · Perkins School for the Blind New York · Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adults North Carolina · North Carolina Division of Services for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing North Dakota · North Dakota Assistive Ohio · Perkins School for the Blind Oklahoma · Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services Oregon · Access Technologies, Inc. Pennsylvania · Institute on Disabilities – Temple University Rhode Island · Perkins School for the Blind South Carolina · Perkins School for the Blind South Dakota · South Dakota Department of Human Services Tennessee · Tennessee Public Utility Commission Texas · Perkins School for the Blind Utah · Perkins School for the Blind Vermont · Perkins School for the Blind Virginia · Perkins School for the Blind Washington · Perkins School for the Blind West Virginia · Perkins School for the Blind Wisconsin · Wisconsin Department of Health Services Wyoming · Wyoming Institute for Disabilities – University of Wyoming Other Jurisdiction Applicants District of Columbia · TCSAccess American Samoa · Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adults Guam · Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adults Northern Mariana Islands · Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adults Puerto Rico · Perkins School for the Blind U.S. Virgin Islands · Perkins School for the Blind 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). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: For general information about NDBEDP, visit www.fcc.gov/NDBEDP. Contact Jackie Ellington, Disability Rights Office, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, 202-418-1153, e-mail Jackie.Ellington@fcc.gov. -FCC- 2