Federal Communications Commission DA 26-516 DA 26-516 Released: May 22, 2026 TRS FUND ADMINISTRATOR SUBMITS PAYMENT FORMULAS AND FUNDING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS RELAY SERVICES FUND CG Docket No. 03-123 Comments Due: June 8, 2026 Reply Comments Due: June 16, 2026 The Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (Bureau) seeks comment on the Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) Fund administrator’s proposed provider compensation formulas, funding requirements, and contribution factors for the period from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027 (2026-27 Fund Year). See Rolka Loube Saltzer Associates, LLC, Interstate Telecommunications Relay Services Fund: Payment Formula and Fund Size Estimate, CG Docket Nos. 03-123 and 10-51 (filed May 4, 2026), https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/10504140406416/1 (2026 TRS Report); see also 47 CFR § 64.604(c)(5)(iii)(H). TRS Using MARS Plan Rolka Loube Saltzer Associates, LLC (Rolka Loube), the TRS Fund administrator, proposes per-minute compensation formulas for services subject to the Multi-State Average Rate Structure (MARS) plan methodology, Under the MARS plan methodology, interstate TRS Fund compensation formulas for relay services provided through state TRS programs are calculated based on a weighted average of the per-minute intrastate compensation paid by state TRS programs for the same or a similar relay service. See Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities, CG Docket No. 03-123, Report and Order and Declaratory Ruling, 22 FCC Rcd 20140, 20151-58, paras. 16-37 (2007). as follows: $9.1713 for interstate traditional TRS; $10.3023 for interstate speech-to-speech relay service (STS); and $3.3885 for interstate captioned telephone service (CTS). 2026 TRS Report at 7, 9. The current compensation formulas for these services are as follows: $7.3512 per minute for interstate traditional TRS; $8.4822 per minute for interstate STS; and $3.1893 per minute for interstate CTS. Id. at 10-14. We seek comment on whether these proposed formulas correctly apply the MARS plan methodology. Internet Protocol Relay Service (IP Relay) Pursuant to the 2022 IP Relay Compensation Order, Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities; Petition for Rulemaking of Sprint Corporation, CG Docket No. 03-123 and RM-11820, Report and Order, 37 FCC Rcd 8009 (2022) (2022 IP Relay Compensation Order) (adopting compensation plan for IP Relay); see also 47 CFR § 64.640. Rolka Loube proposes a compensation rate of $2.2710 per minute, calculated as 103.37% of the prior Fund year’s rate ($2.1970). 2026 TRS Report at 18-19. We seek comment on whether the proposal correctly applies the 2022 IP Relay Compensation Order. We acknowledge that the TRS Fund compensation for the provision of IP Relay described in the 2022 IP Relay Compensation Order is for the period ending June 30, 2026. While separate action of the Federal Communications Commission or the Bureau may be necessary to set IP Relay compensation for the 2026-27 TRS Fund year, we believe it is reasonable for Rolka Loube to propose a compensation rate based on the existing IP Relay compensation plan and seek comment on its proposal. Video Relay Service (VRS) Pursuant to the 2023 VRS Compensation Order, Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities; Structure and Practices of the Video Relay Service Program, CG Docket Nos. 03-123 and 10-51, Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 38 FCC Rcd 9157 (2023) (2023 VRS Compensation Order) (adopting compensation plan for VRS); see also 47 CFR § 64.643. Rolka Loube proposes the following per-minute compensation rates: $8.61 for small providers, who provide 1 million monthly minutes or fewer; $6.96 for Tier 1, applicable to a provider’s first 1 million monthly minutes; $4.35 for Tier II, applicable to a provider’s monthly minutes in excess of 1 million; and a $0.22 additive rate for Video-Text service. 2026 TRS Report at 14-15, 19-22. These rates are calculated as 103.37% of the prior Fund year’s amounts, which are as follows: $8.33 for small providers, $6.73 for Tier I, $4.21 for Tier II, and a $0.21 additive rate for Video-Text service. See id. at 15. We seek comment on whether the proposal correctly applies the 2023 VRS Compensation Order. Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service (IP CTS) Pursuant to the 2024 IP CTS Compensation Order, Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service Compensation; Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities; Misuse of Internet Protocol (IP) Captioned Telephone Service, CG Docket Nos. 22-408, 03-123, and 13-24, Report and Order and Order, 39 FCC Rcd 9099 (July 31, 2024) (2024 IP CTS Compensation Order) (adopting compensation plan for IP CTS); see also 47 CFR § 64.641(a)(2). Rolka Loube proposes per-minute compensation rates of $0.95 for service using only automatic speech technology, See 2026 TRS Report at 22-24; 47 CFR § 64.641(a)(2). $1.45 for service using a communications assistant (CA), and a supplemental rate of $0.23 for CA-assisted service when the CA is paid a threshold amount. 2026 TRS Report at 22-24. The CA-assisted service compensation rate and supplemental rate are calculated as 103.37% of the prior Fund year’s rates ($1.40 and $0.22, respectively). See id. at 23. The rate supplement is applicable to those minutes for which the CA producing captions is paid a “Minimum Hourly Wage.” 47 CFR § 64.641(c)(1). This amount, initially set at $17.20 per hour, is adjusted annually by the same factor applicable to the rates for CA-assisted service. Id. § 64.641(c). This threshold amount is adjusted annually, and based on the information provided in the report, the threshold amount for the 2026-27 Fund Year would be $18.38. $18.38 = 17.78 * (1 + 0.0337). See 2026 TRS Report at 23; 47 CFR § 64.641(c)(2). We seek comment on whether the proposal correctly applies the 2024 IP CTS Compensation Order. Funding Requirement and Contribution Factors Comment is invited on Rolka Loube’s demand projections and funding requirements for the various relay services supported by the Fund. 2026 TRS Report at 25-26 & Exh. 2. We seek comment on Rolka Loube’s estimates and proposals for disbursements under the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program ($10,000,000) and for funding to cover TRS research and administration ($31,001,144), including allowances for research and number administration contracts; data collection, validation, and maintenance; Fund administration and the TRS Fund Advisory Council; service provider audits; an independent financial audit of the Fund; an information security audit; and various reporting obligations. Id. In addition, we seek comment on Rolka Loube’s proposal to include a two-month payment reserve, totaling $271,875,909, in the overall funding requirement for the coming year. Id. at 26 & Exh. 2. Rolka Loube proposes a total Fund requirement of $1,827,809,551 for the 2026-27 Fund Year. Id. Rolka Loube anticipates that there will be a carryover Fund balance of approximately $290,000,000 for the 2025-26 Fund Year. Id. Deducting last year’s surplus from the total Fund requirement, Rolka Loube proposes a net Fund requirement of $1,577,910,696. Id. The TRS rules provide that contributions to support all IP-based relay services are determined based on Fund contributors’ interstate and intrastate end-user revenues. 47 CFR § 64.604(c)(5)(iii)(A). Rolka Loube estimates a contribution factor of 0.02337 for support of IP-based relay services, to be applied to contributors’ interstate and intrastate end-user revenues, and a contribution factor of 0.00021 for support of other relay services, to be applied to contributors’ interstate end-user revenues. 2026 TRS Report at 27-28 & Exh. 2. We seek comment on the proposed contribution factors. Filing Requirements. Interested parties may file comments on the 2026 TRS Report on or before the date indicated on the first page of this document. See 47 CFR §§ 1.1, 1.45, 1.49. All filings must reference CG Docket No. 03-123. Comments may be filed using the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, GC Docket No. 97-113, Report and Order, 13 FCC Rcd 11322 (1998). · Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing the ECFS: https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings. · Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and one copy of each filing. o Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by U.S. Postal Service. All filings must be addressed to the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. o Hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission’s Secretary are accepted between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. by the FCC’s mailing contractor at 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701. 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 courier deliveries (any deliveries not by the U.S. Postal Service) must be sent to 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701. o Filings sent by U.S. Postal Service First-Class Mail, Priority Mail, and Priority Mail Express may be addressed to 45 L Street, NE, Washington, DC 20554. 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. Accessible Materials. 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, please contact Stephen Wang at (202) 418-1634 or by e-mail at Stephen.Wang@fcc.gov. -FCC- 2