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 STATEMENT  OF  COMMISSIONER  MICHAEL  J.  COPPS, 
 APPROVING  IN  PART,  CONCURRING  IN  PART 
 Re:  Telecommunications  Relay  Services  and  Speech-  to-  Speech  Services  for  Individuals  with  Hearing  and  Speech  Disabilities  (CC  Docket  No.  98-  67, 
 CG  Docket  No.  03-  123) 
 When  Congress  passed  the  Americans  with  Disabilities  Act  more  than  twelve  years  ago,  it  directed  the  Commission  to  do  everything  we  could  to  ensure  that  those  with 
 disabilities  have  access  to  functionally  equivalent  services  so  that  all  of  America’s  citizens  can  participate  fully  in  our  society.  I  support  today’s  item  because,  consistent 
 with  this  vision,  we  take  positive  steps  to  update  our  TRS  requirements.  I  also  support  our  efforts  to  seek  comment  on  the  impact  of  new  technological  developments  on  TRS. 
 As  the  pace  of  innovation  quickens,  we  should  commit  to  reviewing  our  TRS  requirements  with  ever  greater  frequency. 


 I  must  concur  in  part  rather  than  approve  en  toto  because  I  believe  that  this  item  delays  unnecessarily  the  start  of  effective  national  TRS  outreach  efforts.  Three  years 
 ago,  the  Commission  tentatively  concluded  that  a  nationwide  awareness  campaign  would  improve  TRS  by  publicizing  its  availability  more  broadly  than  the  limited  bill  inserts  and 
 directory  listings  required  under  our  current  rules.  The  Commission  noted  that  our  current  rules  have  not  effectively  ensured  that  callers  are  aware  of  TRS  and  concluded 
 that  this  lack  of  awareness  was  adversely  affecting  the  quality  of  TRS.  For  example,  we  found  that  callers  using  relay  service  experience  an  unacceptably  large  number  of  hang-ups 
 because  people  receiving  TRS  calls  are  not  familiar  with  the  service.  Our  record  also  reflected  that  many  employment  opportunities  are  not  extended  to  individuals  with 
 hearing  disabilities  because  employers  are  uncomfortable  using,  or  are  unwilling  to  use,  TRS  for  business  transactions.  That  is  surely  a  problem  when  we  are  talking  about  a 
 group  experiencing  over  50%,  in  many  areas  75%,  unemployment.  Against  this  background,  the  Commission  determines  that  we  need  more  comment  before  embarking 
 on  a  national  awareness  campaign.  This  timidity  is  not  warranted  by  either  the  record  or  the  statute.  We  have  ample  support  to  begin  a  nationwide  outreach  effort  right  now  and 
 we  ought  to  be  doing  exactly  that. 
 While  we  take  steps  forward  today,  we  have  much  more  to  do.  The  Commission  needs  to  complete  its  Section  255  proceeding  on  accessibility  to  equipment  and  services. 
 We  need  to  address  compatibility  problems  between  wireless  phones  and  hearing  aids  and  we  need  to  encourage  a  robust  dialogue  between  telecommunications  companies  and 
 the  hearing  and  speech  impaired  communities  that  rely  on  their  products  and  services.  These  issues  affect  all  of  us—  not  only  the  millions  of  Americans  with  disabilities,  but 
 also  the  millions  more  who  could  communicate  with  these  citizens  and  whose  lives  would  be  improved  as  their  lives  are  improved. 
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 Thank  you  to  the  Consumer  and  Governmental  Affairs  Bureau  and  the  Disabilities  Rights  Office  for  their  leadership  on  this  item.  I  look  forward  to  continuing 
 our  work  together  to  resolve  these  issues. 
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