NEWS
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, S.W.
Washington, D. C.  20554
This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.
See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).
News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
TTY: 1-888-835-5322
For Immediate Release:                                                   News Media Contact:
June 11, 2008                                                                   Rosemary Kimball at (202) 418-0511
 e-mail: rosemary.kimball@fcc.gov
COMMISSION SEEKS COMMENT ON CHANGES IN SPEECH-TO-SPEECH 
TELECOMMUNICATIONS RELAY SERVICE REGULATIONS; 
TENTATIVELY CONCLUDES THAT INTERNET PROTOCOL SPEECH-TO-SPEECH 
IS COMPENSABLE FROM THE INTERSTATE TRS FUND
Washington, DC -- The Commission adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking 
comment on changes to the TRS regulations applicable to Speech-to-Speech relay services 
(STS), a form of telecommunications relay service (TRS) used by persons with speech 
disabilities.  When an STS user places a call, a specially trained communications assistant (CA) 
who understands the speech patterns of persons with speech disabilities repeats the words spoken 
by such an individual to the other party to the call.  The Commission seeks comment on ways to 
improve the provision of STS, including, for example, whether to modify the minimum time 
period a CA should be required to stay on a call, and ways to improve outreach associated with 
STS.  
The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking also seeks comment on the tentative conclusion that 
Internet Protocol STS (IP STS) is a form of TRS eligible for compensation from the Interstate 
TRS Fund and related issues relevant to the provision, regulation, and compensation of IP STS.  
These issues include the appropriate compensation rate for IP STS, and whether it should be 
compensated at the same rate as STS.  
Action by the Commission, June 11, 2008, by Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FCC 08-149).  
Chairman Martin, Commissioners Copps, Adelstein, Tate and McDowell, with Commissioner 
Tate issuing a statement.    
- FCC -
CG Docket No. 03-123
CG Docket No. 08-15
CGB Contacts: Greg Hlibok at (800) 311-4381; e-mail gregory.hlibok@fcc.gov or Tom 
Chandler at (202) 418-1475; email thomas.chandler@fcc.gov