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 Federal  Communications  Commission  FCC  03-  190 
 SEPARATE  STATEMENT  OF  COMMISSIONER  MICHAEL  J.  COPPS 


 Re:  Telecommunications  Relay  Services,  and  Speech-  to-  Speech  Services  for  Individuals  with  Hearing  and  Speech  Disabilities  (CC  Docket  No.  98-  67) 
 When  we  speak  about  the  transformative  power  of  telecommunications  services,  we  really  are  speaking  about  the  ability  of  technology  to  improve  the  life  of  every  American.  In  a  small  but  significant 
 way,  our  action  today  does  just  that.  By  clarifying  that  captioned  telephone  service  is  an  enhanced  voice  carry  over  service  eligible  for  interstate  fund  reimbursement,  we  may  enable  millions  of  Americans  to 
 benefit  from  the  innovative  simplicity  of  this  new  form  of  TRS. 
 When  Congress  passed  the  Americans  with  Disabilities  Act  more  than  twelve  years  ago,  it  cautioned  the  Commission  to  avoid  action  that  would  “discourage  or  impair  the  development  of  improved 
 technology.”  With  today’s  action  we  heed  Congress’  warning.  Yet  as  the  pace  of  technology  quickens,  we  need  to  resolve  petitions  like  this  one  with  greater  speed.  For  the  same  reason,  we  need  to  commit  to 
 reviewing  our  TRS  requirements  with  ever  greater  frequency.  The  Commission  also  needs  to  complete  its  section  255  proceeding  on  accessibility  to  equipment  and  services.  Similarly,  we  need  to  do  more  to 
 encourage  a  robust  dialogue  between  telecommunications  companies  and  the  hearing  and  speech  impaired  communities  that  rely  on  their  products  and  services. 


 Although  disabled  Americans  face  unique  challenges,  innovative  telecommunications  services  present  unique  possibilities  for  improving  their  lives.  As  their  lives  are  improved,  so  are  the  lives  of  millions  of 
 others  who  can  communicate  with  them. 
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