STATEMENT OF 
COMMISSIONER DEBORAH TAYLOR TATE
Re.  Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals 
with Hearing and Speech Disabilities; E911 Requirements for IP-Enabled Service 
Providers, CG Docket No. 03-123, WC Docket No. 05-196.
The dynamic and marvelous innovations and devices that we as consumers use 
everyday enable us to be connected globally whether for travel or education; 
entertainment or telemedicine.  However, today, we ensure that all Americans benefit 
from advances in telecommunications services and equipment as Congress intended, 
specifically in times of emergency.  While I often advocate a light regulatory touch for 
Internet-based services, it is essential that critical social goals—such as TRS—are 
implemented in an equitable and non-discriminatory manner across platforms, service-
providers and specific technologies.
Today, we recognize that significant numbers of persons with hearing disabilities are 
seeking innovative services, such as Internet-based forms of TRS and therefore we must 
take steps to adopt rules that will encourage the utilization of innovative, new 
technologies and that will provide a reliable means of accessing emergency services.
As the Commission continues to consider the needs of all our consumers in this digital 
age, I especially value the input of those who know first-hand and best what rules will 
most effectively serve all consumers at the time they need it most.