Federal Communications Commission	FCC 26-4

STATEMENT OF
CHAIRMAN BRENDAN CARR

Re: 	Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities; Structure and Practices of the Video Relay Service Program; Misuse of Internet Protocol Relay Service, CG Docket Nos. 03-123, 10-51, 12-38, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (January 29, 2026).
	
Last year marked the 35th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  The FCC plays a critical role in implementing and enforcing the ADA’s requirements, including for Telecommunications Relay Services, which allow deaf, hard-of-hearing, or speech impaired individuals to place or receive telephone calls in a functionally equivalent way.  

Last fall, we kicked off a proceeding to modernize analog TRS.  At the time, I said it was time for the agency to take a first principles approach to accessibility to ensure that the FCC’s rules are aligned with modern technology.  The technological advancements that necessitated a fresh look at analog TRS also impact IP-based TRS.  With today’s item, we continue the work we started last year by proposing targeted reforms to Internet-based forms of TRS.  This is what I’m calling TRS modernization part two, and this action supports our broader effort to encourage the IP transition.  As we make the transition, we are mindful of consumer protection provisions and necessary updates to them like those we propose today.

Principally, we seek comment on changes to improve the provision of IP Relay and Video Relay Service.  We also seek comment on streamlining our rules and deleting or updating outdated rules that no longer reflect reality.  I look forward to a robust record in this proceeding. 

For their great work on this item, I would like to thank Eduard Bartholme, Lisa Wilson Edwards, Michael Scott, William David Wallace, and Joshua Mendelsohn from the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau.  I would also like to thank staff from the Office of General Counsel, Office of Economics and Analytics, Office of the Managing Director, Office of Communications Business Opportunities, Wireline Competition Bureau, and Enforcement Bureau for their contributions to this item.