FCC Statement on IP Captioned Telephone Service
Editor: We think this is a HUGE move forward for the hard of hearing
and late-deafened communities. Here's the FCC's statement.
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Service represents important step towards functional equivalency
Washington, D.C. - Today the Commission adopted a Declaratory Ruling
finding that Internet Protocol (IP) captioned telephone service (IP CTS)
is a type of telecommunications relay service (TRS) eligible for
compensation from the Interstate TRS Fund (Fund). The Commission acted
in response to a petition by Ultratec, Inc., that was widely supported
by the disability community.
An IP captioned telephone call can be set up similar to a two-line
captioned telephone call, except that the line from the user to the
provider would be via the Internet, not a second PSTN line. The consumer
would make a voice to voice call to the other party on a standard
telephone and the PSTN; at the same time, the voice of the called party
is directed from the consumer's telephone to a personal computer (or
similar device) that routes it to the provider via the Internet. The
provider, in turn, sends back to the consumer the text of what was
spoken. As a result, the consumer can both hear (to the extent possible)
what the called party is saying over the standard voice telephone
headset, and read the text of what the called party said on the computer
or similar device.
IP CTS will benefit consumers by giving them the flexibility of using
a computer, PDA, or wireless device to make such a call, without having
to purchase special telephone equipment. In addition, captions provided
on a computer screen can accommodate a much wider group of individuals,
including persons with low vision, because they can take advantage of
the large text, variable fonts, and variable colors that are available.
This service must meet applicable TRS mandatory minimum standards.
The Commission said it expects that, as with captioned telephone
service, the service will be provided in a way that is automated and
invisible to both parties to the call, and where the captions are
delivered via an IP network to the user fast enough so that they keep up
with the speed of the other party's speech. Further, the Commission
conditioned its approval of the petition on Ultratec's representation
that it will license its captioned telephone technologies, including
technologies related to IP CTS, to all providers at reasonable rates.
IP CTS calls will be compensated, on an interim basis, at the IP
Relay compensation rate. The Commission also concluded that providers
seeking to offer this service and be compensated from the Fund may seek
certification from the Commission as an eligible provider. The
Commission noted that this is an interim measure and that it intends to
revisit the cost recovery methodology for this service in the future,
including jurisdictional separation of costs. Action by the Commission
December 20, 2006, by Declaratory Ruling (FCC 06-182). Chairman Martin,
Commissioners Copps, Adelstein, Tate and McDowell, with Chairman Martin
and Commissioners Copps, Adelstein, Tate and McDowell issuing separate
statements.
