disability rights office: update national deaf-blind equipment distribution program and...

Disability Rights Office: UpdateDisability Rights Office: Update

National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution ProgramNational Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Programand and

Telecommunications Relay Service Certification RenewalTelecommunications Relay Service Certification Renewal

Rosaline Crawford & Gregory HlibokRosaline Crawford & Gregory Hlibok

Disability Rights OfficeDisability Rights Office

Consumer and Government Affairs BureauConsumer and Government Affairs Bureau

Federal Communications CommissionFederal Communications Commission

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National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution ProgramNational Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program(NDBEDP)(NDBEDP)

The Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility The Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA):Act of 2010 (CVAA):

authorized the FCC to use up to $10 million annually from the authorized the FCC to use up to $10 million annually from the interstate Telecommunications Relay Service fundinterstate Telecommunications Relay Service fund

to support programs that distribute accessible communications to support programs that distribute accessible communications equipment to low-income individuals who are deaf-blind. equipment to low-income individuals who are deaf-blind.

In 2011, the FCC established the NDBEDP as a two- to three-year In 2011, the FCC established the NDBEDP as a two- to three-year pilot program, which was launched on July 1, 2012.pilot program, which was launched on July 1, 2012.

National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP)(NDBEDP)

The Perkins School for the Blind is conducting a national outreach The Perkins School for the Blind is conducting a national outreach campaign for the NDBEDP: campaign for the NDBEDP: iCanConnect.orgiCanConnect.org

The FCC certified 53 entities – one entity for each state, plus DC, The FCC certified 53 entities – one entity for each state, plus DC, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands – to participate.Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands – to participate.

The FCC allocated $50,000 to each of the 53 certified programs, The FCC allocated $50,000 to each of the 53 certified programs, plus additional funding based on the size of each state’s population. plus additional funding based on the size of each state’s population.

Certified programs are reimbursed – up to their annual allocation – Certified programs are reimbursed – up to their annual allocation – for equipment distributed and related services provided (such as for equipment distributed and related services provided (such as communications assessments, equipment installation and training).communications assessments, equipment installation and training).


NDBEDP recipients must be “deaf-blind” as defined in the Helen Keller NDBEDP recipients must be “deaf-blind” as defined in the Helen Keller National Center Act; and have income that does not exceed 400% of National Center Act; and have income that does not exceed 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.the Federal Poverty Guidelines.

Equipment must be designed to make telecommunications, advanced Equipment must be designed to make telecommunications, advanced communications, or Internet access services accessible to the deaf-communications, or Internet access services accessible to the deaf-blind individual. blind individual.

Equipment may be hardware, software, or applications, separate or in Equipment may be hardware, software, or applications, separate or in combination, mainstream or specialized.combination, mainstream or specialized.

The NDBEDP supplements rather than supplants existing legal The NDBEDP supplements rather than supplants existing legal mandates or programs, such as special education or vocational mandates or programs, such as special education or vocational rehabilitation, that may provide equipment.rehabilitation, that may provide equipment.


National Outreach CampaignNational Outreach Campaign

iCanConnect.orgiCanConnect.org

Click on “state partners” to find the NDBEDP certified program in Click on “state partners” to find the NDBEDP certified program in your state, or go to your state, or go to iCanConnect.org/partners.phpiCanConnect.org/partners.php

1-800-825-45951-800-825-4595

FCCFCC

www.fcc.gov/NDBEDPwww.fcc.gov/NDBEDP (links to Consumer Guide and other info)(links to Consumer Guide and other info)

202-418-2517202-418-2517 (voice) or (voice) or 202-418-2922202-418-2922 (TTY)(TTY)

e-mail e-mail [email protected]

State TRS Certification RenewalState TRS Certification Renewal

Under Section 225 of the Communications Act, Under Section 225 of the Communications Act, states wishing to establish their own programs states wishing to establish their own programs for the provision of intrastate and interstate for the provision of intrastate and interstate Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) over Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) over the public switched telephone network may the public switched telephone network may receive Commission certification to do so.receive Commission certification to do so.


All certified state TRS programs are required to All certified state TRS programs are required to provide traditional (TTY-based) TRS, interstate provide traditional (TTY-based) TRS, interstate Spanish language traditional TRS, and Speech-Spanish language traditional TRS, and Speech-to-Speech relay (STS) service. to-Speech relay (STS) service.

States may also offer captioned telephone relay States may also offer captioned telephone relay service (CTS). service (CTS).


States seeking renewal of their certification must include States seeking renewal of their certification must include information about each of these services.information about each of these services.

This is necessary so that Commission can ensure that This is necessary so that Commission can ensure that the provision of these services is consistent with its rules the provision of these services is consistent with its rules and that the state is exercising responsibility for and that the state is exercising responsibility for oversight of these services.oversight of these services.

Certification is effective for 5 years. Certification is effective for 5 years.


The state certification process is intended to ensure that The state certification process is intended to ensure that TRS is provided in a uniform manner throughout the TRS is provided in a uniform manner throughout the United States and territories. United States and territories.

Applications for certification renewal will be reviewed to Applications for certification renewal will be reviewed to determine whether each state TRS program has determine whether each state TRS program has sufficiently documented that it meets or exceeds all of sufficiently documented that it meets or exceeds all of the applicable operational, technical and functional the applicable operational, technical and functional mandatory minimum standards set forth in section mandatory minimum standards set forth in section

64.604 of the Commission’s rules.64.604 of the Commission’s rules.


The current TRS certifications for all states and The current TRS certifications for all states and territories will expire on territories will expire on July 26, 2013July 26, 2013

Under the TRS regulations, states can apply for Under the TRS regulations, states can apply for “renewal” one year prior to expiration, “renewal” one year prior to expiration, i.e., i.e., July 26, 2012. July 26, 2012. 47 C.F.R. § 64.606(c)(1). 47 C.F.R. § 64.606(c)(1).


Although there is no deadline for filing, renewal Although there is no deadline for filing, renewal applications should be filed at least several months prior applications should be filed at least several months prior to the July 26, 2013 expiration, to give the Commission to the July 26, 2013 expiration, to give the Commission time to review and rule on the applications prior to the time to review and rule on the applications prior to the expiration of the prior certification. expiration of the prior certification.

July 25, 2012 – Public Notice released to remind the July 25, 2012 – Public Notice released to remind the State TRS Program administrators to submit an State TRS Program administrators to submit an application for renewal no later than October 1, 2012.application for renewal no later than October 1, 2012.

Timeline for State TRS Certification Timeline for State TRS Certification Renewal ProcessRenewal Process

Fall 2012 – Fall 2012 – Public Notices are issued indicating that applications Public Notices are issued indicating that applications

have been received by the Commission and seeking have been received by the Commission and seeking comment on the filing. comment on the filing.

Fall 2012 through Spring 2013 Fall 2012 through Spring 2013 Applications for recertification are reviewed for Applications for recertification are reviewed for

compliance with 47 C.F.R. §§ 64.604 & 64.606.compliance with 47 C.F.R. §§ 64.604 & 64.606.

Timeline for State TRS Certification Timeline for State TRS Certification Renewal ProcessRenewal Process

Spring 2013 –Spring 2013 – Deficiency letters are sent to request additional Deficiency letters are sent to request additional

information that demonstrates compliance with the information that demonstrates compliance with the mandatory minimum requirements.mandatory minimum requirements.

Late Spring through July 2013 – Late Spring through July 2013 – Public Notices informing states that their applications Public Notices informing states that their applications

for recertification have been reviewed and certification for recertification have been reviewed and certification has been renewed.has been renewed.

For More InformationFor More Information

transition.fcc.gov/cgb/drotransition.fcc.gov/cgb/dro

[email protected]@fcc.gov or or [email protected]@fcc.gov

disability rights office: update national deaf-blind equipment distribution program and...

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