PUBLIC NOTICE
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
1919 M STREET, N.W.
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554                                 DA 97-1321

News media information 202/418-0500     Fax-On-Demand  202/418-2830     Internet:  http://www.fcc.gov    ftp.fcc.gov


                                          Released: June 24, 1997


             TELECOMMUNICATIONS RELAY SERVICES (TRS)
  APPLICATIONS FOR STATE CERTIFICATION AND RENEWALS OF CURRENT 
          CERTIFICATIONS ACCEPTED UNTIL OCTOBER 1, 1997

     Notice is hereby given that the Commission will accept applications for renewal of state
telecommunications relay services (TRS) program certifications from July 26, 1997 to October
1, 1997.  Applications for initial certification also will be accepted during this time period.  

     Current state certifications expire July 26, 1998.  The Commission's rules provide that
states may apply for a renewal of their certified state TRS program one year prior to expiration of
certification.  See 47 C.F.R.  64.605(c).  To facilitate the processing of applications, the
Commission will accept applications until October 1, 1997.

     Requirements for FCC Certification

     The Commission's rules for the provision of TRS, pursuant to Title IV of the Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA), 47 U.S.C.  225, are codified at 47 CFR  64.601-605.  Pursuant
to 47 C.F.R.  64.605(b), a state desiring Commission certification of its TRS program must
establish that:

          (1)  The state program meets all operational, technical, and functional
               minimum standards contained in 47 C.F.R.  64.604;

          (2)  The state program makes available adequate procedures and remedies for
               enforcing the requirements of the state program; and

          (3)  Where a state program exceeds the mandatory minimum standards
               contained in  64.604, the state establishes that its program in no way
               conflicts with federal law.

     Pursuant to 47 CFR  64.605(a), documentation must be submitted through the state's
office of the governor or other delegated executive office empowered to provide TRS.  All
documentation in support of applications must be submitted in narrative form, and must  clearly
describe the state program for implementing intrastate TRS, and the procedures and remedies for
enforcing any requirements imposed by the state program.  To the maximum extent possible,
states should provide historical, statistical, and illustrative evidence demonstrating compliance
with the Commission's TRS rules.  

     Upon receipt, the Commission will give public notice of state TRS certification
applications and provide notification in the Federal Register, pursuant to 47 CFR  64.605(a). 
Interested parties will be invited to comment on each application, within a period of time set by
the Commission.  In the event that a state's application is opposed or incomplete, the
Commission may contact the responsible state officer to seek further documentation.  If it
appears that a state program will not meet certification requirements, the Commission will send
notice to the responsible state officer prior to July 26, 1998, giving the state an opportunity to
demonstrate that it has taken, or will take, measures to bring its program into compliance with
the Commission's rules before July 26, 1998.  

       The Commission will act to approve the applications for certification of states that
demonstrate compliance with all applicable requirements of the Commission's rules on or before
July 26, 1998.  Approved certifications will remain in effect for five (5) years, until July 26, 2003
pursuant to 47 CFR  64.605(c).  In the event a state does not apply for certification, the
Commission will contact common carriers providing voice transmission service in that state to
ensure that TRS service meeting the Commission's minimum operational, functional and
technical standards is available within their service areas.  See 47 U.S.C.  225(c).

     Documentation and Electronic Copies

     To be timely filed, complete documentation must be received by the Commission on or
before October 1, 1997 at the Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission,
1919 M Street, N.W., Washington D.C., 20554.  Documentation sent to the Office of the
Secretary should be captioned "TRS State Certification Application."  To expedite processing of
applications, applicants are encouraged to also submit one (1) copy of their application to the
Federal Communications Commission, Network Services Division, 2000 M Street N.W.,
Washington, D.C., 20554.  Applicants should also submit electronic disk copies of their
application on a standard 3.5" diskette in a WordPerfect 5.1 (MS Windows/MS-DOS) or ASCII
text format.  The diskette should be submitted in "read-only" mode, and must be clearly labelled
with the state's name, the filing date, and captioned "TRS Certification Application."

     For further information, contact Kris Monteith (202) 418-1098 (v/TRS),
kmonteit@fcc.gov; Andy Firth, (202) 418-2224 TTY, 418-1898 (v), afirth@fcc.gov; or Pam
Gregory, (202) 418- 2498 (TTY), 418-0484 (TTY), pgregory@fcc.gov, at the Network Services
Division, Common Carrier Bureau, Federal Communications Commission.  


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