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[Q]Whippany, NJ -May 1, 2002 - NECA today filed with the Federal Communications Commission the data needed to determine the size of the interstate Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) Fund. TRS enables people with hearing and speech disabilities to make telephone calls using specialized equipment to other people who do not have similar equipment.
The fund size for the July 1, 2002 - June 30, 2003 funding year is $90.3 million. However, due to a $26.1 million balance from the 2001 - 2002 fund year, the actual funding requirement is $64.2 million. The balance was created when actual usage did not meet projected demand. NECA proposes a $1.528 per interstate minute of use rate for traditional TRS and $4.045 per interstate minute of use for Speech-to-Speech (STS) service. Providers are reimbursed separately through state contracts for intrastate TRS and STS calls. For Video Relay Service (VRS), NECA proposes a $17.044 per minute of use rate. The interstate TRS Fund reimburses intrastate and interstate video relay minutes.
The fund size is $20 million larger than the current fund. The increase is due in part to a recent FCC decision that allows reimbursement for calls made using Internet Protocol (IP) to access relay service. The Commission is allowing reimbursement for all costs associated with IP Relay because there is currently no method to determine if the minutes are interstate or intrastate. A significant rise in the cost and demand projections for VRS also contributed to the increase.
The FCC appointed NECA TRS Fund administrator in 1993 when the fund was established as part of the Americans With Disabilities Act. NECA was re-appointed in 1995 and 1999 for four-year terms[/Q]
Now, I tried to find a UPDATED source from NRCA. This is the only one that I could find it directly from NRCA. See those dates? Both have complete different stories. Just FYI
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