[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 241 (Monday, December 16, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 76096-76097]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-28829]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 64
[CG Docket Nos. 08-15 and 03-123; DA 13-2191]
Request for Comment on Petition Filed by AT&T Services, Inc.,
Regarding the Provision of Muting for Speech-to-Speech Telephone
Services
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Petition of Reconditeration: request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In this document, the Commission seeks comment on an AT&T
Services, Inc. (AT&T) petition requesting clarification or, in the
alternative, expedited waiver of the requirement contained in the
Commission's 2013 STS Order for providers to offer speech-to-speech
(STS) users the option to have their voices muting during an STS call.
The Commission seeks comment on AT&T's assertion that its current
process for muting the voice of an STS user on incoming calls, when the
user has not pre-selected muting in his or her profile, complies with
this requirement. The Commission also seeks comment on AT&T's request
for a twelve-month expedited waiver of the STS muting rules for
incoming calls where the STS user has not pre-selected muting in his or
her profile. AT&T maintains that a waiver will allow it to continue to
use its current process for muting the voice of an STS user on incoming
calls while it modifies its platform to create a process that will
allow the CA to mute the STS user's voice at any time during a call
without requiring a call-back.
DATES: Comments are due December 31, 2013 and reply comments are due
January 10, 2014.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by CG Docket Nos. 08-15
and 03-123, by any of the following methods:
Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the
Internet by accessing the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System
(ECFS), through the Commission's Web site http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs2/. Filers should follow the instructions provided on the Web site
for submitting comments. For ECFS filers, in completing the transmittal
screen, filers should include their full name, U.S. Postal service
mailing address, and CG Docket Nos. 08-15 and 03-123.
Paper filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must
file an original and one copy of each filing. Filings can be sent by
hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by
first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail (although the
Commission continues to experience delays in receiving U.S. Postal
Service mail). All filings must be addressed to the Commission's
Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.
All hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings
for the Commission's Secretary must be delivered to FCC Headquarters at
445 12th Street SW., Room TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554. All hand
deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any
envelopes must be disposed of before entering the building.
Commercial Mail sent by overnight mail (other than U.S.
Postal Service
[[Page 76097]]
Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton
Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743.
U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority
mail should be addressed to 445 12th Street SW., Washington, DC 20554.
In addition, parties must serve one copy of each pleading with the
Commission's duplicating contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc., 445
12th Street SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554, or via email to
[email protected]. For detailed instructions for submitting comments and
additional information on the rulemaking process, see the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section of this document.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Caitlin Vogus, Consumer and
Governmental Affairs Bureau, Disability Rights Office, (202) 418-1264,
email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Public
Notice, document DA 13-2191, released on November 14, 2013. The full
text of document DA 13-2191, and any subsequently filed documents in
this matter will be available for public inspection and copying via
ECFS, and during regular business hours at the FCC Reference
Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street SW., Room CY-A257,
Washington, DC 20554. It also may be purchased from the Commission's
duplicating contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc., Portals II, 445
12th Street SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554, telephone: (800)
378-3160, fax: (202) 488-5563, or Internet: www.bcpiweb.com. Document
DA 13-2191 can also be downloaded in Word or Portable Document Format
(PDF) at http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/telecommunications-relay-services-trs. To request materials in accessible formats for people
with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio
format), send an email to [email protected] or call the Consumer and
Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432
(TTY).
Synopsis
1. On September 26, 2013, AT&T filed a petition requesting
clarification, or, in the alternative, expedited waiver of the
requirement contained in the 2013 STS Order, published at 78 FR 49693,
August 15, 2013, and codified at 47 CFR 64.604(a)(1)(viii) of the
Commission's rules, for providers to offer STS users the option to have
their voices muted during an STS call. AT&T Services, Inc., Request for
Clarification, or in the Alternative, Petition for Expedited Waiver, CG
Docket Nos. 08-15 and 03-123.
2. Specifically, AT&T claims that it can meet this obligation for
incoming calls to an STS user who has not pre-selected muting in his or
her profile by ``mut[ing] the user's voice only if the STS user drops
off the call and the CA adds the user back to the call.'' AT&T seeks
clarification that this process complies with 47 CFR 64.604(a)(1)(viii)
of the Commission's rules. In the alternative, AT&T seeks a twelve-
month expedited waiver of the STS muting rules for calls where the STS
user has not pre-selected muting in his or her profile.
AT&T claims that the waiver will allow it to continue offering STS
users the call-back option while it modifies its platform to add a
``hold'' function during STS calls, to allow the CA to mute an STS
user's voice at any time during a call without requiring a call-back.
Federal Communications Commission.
Karen Peltz Strauss,
Deputy Chief, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2013-28829 Filed 12-13-13; 8:45 am]
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