Relay Services for Deaf-Blind Individuals

In this document, the Commission adopts rules to establish the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP) pilot program in accordance with the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA). The CVAA adds a new section to the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (the Act). This new section of the Act requires the Commission to establish rules that define as eligible for support those programs approved by the Commission for the distribution of specialized customer premises equipment (CPE) to low- income individuals who are deaf-blind. For these purposes, this new section of the Act authorizes $10 million annually from the Interstate Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) Fund. The equipment distributed under the NDBEDP pilot program will make telecommunications service, Internet access service, and advanced communications, including interexchange services and advanced telecommunications and information services, accessible to individuals who are deaf-blind.