The FCC Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau will tackle issues in the...

constant stream of relay issues,” said Karen Peltz Strauss, deputy bureau chief. “It’s just an enormous number of issues that have been pending that we're going to be trying to resolve … specifically improving services for groups that have not really been as much on the radar, like speech-to-speech relay services and the deaf-blind.” A current inquiry “is designed to take a fresh look at relay services,” including the compensation methodology (CD June 29 p4), she said. It will be followed by a rulemaking and an order, which will stretch into a lot of the year, she said. “We're kind of on a fast track on this because we need to get everything resolved in time for the relay providers to submit their cost data.” A wireless accessibility workshop in May gave disabled consumers the opportunity to express the problems they were having in accessing wireless phones, Peltz Strauss said. “The goal is to make sure that Section 255 rules, which require wireless phones to be accessible to people with disabilities, is implemented to a greater extent than it has been in the past.” An update of Section 255 is aimed at extending its “application to Internet-based services and equipment,” and it’s “ a little bit mired in the commission’s efforts to extend rules to certain Title II provisions,” she said. To address consumer needs and protections, the bureau has issued a public notice to combat bill shock (CD May 12 p8) and is reviewing comments submitted in response to a rulemaking notice on rule changes for robocalls (CD June 22 p6), said Deputy Bureau Chief Yul Kwon. An Office of Native Affairs and Policy and a Native Broadband Task Force will be created this year to further the effort to expand broadband access on tribal lands, he said. Consumer choice and robust competition is the best way to protect consumer interest, said Commissioner Robert McDowell. In the market, “consumers have actually more choices in the last mile now more than ever before,” especially in the wireless market, he said. The FCC needs to press forward with the unlicensed use of TV white spaces to increase the amount of last-mile consumer choice, McDowell said. This will “help resolve a lot of policy disputes and challenges.” He said Title III of the Communications Act “allows broadcasters to lease portions of their spectrum today.” To optimize the benefit of the Universal Service Fund for low-income consumers, the Federal State Joint Board is reviewing issues surrounding the Lifeline and Link-up programs (CD May 5 p10) , said Irene Flannery, a Wireline Bureau deputy chief. The issues were referred to the joint board by the FCC due to changes in the marketplace and technology, she said. The issues involve mainly eligibility, like electronic verification and duplicate claims, she said. “With the advent of new technology, there is the possibility that a consumer … could be using the discounts on more than one line.”