First Internet-based TRS Order

Citation: Federal Comms. Comm'n, First Internet-based TRS Order, 23 FCC Rcd 11591 (June 24, 2008).

Overview
On June 24, 2008, the Federal Communications Commission issued the First Internet-based TRS Order, in which it adopted a uniform numbering system for iTRS.

History
Prior to the Commission’s numbering plan, there was no uniform numbering system for iTRS. Rather, iTRS users were reached at a dynamic IP address, a proxy or alias number, or a toll-free number. In the case of toll-free numbers, an iTRS user would provide the number to any hearing user. When a hearing user dialed the iTRS user’s toll-free number, the voice call was routed by the PSTN to the provider that had subscribed to the number and assigned it to a user. That toll-free number was not linked to a user-specific local number but the provider would be able to translate the toll-free number dialed by the hearing user to the iTRS user’s IP address in the provider’s database.

However, prior to December 31, 2008, iTRS providers did not share databases, and therefore, the iTRS user and people calling that user were forced to use the service of the iTRS provider that gave the user the toll-free number. This arrangement was in tension with the Commission’s interoperability requirements, which prohibit a VRS provider that seeks compensation from the Interstate TRS Fund from restricting the use of its equipment or service so that a VRS user cannot place or receive a call through a competing VRS provider.