Telecommunications Relay Services and Sppech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities

Approved by OMB

Fund State Form 2018 Version

OMB Control Number 3060-0463

Estimated Average Burden Hours Per Response: 1.0 Hours

Interstate TRS Fund

2018 Annual State Rate Data Request

_{Filing Instructions}

Should you have any questions about these instructions or completion/content of the forms, please contact Bob Loube at 301-681-0338 or [email protected]. Questions about the submission of this data request can be emailed to [email protected], or call 717-585-6605, extension 625.

Filing Requirements / Schedule / File Preparation

Form required of all states and US territories:

 Rate and Demand

Form to be completed as appropriate:

 Additional Costs Paid to Provider

Filing deadline:

_{Forms must be emailed to [email protected] on or before February 20,} 2019.

Naming your file:

Each Excel workbook must be saved and submitted as a whole collection of completed data forms using this filing naming template: xx_2018_Annual_v.xls, example: PR_2018_Annual_0.xls

xx Represents an abbreviation of the state or US territory (i.e. PA, DC, PR)

v Represents a single digit for the version of the filing. The first filing submitted for the carrier should be 0. If the file is being replaced for some reason, increment by 1 each time a replacement file is created for submission.

General Information

On November 19, 2007, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or “Commission”) released a Report and Order (FCC 07-186) adopting new cost recovery methodologies for the various forms of TRS. For traditional TRS, STS, and CTS, the Commission adopted the MARS Plan. One MARS rate is calculated that applies to Interstate TRS and STS, and one MARS rate is calculated that applies to Interstate CTS.

Under the MARS plan each January the Fund Administrator will request each state TRS administrator, and each provider of TRS, STS, and CTS to provide the following data for the previous calendar year: (1) per-minute compensation rates for intrastate traditional TRS, STS, and CTS; (2) whether the rate applies to session minutes or conversation minutes; (3) the number of intrastate session minutes for traditional TRS, STS, and CTS; and (4) the number of intrastate conversation minutes for traditional TRS, STS, and CTS. If the contractual per-minute compensation rate does not include all of the costs paid by the state to the provider for the relay service, the state should also list other amounts paid to the provider during the relevant calendar year. All information submitted will be considered by RLSA to be confidential.

The intrastate minutes also include allocated 800-number, 900-number, and inbound two-line CTS minutes allocated as intrastate minutes (FCC DA 08-1476 ¶15). These allocated intrastate minutes must be included in the MARS calculation to ensure the rate reflects all intrastate minutes compensated by the states.

Completing the “Rate and Demand Worksheet”

Per the Commission Report and Order FCC 07-186, each state TRS administrator and each provider of interstate TRS and STS is to provide the following data for the previous calendar year: per-minute compensation rates for intrastate traditional TRS and STS; whether the rate applies to session minutes or conversation minutes; the number of intrastate session minutes for traditional TRS and STS; and the number of intrastate conversation minutes for traditional TRS and STS.

Per the Commission Report and Order FCC 07-186, each state administrator and each provider of CTS is to provide the following data for the previous calendar year:

per-minute compensation rates for intrastate CTS; whether the rate applies to session minutes or conversation minutes; the number of intrastate session minutes for CTS; and the number of intrastate conversation minutes for CTS.

Header Instructions:

1. Jurisdiction: Enter the two character abbreviation for the state or territory being reported (such as “PR”, “VI”, “DC”, etc.).

2. Prepared By: Enter the name of the person responsible for the content of this report.

3. Telephone: Enter the telephone number, including an extension if appropriate, of the person named in step 2.

4. Email Address: Enter the email address of the person named in step 2.

Column Instructions: (Note that the jurisdiction column will complete automatically once a service type and provider have been entered.)

1. Service Type: Select the service type using the drop down list or type

“TRS”, “STS” or “CTS”.

2. Provider: Enter the name of the service provider.

3. Rate Start Date: Enter a valid date including month, day and year when the contract rate became effective (such as “3/1/2017”). Note: Only rates that were in effect at some point during 2017 are to be reported.

4. Rate End Date: Enter a valid date including month, day and year when the contract rate terminates (such as “9/30/2018”). Note: Only rates that were in effect at some point during 2018 are to be reported.

5. Conversation Rate: Enter the per-minute compensation rate when the compensation rate is based upon actual intrastate conversation minutes (such as “4.52”). The currency format is already configured within the form and therefore, a dollar sign should not be typed.

6. Session Rate: Enter the per-minute compensation rate when the compensation rate is based upon actual intrastate session minutes (such as “4.52”). The currency format is already configured within the form and therefore, a dollar sign should not be typed.

7. Conversation Minutes: Enter the total intrastate conversation minutes for the period in which the rate was effective during the calendar year 2018.

8. Session Minutes: Enter the total intrastate session minutes for the period in which the rate was effective during the calendar year 2018.

Additional Cost Paid to the Provider

Please identify any incentives or services that were paid to a TRS provider during calendar year 2018 in addition to the payments reported on the “rate and demand” worksheet. Incentives, whether direct or indirect, that relate to usage are prohibited for any form of TRS; any types of incentives for any form of TRS, whether direct or indirect, are not reasonable costs of providing TRS.

Column Instructions: (Note that the jurisdiction column will complete automatically once a service type and provider have been entered.)

1. Provider: Enter the name of the service provider.

2. Service Type: Select the service type using the drop down list or type either “TRS”, “STS” or “CTS”.

3. Rate Start Date: Enter a valid date including month, day and year when the rate being reported began (such as “3/1/2018”).

4. Rate End Date: Enter a valid date including month, day and year when the rate being reported terminates (such as “9/30/2018”).

5. Amount: Enter the amount of additional payments to the provider. The currency format is already configured within the form and therefore, a dollar sign should not be typed.

6. Description: Describe the type of cost or incentive paid to the provider.

Questions:

_{Q: My state is somewhat unique among states as we pay a monthly TRS rate}

based on center operating costs, not a per minute compensation rate as requested. How do I best capture that information on the form for you to use?

A: Do not complete the rate portion of the “rate and demand” form because it obviously does not apply to this situation. We are also interested in the amount of TRS demand in the prior year, so please enter the number of minutes, if possible.

In the form, “Add. Cost Paid to Provider”, please complete this form. In the “amount” column, enter the annual amount paid to the provider. However, if the rate was established for a portion of the year, enter the amount paid for that portion. Indicate in the rate start and end date columns, the portion of the year that the rate was in effect. Use a separate row each time the rate changed.

Q: Our rate for STS is included in the monthly TRS rate. Do I list STS on the form separately, or note that the monthly TRS rate includes STS in the "provider" column?

A: In the “description” column, explain how the compensation is determined. If STS and TRS are combined, indicate that. Do not try to make an artificial separation of the payments if there is no basis for the separation. However, if you know the costs for TRS separately from the costs of STS, you can provide that information in the description column.