PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12 th St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: https://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 DA 17-392 Released: April 25, 2017 FCC ANNOUNCES APPLICANTS FOR CERTIFICATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NATIONAL DEAF-BLIND EQUIPMENT DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM CG Docket No. 10-210 On August 4, 2016, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) adopted rules to convert the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP), also known as “iCanConnect,” from a pilot program to a permanent program as of July 1, 2017. 1 Pursuant to these rules, the Commission’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB), must certify a single entity for each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as the sole entity for that jurisdiction to administer the NDBEDP and receive reimbursement for NDBEDP activities from the TRS Fund. 2 On February 7, 2017, CGB announced that it would accept certification applications from interested parties for a 60-day period, ending on April 7, 2017. 3 In accordance with the NDBEDP Permanent Program Order, CGB publishes this list of entities that have applied for certification to participate in the NDBEDP. 4 This announcement puts all certification applicants on notice of competing applications. 5 1 Implementation of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010, Section 105, Relay Services for Deaf-Blind Individuals, Report and Order, 31 FCC Rcd 9178 (2016) (NDBEDP Permanent Program Order); see also 47 CFR §§ 64.6201-64.6219. Under the NDBEDP, the Commission may provide up to $10 million annually from the Interstate Telecommunications Relay Service Fund (TRS Fund) to support local programs that distribute equipment to eligible low-income individuals who are deaf-blind, so that these individuals can access telecommunications service, Internet access service, and advanced communications services. 47 U.S.C. § 620. 2 47 CFR § 64.6207; see also NDBEDP Permanent Program Order, 31 FCC Rcd at 9184, para. 9. 3 FCC Announces 60-day Period to Apply for Certification to Participate in the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program, CG Docket No. 10-210, Public Notice, DA 17-138 (Feb. 7, 2017). In addition, CGB announced that any entity that held certification under the NDBEDP pilot program that did not wish to participate in the permanent NDBEDP was required to notify the Commission by April 7, 2017. Id. at 1, 5; see also NDBEDP Permanent Program Order, 31 FCC Rcd at 9186, para. 15. Only the entities certified to serve Virginia and Wisconsin under the NDBEDP pilot program notified CGB of such intent. These entities must comply with certain requirements set forth in the NDBEDP Permanent Program Order that are designed to ensure the continuation of NDBEDP operations in their jurisdictions, including the submission of final reimbursement claims and reports to the Commission, the transfer of data and equipment inventory to their successors, and notification of their exits from the program to consumers. NDBEDP Permanent Program Order, 31 FCC Rcd at 9197, paras. 44-45. 4 NDBEDP Permanent Program Order, 31 FCC Rcd at 9186-87, para. 16. 5 Id. CGB received at least one application for certification for each jurisdiction. On a rolling basis, CGB will release additional public notices announcing entities selected for certification under the permanent NDBEDP after (continued….) 2APPLICANTS FOR CERTIFICATION: State Applicants Alabama ? Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind Alaska ? Assistive Technology of Alaska Arizona ? Perkins School for the Blind Arkansas ? Perkins School for the Blind California ? Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired Colorado ? Colorado Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Connecticut ? Connecticut Tech Act Project Delaware ? University of Delaware – Center for Disabilities Studies Florida ? Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adults Georgia ? Georgia Center of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc. ? Tools for Life Hawaii ? Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adults Idaho ? University of Idaho – Center on Disabilities and Human Development Illinois ? The Chicago Lighthouse Serving the Blind, Visually Impaired, Disabled and Veteran Communities Indiana ? Perkins School for the Blind Iowa ? Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adults Kansas ? Assistive Technology for Kansans Kentucky ? Eastern Kentucky University Louisiana ? Affiliated Blind of Louisiana Training Center Maine ? Disability Rights Maine Maryland ? Perkins School for the Blind Massachusetts ? Perkins School for the Blind Michigan ? Perkins School for the Blind Minnesota ? Perkins School for the Blind (Continued from previous page) reviewing applications and supplemental materials received for each state. In addition, CGB will take appropriate steps to minimize possible disruptions of service by providing as much advance notice as possible about such selections. See id. 3Mississippi ? Perkins School for the Blind State Applicants Missouri ? Missouri Assistive Technology Montana ? Perkins School for the Blind ? Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adults Nebraska ? Nebraska Assistive Technology Partnership Nevada ? Perkins School for the Blind New Hampshire ? Northeast Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, Inc. New Jersey ? New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired New Mexico ? Perkins School for the Blind New York ? Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adults North Carolina ? North Carolina Division of Services for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing North Dakota ? North Dakota Assistive Ohio ? Perkins School for the Blind Oklahoma ? Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services Oregon ? Access Technologies, Inc. Pennsylvania ? Institute on Disabilities – Temple University ? Center for Independent Living of Central Pennsylvania Rhode Island ? Perkins School for the Blind South Carolina ? Perkins School for the Blind South Dakota ? South Dakota Department of Human Services Tennessee ? Tennessee Public Utility Commission Texas ? Perkins School for the Blind Utah ? Perkins School for the Blind Vermont ? Perkins School for the Blind Virginia ? Perkins School for the Blind Washington ? Perkins School for the Blind West Virginia ? Perkins School for the Blind Wisconsin ? Wisconsin Department of Health Services Wyoming ? Wyoming Institute for Disabilities – University of Wyoming Other Jurisdiction Applicants 4District of Columbia ? Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind American Samoa ? Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adults Other Jurisdiction Applicants Guam ? Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adults Northern Mariana Islands ? Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adults Puerto Rico ? Perkins School for the Blind U.S. Virgin Islands ? Perkins School for the Blind ACCESSIBLE FORMATS: To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (TTY). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact Jackie Ellington, Disability Rights Office, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, 202-418-1153, e-mail Jackie.Ellington@fcc.gov; or Rosaline Crawford, Disability Rights Office, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, 202-418-2075, e-mail Rosaline.Crawford@fcc.gov. -FCC-