Wireless Industry Urges Flexibility in Rules for TTY/RTT Transition

AT&T, CTIA and T-Mobile representatives met with FCC officials to urge the agency to build flexibility into proposed rules on the transition from text technology (TTY) to real-time text (RTT) technology. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler circulated an NPRM on the transition April 7 for a vote at the FCC’s April 28 open meeting (see 1604070067). “As deaf, hard of hearing, and speech-impaired consumers increasingly adopt innovative wireless services, including Text-to-911, CTIA supports the Commission affirming the wireless industry’s ability to transition beyond yesterday’s wireless TTY obligations and toward solutions like real-time text that will better meet the needs of today’s consumers,” the wireless industry officials said. But the FCC should “provide flexibility for wireless providers and equipment manufacturers to develop and implement the necessary network and handset standards and capabilities to support RTT,” they said. The wireless officials met with Diane Cornell, special counsel to Wheeler, and Karen Peltz Strauss, deputy chief of the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, said a filing posted Friday in docket 15-178.