Citing COVID-19 Pandemic, T-Mobile Urges FCC to Extend TRS Waiver

T-Mobile and Sprint urged the FCC to extend a waiver of speed-of-answer requirements in agency telecommunications relay services rules. “While the circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic are certainly improving, the ongoing impact of the pandemic on T-Mobile Accessibility’s TRS operations will continue beyond March 31 ... when the current TRS waivers are set to expire,” said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 03-123. “While T-Mobile Accessibility and its vendors have made significant strides to mitigate the impact of COVID-19, adequate staffing continues to be problematic given the economic conditions created by the pandemic, including a tight labor market.” T-Mobile spoke with staff from FCC’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau. The provider redacted data in its filing and asked for confidential treatment.