USVI Public Records

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GOVERNMENT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS OF THE UNITED STATES Public Services Commission IN RE: Docket 666 APPLICATION OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS Order No. 48/2018 PUBLIC SERVICES COMMISSION FOR REAUTHORIZATION OF THE VIRIGIN ISLANDS TELECOMMUNICATIONS RELAY SERVICE ORDER WHEREAS, on March 26, 2018, the Virgin Islands Public Services Commission (hereinafter “Commission” or “PSC’) staff prepared the Telecommunications Relay Service (hereinafter “TRS”) Application for renewal of certification in Territory of the Virgin Islands pursuant to the rules and procedures set forth by the Federal Communications Commission (hereinafter “FCC”) with the assistance of the Virgin Islands Telephone Corporation (hereinafter “VITELCO”, d/b/a “Viya’’); and WHEREAS, TRS is the service provided to hearing-impaired telephone customers, which allows them to receive messages over the telephone utilizing a keyboard and a screen, as well as to make outgoing calls. For many of these customers, this service has been superseded by cellphones (particularly with text messaging) and email; however, there continue to be subscribers who rely on this service; and WHEREAS, the Territory, acting through the Commission, is required to file an application with the FCC every five years regarding the provision of these services. That filing was due October 2017, but an extension was granted due to Hurricanes Irma and Maria; and WHEREAS, in March 2018 the Commission received notice through VITELCO that the FCC was moving forward with the recertifications by the end of that month; and WHEREAS, VITELCO has had an agreement with Sprint to provide these services, and that agreement was previously approved by the Commission, and is being renewed. VITELCO submitted a renewal agreement, and the PSC Staff has reviewed that contract and submitted comments which were addressed to the satisfaction of PSC Staff; and