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 For many of these customers, this service has been superseded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