PSC Approves Decrease in Relay Missouri Surcharge--pr-24-110

JEFFERSON CITY---
The Missouri Public Service Commission has adopted recommendations made by the Public Service Commission Staff (PSC Staff) which reduces the current surcharge that appears on the monthly telephone bills of Missourians to fund Relay Missouri.

The surcharge will drop from $0.10 a month per telephone line to $0.06 a month per telephone line. The surcharge is used to fund a statewide dual-party telephone relay service for qualifying Missourians who are unable to use traditional telecommunications equipment. Relay Missouri is funded through a monthly, per telephone line surcharge.

Missouri statutes (Section 209.259, RSMo 2016) require the Commission to review the surcharge no less frequently than every two years. It also requires the Commission to order changes in the amount of the surcharge as necessary to assure available funds for the programs supported by that fund. The Relay Missouri fund provides financial support for the Relay Missouri service, the Captioned Telephone Service (CapTel) and the equipment distribution program.

The PSC Staff also recommended discontinuing Captioned Telephone Service (CapTel), which allows a user to see transcribed speech on a phone screen. The current CapTel provider, TMobile, has a contract to provide CapTel until October 31, 2025. "T-Mobile does not plan to offer CapTel after the contract expires, and the number of active CapTel users has been steadily declining," said the Commission. "The Commission received no responses to Staff's Recommendation."

After reviewing the PSC Staff pleadings and comments from the Office of the Public Counsel, the Commission adopted the PSC Staff's recommendations.

The Missouri General Assembly established Relay Missouri in 1990. The surcharge level is periodically reviewed by the Commission according to the requirements established by Missouri statutes.