The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has proposed updates to its telecommunications relay services (TRS) rules that would enable the use of artificial intelligence to enhance communication access for people with disabilities.
The FCC said the proposed reforms aim to align relay services with modern technological advancements while improving efficiency, accessibility, and long-term viability.
In a draft notice of proposed rulemaking, the agency outlined plans to modernize TRS by incorporating automatic speech recognition for real-time speech-to-text conversion and advanced text-to-speech tools for internet protocol (IP) relay services.
The FCC is seeking public comment on whether these technologies could perform some functions currently handled by human communications assistants.
The proposal also examines whether AI-driven tools are reliable enough for everyday use and whether providers should continue offering human-assisted options. In parallel, the FCC is considering new performance benchmarks, including accuracy, latency, and audio clarity.