FCC Rulings - 7/14/05
15 07 2005Federal Communications Commission (FCC) finally announced several new rulings related to Video Relay Service (VRS) which will help improve our VRS needs in long run. What’s interesting to me is that they either ignore or need more time to review regarding other issues such as blocking on VP-100 products where most people complained. But anyway, those rulings will help a lot in our deaf community.
Also, I did sign up “VRS Mail” or whatever they called it but I never used it. I wonder if it is good. Only thing that hearing people have to call 800’s toll call to reach deaf client like you and me and it usually never work out good this way. It’s pain in the butt for hearing people to go this way.
We have similar program for it with Traditional Relay Service (TRS) and it is useless to me, too. I still prefer “My IP-Relay” number – I think they are trying to implement it in near future. Who knows? (I hope)
Also, you will see new ruling about spanish VRS and two-line captioned telephone in press release below. It’s very exciting.
The Commission recognized VRS as a form of TRS in March 2000, but waived the speed of answer rules for VRS until January 1, 2006. “Speed of answer” refers to the amount of time that elapses between receipt of dialing information and the dialing of the requested number.
Specifically, the new rules require that:
• Speed of answer requirements for VRS be phased in as follows, measured on a monthly basis: (1) by January 1, 2006, VRS providers must answer 80 percent of all VRS calls within 180 seconds; (2) by July 1, 2006, VRS providers must answer 80 percent of all VRS calls within 150 seconds; and (3) by January 1, 2007, VRS providers must answer 80 percent of all VRS calls within 120 seconds.
• VRS providers must offer service 24/7 to be eligible for compensation from the Interstate TRS Fund. The Commission noted that as consumers increasingly rely on VRS as their preferred means of using TRS to access the telephone system, it becomes important for consumers to have access to this service at all times.
• VRS Mail be recognized as a VRS service eligible for compensation from the Interstate TRS Fund. When a deaf or hard of hearing person makes a VRS call to a hearing person who is not able to take the call, the VRS provider can leave a voice message for the hearing person, and the VRS call is eligible for compensation from the Fund. Under the new rules, when a hearing person leaves a message for a deaf or hard of hearing person using VRS, that call will also be compensable from the Fund.The order will be effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.
Action by the Commission July 14, 2005, by Report and Order (FCC 05- 140). Chairman Martin, Commissioners Abernathy, Copps, and Adelstein. Separate statements issued by Chairman Martin, Abernathy, Copps, and Adelstein.
New Rules Adopted to Improve Video Relay Service.
News Release: Word | Acrobat
ASL-Spanish Translation Video Relay Service Eligible for Compensation from Interstate TRS Fund.
News Release: Word | Acrobat
Commission Clarifies that Two-line Captioned Telephone Service is Eligible for Compensation from the Interstate TRS Fund.
News Release: Word | Acrobat
By the way, we are celebrating 15th anniversary for American Disabilities of Act (ADA) and TRS is very much part of it. To learn more about ADA, click here.
Grant W. Laird, Jr.
http://blog.grantlairdjr.com
I understand how you feel about the hearing people who may be bothered by VRS Mail but but for the past year, the “hearing” answering machine works wonderfull. My hearing daughter left the greeting message that says “Sorry, we are unable to answer but please call 800 xxx-xxxx ex xxxx to leave the video message Thank you beep”. More than 75 percent of the calls I get the video messages.