qwerty123
Active Member
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2005
- Messages
- 1,319
- Reaction score
- 0
Ed’s Telecom Alert Restrictions on VRS Features
Hello everyone
Quick disclaimer. I own edsalert and also a co-founder of Convo. So accept my vlog for what it is.
I want to share with you all of a disturbing trend that the FCC had adopted restrictions of certain VRS features without actually releasing Public Notices that restrict these features for VRS industry.
FCC is now giving directives to National Exchange Carrier Association (NECA) – NECA is the contracted account administrator who reimburses VRS providers - anyway NECA is not to reimburse any minutes by VRS providers that are processed for these following features:
* conference calls between deaf/hoh (those who do NOT work for VRS providers) and hearing persons
* Customer support services (for pagers, cell phones, etc from ATT, Sprint, Verizon, etc)
These two, in my opinion, are legitimate calls. Conference calls by non-VRS employees – just regular deaf/hoh to hearing persons should be permitted, not forbidden.
The telephone support services that deaf/hoh calls to get technical help likewise should be permitted.
The largest VRS providers are able to absorb the cost of these features so they do not submit these minutes to the NECA whereas smaller VRS providers who need every minutes are forced to block these features as they cannot afford to absorb these costs. So who gets hurt are the start ups or small VRS providers.
Other non-reimbursable features are:
Podcast
online education (this one there is a FCC public notice forbidding that but specifically to “class room” situation)
some cases webinars
These three are debatable and controversial. Title III of ADA Act or Section 255 of Telecomm Access may apply on some of these “non-reimbursable” minutes.
However, I agree with not allowing class room as it really is the responsibility of educational institution to provide access for the deaf/hoh.
Strongly suggest that if you feel strongly about these non-reimbursable minutes, let FCC know. If you want to file complaint, use this link. Be sure to fill out both sections. Looks complicated, but when you read them, not too bad.
Complaint Form
Remember FCC will typically do not act on issues unless enough deaf/hoh complains. So complain away…
eyes open & thumbs up,
Ed B
long link:
https://esupport.fcc.gov/sform2000/formC!input.action?form_page=2000C
Hello everyone
Quick disclaimer. I own edsalert and also a co-founder of Convo. So accept my vlog for what it is.
I want to share with you all of a disturbing trend that the FCC had adopted restrictions of certain VRS features without actually releasing Public Notices that restrict these features for VRS industry.
FCC is now giving directives to National Exchange Carrier Association (NECA) – NECA is the contracted account administrator who reimburses VRS providers - anyway NECA is not to reimburse any minutes by VRS providers that are processed for these following features:
* conference calls between deaf/hoh (those who do NOT work for VRS providers) and hearing persons
* Customer support services (for pagers, cell phones, etc from ATT, Sprint, Verizon, etc)
These two, in my opinion, are legitimate calls. Conference calls by non-VRS employees – just regular deaf/hoh to hearing persons should be permitted, not forbidden.
The telephone support services that deaf/hoh calls to get technical help likewise should be permitted.
The largest VRS providers are able to absorb the cost of these features so they do not submit these minutes to the NECA whereas smaller VRS providers who need every minutes are forced to block these features as they cannot afford to absorb these costs. So who gets hurt are the start ups or small VRS providers.
Other non-reimbursable features are:
Podcast
online education (this one there is a FCC public notice forbidding that but specifically to “class room” situation)
some cases webinars
These three are debatable and controversial. Title III of ADA Act or Section 255 of Telecomm Access may apply on some of these “non-reimbursable” minutes.
However, I agree with not allowing class room as it really is the responsibility of educational institution to provide access for the deaf/hoh.
Strongly suggest that if you feel strongly about these non-reimbursable minutes, let FCC know. If you want to file complaint, use this link. Be sure to fill out both sections. Looks complicated, but when you read them, not too bad.
Complaint Form
Remember FCC will typically do not act on issues unless enough deaf/hoh complains. So complain away…
eyes open & thumbs up,
Ed B
long link:
https://esupport.fcc.gov/sform2000/formC!input.action?form_page=2000C