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http://www.wtopnews.com/index.php?nid=25&sid=851703
Virginia's deaf and hard-of-hearing residents who use videophones to talk with callers in the hearing world now have more options in finding sign-language interpreters.
Videophones operate through a video-relay service provider, which offers certified American Sign Language interpreters through a high-speed Internet connection.
The interpreter translates the user's sign language into spoken word for the hearing person and signs the response back. A deaf user can also sign directly to another deaf person.
As of July 1, the largest video-relay service provider, Sorenson Communications, is allowing users of its videophones to call interpreters at any of the other eight VRS providers.
"It's a real win for consumers," said Ron L. Lanier, director of the Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
"It allows the consumers to shop around if they think other VRS providers have better interpreters" and companies may become more competitive, he said.
"It was something people wanted in the deaf community, so we went ahead and made that change before the FCC required it," said Lisa Harrison Tate, public relations manager for Sorenson Communications.
The private company won't disclose how many customers or interpreters it has, Harrison Tate said.
But Matt Myrick, AT&T Virginia Relay senior account manager, estimates that 85 percent of the deaf community having video conversations use Sorenson equipment.
Myrick, who was born deaf, uses Sorenson equipment at work and at home.
"This should have happened a long time ago under the FCC," Myrick said. "Now that the video-relay services are all accessible, this adds a sigh of relief to the deaf community."
An estimated 615,000 Virginian residents are deaf or hard of hearing.
The popularity of the phones stem from some deaf callers being able to communicate in their first language, American Sign Language, instead of English, their second language.
Video conversations are live and lively as speakers can see or hear emotions.
"I think videophones are incredible," said Gary Talley, VDDHH Outreach Program manager.
"It's like a Jetsons telephone," said Talley, who lost his hearing three years ago.
"Many deaf (people) with videophones just connect directly and sign to each other. It's faster and so much easier than any relay program.
The change "will let me talk to any person with any brand of videophone," Talley said.
All VRS calls within the United States are free and unlimited.
The service is paid for by the federal government, said Clayton Bowen, VDDHH business and relay manager.
"There is a contribution factor that is placed on all common carriers and that is where the money comes from for the funds that the federal government uses to pay for not only video relay services but all Internet-based relay services and for interstate relay calls," Bowen said.
Because video calls are so much faster, traditional text telephone, or TTY, relay services used by the deaf for years have decreased about 25 percent nationwide, he said.
Talley isn't surprised by the videophones' appeal.
"Many deaf individuals I have spoken with don't want to use anything else. They can connect directly to other users, and communication is so much clearer to them.
The videophones are better than having to write English, which does not easily translate from American Sign Language, he said. "The structure and syntax are very different, and does affect the clarity of the message," Talley said.
But the VRS business is still embryonic.
Only a small percentage of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community uses VRS because of the monthly cost of high-speed Internet, lack of availability of broadband service and the fact that not all deaf people know sign language.
Virginia's deaf and hard-of-hearing residents who use videophones to talk with callers in the hearing world now have more options in finding sign-language interpreters.
Videophones operate through a video-relay service provider, which offers certified American Sign Language interpreters through a high-speed Internet connection.
The interpreter translates the user's sign language into spoken word for the hearing person and signs the response back. A deaf user can also sign directly to another deaf person.
As of July 1, the largest video-relay service provider, Sorenson Communications, is allowing users of its videophones to call interpreters at any of the other eight VRS providers.
"It's a real win for consumers," said Ron L. Lanier, director of the Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
"It allows the consumers to shop around if they think other VRS providers have better interpreters" and companies may become more competitive, he said.
"It was something people wanted in the deaf community, so we went ahead and made that change before the FCC required it," said Lisa Harrison Tate, public relations manager for Sorenson Communications.
The private company won't disclose how many customers or interpreters it has, Harrison Tate said.
But Matt Myrick, AT&T Virginia Relay senior account manager, estimates that 85 percent of the deaf community having video conversations use Sorenson equipment.
Myrick, who was born deaf, uses Sorenson equipment at work and at home.
"This should have happened a long time ago under the FCC," Myrick said. "Now that the video-relay services are all accessible, this adds a sigh of relief to the deaf community."
An estimated 615,000 Virginian residents are deaf or hard of hearing.
The popularity of the phones stem from some deaf callers being able to communicate in their first language, American Sign Language, instead of English, their second language.
Video conversations are live and lively as speakers can see or hear emotions.
"I think videophones are incredible," said Gary Talley, VDDHH Outreach Program manager.
"It's like a Jetsons telephone," said Talley, who lost his hearing three years ago.
"Many deaf (people) with videophones just connect directly and sign to each other. It's faster and so much easier than any relay program.
The change "will let me talk to any person with any brand of videophone," Talley said.
All VRS calls within the United States are free and unlimited.
The service is paid for by the federal government, said Clayton Bowen, VDDHH business and relay manager.
"There is a contribution factor that is placed on all common carriers and that is where the money comes from for the funds that the federal government uses to pay for not only video relay services but all Internet-based relay services and for interstate relay calls," Bowen said.
Because video calls are so much faster, traditional text telephone, or TTY, relay services used by the deaf for years have decreased about 25 percent nationwide, he said.
Talley isn't surprised by the videophones' appeal.
"Many deaf individuals I have spoken with don't want to use anything else. They can connect directly to other users, and communication is so much clearer to them.
The videophones are better than having to write English, which does not easily translate from American Sign Language, he said. "The structure and syntax are very different, and does affect the clarity of the message," Talley said.
But the VRS business is still embryonic.
Only a small percentage of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community uses VRS because of the monthly cost of high-speed Internet, lack of availability of broadband service and the fact that not all deaf people know sign language.