Sorenson ignore FCC regulations?

[Dodge Trucker]

Hello there! I have been a long time watcher of this magnificient website!! I just finished talking with the Sorenson Tech support about the FCC regulations They are saying that we have no choice to use VRS. We must use Sorenson's own VRS and no one else. They said that it is same concept that if you use Sidekick with Tmobile..you can not jump from 1 service to other service. Must use only 1. Uh? I thought FCC said choice to use VRS unless you sign agreement say that you WILL use only Sorenson VRS. I don't recall signing an agreement at all. Just the installer who came out and I sign paper saying that he did good job or whatever.
What gives?? Are they being liars or what? :liar:
Quite Frankly..I am that they are not allowing me to use VRS of my choice. Can any one give me suggestions, or am I mis-reading everything all wrong? Thanks in advance!

Roland

 

[Dennis S.]

Complain to the FCC. Do you have what the Sorenson tech told you in writing? If you do, then you have proof of what they told you, and you can forward your complaint to the FCC

READ THIS FIRST: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/complaints.html

Email fccinfo@fcc.gov with your complaint. It is IMPORTANT for you to include:

1) Your name, address and the telephone number or numbers involved with your complaint; (if telephone related)

2) A telephone number where you can be reached during the business day;

3) Specific information about your complaint, including the names of all companies involved with your complaint;

4) Names and telephone numbers of the company representatives that you contacted, the dates that you spoke with these representatives, and any other information that would help process your complaint;

5) If telephone related, include a copy of the bill(s) listing the disputed charges;

6) What type of resolution are you seeking?

 

[qwerty123]

I thought FCC said choice to use VRS unless you sign agreement say that you WILL use only Sorenson VRS. I don't recall signing an agreement at all. Just the installer who came out and I sign paper saying that he did good job or whatever.

Roland

Did you actually sign the agreement? No. You or the installer clicked the "I Accept" button on the screen showing the agreement. Presto, you agreed to use Sorenson VP 100 using THEIR VRS service.

Yes, FCC said it is **ok** to have Sorenson to use single VRS provider, as long there is 'informed consent' which many people like NightWarrior objected. Many installers dont bother explaining to the customer about single VRS provider.

As of yesterday, another enitity (California Coalition of Agnecies Serving the Deaf and Hard of Hearing - aka CCASDHH) filed a petition with FCC saying that Sorneson vp should have interoperability with non-sorenson videophones. So, ill wait 45 days to see what FCC will say about it.

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-05-509A1.pdf

Wheee.

 

[Nesmuth]

Check my thread on Sorenson's hands getting dirty and see what they just done!

Richard

 

[Nesmuth]

Read And Understand It Before You Sign It!

Sorenson is tricking people to sign papers. Make sure you read the paper thoroughly before you sign it. If you cant read, then ask for an ASL version of the agreement so you can fully understand the paper youre signing from Soranson.

Now there's possibly 25,000 suckers who gave up their right to accessing other VRS providers when they signed the Sorenson agreement papers they didnt read or understand thoroughly.

Richard

 

[Nesmuth]

If you want, you are free to complain to FCC telling them you 'accidentially' signed off your rights to other VRS providers because the installer misled you.

If FCC gets at least 12 of these complaints, they may act to fix Sorenson up for you and 1,000 of these complaints should be the goal to really push FCC to act.

Using your own words, start your complaint with a little background information like:

"I'm a person with a hearing and speech impairment and I benefit a lot from Video Relay Services (VRS) and when I heard that Sorenson was giving out free videophone devices to enable me to communicate with the hearing people using sign language, I could not resist to get one of these free videophone devices so I can communicate through the telephone system using sign language"

Then move onto :

"After getting my free videophone device from Sorenson, I had to sign a paper in which the installer didnt explain throughly that I cant use other VRS providers as a condition to getting this free device from Sorenson"

Add your other complaints like waiting for a long time for an interpreter and other problems you may have had with SorensonVRS service.

And finally cap it off with :

"After seeing other VRS services, some being better than Sorenson, I feel sickened that I have signed off my rights to access these other VRS providers. I wish the installers explained to me in the first place the conditions to getting these free videophone devices from Sorenson. I feel left out while my friends are allowed to hop around different VRS providers.

Can you please investigate this for me? I thought competition is proper and my rights as a consumer has been stiffled by this slick anti-trust trick by Sorenson VRS. Sorenson has nothing on their website that explains the agreement in sign language so how am I supposed to know?"

And sign it with your contact information including the Sorenson VRS number you were given.

Use your own words, be creative in your complaints, its ok to talk bad about Sorenson because youre doing it to improve choices for the other Sorenson VRS 'slaves' who have signed off their rights too.

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/complaints.html

Richard

 

[qwerty123]

Today is March 4, 4 days after the FCC's deadline. You see HOVRS and Sorenson are still in business. Meaning? They are in compliance with FCC's rulings on Jan 26 as they all want NECA's reimbursment of $7.55/minute of conversation time.

What makes you think that Sorenson, still #1 VRS provider, will allow other VRS providers on your Sorenson's VP-100? I have read and re read the FCC ruling and no where it says to get Sorenson to use other providers.

HOVRS had a press release saying that they will honor the Brown Bag points until Feb 28, then removed the Brown Bags from thier web site 3 days before.

Conclusion? Sorenson isnt lying. Of course, folks, like Dodge Trucker, are pissed one way or the other.

OF course, another petition to FCC is pending to force Sorenson to have interoperablity videophones. It is safe to assume that James Sorenson will implement his army of $1,000/hr lawyers to protect his assets.

Hello there! I have been a long time watcher of this magnificient website!! I just finished talking with the Sorenson Tech support about the FCC regulations They are saying that we have no choice to use VRS. We must use Sorenson's own VRS and no one else. They said that it is same concept that if you use Sidekick with Tmobile..you can not jump from 1 service to other service. Must use only 1. Uh? I thought FCC said choice to use VRS unless you sign agreement say that you WILL use only Sorenson VRS. I don't recall signing an agreement at all. Just the installer who came out and I sign paper saying that he did good job or whatever.
What gives?? Are they being liars or what? :liar:
Quite Frankly..I am that they are not allowing me to use VRS of my choice. Can any one give me suggestions, or am I mis-reading everything all wrong? Thanks in advance!

Roland

 

[Nesmuth]

What makes you think that Sorenson, still #1 VRS provider, will allow other VRS providers on your Sorenson's VP-100? I have read and re read the FCC ruling and no where it says to get Sorenson to use other providers.

Sorenson has about 25,000 'members' to their VRS system. That many out of 35 million Americans with hearing and speech disabilities does not make them the #1 provider.

I can agree theyre the biggest spender to woo in people and give out the free equipment and pay for the fone lines. But that does not mean theyre the #1 provider.

They could be the #1 spender I can agree.

But you know what 2 pennies can shoot down a million bucks as it did with the Coca Cola change decades back.

R~

 

[qwerty123]

If you want, you are free to complain to FCC telling them you 'accidentially' signed off your rights to other VRS providers because the installer misled you.
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/complaints.html

Richard

Oh, huh? This is lousy place to look in FCC since I dont know where I can read all of the comments filed.

Since your an advocacy center, i dont understand why you havent post any links to find out.

Folks, you can read all of the FCC's comments here - :Owned:

http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/comsrch_v2.cgi

Type 98-67 in "Proceeding" box, then click on the "Retrieve Document List" button.

Richard, go ahead and post your bashing comments while the AllDeaf version Viagra is still in effect for 24 hours.

Enjoy it.

 

[Y]

If you want, you are free to complain to FCC telling them you 'accidentially' signed off your rights to other VRS providers because the installer misled you.

If FCC gets at least 12 of these complaints, they may act to fix Sorenson up for you and 1,000 of these complaints should be the goal to really push FCC to act.

Using your own words, start your complaint with a little background information like:

"I'm a person with a hearing and speech impairment and I benefit a lot from Video Relay Services (VRS) and when I heard that Sorenson was giving out free videophone devices to enable me to communicate with the hearing people using sign language, I could not resist to get one of these free videophone devices so I can communicate through the telephone system using sign language"

Then move onto :

"After getting my free videophone device from Sorenson, I had to sign a paper in which the installer didnt explain throughly that I cant use other VRS providers as a condition to getting this free device from Sorenson"

Add your other complaints like waiting for a long time for an interpreter and other problems you may have had with SorensonVRS service.

And finally cap it off with :

"After seeing other VRS services, some being better than Sorenson, I feel sickened that I have signed off my rights to access these other VRS providers. I wish the installers explained to me in the first place the conditions to getting these free videophone devices from Sorenson. I feel left out while my friends are allowed to hop around different VRS providers.

Can you please investigate this for me? I thought competition is proper and my rights as a consumer has been stiffled by this slick anti-trust trick by Sorenson VRS. Sorenson has nothing on their website that explains the agreement in sign language so how am I supposed to know?"

And sign it with your contact information including the Sorenson VRS number you were given.

Use your own words, be creative in your complaints, its ok to talk bad about Sorenson because youre doing it to improve choices for the other Sorenson VRS 'slaves' who have signed off their rights too.

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/complaints.html

Richard

I was very surprised when I just checked into FCC system
looking for Richard's complaints (thanks to qwerty123) and
I do NOT see any of Richard's most recent complaints filed
there at all... I know there is a deadline on this April 15th.
Hmm, It looks like almost all of Richard's recent complaints
were posted here on Alldeaf instead of
at FCC system.

I begin to question about Why didn't he
post his own complaints on FCC ?

I found Richard's only 2 comments there
but they were brief and
very old back in 2002 and 2004.

 

[Deaf258]

I was very surprised when I just checked into FCC system
looking for Richard's complaints (thanks to qwerty123) and
I do NOT see any of Richard's most recent complaints filed
there at all... I know there is a deadline on this April 15th.
Hmm, It looks like almost all of Richard's recent complaints
were posted here on Alldeaf instead of
at FCC system.

I begin to question about Why didn't he
post his own complaints on FCC ?

I found Richard's only 2 comments there
but they were brief and
very old back in 2002 and 2004.

Yeah, that proves Dick is only full of hot air and talks cheap.

 

[Nesmuth]

I sent it to them I followed their directions on the petition announcement.

The complaints you see are probably the electronic entries. I sent by postal mail with my signature on it.

You can dream up whatever you think I'm doing and you may shit down my name if you like. But if you do, I'll use it to get grants by showing the hearies how the ASL militants like a few folks in AD here bash deaf people with good sights on the future.

The comments have been filed under "Orange County Deaf Advocacy Center" and look it up and you'll see it there. FCC received it on March 10 as the stamp shows.

Link to my FCC comment --> http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=6517497346

Have a lovely day!

Richard

 

[Margie]

Read before you sign!

Richard is right about Sorenson.
Their liars!
You can use any VRS you choose,don't let them mislead you.
Read the contract carefully before you sign it.
If you have trouble reading it ask for the ASL verson.
Don't let any them rip you off.
Margie
Dir. of Commuication Services
OCDAC

 

[Deaf258]

Richard is right about Sorenson.
Their liars!
You can use any VRS you choose,don't let them mislead you.
Read the contract carefully before you sign it.
If you have trouble reading it ask for the ASL verson.
Don't let any them rip you off.
Margie
Dir. of Commuication Services
OCDAC

Can you please buy yourself a dictionary?

SorensonVRS does not mislead.

How can SorensonVRS "rip you off" when the equipment and service you receive are free?

The only people who are misled are the ones who won't read the fine print.

Personally, I think you and Dick are the ones who try to mislead others.

 

[Nesmuth]

How can SorensonVRS "rip you off" when the equipment and service you receive are free?

Stifling your right to choose and your rights to free speech are 'rip-offs'.

Are you ready for my official reply to the comments? It' going to embarrass Sorenson big time and I'm not afraid of threatening faxes or letters from Sorenson's attorneys.

Richard

 

[Tousi]

Deaf258 and anyone else.....just to keep this simple....these providers get federal money to provide a service. These providers are not allowed, by rule, because of the federal moneys they get, to try to hog the market. Users of the vrs system are supposed to be able to choose any vrs service they want. IF it is true that Sorenson tried to block you from going to another service, then they are/were in violation. I think that is in the past, tho and Sorenson is now complying. But I don't know that for a fact. I have many friends who, if they are in a hurry, or during an emergency, jump from one service to another to get an interpreter right away instead of waiting and waiting........anyway, isn't Sorenson NOW in compliance?

 

[diehardbiker]

This isn't about complience with FCC, it is about complience with patent laws. All VRS except Sorenson don't have patent rights, while Sorenson HAS their own patent in their name. That is the PROBLEM! Patent office will ALWAYS override FCC regulation no matter what. You see, Sorenson has fancy address book and can be tied with Sorenson VRS for easy dial up. Other VRS don't have this technology and can not copy this technology. They have to come up with another idea and patent them. FCC don't pay for the equipment. They only pay for the SERVICE they provided, that is it! Why whining over Sorenson if you don't like them? There is another 7 VRS you still can use them, two of them gives you free DVC-1000. Whats the deal?

Deaf258 and anyone else.....just to keep this simple....these providers get federal money to provide a service. These providers are not allowed, by rule, because of the federal moneys they get, to try to hog the market. Users of the vrs system are supposed to be able to choose any vrs service they want. IF it is true that Sorenson tried to block you from going to another service, then they are/were in violation. I think that is in the past, tho and Sorenson is now complying. But I don't know that for a fact. I have many friends who, if they are in a hurry, or during an emergency, jump from one service to another to get an interpreter right away instead of waiting and waiting........anyway, isn't Sorenson NOW in compliance?

 

[Tousi]

Well, I guess the big deal is to get to the truth and settle this once and for all and possibly even exonerate Sorenson if what you say is so.......

 

[Y]

I sent it to them I followed their directions on the petition announcement.

The complaints you see are probably the electronic entries. I sent by postal mail with my signature on it.

You can dream up whatever you think I'm doing and you may shit down my name if you like. But if you do, I'll use it to get grants by showing the hearies how the ASL militants like a few folks in AD here bash deaf people with good sights on the future.

The comments have been filed under "Orange County Deaf Advocacy Center" and look it up and you'll see it there. FCC received it on March 10 as the stamp shows.

Link to my FCC comment --> http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=6517497346

Have a lovely day!

Richard

Richard, Thank you for the clarification I appreciate
that you took the time to explain and write about
what is best for all deaf communities. Since I am
NOT familiar with this video technology myself, I hope
to learn from both sides as much I can ...

No matter what, I strongly believe in the freedom of speech !!

 

[qwerty123]

Deaf258 and anyone else.....just to keep this simple....these providers get federal money to provide a service. These providers are not allowed, by rule, because of the federal moneys they get, to try to hog the market. Users of the vrs system are supposed to be able to choose any vrs service they want. IF it is true that Sorenson tried to block you from going to another service, then they are/were in violation. I think that is in the past, tho and Sorenson is now complying. But I don't know that for a fact. I have many friends who, if they are in a hurry, or during an emergency, jump from one service to another to get an interpreter right away instead of waiting and waiting........anyway, isn't Sorenson NOW in compliance?

Right now, Sorenson is in compliance with all FCC rulings. There are couple lingering issues, call back policy and average speed of answer.
There is a filing with FCC to clarify the call back becuase the FCC annoucment on Jan 26 says that VRS providers can not call you back, but Sorenson is still practicing the call backs. The call back issue will be resolved shortly.

There is another pending FCC filing regarding the ASA (average speed of answer) for VRS since no one agree how much time is the reasonable ASA for VRS and the deadline to implement it.

What's more? Sorenson filed with NECA (an arm of FCC, National Exchange Carriers Association) for VRS certification in order to get reimbursed for the VRS costs. It took a few months to get certification. FCC KNEW that Sorenson vp restricts to one VRS provider, so that is why we have the petition by CCASDHH filed on Feb 15.

Sorenson is trying to bring in the balance of having more call centers to reduce the wait time.

You are welcome to send your comments to FCC.

My opinion - FCC will turn down the petition on interoperablity videophones. You're making Sorenson's $50 million, 10 years on researach and development to go waste.

Richard Roehm: do you need some toilet paper to clean off the shit on you?