{"id":13982,"date":"2011-04-19T04:15:10","date_gmt":"2011-04-19T09:15:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/?p=13982"},"modified":"2011-04-19T04:52:15","modified_gmt":"2011-04-19T09:52:15","slug":"eliminating-abuse-in-vrs-new-rules-from-fcc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2011\/04\/19\/eliminating-abuse-in-vrs-new-rules-from-fcc\/","title":{"rendered":"Eliminating Abuse in VRS: New Rules from FCC"},"content":{"rendered":"

Eliminating Abuse in Video Relay Services: New Rules from FCC<\/strong><\/p>\n

Last week, in a slew of orders issued by the FCC, one Order focused on
\ncomprehensive reform of the rules for video relay services (VRS). The Order
\nwill eliminate some of the waste, fraud and abuse that has plagued this
\nvaluable form of relay service used extensively by people who are deaf and
\nhard-of-hearing. In the Order, the FCC adopted rules and also issued a
\nfurther notice of proposed rulemaking seeking comments on proposed
\nadditional modifications to the certification procedure. Highlights of the
\nnew Report & Order & FNPRM:<\/p>\n

* Requires VRS providers to submit a statement describing the location and
\nstaffing of their call centers twice a year, and a notification at least 30
\ndays prior to any change in the location of such centers;<\/p>\n

* Prohibits VRS Communications Assistants from relaying calls from their
\nhomes;<\/p>\n

* Prohibits VRS providers from tying minutes or calls processed by a
\nCommunicatons Assistant to compensation provided;<\/p>\n

* Prohibits compensation for VRS calls that originate from IP addresses that
\nindicate the individual initiating the call is located outside of the United
\nStates (exception for callers who pre-register with their default provider
\nfor a specified time and location of travel);<\/p>\n

* Prohibits compensation for VRS calls for remote training when the service
\nprovider is involved in any way with such training (e.g., sponsors, promotes
\nor hosts such training);<\/p>\n

* Prohibit VRS Communications Assistants from using visual privacy screens;<\/p>\n

* Requires that Communications Assistants terminate a VRS call after
\nproviding a warning announcement, if either party to the call: (1) enables a
\nprivacy screen or similar feature for more than five minutes, or (2) is
\nunresponsive or unengaged for more than five minutes, unless the call is to
\n9-1-1 or one of the parties is on hold;<\/p>\n

* Requires automated recordkeeping of relay services minutes submitted to
\nthe Fund;<\/p>\n

* Requires that VRS be offered to the public only in the name of the
\nprovider eligible for compensation from the Fund and, when sub-brands are
\nused, that these identify such eligible provider;<\/p>\n

* Requires that calls to any brand or sub-brand of VRS be routed through a
\nsingle URL address for that brand or sub-brand;<\/p>\n

* Prohibits revenue sharing agreements for Communications Assistants or call
\ncenter functions between entities eligible for compensation from the Fund
\nand non-eligible entities;<\/p>\n

* Prohibits compensation on a per-minute basis for marketing and outreach
\ncosts performed through a subcontractor where such services utilize VRS;<\/p>\n

* Adopts whistleblower protection rules for current and former employees and
\ncontractors of TRS providers.<\/p>\n

The FCC proposes and seeks comment on the following topics in the Further
\nNotice of Proposed Rulemaking:<\/p>\n

* Require that all Internet-based TRS providers be certified by the
\nCommission to become eligible to receive compensation from the TRS Fund;<\/p>\n

* Require new and renewing certification applicant providers to provide
\nspecific documentary evidence of their ability to comply with the TRS rules;<\/p>\n

* As part of certification, FCC could conduct on-site visits as part of the
\ncertification process;<\/p>\n

* Revise the provider’s annual report filings to the Commission to require
\nfurther documentation that providers are in compliance with the Commission’s
\nTRS rules;<\/p>\n

* Clarify what types of changes trigger a provider’s obligation to notify
\nthe Commission that substantive changes in its TRS program have occurred;<\/p>\n

* Require providers to seek approval from the FCC for voluntary interruption
\nof their Internet-enabled relay service and to promptly notify the FCC
\nafter-the-fact when unforeseen service interruptions occur.<\/p>\n

When we learn the due dates for these comments, they will be posted on
\ncoataccess.org<\/p>\n

Source: http:\/\/www.coataccess.org\/node\/9988<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Eliminating Abuse in Video Relay Services: New Rules from FCC Last week, in a slew of orders issued by the FCC, one Order focused on comprehensive reform of the rules for video relay services (VRS). The Order will eliminate some…<\/p>\n

Read more →<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[2],"tags":[184,8934,8935,24,68,342,2019,8938,1308,1412,1245,69,8936,8937,8939,884,810,650,61],"class_list":["post-13982","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-deaf-news","tag-abuse","tag-coat-access","tag-communications-assistants","tag-deaf","tag-deaf-blind","tag-fcc","tag-federal-communications-commission","tag-fnprm","tag-fraud","tag-hard-of-hearing","tag-hearing-loss","tag-relay-service","tag-remote-training","tag-report-order","tag-rulemaking","tag-training","tag-trs","tag-video-relay-service","tag-vrs"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p752R-3Dw","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":9136,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2010\/02\/01\/fcc-actions-block-consumer-vrs-calls\/","url_meta":{"origin":13982,"position":0},"title":"FCC Actions Block Consumer VRS Calls","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"February 1, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"FCC Actions Block Consumer VRS Calls The NAD learned that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has not paid Video Relay Service (VRS) providers for certain types of VRS calls since July 2009. \u00a0As a result, some VRS providers are not connecting or may stop connecting some VRS calls. \u00a0This is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/deaf-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":31265,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2015\/07\/01\/vrs-providers-express-disappointment-with-fcc-order-lowering-compensation-rates\/","url_meta":{"origin":13982,"position":1},"title":"VRS Providers Express Disappointment With FCC Order Lowering Compensation Rates","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"July 1, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:Jim Manley, QGA Public Affairsjmanley@qga.com \/ 202-255-3736 VIDEO RELAY SERVICE (VRS) PROVIDERS EXPRESS DISAPPOINTMENT WITH FCC ORDER LOWERING COMPENSATION RATES; CALL FOR IMMEDIATE ISSUANCE OF NPRM ON JOINT PROVIDER PROPOSAL TO IMPROVE SERVICE, EXPAND OFFERINGS, AND UPHOLD ADA\u2019S PROMISE OF FUNCTIONALLY EQUIVALENT TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/deaf-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":10987,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2010\/06\/28\/fcc-takes-action-to-protect-and-sustain-vital-service\/","url_meta":{"origin":13982,"position":2},"title":"FCC Takes Action to Protect and Sustain Vital Service","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"June 28, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"FCC Takes Action to Protect and Sustain Vital Service for the Deaf Commission Votes Unanimously on Immediate and Long-Term Approaches Press release from the Federal Communications Commission, 6\/28\/10 Washington, DC -- The Federal Communications Commission has taken two actions to protect and ensure the sustainability of a vital service for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/deaf-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":10483,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2010\/05\/11\/fcc-public-notice-on-new-vrs-rates-nad-to-file-comments\/","url_meta":{"origin":13982,"position":3},"title":"FCC Public Notice on New VRS Rates, NAD to File Comments","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"May 11, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"NAD E-NEWS FCC Public Notice on New VRS Rates, NAD to File Comments To view two-part vlog by NAD President Bobbie Beth Scoggins, visit http:\/\/www.nad.org\/sites\/all\/modules\/civicrm\/extern\/url.php?u=294&qid=783468 The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently received video relay service (VRS) rates for July 2010 to June 2011 from the National Exchange Carrier Association (NECA).\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/deaf-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":10533,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2010\/05\/12\/fcc-threatens-future-of-video-relay-service\/","url_meta":{"origin":13982,"position":4},"title":"FCC Threatens Future of Video Relay Service","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"May 12, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"FCC Threatens Future of Video Relay Service! May 11, 2010 - Sorenson Response to FCC Statement of May 10, 2010 Click here to read Sorenson Communication's response to the FCC's May 10th Statement. http:\/\/www.sorensonvrs.com\/fcc_response May 7, 2010 - VRS THREATENED BY FCC PROPOSAL Imagine a future without Sorenson VRS (SVRS)\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/deaf-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":20871,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2012\/11\/28\/tdi-and-consumer-groups-respond-to-fccs-nprm-on-vrs-reform\/","url_meta":{"origin":13982,"position":5},"title":"TDI and Consumer Groups Respond to FCC’s NPRM on VRS Reform","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"November 28, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"TDI eNote: TDI and Consumer Groups Respond to FCC's NPRM on VRS Reform Thanks to TDI's pro-bono attorneys at Bingham McCutchen, TDI and its sister consumer groups such as AGBell, ALDA, CCASDHH, CPADO, DHHCAN, DSA, NAD, and NBDA and were able to articulate the perspective of end-users who rely on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/deaf-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13982","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13982"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13982\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13986,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13982\/revisions\/13986"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13982"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13982"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13982"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}