{"id":33024,"date":"2016-03-02T15:59:17","date_gmt":"2016-03-02T21:59:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/?p=33024"},"modified":"2016-03-02T17:47:36","modified_gmt":"2016-03-02T23:47:36","slug":"star-vrs-closescaag-remains-strong","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2016\/03\/02\/star-vrs-closescaag-remains-strong\/","title":{"rendered":"Star VRS Closes\/CAAG Remains Strong!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/157360851\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/157360851\">Star VRS Closes\/CAAG Remains Strong!<\/a> from <a href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/starvrs\">STAR VRS<\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\">Vimeo<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Star VRS Closes\/CAAG Remains Strong!\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Link to Star VRS Letter to the FCC:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/apps.fcc.gov\/ecfs\/comment\/view?id=60001493690\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/apps.fcc.gov\/ecfs\/comment\/view?id=60001493690<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Contact the FCC about your concerns: 844-432-2275<\/p>\n<p>Star VRS Customer Care: 855-877-2224 or vrscare@caag4.com<br \/>\nConvo Support: 510-629-5622 or help@convorelay.com<br \/>\nGlobal VRS: 877-326-5457<\/p>\n<p>[Video Description: Jeremy Jack, a white bald male with a beard wearing a suit sits on a desk in an office. In American Sign Language he signs: &#8220;Hello! I&#8217;m Jeremy Jack, Vice President of Star VRS. I have the difficult task of informing you that as of March 31, 2016 Star VRS will close services. This video is not to speak poorly of or put blame on any individual however there are two reasons that I will share that had us come to the decision to close.<\/p>\n<p>First, three years ago the FCC released the VRS Reform Order. Within that Order it was explained that VRS compensation rates would be drastically cut over time. During these cuts the FCC committed to establishing structural reforms that would bring cost savings to VRS providers. Since then the FCC has indeed significantly reduced VRS rates. But the promised structural reforms have yet to come about. Which has caused devastating financial loss to VRS companies, particularly the smallest providers.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, in a VRS industry that is dominated by a single provider, two mid-size providers, and three very small providers it is incredibly prohibitive for the five smaller providers to compete without support from the FCC.<\/p>\n<p>It is for these two reasons that Star VRS has chosen to stop providing service. You can read more in our letter to the FCC by following the link in the description below.<\/p>\n<p>If you are concerned that other VRS providers will close their service and that VRS will be reduced to one company as with what happened in IP-Relay we encourage you to express those concerns directly to the Federal Communications Commission.<\/p>\n<p>To our loyal customers of Star VRS we express our heartfelt gratitude and when moving or porting to your new VRS provider we encourage you to use the two small Community based providers: Convo, the only Deaf owned provider or Global VRS, the only woman and interpreter owned provider. We ask that you continue to support small VRS companies.<\/p>\n<p>And finally to clarify, the parent company of Star VRS, Communication Axess Ability Group (CAAG) is not closing and remains a strong and stable interpreting agency that offers Community interpreting services, Video Remote Interpreting Services, and Advocacy services under the Texas DARS program. For over 15 years\u00a0now CAAG has served our Deaf Community and will continue to do so for many years to come.<\/p>\n<p>Bye and take care&#8230;&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Image fades to white and the CAAG logo, a red ball with the white letters CAAG on it, rolls in from the left side and stops in the middle. Above the ball the words Communication Axess appear and below the ball the words Communication Matters appears]<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/157360851\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/vimeo.com\/157360851<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Star VRS Closes\/CAAG Remains Strong! from STAR VRS on Vimeo. Star VRS Closes\/CAAG Remains Strong!\u00a0 Link to Star VRS Letter to the FCC: http:\/\/apps.fcc.gov\/ecfs\/comment\/view?id=60001493690 Contact the FCC about your concerns: 844-432-2275 Star VRS Customer Care: 855-877-2224 or vrscare@caag4.com Convo Support:&hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"more-link-p\"><a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2016\/03\/02\/star-vrs-closescaag-remains-strong\/\">Read more &rarr;<\/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":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[2],"tags":[600,1255,1090,3928,34,342,2019,24698,278,23062,22895,17,102,103],"class_list":["post-33024","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-deaf-news","tag-advocacy","tag-caag","tag-communication-axess-ability-group","tag-convo-relay","tag-dars","tag-fcc","tag-federal-communications-commission","tag-global-vrs","tag-ip-relay","tag-jeremy-jack","tag-star-vrs","tag-texas","tag-video-remote-interpreting","tag-vri"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p752R-8AE","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":31157,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2015\/06\/17\/all-6-vrs-providers-unite-against-the-fccs-lack-of-follow-through\/","url_meta":{"origin":33024,"position":0},"title":"All 6 VRS Providers Unite Against the FCC&#8217;s Lack of Follow Through","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"June 17, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"All 6 VRS Providers Unite Against the FCC's Lack of Follow Through We are about half way through the four-year rate cut decision for VRS. Along with the rate deduction plan, the FCC announced a number of cost assitant programs to offset the losses. Jeremy Jack, representing all six VRS\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;General&quot;","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/deaf-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"starvrs caagvrs","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/starvrs-caagvrs.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":29270,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2014\/11\/14\/caag-vrs-files-to-offer-vrs-for-deaf-blind-consumers\/","url_meta":{"origin":33024,"position":1},"title":"CAAG VRS Files to Offer VRS for Deaf-Blind Consumers!","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"November 14, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"As IP-Relay Providers Close Their Doors, CAAG VRS Opens Theirs to the Deaf-Blind Community. Deaf-Blind Communication Matters CAAG VRS Files for Deaf-Blind VRS! This Morning CAAG VRS included their intentions to offer VRS to Deaf-Blind consumers in their Annual Report to the FCC. CAAG has been diligently working on accessible\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;General&quot;","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/deaf-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"CAAGVRS logo","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/CAAGVRS-logo-300x178.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":29513,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2014\/12\/17\/caag-vrs-is-changing-its-name-to-star-vrs\/","url_meta":{"origin":33024,"position":2},"title":"CAAG VRS is Changing its name to STAR VRS!","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"December 17, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"CAAG VRS is Changing its name to STAR VRS! CAAG Announces Its Upcoming VRS Brand! At their recent Open House to the Community and employees CAAG VRS announced that they will be changing their name! Communication Matters CAAG VRS Files to Change Their Name to STAR VRS! CAAG was thrilled\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;General&quot;","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/deaf-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"star vrs","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/star-vrs.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"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":33024,"position":3},"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 &quot;General&quot;","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/deaf-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":31825,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2015\/09\/09\/houston-deaf-awareness-week-starts-september-18th\/","url_meta":{"origin":33024,"position":4},"title":"Houston Deaf Awareness Week starts September 18th","author":"Chrissy Snider","date":"September 9, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"THERE ARE AMAZING EVENTS EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK! Find out all of the details on CAAG\/Star VRS Facebook page https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/CommunicationAxess\/events and for more information VP 855-807-2224 or e-mail vrscare@caag4.com Keep checking for updates! See you all there! Keep checking for updates! See you all there! -Jeremy Jack, Vice President\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;General&quot;","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/deaf-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Capture3","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Capture3-300x243.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":29968,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2015\/02\/04\/job-opportunity-vrs-customer-care-outreach-specialist-houston\/","url_meta":{"origin":33024,"position":5},"title":"Job Opportunity: VRS Customer Care &#038; Outreach Specialist &#8211; Houston","author":"Chrissy Snider","date":"February 4, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Communication Axess Ability Group (CAAG) is inviting resumes for the position of VRS Customer Care & Outreach Specialist located in our Houston, Texas office. Summary: The purpose of the VRS Customer Care & Outreach Specialist is responsible for providing customer care and outreach services for CAAG\u2019s Video Relay Service department.\u00a0\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;General&quot;","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\/33024","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=33024"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33024\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33028,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33024\/revisions\/33028"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33024"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33024"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33024"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}