{"id":9136,"date":"2010-02-01T04:44:05","date_gmt":"2010-02-01T09:44:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/?p=9136"},"modified":"2010-02-01T06:17:54","modified_gmt":"2010-02-01T11:17:54","slug":"fcc-actions-block-consumer-vrs-calls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2010\/02\/01\/fcc-actions-block-consumer-vrs-calls\/","title":{"rendered":"FCC Actions Block Consumer VRS Calls"},"content":{"rendered":"
FCC Actions Block Consumer VRS Calls<\/strong><\/div>\n
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 not functionally equivalent to the communication access that hearing telephone users enjoy. \u00a0We urged the FCC to start a rulemaking process to promote transparency and ensure stakeholder input, before the FCC takes any action which may limit or restrict VRS calls.<\/div>\n

On behalf of several consumer groups, the NAD contacted the FCC about this matter on January 12 and sent a follow up letter (http:\/\/www.nad.org\/sites\/all\/modules\/civicrm\/extern\/url.php?u=237&qid=517854<\/a>). \u00a0We expressed concerns about reported actions of the National Exchange Carriers Association (NECA), the Telecommunications Relay Service<\/p>\n

(TRS) Fund administrator. \u00a0We urged the FCC to take the following actions:<\/div>\n
* quickly resolve any VRS payment withholding disputes by instructing NECA to release the payments until a rulemaking about permitted calls is completed;<\/div>\n
* take immediate action to ensure that VRS providers continue to permit and connect VRS calls made to a telephone user\u2019s number; and<\/div>\n
* issue a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), to promote transparency and ensure stakeholder input, before the<\/div>\n

Commission takes any action which may limit or restrict VRS calls.<\/p>\n

\nThe following week, several VRS providers sent a letter (http:\/\/www.nad.org\/sites\/all\/modules\/civicrm\/extern\/url.php?u=238&qid=517854<\/a>) urging the FCC to issue an NPRM to establish clear rules about which VRS calls may (and may not) be paid for by the TRS Fund. \u00a0Over the past year, this request has been made many times by many providers, consumer groups, and other stakeholders. \u00a0In their letter, these VRS providers also asked the FCC to clarify the procedures for withholding payment for any VRS calls. \u00a0They said that, without FCC action, \u201cVRS providers are placed in the impossible position on the one hand of being obligated by the TRS rules to continue to process all calls as they are received . . . yet, on the other hand providers are being denied compensation for the costs they incur to handle those calls.\u201d<\/p>\n

On January 27, the NAD, with other consumer groups, filed a formal petition (http:\/\/www.nad.org\/sites\/all\/modules\/civicrm\/extern\/url.php?u=239&qid=517854<\/a>) urging the FCC to address these VRS issues. \u00a0This is urgent because withholding payment for VRS calls, indefinitely, impacts the provision of VRS services to deaf and hard of hearing consumers.<\/div>\n<\/p>\n

We told the FCC that we learned that NECA is withholding payment for some VRS calls: calls that are connected to automated call response or interactive voice response (IVR) systems; calls that are connected to recorded communication, such as that provided by government agencies; multiple calls from a single videophone\/VRS number; multiple calls to a single telephone number; calls to technical support services (i.e., Blackberry and T-Mobile during a service outage); calls connected to telephone conference call service numbers; and other types of calls. These kinds of phone calls are typically provided by phone companies, are technologically feasible through VRS, and are required to be connected and handled in accordance with the FCC\u2019s rules. \u00a0As a result of the NECA payment withholdings, some VRS providers may be financially unable to continue providing service for those types of calls.<\/div>\n<\/p>\n

Further, we recently learned that, since July 2009, NECA has withheld payment in some instances and their review is \u201congoing.\u201d We also learned that NECA has not paid VRS providers for any VRS calls made to \u201crecorded messages\u201d since July 2009, apparently because NECA believes these are not calls involving a hearing individual. \u00a0This interpretation defies logic, is inconsistent with FCC rules, and is erroneous.<\/div>\n<\/p>\n

Reasonable exercise of the FCC\u2019s and NECA\u2019s authority should not, directly or indirectly, impact negatively on the delivery of TRS to consumers; diminish functional equivalency; or limit, restrict, or disable consumers\u2019 access to the telephone network. While we applaud efforts to ensure the integrity of the TRS Fund, it is our position that VRS calls to a telephone user\u2019s number must be permitted, connected, and reimbursed by the TRS Fund, unless there is clear and unequivocal evidence of fraud against the VRS program.<\/div>\n<\/p>\n

We urged the FCC to start the rulemaking process to identify and to address potential waste, fraud, and abuse by providing clarification about permissible marketing practices and the types of calls that are compensable by the TRS Fund. \u00a0Finally, we urged the FCC to ensure that this rulemaking furthers the achievement of functional equivalency; protects consumer privacy; addresses fraud through appropriate investigation and enforcement action; and does not limit or restrict consumer VRS calls, directly or indirectly, through NECA\u2019s back door. \u00a0Rules must be clear, guidance must be provided, response to requests for clarification must be prompt, and compliance and enforcement measures must be transparent.<\/div>\n<\/p>\n

The NAD looks forward to working with the FCC, NECA, VRS providers, and other stakeholders in the development of rules and appropriate procedures to ensure the integrity of the TRS Fund and achieve functional equivalency for all deaf and hard of hearing consumers.<\/div>\n<\/p>\n

What Consumers Can Do<\/div>\n<\/p>\n

File a Comment with the FCC. (http:\/\/www.nad.org\/sites\/all\/modules\/civicrm\/extern\/url.php?u=240&qid=517854<\/a>)<\/div>\n<\/p>\n

Type 03-123 in the first box marked \u201cProceeding Number,\u201d type your name and contact information, and tell the FCC how you use VRS and why VRS is important to you.\u00a0Tell the FCC:<\/div>\n<\/p>\n

I support the Petition to Initiate a Notice and Comment Rulemaking Proceeding filed by the National Association of the Deaf.<\/div>\n<\/p>\n

Source:<\/div>\n
http:\/\/www.nad.org\/news\/2010\/1\/fcc-actions-block-consumer-vrs-calls<\/a><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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…<\/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":[3008,342,2019,100,630,809,808,3010,3009,3011,810,650,61],"class_list":["post-9136","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-deaf-news","tag-consumer","tag-fcc","tag-federal-communications-commission","tag-nad","tag-national-association-of-the-deaf","tag-national-exchange-carriers-association","tag-neca","tag-nprm","tag-rulemaking-process","tag-telecommunications-relay-service-fund","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-2nm","jetpack-related-posts":[{"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":9136,"position":0},"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":20872,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2012\/11\/28\/nad-responds-to-fcc-vrs-public-notice-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":9136,"position":1},"title":"NAD Responds to FCC VRS Public Notice","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"November 28, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Click here to view NAD Vlog http:\/\/www.nad.org\/blogs\/andrew-phillips\/nad-responds-fcc-vrs-public-notice NAD Responds to FCC VRS Public Notice The FCC recently released a Public Notice asking for feedback on several ideas to modify VRS, and the FCC asks questions on what you think should happen. 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