FCC: VRS

DA 09-1255 - 6/3/09 - TELECOMMUNICATIONS RELAY SERVICES AND SPEECH-TO-SPEECH SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH HEARING AND SPEECH DISABILITIES. FCC granted an extension of the comment period....VRS Compensation rates. (Dkt No. 03-123 ). Action by: Chief, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau. Comments Due: 07/06/2009. Reply Comments Due: 07/20/2009. Adopted: 06/03/2009 by ORDER. (DA No. 09-1255).

June 12, 2008 News Release - 10-digit numbering - FCC Adopts Telephone Numbering System and E-911 Requirements for Providers of Internet-Based Telecommunications Relay Services.
The Commission today took important steps toward providing Americans with hearing and speech disabilities with access to the telephone network that is "functionally equivalent" to voice telephone services.

 Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS), and newer, Internet-based forms of TRS, including Video Relay Service (VRS) and Internet Protocol (IP) Relay, allow persons with hearing and speech disabilities to communicate with hearing users of voice services. Until today, there was no uniform, consistent way for voice telephone users to call Internet-based TRS users. Further, TRS typically has not provided the same access to emergency services as compared to traditional telephone services.

The Order adopts a system for assigning traditional ten-digit telephone numbers to Internet-based TRS users. This means that Internet-based TRS users will be able to reach and be reached by both hearing users of the traditional telephone network and other Internet-based TRS users by doing something most Americans take for granted - dialing a ten-digit phone number. Internet-based TRS users will also be able to port their numbers from one provider to another, and users will be able to use any Internet-based TRS provider they choose.
In addition, to ensure that Internet-based TRS users have functionally equivalent access to emergency services, the Order requires providers to obtain and maintain the physical location of their users - the same obligation the Commission has imposed on interconnected voice over IP providers - and to automatically route emergency calls from Internet-based TRS users to the appropriate emergency services authorities using such information. The Order also directs Internet-based TRS providers to notify their users of these changes.
Providers of Internet-based TRS must comply with the Order's requirements no later than December 31, 2008.

In the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the Commission seeks additional comment on related implementation issues, including, for example, the potential application of anti-slamming protections to protect relay consumers, and whether and to what extent the customer proprietary network information (CPNI) rules should apply to TRS providers.
Action by the Commission, June 11, 2008, by Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.

CG Docket No. 03-123, WC Docket No. 05-196

DA 07-5098 - 12/26/07 - Telecommunications Relay Services And Speech-to-Speech Services For Individuals With Hearing And Speech Disabilities.In this Order, we address current waivers of certain telecommunications relay services (TRS) mandatory minimum standards for Video Relay Service (VRS) and Internet Protocol Relay Service (IP Relay) that will expire on January 1, 2008.

DA 07-3996 - 09/21/07Notice of Certification of CSDVRS, LLC as a Provider of Video Relay Service (VRS) Eligible fo Compensation from the Interstate Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) Fund. (Dkt No 03-123)

DA 07-3512 - 8/3/07Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau Seeks Comment on Petition for Declaratory Ruling Regarding Video Relay Service (VRS) Provider Employment Contracts with VRS Communications Assistants (CAs). (Docket No. 03-123)Comments due: September 4, 2007. Reply comments due: September 19, 2007.

DA 07-1374 - 3/22/07 Dismissal of Snap Telecommunications, Inc.'s Request for Limited Waiver of the Video Relay Service (VRS) Interoperability Requirements. Docket No. 03-123

DA 06-2578 - 12/22/06Notice of Certification of Hands On Video Relay Services, Inc. as a Provider of Internet Protocol Relay (IP Relay) and Video Relay Service (VRS) Eligible for Compensation from the Interstate Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) Fund. Docket No. 03-123

DA 06-2532 - 12/15/06Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities. The Commission has waived this requirement for providers of VRS due to the technological challenges related to determining the geographic location of TRS calls that originate via the Internet. (Docket No. 03-123)

DA 06-2386 - 11/28/06Dismissal of Petition for Clarification Concerning Provision of American Sign Language (ASL) to Spanish Video Relay Service (VRS). (Docket No. 03-123)

FCC 06-87 - 07/12/06Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities. Order on Reconsideration addressing petitions for reconsideration filed in response to the 2004 TRS Report and Order regarding TRS/VRS compensation.

DA 06-1345 - 06/30/06Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities. Order freezing VRS 2005-2006 rate of $6.644 per minute for a one-year period ending June 30, 2007, or until such time as the Commission adopts a new VRS rate pursuant to new VRS cost recovery rules, whichever is sooner. (Docket No. 03-123)

FCC 06-81 - 06/16/06Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities. Order addressing two issues concerning the provision of Video Relay Service (VRS), a form of TRS, raised in the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the 2004 TRS Report and Order & FNPRM. (Docket No. 03-123)

DA 06-1243 - 06/09/06Notice of Certification of Healing Telecom, LLC as a Provider of Video Relay Service (VRS) Eligible for Compensation from the Interstate Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) Fund. (CG Docket No. 03-123)

DA 06-1244 - 06/09/06Notice of Certification of GoAmerica, Inc. as a Provider of Internet Protocol Relay (IP Relay) and Video Relay Service (VRS) Eligible for Compensation from the Interstate Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) Fund. (CG Docket No. 03-123)

FCC 06-67 - 05/08/06Notice of Certification of SNAP Telecommunications, Inc. as a Provider of Video Relay Service (VRS) Eligible for Compensation from the Interstate Telecommunications Service (TRS) Fund. CG Docket No. 03-123

FCC 06-67 Erratum - Erratum Released 5/9/06

FCC 06-57 - 05/09/06FCC Declares Video Relay Service (VRS) Providers Must Provide Interoperability With Competing Providers. The Commission also asks for comment on how hearing callers can reach VRS providers and on whether speech Internet protocols should be adopted for VRS equipment.Comments due 45 days after publication in the Federal Register Reply Comments due 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.