VRS Issues
Video Relay Services (VRS) issues are front and center with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) at a public workshop in Washington, D.C., on December 17, 2009. VRS is administered by the FCC and paid for by the Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) Fund. Services are provided free of charge to the deaf and hard-of-hearing.
Recent fraud and arrests around the country are causing the FCC to rethink the way VRS is provided and paid for. At this time, the TRS Fund pays out over $6 per minute to VRS service providers. Service providers compete for deaf callers by offering superior interpreting services and sometimes free or discounted computer and video equipment.
The FCC allows VRS providers to assign 10-digit geographical phone numbers. Once a deaf individual receives that number, the provider who assigned the number becomes the default provider. When a hearing person dials a deaf individual, that provider relays the call and can bill for those minutes.
To use a different service provider is possible, but I’m sure 99% of calls go through the default service.
One proposal up for discussion is whether or not to open VRS up to competitive bidding. If this happens, all of that free equipment handed out by the big VRS providers becomes a liability. Competition will create new strategies to obtain business.
If calls are routed to the least cost provider, the FCC saves money, but the deaf users will no longer be able to find their preferred interpreters. I think the end product will suffer unless certain safeguards are put in place.
My Proposals for VRS Reform:
1. keep payments to VRS companies at the current rate for at least one year longer
2. test routing all VRS calls through a central switch that distributes calls to available interpreters regardless of the default provider
3. require all Communications Assistants (CA) – also called video interpreters – to be nationally certified by RID/NAD, or develop an alternative certification specifically for VRS sign language interpreters
4. allow interpreters and/or supervisors to terminate “run” or other suspicious calls without violating laws, regulations, or the RID Code of Ethics
5. remove VRS from any state jurisdiction – keep all VRS issues federal and uniform throughout the nation
I believe this is a start. More will need to be done once the technology can be tested.
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Charles Lamm is a retired attorney now serving as Legal/Technical Consultant for Accessible Communication for the Deaf (ACD). ACD is the largest sign language interpreting agency in Florida, with over 100 on-site and VRI interpreters in South Florida and the Tampa Bay area. ACD does not provide VRS services for any VRS service provider at this time.