CADVRS
15 06 2007Folks..
Here is a new VRS provider; quite a twist in marketing. CADVRS - California Association of the Deaf Video Relay Service. Check out its link
Seems that the CAD made arrangements with CSDVRS that if any calls are made to CADVRS, then a certain amount of fund will be paid to the CAD. For CAD and CSDVRS, this is a win-win situation, it seems. CAD gets to pocket a much needed funds to help support various projects that CAD has, and CSDVRS gets to increase number of VRS calls to increase its profitability.
Tell me, Gentle Readers, what do u make out of it? Will we see other states doing that, too? Will there be a race by various VRS providers to get other state associations?
eyes open & thumbs up,
Ed
RT Admin.
Already mentioned it on my blog a while ago (April 12, 2006): http://www.ridorlive.com/?p=2185
Where have you been, Ed?
R-
It’s a brilliant concept.
I encourage other state associations do the same thing so they can generate the cash needed since the deaf communities havent been opening up their wallets to their organizations lately.
As a VRS advocate, I wonder if FCC does allow or approve this new concept/approach?
Ridor,
Good for you. I was out of state, and had to do my work first and sorta am catching up on the alerts. I never claim to be on top of news and alerting them immediately altho I try to get them out on a timely basis.
Cheers..
Ed
VRS Advocate,
That is a question many of us wondered, too. Silence from the FCC often implies approval. We’ll see how this plays out on the long term.
Ed
Ed, I notice more and more VRS providers. What about Deafies? Still, they don’t have high speed internet because they don’t have jobs and also, they live on SSI or SDI. Why not encouraging companies hiring more Deafies? So they can pay high speed internet and apply for having free video phone. That is simple. Tell congress that companies should hire more Deafies on the jobs.
Ed,
Why don’t you do vlog instead of blog? Seems like you like writing, that’s fine and you can do vlog including the writeup? Like many deaf people out there, I normally don’t check any blogs but vlogs except infamous ridorlive.
One of your friends
Conflict of Interest??
The national and state associations of the Deaf have tradionally advocated for all members of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities. The NAD has been able to do great things for all of us because they act as an independent advocate serving the best interests of the community at large.
If a state association of the Deaf becomes a VRS provider, can they still be an independent advocate?
Here is an example: The NAD and others are encouraging the FCC to force Sorenson to open up the ten-digit dialing system to all video phones, including those distributed by Sorenson’s competitors.
If a state association of the Deaf has a vested financial interest in one of Sorenson’s competitors, can that association still be perceived as an effective and independent advoacte?
If the state associations are tightly aligned with the NAD, does the financial conflict of interest of one state association impact the NAD’s position as fair and independent advocate for all Deaf individuals and associations?
Just questions, but perhaps we should ponder these questions before we allow our financial interests to adversely impact our political interests?
(jk-II, on the Pecos)
Jane,
Good points you made. Financial support verus political stance, which of these should carry higher priority?
Historically, state associations of the Deaf have received $$ via sponsoring conferences, and such. This seems to be different cuz any vendors can sponsor a conference as conference sponsorships are wide open whereas with state assoc of deaf may be limited to one vendor. I very much doubt that a vendor will give state association the permission to use other vendors as well.
There are a few powerful advocates services here and there that get subsantial funding from certain vendors. Possibility, some of these advocate services have taken positions that either are neutral or support of these generous vendors that otherwise may not happen if not for the donations?
We see the same song for presidential aspirants who gets thousand of dollars and are we assured of these aspirants of continuing to be ardent advocates of the people and not secretly support those who donated $$?
Maybe state assoc of the deaf can do “balancing” act and be truly representative of the members of the association? Like a politician can do (some of them do that well and others fail miserably).
Truth be told, I am neutral at this time. I need to hear more from y’all and I and, I’m sure many of alert readers, appreciate ur remarks as they do - so far - make sense. I like ur last paragraph - aptly thought out.
Ed
There are two issues to think about.
One, is this a good marketing strategy? CADVRS riding on CSDVRS is not the only avenue. Hawk Relay is using the same concept by doing its own marketing and ride on CAC services. In other words, why should CADVRS be criticized while Hawk Relay isnt, especially when the CADVRS revenues would go to the deaf community while Hawk Relay revenues go to one person’s pocket?
Two, is it acceptable for the VRS rate designed for services per se include revenues for capital gains?
It would be interesting to see what the FCC has decided on rates by end of this month.
Sonny
Sonny,
Good points and should be interesting to see what the FCC ultimately decides if any. The only difference between CAD and Hawk Relay is CAD is politically motivated organization and Hawk Relay is in business. In the eyes of the FCC, does that matter? Probably not. We’ll see.
Regarding reimbursement rates, you’re right. The FCC has to decide which of the options on rates that the NECA proposed.
Ed
Hi No Name,
I am thinking of doing more vlogs. I haven’t decided if all of blogs changed over to vlog, or limit the vlog to historical events. Since this blog is out of my pockets, I will need to ck to ensure that vlog does not use up my allocated space much faster.
Thanks…
Ed
Very interested subject for me to read… I often wonder and wonder … Now I’m asking you who the members of “FCC advocacy board of VRS and TTY”? That way we could have someone to explain more clear to us rather than going around and around to get exact information which might take us “forever” to know what’s going on… I think that each state should have representative to be on the advocacy board to keep us well info - for example TX is very lucky to have you as their representative… huh?? Any comment or suggestion would welcome… *If I spell advocacy wrong, pls correct me SMILE and thumb up!
that’s why it will never work. Vaughan Domitilla.