Ed’s Telecom Alert

All..

This is a report by the NECA on reimbursement rates for TRS features.  This is just for month of June.

NECA Report June 07

Interstate had approx 1M minutes and collected $1.3M

Captel (patent of Ultratec in both service and product) had 400K minutes and collected $507K

Internet Relay had 6.4M minutes and collected $8.3M

STS had collected 16K minutes and collected $22.5K

VRS had 5.3M minutes and collected $35.3M   If one believes the rumor that Sorenson has captured 80% of the market, that means Sorenson collected about $28.24M 

eyes open & thumbs up,

Ed
RT Admin

All..

This is good news.  The FCC has published a notice where the FCC made final rules where the disability access regulations (Section 255 of the Telecom Act) and Relay Service regulations (Section 225 of the Telecom Act) are required for Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Industry.  The new rules will become effective October 5, 2007.

VoIP Must Comply - CG Docket No. 03-123, 04-36, FCC 07-110  

What is VoIP?  It is phone calls made through Internet.  Vonage, Skype, etc. are examples of VoIP providers.  VoIP does not use regular telephone line to make phone calls.  It uses Internet connections to make phone calls. 

What will VoIP providers have to do now?    On Relay regulations - Section 225 - VoIP providers must ensure that their service enables 711 dialing.  Meaning that if the persons with hearing loss have VoIP provider as service provider, he or she can dial 711 to call a hearing person. 

Also, VoIP providers will have to contribute to the Interstate Relay Fund.  This Fund is what supports Interstate traditional TTY relay calls, Internet Relay, and VRS.  

On Disability Access regulation (Section 255), VoIP will have to make sure that their services AND products are accessible by persons with hearing loss.   Section 255 also requires VoIP providers if they are forming new service or product, they have to consider the needs of persons with hearing loss.  

Unfortunately, there are some language in Section 255 where VoIP can circumvent the rules by citing third party involvement, etc.  Hopefully, VoIP providers will choose to develop services and products just for the persons with hearing loss instead of using third party.  

eyes open & thumbs up,

Ed
RT Admin.

 All…

This is an archive story dating back to early 1990’s.  Apologies to persons who do not know sign language. There is no full text on that story.   Basically it harks to the outreach days where Texas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing with me representing PUC did a blitz for Texas.  This is a story about mainstreamed day program at Waco where deaf children called their hearing parents (unbeknownest to hearing parents) and how parents wept and rejoiced over this event.   

eyes open and thumbs up,

Ed
RT Admin.