VoIP Issues
12 12 2007All..
There has been quite a few discussions on TTY having access to VoIP services. Also what does the FCC have to say about VoIP? I have listed the following links so u can explore and know all the details and become an expert on VoIP issues yourself.
This link is "frequently asked questions" which the FCC answers. Good source of info on VoIP. This is an easy read (not like some of the FCC’s releases which may require a lawyer or well-versed technician to understand).
This one is 55 pages of the Report and Order from the FCC requiring VoIP providers to allow access by the relay users.
This link is where VoIP providers asked for waivers to postpone the implementation date. The FCC granted limited waivers for a few.
The following comments from various companies commenting on TRS requirement be applied to VoIP providers; that is, require VoIP allow relay calls be processed.
eyes open & thumbs up,
Ed B.
RT Admin.
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I have not yet been able to find a simple fact sheet outlining how it works, what you need, and who provides VoIP services. And I don’t know what the implementation date is for VoIP services… Are there any VoIP relay providers yet? How do I sign up for that? I need information like that, and I can’t find anything. Could anyone help?
Jenny,
That type of info would be good, I agree. There are Internet Relay providers which uses Internet connection so that is probably closest thing to a VoIP. hmmm - if a person can use TTY with VoIP (supposed to be according to recent FCC regs), then one can call relay service I would imagine. Can anyone enlighten us on this, please?
Ed B.
Jim,
I have included the link to the edsalert’s blogroll. Thanks.
Ed
An example of one VoIP service is Vonage, which is a service I use myself and which I’ve been able to use with a CapTel phone, in part because Vonage has been able to provide the ability to use a Vonage line for fax machines. (Fax machines typically require the same kind of analog-like phone line characteristics that TTYs and CapTel phones do.) Some of the other VoIP services that can be used with analog phones, such as those provided by one cable company, don’t try to provide services for fax machines because they want to compress the signal too much, and those VoIP services thus aren’t likely to work for TTYs or CapTel phones.
Jenny, the VoIP services have been around for quite some time. VoIP means Voice over Internet Protocol, and refers to companies like Skype and Vonage and even the voice components of the instant messengers like MSN Messenger. The VoIP services can often be used as substitutes for landline phone services with much less of an installation cost, more features, and more long-distance minutes for the money. There are some drawbacks to using the VoIP services as a primary phone line, however, as they usually won’t work if the power is out and they don’t provide direct use of 911 since there’s no automatic geographical identification of where the VoIP service user is.
I myself use Vonage as a second phone line for my CapTel phone so that I can enjoy the benefits of 2-line CapTel, and I use the Vonage line to make long distance calls. I have my Vonage phone line treated like a fax machine line (rather than compressing the audio).
Dana Mulvany