HOVRS Comments on Waivers
19 12 2007All..
Basically HOVRS is asking to be waived from the regulations as listed in Title IV of the ADA.
The following lists are the ones that HOVRS is asking to be waived for VRS.
- Emergency Call Handling
- Operator Assisted Calls
- 900 Pay Per Calls
- Carrier of Choice
- VCO to TTY Calls
- VCO to VCO Calls
- HCO to TTY Calls
- HCO to HCO Calls
- CAll Release
- Three Way Calling
VRS is obviously for sign language users, so the rationales for waivers for a few of the features are obvious as they use different kind of disabilities.
On others, HOVRS maintains that technicial difficulties play into it as well as different utilization of network issues - Internet - play into rationales why these items should be waived.
The number one Emergency Call Handling, however, is controversial. I understand that a few national organizations are going - if not already - to submit comments to the FCC NOT to waive emergency requirements. The current emergency waiver is due to expire very soon, and these organizations want to see emergency procdures be processed by VRS industry upon expiration of emergency waiver. HOVRS is saying that uniform numbering system needs to be in place to have an effective emergency procedure so asking the FCC to extend the waiver to later time while VRS industry try to work it out.
I understand HOVRS on all its positions in all of them; however, I believe I would want the FCC not to extend waiver for emergency procedure as I believe VRS industry can process emergency calls albeit not an ideal one. The "ideal" number system can come later; better to have emergency procedure NOW.
eyes open & thumbs up,
Ed
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My big question is that I wonder other VRS would request to be waived on emergency calls exactly like HOVRS???
If so, I would suggest that FCC establish “special and specific” phone number for deaf/hearing impaired individual to use via VRS (not related to tty but for video phone only) to make it very accessible for us to use..
For example: Arkansas - 911-501 or just use the non emergency phone number tp get through (believe it or not I used that non emergency phone number via video phone and I successfully got help right away before I moved out of Arkansas to be near my family in MD)…
I never get bored to learn something new from you …
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year…
P.S. As soon as I read your vblog long time ago, I immediately voted the poll SMILE!!
SorensonVRS is already doing straight 911 calls.
W David Samuelsen,
SorensonVRS will process emergency calls; just not automatic like regular telephone network where it identifies phone number and automatically provide ANI (automatic number identification) and ALI (automatic location number). The FCC wants to see VRS and IP Relay eventually reach that point. VoIP industry is able to do that, so there is brainstorming on how to apply VoIP procedure to VRS and IP Relay.
Ed
The problem is that FCC needs to setup a database with customer’s address and VP numbers into one place. Sorenson videophone to OJO videophone will not work. It requires IP address to make call due to different database. There are alot of products that will come out but we need what it called unversial database where any type of equipments that VRS providers give you, it will be able to work by making any calls no matter what equipments u are using… 80% of time that we want to make call to HOVRS, SprintVRS or Snapvrs from Sorenson’s VP have to be thru Sorenson’s system first. That’s something FCC needs somone who dont work with VRS to run the database!
Troy
I want to know to ask you few questions about set up that Block number, because some people who work in business company can read their identify number or name on phone call. I notice some people do not even pick it up from HOVRS, Sorenson, IP-Relay,and CSDVRS calls. if deaf people have rights to press star number, while they can answer call than listen to the answer machines. Do you think it would be fair for everyone? I think HOVRS, Sorensom, CSDVRS, IP-Relay should set up new block number on telemarketing and business too. I hope that MVP should set up with block number in the future. thank you
Colin Gordon,
I believe that is one of the issue that the FCC is asking VRS and number service industry on how to do this. From what I understand the video standard of H.323 will not be able to do this whereas the video standard of SIP can make this possible. So I would think that the FCC would need to require (?) SIP to be the video standard. There are some technical issues that a few of the VRS providers may raise on this. We’ll see how it goes.
Ed B