Pat Nola Signs
26 06 2008All..
Click to this Sorenson’s Newsletter and watch Pat Nola sign. He did it not too badly. Clear and easy to understand; just right speed and gets his points across.
I always appreciate hearing persons at the administrative stratosphere (CEOs, Presidents, VP, etc) take time to learn sign language. Mike Ligas, who is vice president of Sprint Relay also signs. You can carry communication with Ligas in sign language and I’ve done that numerous times. I look forward to communicating with Pat Nola person to person in sign language.
I am not going to question why they did so; I’ll be positive and simply say that they just want to be able to communicate with us deaf people. Kudos to them and to all other hearing persons who take the time to learn ASL. THANK YOU!
Putting above issue aside, Nola’s signed message is that new 800 number called DirectVP which makes it possible for hearing persons to call deaf. I know the intention is good. I do question why at this time especially when the Rule & Order from the FCC will make it possible for deaf/hoh to receive TN by Dec 2008 and this TN will make it possible for BOTH deaf and hearing persons to use TN; in other words, deaf/hoh gets a TN, and gives that TN to a hearing person who can call and automatically connect to the deaf via preferred VRS provider; and the deaf/hoh can give to another deaf/hoh this SAME TN and be able to automatically connect to each other.
Maybe SorensonVRS did that to meet need during the temporary time frame between now until Dec 2008? If so, good for them. If I understood the R&O by the FCC right, the FCC will not reimburse these 800 telephone numbers for VRS after Dec 2008.
eyes open & thumbs up,
Ed B
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I’m a little confuse — FCC will reimburse VRS for 10 digits TN seperate from their normal VRS-by-the-minutes reimbursement? I was under the impression it’s entirely up to VRS providers to provide TN at their own expenses if they want to have VP users to use their services.
Also, is 800# portable number? What I mean, if I was given an 800#, and I want to change VRS provider, can I carry my number over to another VRS provider? (Note: this is either if FCC will reimburse the 800# or not).
Thanks.
Dave
Dave,
I hope my future vlogs will explain that further.
Right now, any telephone number inlcuding 800’s that we get from VRS providers are not real TN. This is now. Right now, none of the telephone numbers we get from VRS providers are portable. By Dec 2008, we will not get 800 numbers, what we will get is area code where you live plus 7 digit phone number = 10-Digit Telephone Number. These TN with area code will be portable.
No, 800 numbers will not be portable now or future.
Yes, you are right, it is up to VRS providers to provide REAL TN (by Dec 2008) and very likely at their own expense. Like you said, if they want to have VP users use their service.
By the way, the TN you now have may have to be changed to a new TN. You may not be able to keep your old TN for VP. I think this is one of the issues that number database service (when the FCC selects one) will have to work on.
I hope my answer satisfies your questions? You asked good questions. Keep them coming.
eyes open & thumbs up,
Ed B
Time for Sorenson and CSDVRS to stop giving fake 800’s numbers. We want real 10 Dig. TN!
BTW, my parents told me when I gave out Sorenson’s new direct numbers, my parents had to wait for almost 8 mins for the interpreter to answer the call then make a call to my vp. New direct numbers sound nice but waiting time is not good idea……I have too many 800s numbers which i got from sprint, csdvrs,and Sorenson but this time i need local numbers instead of 800s becz some ppl think i was giving a bad or makeup 800 numbers or they think i own a 800 numbers business.. 800 numbers are good for commerical but not for personal at home.
So I assume that with all 800# that some deaf people have will end in December? If so, I think we need to tell VRS providers end their practice giving away 800#. I’m sure most of them are NOT aware they’ll have to get a new number in December — it surely will pi** lot of deaf people having to notify all parties with new phone number. I know I could — if I was given a new 800# today, and the VRS provider didn’t tell me this is good until December.
Troy,
Also when I try to register via Internet and the form ask for home number, I put down 800 nbr, and it rejects it - grrrrrr…
Ed
David,
All VRS providers have read the Rule and Order so they are aware of the regulation. I think that 800 is one of the Further Notice list which means the FCC is asking for opinions on 800. Let me double check and will get back to y’all either via this or vlog. OK?
Ed
Ed,
I talked with Ron B who you know is VP at Sorenson at length about the 800 number - he was quite very clear that the 800 is for hearing persons to use to call us instead of cumbersome 2 TNs.
As for the relay providers to provide the TNs - it is all but Sorenson who have to change from IP addresses to TNs. I do have MY real TN already. It’s the same the LECs assigned you for your hearing children, spouses, etc.
Even more so, FCC is requiring relay service users to register with their preferred VRS. No more choices, just like the hearing counterparts have to with their phone companies, partially to try to put an end to IP relay fraud.
Also FCC requires that those VRS to have 911 and e911 connection systems in place asap.
Ed - you need to explain to those the difference of 911 and e911
(911, you have to have your address and phone number ready, while e911 you are already registered with the local 911.) Large cities usually have e911 but they need to know that you are deaf and use VRS or IP relay so they can have the important information in their databanks for quick response.
And to that David about 800, you will have to choose one VRS as your primary service provider. FCC is asking for comments about the alternative provider in case of emergency.
to Troy, my mother has no problem contacting to get through every time. Even when I wasn’t home, she knew to leave a SignMail message for me.
David,
Right. SorensonVRS has a 800 number for hearing person to call deaf person and thus do not need “cumbersome” two TN. You can’t give that 800 to deaf person to call you, though. So that means u need to give to deaf person ur proxy number and the 800 number to hearing person.
With the new TN that is coming up in Dec 2008. You will be able to give just one TN (same number) to both deaf and hearing person. Hearing person will call you and automatically connect to VRS of your choice; and deaf call you and connect directly to you. Nice!
eyes open & thumbs up,
Ed B
Ed, your message to David, in regards to “SorensonVRS has a 800 number for hearing person to call deaf person and thus do not need ‘cumbersome’ two TN. You can’t give that 800 to deaf person to call you, though. So that means u need to give to deaf person ur proxy number and the 800 number to hearing person. ”
Let me correct you in that SorensonVRS 800 number works both ways.
* You can give your 800 number for hearing to call you through SorensonVRS
* You can give your 800 number to deaf friends to call you point-to-point.
* Still, your original VP # still works point-to-point, if desired.
Again, works both ways hearing/deaf with 800 number. Try it. Smile.
DA
DA,
I will check this out. If correct, then I stand corrected. Thanks for the info. This, of course, is still limited to Sorenson’s vp, and not be able to call to other non-sorenson vp products, right?
Ed B
but it cant be save 800s in sorenson’s database… i prefer local and sorenson only gave me direct numbers and it is still in their system.. Once we find a third party contractor, I want that numbers to be there, not from sorenson’s database.
Troy,
I think that with the new Rule & Order, the TN that is compatible with VRS/Video conference will be kept at two places: one at the central database service (contracted by the FCC) where all VRS providers have access to, and one at the preferred (chosen by VRS user) VRS provider. It won’t be in 800’s. It will be in your area code plus 7 digit phone number.
So if you chose CAC as your preferred VRS provider, the TN will be kept at the CAC server. If you chose SorensonVRS as your preferred VRS provider, then the TN will be kept at the SorensonVRS server.
Clear as mud? ;-]
eyes open & thumbs up,
Ed B