Ed’s Telecom Alert

All..

This article is self explanatory.  Quote: "FCC upholds $25,000 fine against KUSI-TV San Diego for failing to provide adequate visual warnings to hearing-impaired viewers during coverage of California wildfires occurred in October 2003".

FCC Stands Firm

KUDOS to the FCC for doing that despite the lawyers from the TV Station that challenged the fine.  

I filed a similar compliants against two TV stations when tornado hit close to my house, and all I got was weather map and animated twirling symbol of tornado that was close to my house.  I see the weatherman frantically speaking, and no caption for that.  I’ve no idea what the weatherman is saying.    Lawyer from one TV Station defended its position saying that animation, and weathermap suffices, and the other TV Station also defended itself, but did say will improve the deliverance of impending danger.   I did not pursue this further.  In hindsight, perhaps I should have. 

eyes open & thumbs up,

Ed B

All..

Check this website out.  Basically, James Northcutt had problem with "interoperability" between SNAPVRS and HOVRS.  He wanted to use OJO, but use HOVRS as the preferred VRS provider.   When HOVRS put in new platform, then problem started. James persistently addressed this problem with both VRS providers and contacted the FCC on this.  

James, to his delight, just announced that this is now fixed.   He can give his "Purple Number" to any hearing persons, and get video calls or video mail through OJO.   

JN Website

I would say credit goes to all involved parties: Kelby Brick (HOVRS), Jeff Rosen (SNAPVRS), and James Northcutt (consumer).  What I find intriguing is all of them are deaf.  

eyes open & thumbs up,

Ed B

PS: whole thing took about 5 months.  

All..

Basically, Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) wanted to pass a bill that will allow monitoring of our Internet system in the USA to better know our limitations and how to improve it.   He felt that without such data/knowledge, we would not be able to know the true situation in the USA.  

Looks like a regulation to me even though he says it is not; I am not against regulation and I heartily support the concept that Inoye is wanting to see happen.  Read and be informed. 

Inouye Bill

eyes open & thumbs up,

Ed B

All..

Lot of the FCC stuff I have not covered the last two months that I took hiatus while focusing on the PUC affairs.  Since I am no longer with the PUC – I can  start focusing on issues for edsalert; I’ve decided to start most recent FCC Public Notices (PN) and work way back to older ones.  

This Public Notice by the FCC is really a notice for Internet-based relay service providers only; however, I thought it would give y’all some interesting insight of how subsidization is done. 

Before I belabor this, allow me to explain a little how subsidization works now.  InterstateTRS Fund is what pays relay providers for Interstate relay and Internet-based relay minutes that the relay providers submitted to the NECA (National Exchange Carrier Association).  NECA is a contracted company that does the subsidization procedure.   States pay for relay minutes incurred within state (intrastate and local relay calls).  This PN is at the federal level, and states are not involved.  Okay?  

Click to this:  FCC PN on Reimbursable Cost

Now this new 10-digit phone number is new feature of TRS.   The FCC has decided to keep that separate from the Relay minutes; in other words, the FCC has decided not to put costs of implementing 10-digit phone number system into rates-per-minute.   Instead, the FCC wants each Internet-based relay providers submit costs to the NECA and once NECA reviews the costs per the FCC instruction, will reimburse the cost to Internet-based relay providers.  

The PN advised Internet-based relay providers that they need to submit costs associated with tn-digit phone number creation that is required by all providers by Dec 31, 2008.   If the providers expect to be paid for the costs for setting up 10 digit phone numbers, then they need to submit costs by end of January 2009, and thereafter submit on a quarter basis.

eyes open & thumbs up,

Ed B