Clarification on LD Charges for New Ten Digit Phone Numbers
7 10 2008All..
Based on feedback from quite a few of you, I think the long distance charges for the new ten digit phone numbers are confusing.
First of all the ten-digit phone numbers you get from a VRS providers are real numbers – not proxy and not 800/866). These "real" numbers use regional-based area codes like 281 (Houston, Texas), 512 (Austin, Texas) or 415 (San Fransisco, Calif) and so on. This will happen before Dec 31, 2008.
Important to remember that these numbers are where ALL telephone service providers including traditional, VoIP, and Cell Phone recognize and be able to utilize into their network systems. These same telephone service providers DO NOT recognize proxy numbers. What about 800/866? It depends. Some of the 800/866 are proxy, and some are not. If proxy, answer is no - telephone co will not recognize, if real 800/866 then answer is yes.
Anyway, real TN (telephone number) will make it possible for VRS providers to know the phone numbers of the party calling and the party receiving; in other words if you call from Tallahassee, Florida and you are calling to a hearing person at SF, California, with new system, VRS providers will know that.
Now let’s focus on deaf/hoh making VRS calls. No matter where and who deaf/hoh calls to anywhere in the USA, there will be no long distance charges for the deaf person. In other words if using video phone I call from Austin, Texas to a hearing person in New York city, no charges to me.
What about hearing person RECEIVING VRS calls, any LD charges? Keep in mind that we have different telephone networks.
- traditional line
- cell phone
- VoIP (Internet phone service)
If hearing person has traditional line, then no charges. If hearing person has cell phone or VoIP, the LD charges may or may not apply – depending on the person’s billing plan. Some of the cell phone plans charge both incoming and outgoing calls. Remember I’m talking about hearing persons receiving VRS calls.
Now what about hearing persons using VRS to call deaf/hoh? Any LD charges? Again, it depends on the billing plan of the hearing person has with his/her telephone service company. LD charges may or may not be incurred. If VoIP, likely not cuz they have $24 a month flat fee. Cell phone or traditional line? Depends on the billing plan hearing person has.
Keep in mind that if you got a VRS call from hearing person outside your area, you will not be charged for LD charges. Hearing persons, on other hand, may have to pay for LD charges if their billing plan calls for that.
Now a tip for hearing persons to get around to paying for the LD rates; just look up VRS provider’s 800 number for hearing persons, and then use the deaf’s TN to call. The hearing person will connect via provider’s 800 system and will not be charged LD rates.
Now what about VP to VP using the real TN (deaf to deaf)? No charges. Even from NYC to Los Angeles.
One final thought – or rather a question: Why should we choose area code over 800/866? There are several reasons, but I will cite just two. One: Reverse 9-1-1 calls will not be possible with 800/866. Reverse 9-1-1 is the opposite of public calling emergency dispatchers; emergency dispatchers calling public of impending disaster. Let’s say hurricane is bearing down to New Orleans and Reverse 9-1-1 network can call the area code of New Orleans, 504, and warn or forced evacuation. Reverse 9-1-1 will not know if 800/866 is from New Orleans.
Second reason is more of convenience: registering procedure for online purchase often blocks 800/866 because the 800/866 does not match the inputted address. You have to use area code phone number before the online register accepts it. Can be a nuisance.
eyes open & thumbs up,
Ed
Yep. I just opened a new on-line bank account (better interest on my savings!)
The account was frozen because the bank’s security department, “.. could not match your physical address.” Now I understand that was because I used my 866-xxx-xxxx VRS provider number.
And, I live in the country so I do a lot of my shopping on-line. Yep, I have had trouble at some sites not accepting the 866-xxx-xxxx VRS number.
Thanks for the explanation, ED!
Strange, I never had a problem inputting my 800 number on any of my applications including banks. I love having a 800 number as many hearing people are willing to call me without any issues as they know 800 number means no long distance cost for them.
I guess different strokes for different folks.
Ed, Pah! Glad to finally see an explanation shared so that everyone can have a clear understanding of this issue. Too many rumors have been flying around about this and thanks to you, we can now point to this vlog to nip further rumors in the bud. Kudos, and keep up the good work!
Ed,
Good comments. That helps a lot.
However, I am still a bit concerned about hearing people getting a relay call (maybe from someone they know) and then having charges show up on their bill when they don’t expect it. If that happens often then it will create a bad reputation for relay calls and will come back to bite us.
I wonder if there is some way to know if there will be a charge for the call – can the relay agent tell you that or will the hearing person be totally responsible. I can see this creating a lot of misunderstanding.
David
I think that by Dec 31, 2008, we’ll see the FCC require folks select one VRS provider as default and required to obtain one set of area code digit phone numbers, but ALLOW the 800/866 as long as they’re recognized by telephone networks.
The question is will number database service provider also process 800/866 where the numbers will be recognized by all other telephone networks as well? I know a few VRS providers provide “real” 800/866 numbers and “proxy” 800/866 numbers. You want to avoid the proxy ones. How do you know if you have real or proxy, ask your VRS provider who provided that nbrs to you.
eyes open & thumbs up,
Ed
got couple of questions:
- you mentioned flat fee of $24 for VoIP – making it sound like all VoIP plans has that plan’s fee, is that right ? I would have thought every VoIP had different plans.
- Reverse 911
It sounds like the dispatcher would make single call which gets broadcasted to every telephones in that area code. how will this work with VRS – if they call 504, will VRS be able to do a single interpreter video stream broadcasted to multiple VP users ? Or is VRS going have to get one interpreter per VP user ? I would; think this could be a problem if an area has large number of VP users, and there are not enough or less # of interpreters ?
Thanks for explaining the LD fees and how to avoid them.
If a deaf person has a business and has been using an 800/866 number, would that be blocked from use once TN starts?
I could really use a brochure that explains how to choose options available for deaf business owners. Anybody willing to write one?
Ed, one more thing, as we all know, nothing is really free. Someone is still paying for it.
I’m curious, do you know what the cost is to a company to pay for a 10digit telephone number vs an #800 nbr? Bec regardless of what may appear “free” to the consumer, I’m curious what companies bill the TRS Fund for reimbursement? Is there a huge difference btwn the two?
Bob,
That $24 is just an example. Yes, not all VoIP providers charge the same way.
On Reverse 9-1-1. It is one VI per call. The Reverse 9-1-1 is done in voice. So with the new ten digit ph nbr, it will get to any VRS providers that deaf/hoh have chosen as default VRS provider. So let’s assume New Orleans is hit by hurricane and there were, I’m guessing, 500 deaf/hoh whose pn nbrs will go to VRS providers from NO. It would mean 500 video interpreters (could be from any of 14 VRS providers) would be tied up by this reverse emergency broadcast. If that being the case, maybe not a problem. If it is large scale – like germ warfare over several states, and reverse 9-1-1 is used, then it could be a problem especially if over, say, 5K. However, I think Reverse 9-1-1 does not do it all at once. I think it is divided into time periods as not to overwhelm the telephone system. So presumably this will allow distribution of reverse calls over period of time and hopefully enough video interpreters to cover all calls.
eyes open & thumbs up,
Ed
Dianrez,
I don’t know the answer to that question and I’m assuming that if the FCC approves the 800/866 as real number and compatible with number database service system, then should be ok.
As for brochure, I noticed two VRS providers (probably more but I haven’t seen them) using website to explain the whole system.
eyes open & thumbs up,
Ed
Sheri,
I understand that the cost of 800/866 numbers given to VRS users are NOT reimbursable by Interstate TRS Fund, so that means VRS providers absorb the cost. Cost for regionalized area code numbers, on other hand, are reimbursable.
As for huge difference between two, I don’t know. I believe that regionalized area code phone number (not 800/866) are one time charge, and 800/866 are based on a monthly fee plus minute of use.
eyes open & thumbs up,
Ed
Hello Ed, I thought that you might want to know this. The last few Vlogs you had done came with buzzing sounds which might irritate or annoy the hearing and hard of hearing viewers. You might find a solution to turn the sound off or something like that…
Hope that you have enjoyed your retirement as well as working at home!
M.
Marie,
Thanks for this note. In face, I am trying out a new video editor. I will try to mute the buzzing sounds.
Ed