Ed’s Telecom Alert

Folks…

A friend of mine used the term, Organic Minutes and it really hit off what I’ve been trying to say all along.   This is also to follow up on a couple comments that asked about should this and that be permitted or not; what does the FCC regulation say? and so on.

Definition of organic: Free from chemical injections or additives, such as antibiotics or hormones: organic chicken. c. Simple, healthful, and close to nature: an organic lifestyle.

This is clear enough.   I have organic vegetable garden now.  No  chemical solutions for herbicides, and pesticide are used.  Compost – healthy soil; for pesticide, I use hot pepper, insects and whip them into a solution and spray plants; for herbicide, I use my hands.  Result, healthy vegetable and delicious to boot and not have to worry about residues of sprays from chemicals used for pesticide and herbicide (Round-up, etc – horrors) affecting our health.

Same with Organic Minutes.   It means purely consumer driven minutes.  In other words, no telemarketers, no daily internal video conferences (by VRS staff), no online classroom or similar minutes are done.  This is how I view VRS industry ought to do; this is how I percieve TRS rules to mean.   TRS rules seem to be clear that any relay calls (text relay, Internet Relay, STS, VRS, and other horde features) should have two way participating parties thru relay agent/video interpreter.  In other words, both caller and called party should activately participate with each other.  So online classroom is out because this is not a true two way conversation.   The execption is answering machine and voice mails (it is in the relay rule).  Video conference calls are permitted, but it seems that a few VRS providers abuse that just to ramp up VRS minutes; not for the real reason why video conferences are held.      

Another important point to consider.  This is NOT about accessing various services available for hearing persons, this is about complying what existing federal relay rules (Title IV and subsequent Public Notices, Rule and Orders, etc from FCC) say what is permitted or what is not permitted.

So Organic Minutes means purely and clean relay calls between participating caller and called party.  Period.   I bet if VRS industry follows that, the total VRS minutes probably will be reduced maybe as much as 30% or more. 

I realize this is a very controversial issue.  I repeat, this is about what federal relay rules are about.   If you think online education should be permitted, address this with the FCC directly as FCC already said classroom interpreting is not permitted for VRS.  Same with other services that seem not to be permitted.  

eyes open & thumbs up,

Ed

Folks,

Here is your chance to express your thoughts to this FCC Public Notice. 

FCC Public Notice

TDI and GoAmerica petitions for reconsideration of assigning hearing persons with video phones Telephone Number of which FCC had said is not permitted at this time.  This is one instance that I disagree with FCC on.   If you feel same as I do, tell that to the FCC!  Send email to fccinfo@fcc.gov    Be sure to include Docket 03-123 in your email. 

GA also petitoned other issues you may want to check out; has to do with call back by emergency centers.  

This is based on previous FCC Rule and Order; the following link is this:

FCC Multiple Order/Reconsideration

eyes open & thumbs up,

Ed

PS: forgive me for not going via Vlog – been busy both at home (veg gardening and teenage kids – visiting universities here and there) and office (napping – ha no just kidding – doing some contract works here and there).  

All..

These are required reports from the FCC on why VRS providers are STILL not able to comply with the "waived" TRS rules.  The following reports by VRS providers.  I agree with VRS providers on the difficulty of meeting the "required" waived rules.   

Most of them say essentially the same thing. 

CAC

Purple

SnapVRS

ATT

Sprint

CSDVRS

I was not able to find other VRS providers; undoubtedly they will file at the last minute? 

eyes open & thumbs up,

Ed

All..

This is good news!  Basically Time Warner decided not to do Internet metering for those who download/use Internet alot.  VRS users may or may not be hit by this, but with that..we don’t have to worry about that. 

Internet Metering Shelved

eyes open & thumbs up,

Ed