Another Well-Thought Out Comment
7 07 2009All..
Comments from United State Telecom Association, in my opinion, were well thought out. USTA obviously did their homework. I do not agree with everything it says, but pretty much most of them, though. I strongly suggest you read this; easy to follow.
USTA mentioned my letter to the PUC Commissioners as well and supporting it. I felt honored.
eyes open & thumbs up,
Ed B
I know USTA from early days with TRS — they were honest and upfront with some concerns (e.g. $$$$). However, they were in strong favor of TRS and I think they are doing again supporting VRS — only if rates are set correctly — no waste $$$ as well as stay within the law.
So I’m not surprised they did their homework very well — glad they mentioned you (yes I saw it earlier today and I smiled!!).
Of course, you would agree with most of what they say – a lot of what they say is just repeating what you said and they say that is what they are doing!
But, yeah, good points. (They should get me to edit their work though – too much blab blab blab!)
I am wondering how much does FCC know about the fraud going on uo north in Canada. Many of my Canadian friends say they have videophones and they use our service all the times… at our expense. Safe to say maybe 50-75 percent of VRS minutes are valid or even less?
That’s one rule I need to check regulation out. If a person outside of USA calls into USA, that is permitted except for Internet Relay; I am talking about deaf to hearing persons. I am not sure about VRS, though. Now for Canada using US VRS to call other person within Canada – that’s a no no. Will try to find out…and let y’all know.
eyes open & thumbs up,
It’ll be nice if USTA divided the use of English VRS minutes vs. Español VRS minutes. Since in the past there was no such services that provide Español VRS, while today its blooming like a wild flower.
This is a common pratice that is used to build the communication gap from ASL to Español. Possibly in the future VRS industries would think about capturing the next thrid larges population culture in the US and then so.
Yep. Canucks use VRS all the time and not just for calls to the USA – which ARE permited. VRS providers sometimes block such calls, but often not. Several VRS providers have come up here and provided free equipment and installation, etc. FCC does know about it but is not enforcing it. But I doubt this is one of the biggie frauds. Just one of the smaller ones.
And Sorenson has 4 call centres up here along with the problems it causes for community interpreting. So not fair they come and bring their problems here without us also benefiting!
Decision as to Canada’s own VRS is expected any day – already overdue!
Henry (who is the main advocate on this issue in Canada)
oh, and just in case we Deaf are not getting enough shame from VRS abuse, today (July 8, 2009) the FBI put out a new warning about TRS scams. Eek.
“07/08/09—The IC3 continues to receive complaints pertaining to scam artists using Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) to defraud U.S. businesses and consumers.”
For full article, see http://www.fbi.gov/cyberinvest/escams.htm
Andly L,
Foreigners using VRS to call into USA permitted. Foreigners using IP Relay to call into USA verboten. Seems there is a regulation forbidding IP Relay of any foreign calls.
Of course, foreigners using VRS to call their hearing folks in their countries is verboten. Any TRS features except IP Relay must originate or terminate at USA. IP Relay is not allowed any foreign calls.
Henry,
Really hope Canada offers VRS soon. I cannot imagine being without VRS now. Even hearies rave about VRS.
Yup, am very aware that VRS to Canada is allowed as long as it originate or terminates in USA. My parents live in Canada for six month for the summer and I call them often as long as I am making calls from my home or office in Indiana. My Canadian friends told me that deaf schools in Canada have videophones installed everywhere and the students call their hearing parents all the times using VRS. It is not really a secret… it has been going on for about for 3 or 4 years now. Canadians are taking advantage of our NECA $$$… I am hoping that the ten digit numbering system will stop this ongoing fraud but I doubt it because there is no security protocols to verify valid addresses when people sign up.
Canadians are not taking advantage of your NECA $$$. VRS companies are! (I personally have yet to make a VRS call – waiting till we get our own! – and, hey I am still living comfortably!)
I tell anyone who brings this up that Canadians who use VRS for purely Canadian calls are not doing anything illegal. The illegality/fraud occurs if the VRS company bills NECA knowingly (or without taking due dilligence).
If you believe in the tooth fairy you might also believe that the VRS companies are simply doing the Canada to Canada calls as a public service or marketing exercise and are not billing the minutes to NECA!
Yeah…check this out….apparently persons living outside the U.S. are now using falsified information indicating they live in the U.S in order to recieve phone numbers and purchase state of the art equiptment to use with VRS. Not only does this seem to be condoned by the VRS provider, but likely initiated by the VRS provider. Meanwhile the front lines of VRS (interpreters) are not even offered a discount on such equiptment. Many interpreters have family members who are deaf, and they would love to have access to this equiptment. That is CARP! Yeah, you read that right; a big steaming pile of FISH!
But their training in doing a daily radio show with no script in front of them and no producer talking in their earpiece makes them naturals for TV. ,