15 02 2013
Folks,
A quickie one.
From Representative Kenny Marchant, R-Texas. He basically wanted the FCC to understand the value of VRS for deaf community.
And FCC responded with this letter:
FCC representative basically said that VRS will be maintained.
Reason I posted that in edsalert is simply because it looked like someone contacted Marchant and expressed concern of VRS being closed down. (VRS won't be closed down regardless, though.)
So it pays to let your congress folks know of your concerns so they will know and try to represent you by contacting appropriate persons. As always, the more "appropriate" individuals are made aware of the issues, the more likely the issues will be protected. It is your right to be heard and best way to do that is to contact your congress people and let them know.
eyes open & thumbs up,
Ed
This just tells me misinformation from Sorenson (that shouldn't have been sent out in the first place) affected more people than should have.
Representative Kenny Marchant may have received complaint from a consumer, but the complainant may have not articulated his concerns. I know consumers who used vrs but no more due to the high cost to access broad band services. Broad band is conditional to maintain access to vrs. FCC might have overlooked this issue. If broadband is not affordable to the average consumer, it is useless to say vrs is maintained.
I like to share with differents Vrs and Sorenson Vrs. I want help different Vrs keep run the business .
Sorenson has never said VRS would close. The cuts will close centers just as it did 3 years ago when 500 people lost their jobs.
Brenden Gilbert, Sorenson did not give out a misinformation that have affected more people than should have. Sorenson sent out an alert message on RATES itself. FCC will continues support VRS at lower rate which means VRS will have hard time to meet the rates cost. FCC can continues support VRS with empty industries out there. It is all about negotiating FCC to understand what involves VRS industries to be alive with what costs being covered.
Do not forget Sorenson has larger VI centers, R&D funds to be spent to finding the best hardaware for Deaf community to use the product at no costs.