Ed’s Telecom Alert

All..

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

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..

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