Ed’s Telecom Alert

(Note: See comments for corrections on this Vlog and text.)

All..

Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing In Government, Inc (DHHIG) did a video communication survey and published results.  Very interesting.

DHHIG Survey

DHHIG is a national non-profit organization which is an employee support group focusing on communication needs.  The survey is done to gather information on the impact of video phones on federal employees or the impact of not using video phones. 

They survey had 332 responded to the survey requests - 93% of total 357 participants.  It is interesting to note the largest participants were from:

• dept of Ed - 53,
• dept of Health and Human Services - 25,
• dept of Interior - 23,
• dept of Navy - 28,
• SSA - 26,
• dept of Treasury - 40

Out of 357, 32% had video conference equipment, and whooping 65% did not.   Reason why not?  Same old song in most state governments, too - denied due to security/Network issues - 38%, and due to funding concerns - 10%.  Interesting is this "do not need video conference equipment" 15%.  "Other" - 32%.  

Survey also shows 40% use vp-200, ancient D-Link 22%, webcamera - 15% and others 18%.  

Equally interesting is functionality of Video conference; meaning use video equipment: 32% most of the time, 27% all the time, 29% sometimes; 6% for rarely, and 5% never. 

Strongly suggest you all go over these links.  It will give you a valuable insights for sure as it did for me. 

The following link explains what is DHHIG. 

About DHHIG

The following link is a brief summary video results.

Brief Summary of video results

This link is 85 pages long…

Expanded Survey Results 85 pages

eyes open & thumbs up,

Ed B

All..

Check this website out.  Basically, James Northcutt had problem with "interoperability" between SNAPVRS and HOVRS.  He wanted to use OJO, but use HOVRS as the preferred VRS provider.   When HOVRS put in new platform, then problem started. James persistently addressed this problem with both VRS providers and contacted the FCC on this.  

James, to his delight, just announced that this is now fixed.   He can give his "Purple Number" to any hearing persons, and get video calls or video mail through OJO.   

JN Website

I would say credit goes to all involved parties: Kelby Brick (HOVRS), Jeff Rosen (SNAPVRS), and James Northcutt (consumer).  What I find intriguing is all of them are deaf.  

eyes open & thumbs up,

Ed B

PS: whole thing took about 5 months.  

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