Ed’s Telecom Alert

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

All..

Yuk!   This article is basically about Time Warner using a meter on customer to limit their "excessive" use of Internet network.

Meter for Internet Use Article

This is bit scary.   What about us deaf/hon who use video phones and VRS extensively?   Or for that matter those of VRS providers who employ deaf/hoh to make VRS calls to rack up VRS minutes?  Or those deaf/hoh organizations who sign up with VRS providers and then rack up VRS minutes to get their funds? 

ComCast Letter 

Read the article and the letter be concerned as it may impact us in a big way….

Will all this affect the traffic of Internet network and meters forced on us?   Let us know what you think?

eyes open & thumbs up,

Ed B