Mar 10
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FCC Vlog on FCC VRS Declaratory Ruling

The FCC has released a vlog on the recent VRS ruling, and I thought I’d share it with you all.

In the Matter of Structure and Practices of the Video Relay Service Program.
The FCC Reaffirms Rules and Policies of Video Relay Service. CG Docket No. 10-51

News Release:
Word |PDF

Declaratory Ruling:
Word | PDF

The above content can be directly accessed here:
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/vrs_policies.html

6 Responses to "FCC Vlog on FCC VRS Declaratory Ruling"

OhioFella says:

March 2, 2010 at 8:15 am
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Audism has hit VRS (Video Relay Service) industries as well as individuals. FCC refused to reimburse a VRS Business for their staff making business calls using their own VRS system. FCC is demanding that VRS company and maybe other VRS companies to pay back FCC.
As for my own experience as of yesterday, Sprint has delayed in contacting me via VRS to straighten out my Blackberry Order mistake due to the FCC Reimbursement lesson. Thus I had to call the Sprint Sales Representative to fix my Blackberry Order screw-up. Then it hit me with realization that Sprint is also in VRS business.
Imagine VRS industries shutting down their operations due to paying millions of dollars to FCC… What are deafies supposed to do? Back to the old days of TTD?

What is ADA law if FCC does not recognize it?
Greg Hlibok says:

March 3, 2010 at 1:27 pm
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This message is not accurate. The intent of this ruling is to address fraud and protect the integrity of VRS. It simply reaffirms the compensability of employee generating calls where these calls should be billed as a business expense, not on a per-minute basis. This ruling should, in no way, discourage providers from employing deaf individuals. The argument that this ruling harms deaf employees is suggesting, in a subtle way, that had it not for reimbursing deaf employees on a per-minute fee basis, VRS providers would not hire them. If it is the case, then why would any deaf employees want to work for a provider who embraces this perception and attitude?
Don says:

March 3, 2010 at 9:04 pm
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@YourRight2Know-

Your comment came in as corrupted, it was displaying CSS code. Not sure why. I deleted it, but I also got your email, and will post your link for you.

Readers: a person wrote an article basically explaining about the entire situation about FCC and VRS providers in depth, and also provides information on how to contact key people to share your opinion.

http://fccruling.blogspot.com/2010/03/fcc-ruling-gives-me-no-confidence-in.html
Don says:

March 4, 2010 at 8:08 am
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@Greg Hlibok-

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! While I’m in agreement in most of what you have said, I have to disagree with: “why would any deaf employees want to work for a provider who embraces this perception and attitude?”. That implies that the deaf employee has a choice, and has many potential employers lining up to hire the employee. In this current economy, and with the unemployment rate at a particularly uncomfortable point– the employee will take what he/she can get, as long as the bills are paid and it brings food to the table. Even if it means working for a non-deaf-friendly employer.

Take myself for instance. If I am forced to seek another job elsewhere, my options are very limited. While I have extensive skills and experience, many employers prefer that the employee possess a degree, even if the employee is lacking in experience. So in my situation, I’d most certainly take what I can get. Going back to college to get a degree for me unfortunately, is not an option. Going to college costs money, as opposed to pays money, which is needed to pay my bills.

Based on that, I can tell you that as long as the employer offers decent pay that’ll enable me to make sure the bills are paid, and I was unemployed, I’d not hesitate to take the job. Even if the employer wasn’t deaf-friendly.

In any case, the current declaratory ruling will basically slightly decrease the odds of a deaf employee being hired by a VRS provider. Not significantly, but still enough to be of a concern. This also would cause VRS providers to impose draconian policies in place to reduce considerably, if not eliminate, usage of their own relay services to prevent their resources being tied up by their own deaf employees. The stigma of using another VRS provider instead of one’s own VRS provider when at work would considerably discourage employees from even making calls. Only once the employee went home could they truly relax and be able to use their employer’s VRS services.

How is that freedom of choice? Not being able to freely use one’s preferred VRS provider at work if that provider so happens to be also one’s employer?
margaret yost says:

March 5, 2010 at 7:34 am
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Greg,

I am very disappointed that sorenson already made vlog spread out there that sorenson is very happy to watch all vrs are going out business . I feel that vlog is very rude while all deaf people’s own choice and comfortable their own vrs . Please remove vlog on device . I won’t join sorenson ‘s vrs because all vi are not too good plus I rather both vrs with text because I can remember to tell my husband what I did talk with dr or dental or etc .
fcc should give all vrs head up but fcc already gave vrs very last mintues hurt their business which not fair .

I am employee for vrs provider and i really care about me and my customers’s right . Now I have no where to go .
Elizabeth Gibson says:

May 8, 2010 at 1:45 pm
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Mararet – your information is inaccurate. Where did it say that Sorenson is happy to watch all vrs going out of business? I don’t see such vlog anywhere as you described – lastly vrs with text message – that is a feature not required!!