National Association of the Deaf

With other consumer advocacy groups, the NAD said the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) should not revise the current rate methodology for video relay services (VRS). Comments must be filed by July 13, 2009.

On May 14, 2009, the FCC asked whether the compensation rate for VRS should be re-calculated for the 2009-2010 rate period that started July 1, 2009. 

The NAD supports a VRS rate that permits all reasonable expenses of VRS providers to be covered.

The NAD also urged the FCC to (1) adopt the proposed VRS rates for July 2009 through June 2010; (2) ask for comments about rates for the next multi-year rate period that begins July 2010; and (3) ask for additional comments about any alternative rate plans that may be proposed.

In addition, the FCC should consider marketing and consumer outreach costs, research and development costs, and equipment costs, as well as all other reasonable costs, in its VRS rate methodology. With these objectives in mind, the FCC can ensure that functionally equivalent telephone service through VRS is available to consumers who are deaf or hard of hearing.

If you support a VRS rate that permits all reasonable expenses of VRS providers to be covered, please tell the FCC:

I support a VRS rate that permits all reasonable expenses of VRS providers to be covered as described in the comments filed by the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) and other consumer advocacy groups on June 26, 2009.

You can also tell the FCC why VRS is important to you.

To file your comment or tell the FCC why VRS is important to you – go to the FCC Electronic Comment form. In the box labeled “1. Proceeding,” type the numbers 03-123. Complete all other “required” information boxes. Scroll down to the section called “Send a Brief Comment to FCC,” type your comment (see sample above), and click the “Send Brief Comment to FCC” button at the bottom.

Comments must be filed by July 13, 2009.