In February 2000 the FCC modified the rules that govern
Telecommunications Relay Services. The rules expand the types of
services provided and raise the performance standards on some existing
regulations. This article provides some of the highlights from the FCC
press release. For additional information, please visit the FCC website
at http://www.fcc.gov.
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Washington, D.C. -- Last Thursday he FCC amended its rules governing
the delivery of Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) to expand the
kind of relay services available to consumers with hearing and speech
disabilities and to improve the quality of relay services.
The Report and Order adopted additional rules to increase the
availability and usefulness of the telecommunications system for
Americans with hearing and speech disabilities.
Specifically, the FCC:
- required that speech to speech relay service be provided. Speech to
speech relay service utilizes individuals trained in understanding
certain speech patterns to relay conversations for people with speech
disabilities
- required that Spanish language relay service be provided for
interstate calls
- encouraged the provision of video relay interpreting service by
making it eligible for reimbursement from the TRS fund. Video relay
interpreting utilizes Communications Assistants skilled in sign language
to relay conversations for users of American Sign Language.
The Commission also revised its minimum standards in accordance with
the statutory mandate that TRS must be "functionally
equivalent" to voice telecommunications service to the extent
possible. Among other things, these rules will improve the speed at
which calls are answered and conversations relayed. The new ruling
imposes a minimum typing speed of 60 wpm in order to speed the
transmission of calls using TTYs.
In the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking the FCC asked for
comment on how to further improve TRS. Specifically, the Notice asked
what changes are necessary to increase public awareness of TRS among all
callers, not just those with disabilities, including how a national
awareness education campaign can be established; and whether other
technologies, services, and features should be made available to TRS
users.
Telecommunications relay service is critical given the importance
that telecommunication plays in a person's ability to participate in
this information age. It provides telephone access to a significant
number of Americans who without it may not be able to make or receive
calls from others. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 10.9 million
Americans have a functional limitation in hearing what is said in a
normal conversation and 2.5 million have a functional limitation in
having one's speech understood.
