Technologie i telekomunikacja · 7.05.2010

Structure and Practices of the Video Relay Service Program

In this document, the Commission, via the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (Bureau), addresses the compensability from the Interstate TRS Fund (Fund) of certain types of calls made through Video Relay Service (VRS), a form of Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS). First, the Bureau emphasizes that VRS calls made by or to a VRS provider's employee, or the employee of a provider's subcontractor, are not eligible for compensation from the TRS Fund on a per-minute basis from the Fund, but rather as business expenses. Second, the Bureau emphasizes that VRS calls placed for the purpose of generating compensable minutes are not, and never have been, compensable from the Fund. Finally, the Bureau emphasizes that two categories of calls do not meet the definition of TRS or otherwise are not compensable from the Fund under plain statutory language: (1) VRS Voice Carry Over (VCO) used to connect two hearing users and (2) VRS calls used to connect two users who are both outside the United States. This action is necessary to explain that certain types of TRS minutes are not compensable from the Fund. The intended impact of this action is to enhance the integrity of the TRS program.