Ed's Telecom Alert

Yike – $201,000 Bill For One Month
Ed's Telecom Alert Folks.. Check this link out $201K Bill Quotable quotes: "A South Florida woman got the shock of her life when she opened a recent cell phone bill: she owed $201,000" "Celina Aarons has her two deaf-mute brothers on her plan. They communicate by texting and use their phones to watch videos. Normally, that's not a [...]
Tue, Oct 18 2011

Wireless Wants in on Federal USF Reform
Ed's Telecom Alert Folks.. Basically the main issue of the article is: "Wireless firms are worried about being left out of the FCC's plan to reform a federal fund that subsidizes telecom services to rural areas" Wireless Wireless is conveying that the amount set aside for telecomm and wireless "..was out of step with the rising popularity of [...]
Thu, Oct 13 2011

Emergency Test on Nov 9 at 2 PM EST
Ed's Telecom Alert Folks.. By now I imagine many of you got this email below as well. Self explanatory so no comment from me other than that is simply a great idea to see how emergency broadcast works out. eyes open & thumbs up, Ed Bosson --- Dear Friend: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Federal Emergency [...]
Tue, Oct 11 2011

VRS: Concerns About Per-User Compensation Mechanism
Ed's Telecom Alert Folks, As I get ready to go to Ark for a 50 year high school class reunion, noticed a letter to the FCC and thought I'll post that before the trip. It is a letter to the FCC from TDI, NAD, ALDA and, CCASDHH on following up on a meeting with the FCC expressing caution [...]
Tue, Oct 04 2011

Steal from the USF to pay for Federal Debts?
Ed's Telecom Alert Folks, A combined telephone representatives expressed a concern in their letter that I agree. USF DEBT I know Congress is desperate to find additional funds to pay off the debt, but this quote scares me. "Our concern first materialized upon seeing the flawed recommendation in the December 1, 2010 report of the National Commission on [...]
Sat, Oct 01 2011

FCC Public Notice To Apply Deaf Blind Equipment...
Ed's Telecom Alert Folks, Reason for certification is: "On September 21, 2011, rules issued by the Federal Communications Commission (“Commission”) establishing the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program (“NDBEDP”) pilot program became effective." Also this: "..the Commission established the NDBEDP as a pilot program to distribute equipmen...
Tue, Sep 27 2011

FCC Proposed Rules on Text to 911
Ed's Telecom Alert Good People, Click to this all important NPRM (Notice of Proposed Rule Making) on text to 911. Text to 911 This quote is kinda self-explanatory: "..we [FCC] seek to accelerate the development and deployment of Next Generation 911 (NG911) technology that will enable the public to send emergency communications to 911 Public Safety Answering [...]
Mon, Sep 26 2011

Proposed Rules for Closed Captioning Internet...
Ed's Telecom Alert Folks, Check this link out. CCInternet The core purpose of this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is the following quote: "The Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (“CVAA”) requires the Federal Communications Commission (“Commission”) to revise its regulations to mandate closed captioning on certain video prog...
Fri, Sep 23 2011

Waiver by White Label Providers Denied by the FCC
Ed's Telecom Alert Folks, An ongoing chronicle of certification procedure is coming to an end soon. This post is long, but revealing! First there is a certification procedure that dates way back to 1992. When Internet Relay started (IP Relay and VRS), the FCC took hard look at the certification procedure and the FCC has made series [...]
Wed, Sep 14 2011

Cochlear Implants Recall
Ed's Telecom Alert Folks, We all know cochlear implant is controversial. I acknowledge that it worked very well for many people, and I also am aware that it did not work too well for many people as well. As the cochlear technology keeps improving, it should present less problem; however, I do not think we're there yet. [...]
Tue, Sep 13 2011

EAAC Submitted Report to the FCC
Ed's Telecom Alert Good People, My good friend, Sheri, shared a report by the EAAC (see the post before this) and I am happy to share this informative report. The report was submitted to the FCC on July 21, 2011. The upcoming meeting will be about the report and the actions that may need to be taken to [...]
Wed, Aug 31 2011

Landline Converted to VoIP?
Ed's Telecom Alert Folks, Check this out. SprintLandLine "The service, which will offer unlimited domestic calling for $19.99 per month, lets home or small business customers use a landline phone to connect to Sprint's wireless network." Landline to connect to wireless network? Cool! But note this: "Verizon Wireless launched a service highly similar to Spri...
Thu, Aug 18 2011

Letter to Federal Committee and SubCommittee
Ed's Telecom Alert Folks, This is intriguing letter from a group of companies and Association regarding advanced communication in rural areas. Quotable quotes: "..an unprecedented agreement to reform the mechanisms that support the affordability and availability of advanced communications services in rural areas." "This universal service fund (USF) and intercarrier comp...
Sat, Aug 13 2011

Upcoming EAAC Meeting on Aug 12
Ed's Telecom Alert Folks, This is where I believe mover and shakers of disability groups should endeavor to attend. EAAC means "Emergency Access Advisory Committee" EAAC Meeting The meeting will be about: "The August meeting will continue deliberations to develop recommendations to the Commission as required in the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video A...
Wed, Aug 10 2011

VRS Toll Free 800 No Longer Free and Provided
Ed's Telecom Alert Good People, FCC just released an order that VRS or IP providers (or as the FCC calls them iTRS providers) no longer can give toll free 800 number to VRS/IP Users. 800 NBRS Order Rationale for the order could be this: "..the Commission proposed rules to align the use of local and toll free [...]
Tue, Aug 09 2011

New FCC Certification Procedure
Ed's Telecom Alert Folks.. Here is what VRS industry, deaf/hoh leaders, lawyers, and persons/companies wishing to go into VRS business have been waiting for: a new procedure for certifying companies wishing to become a certified VRS provider. The FCC has taken on a route that, in their opinion, will eliminate frauds, abuses as well as eliminate fly-by night [...]
Tue, Aug 09 2011

Genachowski’s Report
Ed's Telecom Alert Hi Dear Friends, Hearing on "FCC Process Reform" before the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology Committee on Energy and Commerce U.S. House of Representatives. Chair Genachowski gave a report on what the FCC has done on improving the FCC's infrastructure system. REPORT One thing that caught my eyes was Chair's comment on VRS whic...
Fri, Jul 08 2011

Transfer data from NECA to RLSA
Ed's Telecom Alert All.. These links basically are the instructions from the FCC to NECA of the pending transfer of data of TRS from NECA to RLSA. TRANSFER 1 Payment for Close-Out Activities of Telecommunications Relay Service Program Administration for the National Exchange Carrier Association TRANSFER 2 Telecommunications Relay Service Fund Financial Statements and Report...
Thu, Jun 30 2011

Waiver Request and Follow Up Suspension
Ed's Telecom Alert Folks, When the FCC released the order (a couple posts back on Edsalert), the FCC had in mind a way to minimize number of non-certified VRS providers down to manageable size. However, there is a clause where it indicate those already providing VRS, but not certified may submit waiver if the non-certified providers show that [...]
Mon, Jun 13 2011

RERC-IT & RERC-TA Comments
Ed's Telecom Alert Folks.. Don't y'all hate these acronyms? RERC stands for Rehabilition Engineering Research Center, and IT = Information Technology Access, and TA = Telecommunications Access What caught my eyes is that TA is from Gallaudet University. RERC Link: --- (Note: I am having problem with Word Press in adding the link to one word, so...
Thu, Apr 28 2011

FCC Releases News, Order, and FNPRM
Ed's Telecom Alert People, This is the FCC actions that VRS industry, Sophisticated VRS Users, and Mover & Shakers of Deaf/HOH have been waiting for! New Order and FNPRM promise to shake things up in VRS world. Before I go on, it is important to remember that TRS/VRS providers are paid from a public fund; in other [...]
Sat, Apr 09 2011

New TRS Fund Administrator: Rolka Loube Saltzer Associates
Ed's Telecom Alert Folks.. FCC has replaced NECA (National Exchange Carrier Association) with Rolka Loube Saltzer Associates as Interstate Telecommunications Relay Service Fund Administrator. RLSA Quotable quotes: "RLSA is pleased to announce that we have been selected by the Federal Communications Commission, via competitive bid, to succeed the National Exchange Carrier...
Fri, Mar 25 2011

SVRS Ex-Parte Comments..
Ed's Telecom Alert All.. Check out the link. SVRS Comments SorensonVRS reiterates on the following. "..in Sorenson's comments stating that (1) the Commission should not prohibit VRS providers from operating call centers in Canada; (2) so-called “white label” operators should not be permitted to provide service; and (3) interpreters should be required to work ...
Tue, Mar 22 2011

NASRA Comments!
Ed's Telecom Alert Folks.. NASRA is National Association of State Relay Administration. NASRA is composed of about 32 states. State relay administrators typically are representatives of their states and are members of this prestigious association. Not open to public. I have fond memories of NASRA as having been chair thrice: two full term,...
Fri, Mar 18 2011

April 7 Agenda for FCC Commissioners Open Meeting
Ed's Telecom Alert Folks.. There are several items for the Open Meeting on April 7, but what caught my eye was this one item. @font-face { font-family: "Arial"; }@font-face { font-family: "Courier New"; }@font-face { font-family: "Wingdings"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Sec...
Fri, Mar 18 2011

Need Comments From Y’all for NG9-1-1-1
Ed's Telecom Alert Folks.. Check this out NG9-1-1-1 "The mission of the Emergency Access Advisory Committee is to make recommendations to the FCC regarding policies and practices for the purpose of achieving equal access to emergency services by individuals with disabilities, as a part of the migration to a national Internet protocol-enabled emergency network, also known as NG911. [...
Thu, Mar 17 2011

Apple IPAD 2: AT&T and Verizon Rates
Ed's Telecom Alert Folks, Did a little research myself on IPAD 2 as I wanted to purchase 2 iPAD 2 for myself and wife. I was thinking of getting the WiFi + 3G plan. The fact there is no "unlimited plan" and AT&T and Verizon only offer usage rates gave me a pause so am holding back until [...]
Fri, Mar 11 2011

Convo Submits Ex-Parte Comments/Docs
Ed's Telecom Alert Folks, As noted in "about" tab of this edsaelrt a disclaimer that I have two caps: edsalert and Convo. That said, here are several ex-parte comments by Convo. List of VRS providers and their features It has disclaimer: "The information contained herein is the result of independent research by Convo. Although Convo believes it ...
Wed, Mar 02 2011

CSDVRS Posts on “Secure Virtual Call Center”
Ed's Telecom Alert All.. As promised, here is another VRS Provider's ex-parte comments. Check out CSDVRS's comments. Cousin Vinny complained about bending his neck to read powerpoint. I had to bend my neck to read the powerpoint as well. Thanks, Cousin Vinny, for alerting me of CSDVRS's comments. CSDVRS Comments First of all ...
Thu, Feb 24 2011

Hamilton’s Ex Parte Comments
Ed's Telecom Alert All.. I will try to start posting more VRS provider's ex parte comments bit more as the comments are revealing and helps us to understand their point of views. I chose comments that I know is controversial among providers, regulators, and deaf pundit so I suggest you click and read rest of comments that seem [...]
Tue, Feb 22 2011

Bidding VS Competition
Ed's Telecom Alert Folks... Let me know what you think of this different way of sharing information. Hope that works. When I uploaded this to youtube, transitions were lost, but still presentable. eyes open & thumbs up, Ed
Sat, Feb 19 2011

FCC Presents Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Request.
Ed's Telecom Alert Folks... Hey, the FCC presents its fiscal year 2012 budget request to the Congress. About $354 million. FCC Proposed Fiscal Budget"..funding to: (1) support the Commission's cyber-security role; (2) implement the Broadband Plan; (3) overhaul the Commission's data systems and processes; and (4) modernize and reform the FCC by ushering in...
Mon, Feb 14 2011

Folks... From FCC's Public Notice. The year 2011 i...
Ed's Telecom Alert Folks... From FCC's Public Notice. The year 2011 is gonna see lot of changes in telecommunications – and that will impact TRS/VRS as well. "FCC STAFF SEES NPRM SOON ON ADVANCED COMMUNICATIONS ACCESSIBILITY Elizabeth Lyle, special counsel to the FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, said she expects the agency "in the next ...
Sat, Feb 12 2011

5 VRS Providers Team Up Supporting Tiered Rates
Ed's Telecom Alert All.. Check the link out on tiered rates. Tiered Rates The 5 VRS providers (4 certified, and 1 non-certified) teamed up and submitted comments supporting tiered rates and cited reasons why. AT&T VRS, Convo, CSDVRS, Purple, and SnapVRS submitted the following quotable quotes. "At this critical juncture in an evolving and maturing VRS, [...]
Tue, Jan 25 2011

Net Neutrality Issue Again
Ed's Telecom Alert Folks.. Seems a survey showed most people in the USA is against regulating Web. Neutrality Quotable Quotes: "More than half of likely voters don't want the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to regulate the Web as it does radio and television, according to a survey from Rasmussen Reports." "Genachowski's plan has drawn heated criticism fro...
Tue, Jan 25 2011

Consumer Advisory Committee Seeks Qualified Persons
Ed's Telecom Alert Folks.. I know many of readers of edsalert are highly qualified to be a member of this prestigious Committee coordinated by the FCC. CAC has made impact on the FCC's decision making, so the more qualified deaf/hoh persons are in this committee, the better it is for deaf/hoh communities. CAC Applicants Quotes:"The FCC seeks applications [...]
Wed, Jan 12 2011

Hearing Aid Compatibility Violations
Ed's Telecom Alert All.. Looks like FCC's Enforcement Bureau is hard at work in enforcing the hearing aid regulations. New abbreviation from FCC. I've not seen that one before: "NAL". NAL spells out to "Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture" What is NAL? "Any person or entity that the FCC determines has willfully or rep...
Tue, Jan 04 2011

Hosp Denies Interpreting Request
Ed's Telecom Alert Folks.. By now, one would think that issue should not be a problem for deaf/hoh, but, it still is. Hosp Denied Request Quotable quotes: "The Florida Human Relations Commission must determine whether a Hialeah hospital meets the legal definition of a public establishment so it can be determined whether it should have provided a sign-language [...]
Wed, Dec 29 2010

Accessibilit
Ed's Telecom Alert Folks.. I've listed several posts to the accessibility bill, but do share Obama signing the bill. Obama Signed Quotable quotes:"Within one year of passage of the Act that the FCC will define regulations to make Advanced Communications Services accessible to and usable by people with disabilities (Section 716)." That quote is important and has a [.....
Tue, Dec 21 2010

Folks.. In the near future Emergency 9-1-1 to allow texting...
Ed's Telecom Alert Folks.. In the near future Emergency 9-1-1 to allow texting and video streaming? It would be way cool to be able to do that. More Accessible 911? Quotable quotes:"In a bid to bring the life-saving emergency service 911 into the 21st century, the FCC is looking at letting citizens report crimes through text messages and [...]
Tue, Nov 23 2010

Greg Hlibok Now A CHIEF of Disability Rights Office
Ed's Telecom Alert Folks.. Seriously good news! Greg has been named as Chief of the FCC's Disability Rights Office. Check out the news. CHIEF GREG Quotable quotes: “Greg will be heading up the Disability Rights Office at a crucial time, as the FCC ramps up to implement the most significant disability law in two decades,” said FCC Chairman [...]
Tue, Nov 16 2010

President Obama’s Remarks
Ed's Telecom Alert Folks.. Many of you likely already have seen that one; if so, sorry about that. Obama Remarks Quotable Quotes: "..got some legislators here who have been fighting on behalf of the disabilities community for a very long time.." Remarks listed quite a few politician who made the bill possible. "And it was a moment for [...]
Fri, Oct 15 2010

More on Access Bill
Ed's Telecom Alert Folks, I've already posted the FCC Public Notice on access for low blind, low vision and deaf blind, but wanted to share a blind person's perspective of this access issue. Access Bill Quotable quotes: "Today marks a huge step forward for people with disabilities," said Paul Schroeder, VP, Programs & Policy for the American Foundation [......
Mon, Oct 11 2010

NECA’s Letter to the FCC
Ed's Telecom Alert Folks, National Exchange Carrier Association is under contract with the FCC to provide financial services regarding TRS including VRS. NECA is the TRS Fund Administrator that pays TRS providers funds. NECA offers its suggestion with its recent letter to the FCC. NECA Letter Quotable quotes: "..while not taking a position on the policy issue...
Thu, Oct 07 2010

Article on VRS/FCC
Ed's Telecom Alert Good People, This article seemingly provide a comprehensive report. I thought it covered essential issues regarding VRS industry and the FCC. Very well written. The Deal Mag Article Strongly suggest you click to the link to get the story. Quotable quotes: "Witness the schism between the Federal Communications Commission and the market...
Wed, Oct 06 2010

Folks, The Treasury Inspector General for Tax...
Ed's Telecom Alert Folks, The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) did an audit on IRS's Toll-Free Telephone Tax Assistance Service which includes TTY telephone number for IRS Tax Assistance. TIGTA showed that hearing person's access to tax assistance improved, but NOT for the deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals. You will need to scroll down ...
Mon, Oct 04 2010

FCC Public Notice for Blind, Deaf Blind, and Low Vision
Ed's Telecom Alert Folks.. FCC is concerned that blind, deaf blind and low vision people had not had an opportunity to respond to an earlier FCC public notice which received low number of comments. FCC PN Visually Challenged Quotable quotes:"Based on the input that Commission staff has received during the comment period, we are concerned that people who [...]
Sat, Oct 02 2010

Better Telecomm Access for Disabled
Ed's Telecom Alert All.. Now what remains is for President to ink it to become the law. It provides access for the blind as well as for deaf/hoh. Congress Votes Quotable quotes: "iPhones and Blackberrys will have to be compatible with hearing aids under legislation Congress has sent to the president." "Require that video programming devices such as [....
Thu, Sep 30 2010

FCC and Purple Reach Agreement
Ed's Telecom Alert All.. PN EB and Purple News Consent Degree I will not do quotable quotes as these are self-sufficient. eyes open & thumbs up, Ed Long Links: Public News: [link] Consent Degree: [link]
Mon, Sep 20 2010

Canada Association of the Deaf Opposes Comments by Gov’t...
Ed's Telecom Alert Folks.. Canada Association of the Deaf submits comments that question the validity of comments from Government of Canada regarding call center in Canada to provide VRS in the USA. CAD Comment Quotable quotes: "We represent Canada's estimated 310,000 linguistically and culturally Deaf persons. We are entirely controlled and operated by the grassroots De...
Thu, Sep 16 2010