IT Accessibility Review
Volume 1, Number 5
Telecommunications
PSC Staff Warns Relay Missouri Funds May Hit Deficit Next Year
The funding for a deaf and hard-of-hearing telephone system in Missouri will not be able to keep the program´s financial status out of the red if the budget is not soon increased.
According to the staff at the Missouri Public Service Commission, Relay Missouri will have a deficit next year if more funding is not provided. Relay Missouri provides telephone service to the deaf, hard-of-hearing, and speech-disabled through communication assistants who translate calls between the parties.
To read full text of this article, visit:
http://www.tecaccess.net/content/inthenews/pscs.shtml (REMOVED IN NEW SITE)
Internet Telephone Service: A New Era of Competition in Telecommunications
This article argues that traditional telephone regulation is unsuited to the new technology of Internet communications, i.e. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). VoIP is capable of performing all traditional telephone functions and numerous others such as providing greater accessibility for persons with hearing impairments (see ITTATC Newsletter, Jan. 1, 2005, at (http://www.ittatc.org/news/january_05.cfm#resources2). The author argues that Congress needs to act to ensure that public utility commissions do not impair the growth of VoIP by imposing outdated state and federal regulations on the industry.
This article is based on a March 2005 Internet Telephone Service Policy Report:
http://www.ndol.org/documents/VoIP.pdf
Internet Telephone Service: A New Era of Competition in Telecommunications, Government Technology Executive News, Mar. 18, 2005.
http://www.govtech.net/news/news.php?id=93410
Remarks of Commissioner Michael J.Copps Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association
Wireless Accessibility Workshop
New Orleans, Louisiana
March 14, 2005
Thank you for that kind introduction and for organizing this critically important workshop. I´m honored to be here this morning to kick off what I hope will be a robust discussion of a topic that is very important to the Country.
I´d like to start by congratulating the people in this room for how far we´ve come. First I want to commend CTIA and Steve Largent for their increased focus on accessibility issues. The first time I met with Steve we talked about the subject and I could tell that here was someone who truly cared about accessibility. There are many folks out there who talk a big game about accessibility, but Steve not only talks the talk but he walks the walk. There is a long, long way to go-don´t get me wrong-but CTIA and many in the wireless industry are now on the right path. This workshop is just one example. The meetings CTIA has convened between disabilities advocates and equipment vendors are another very promising example. I hope that those will continue, and CTIA will continue to lend its strong hand to encourage the industry to move in the right direction.
To read the full text of this article, go to:
http://www.tecaccess.net/content/inthenews/remarks.shtml (REMOVED IN NEW SITE)
Temecula, California is the Latest Site for Video Relay Center, Connecting Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing with the Hearing World through the Hands On Video Relay Service
TEMECULA and ROCKLIN, California (March 30, 2005) - Hands On Video Relay Service, Inc. (www.HOVRS.com) today announced the opening of its newest Video Relay Service (VRS) Interpreting Centers in Temecula, California. As demand for its high-quality video relay service continues to increase, Hands On is committed to keeping answer times low by adding additional centers.
"We´re pleased to be able to provide a service to the deaf and hard-of-hearing community that combines ease of use, high-quality video, extremely qualified and friendly ASL interpreters with very low average answer times. This unique combination is what sets us apart," said Ronald E. Obray, founder and President of Hands On.
"Placing a video relay call has never been easier," said Norman Doyle, chief technology officer at Hands On. "We provide the user with a wide range of connection options and let them choose what works best for them. Whether it´s connecting via their PC or their Mac, their videophone device, or through services like AOL ´s Instant Messaging service (AIM) at hovrsIM, we have a solution for everyone. The addition of the Temecula center assures that our answer times will remain low, and we fully understand and appreciate how important that issue is to our valued customers."
About Hands On
Hands On (www.hovrs.com) is the recognized leader in sign language translation services, including both community interpreting and video relay services. The company has been serving the needs of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community since 1992. Hands On is committed to removing communication barriers for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. For more information, visit http://www.hovrs.com.
