Smaller VRS Providers Laud FCC Draft Item, Rate Query; Sorenson, Hamilton Also File
Smaller providers "applauded" the FCC's draft video relay service item tentatively set for a March 23 commissioners' vote (see 1703020070). CSDVRS (ZVRS), Purple Communications, ASL Services Holdings (GlobalVRS) and Convo Communications praised the agency for soliciting comment on their joint…
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VRS compensation rate proposal in a draft Further NPRM, notice of inquiry and order. "Proposed reforms would greatly benefit the deaf community, protect the long term stability of the TRS [telecom relay service] Fund, relieve pressure on contributors to the Fund, help smaller providers grow to scale, and promote competition for VRS," said a joint filing posted Tuesday in docket 10-51 on a meeting with an aide to Commissioner Mike O'Rielly. "The non-dominant VRS providers’ four-year rate proposal would move each provider in the market closer to a reasonable operating margin, thereby helping the non-dominant providers remain in operation as planned competitive reforms are implemented." Their proposal would raise compensation rates for all traffic tiers, except for the highest tier covering VRS leader Sorenson Communications, which would see another rate cut. The smaller firms said they would be interested in a prohibition of "non-compete clauses" that restrict the pool of VRS interpreters and urged the FCC to adopt a new rate order by June 30, when the current schedule expires. "The proposed [Further] NPRM has broad support, reflects the hard work and thinking of the Commission and should not be undermined by last minute alternative proposals that disregard the Deaf community’s needs and consumer choice," they said in a filing on a discussion with an aide to Chairman Ajit Pai. In a meeting with the O'Rielly aide summarized in a filing, Sorenson officials discussed a previous filing, which proposed a VRS rate auction and price-cap proposal and criticized the smaller providers' proposal (see 1703080060). Sorenson's rate proposals wouldn't incorporate its historical debt levels or debt service, said the company, which also noted its role as a major employer of the deaf and developer of VRS functionalities. Hamilton Relay said it agreed with a draft order provision to direct the TRS Fund administrator not to withhold payments to a VRS provider for failing to meet a speed-of-answer standard if it has a waiver pending on "exigent circumstances." But Hamilton asked that the relief be extended to all TRS providers in a future proceeding, and proposed language, said a filing on a meeting with Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau staffers.