Sorenson Prods FCC to Explore VRS Rate Alternatives; ZVRS Says 'Relief' Badly Needed

Sorenson Communications pressed the FCC to explore "less regulatory" rate proposals in its draft notices and order on video relay services tentatively scheduled for a March 23 commissioners' vote (see 1703020070). The commission should seek comment on additional frameworks for determining VRS compensation rates -- beyond those in a draft Further NPRM -- "that would be more deregulatory in approach," and "minimize line drawing between allowable and categorically disallowed costs that can distort innovations and investment," said Sorenson in a filing posted Tuesday in docket 10-51 on a meeting with aides to Chairman Ajit Pai. The largest VRS provider cited three alternatives: "a market-based auction patterned after capacity auctions conducted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, a long-term price cap based on a reasonable efficient provider, and a deregulatory approach founded in private contracts." Sorenson noted it had outlined the first two on March 7 (see 1703080060) and described all three options more fully. In a filing Wednesday on a meeting with an aide to Commissioner Mike O'Rielly, ZVRS, a small provider, said the current schedule of compensation rate cuts harmed "all non-dominant providers," which "desperately need rate relief before July 1, 2017 as outlined" in their joint proposal and the draft FNPRM.