Groups Seek FCC Action on VRS Rates, IP CTS Metrics

Organizations for the deaf and hard of hearing told an aide to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel that the commission should "move quickly" on its pending video relay service rates proceeding, said an ex parte posted Monday in docket 03-123 (see 2107300056). Telecom for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the National Association of the Deaf, Hearing Loss Association of America, American Council of the Blind, Gallaudet University's Technology Access Program, Communications Services for the Deaf, and the Samuelson-Glushko Technology Law & Policy Clinic at Colorado Law met with David Strickland, Rosenworcel's acting legal adviser. The groups cited several priorities, including adopting "long-overdue" IP captioned telephone services metrics and standards, "equitable access to contemporary forms" of telecom relay services for incarcerated individuals, and implementing the disability advisory committee's recommendations on real-time text and videoconferencing accessibility. They also sought rules on "ensuring the accessibility and usability of closed captioning display settings."