Groups Support Petition to Allow TRS Support for Direct Video Calling

A coalition of consumer advocacy organizations backed the Communication Service for the Deaf's petition for declaratory ruling that direct video calling services are eligible for Telecom Relay Service Fund support (see 2305050027). Telecom for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and the National Association of the Deaf said direct video calling is "uniquely positioned" to fulfill the functionally equivalent requirements for American Sign Language users, in comments posted Tuesday in docket 03-123. It's "an efficient, accurate, and private means of realtime video communication," they said.