FCC Proposes Structural Overhaul of VRS Program
Posted on December 19, 2011The FCC has issued a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) seeking comment regarding structural reforms to its Video relay service (VRS) program rules. The FCC has identified several structural issues with the program, including the following: (i) broadband affordability may be restricting the availability of VRS, (ii) VRS access technology standards may be insufficiently developed, (iii) the current VRS compensation mechanism is unpredictable and inefficient, (iv) the structure of the VRS industry is potentially suboptimal, and (v) the current VRS compensation mechanism is vulnerable to waste, fraud, and abuse. To address these issues, the FCC proposes a wide array of options and possible solutions to improve the program’s structure and efficiency, including establishing VRS access technology standards, establishing a VRS user database, and transitioning compensation from per-minute to per-user. Comments on the FNRPM will be due 30 days after publication in the Federal Register, which has not yet occurred, and reply comments will be due 15 days thereafter.
For additional information, please contact Bob Silverman.