CRTC seeks comments on national video relay service

The CRTC has launched a consultation into the quality of the national video relay service for Canadians with hearing impairments. The national service was launched four and half years ago to offer hearing-impaired Canadians the ability to use sign language in a video conference with a trained interpreter at a call centre, who then communicates a verbal translation to whoever is on the other line. The service was expected to have 6,600 users by the end of 2018, and is now being reviewed by the CRTC to assess whether it efficiently addresses the needs of those with hearing and speech disabilities, as well as the governance and funding of the service. At present, the service is handled by the Canadian Administrator of VRS (CAV) and has an annual funding cap of $30 million, which is drawn from the National Contribution Fund that collects money from telecoms. The commission wants to know if that funding cap and model are still appropriate. To examine this, the CRTC is asking a variety of questions covering concerns such as the level of access to telecommunications services through the video relay service, quality of user experiences, and if there have been any issues accessing 9-1-1 through the service. The commission also wants to know if it should consider introducing a competitive model for delivering the service. While it was developing its video relay service policy, the CRTC found that Canadian carriers’ failure to provide such a service constituted unjust discrimination, according to its notice of consultation released Thursday. The CRTC’s notice said BCE Inc., in response to the CAV budget request for 2021, raised concerns about funds that the administrator holds as long-term deferred contributions. The CAV, which requested just over $27 million in funding for this year, then advised that its board of directors was reviewing the amount to hold in reserve and has now been asked by the CRTC to include its findings in its response to its questions. The CAV has until April 26 to file its response. Interventions are due by June 9, while replies to interventions are due August 9. The CRTC also noted it will accept video interventions and replies by video for those who wish to make submissions using American Sign Language or Quebec Sign Language. Transcriptions of these submissions will be made available by the CRTC. -Reporting by Hannah Daley at hdaley@thewirereport.ca and editing by Tim Forster at tforster@thewirereport.ca

CRTC seeks comments on national video relay service

News | March 11, 2021

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CRTC seeks comments on national video relay service

News | March 11, 2021

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