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May 28, 2010
Honorable Julius Genachowski, Chairman
Commissioner Michael J. Copps
Commissioner Robert M. McDowell
Commissioner Mignon Clybul'll
Commissioner Meredith Attwell Baker
Federal Communications Commission
445 Twelfth Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554
Dear Chairman Genachowski and Conm1issioners Copps, McDowell, Clybul'll and Baker,
We are writing to express our concel'll about the Commission's recent proposal to make significant
changes to the Video Relay Service (VRS) compensation process. As you know, VRS enables
Americans who are deaf and hard-of-hearing to make routine and emergency calls using their own
language. The Americans with Disabilities Act directs the Commission to ensure that deafand
hard-of-hearing individuals have access to "functionally equivalent" telecommunications services
nationwide. Our constituents who use American Sign Language have indicated that VRS is the
most functionally equivalent service available.
We note with concel'll that the Conm1ission intends to shift from the long-term compensation
method it adopted unanimously to a "cost plus" method which may not account for the real costs
ofproviding VRS. It is also troubling that the proposed compensation rate structure could result
in certain VRS providers being paid as much as 50% more than others for the same service.
Before the Commission implements these proposed rate changes, including on an interim basis,
we ask that you provide to Congress the reasons for these decisions, which may have severe and
unintended impacts on the deaf community. We are aware that the VRS compensation program
has suffered from a number of instances ofalleged fraud, and we urge the Commission to step up
its efforts to address fraud. We do not see a connection, however, between fraud issues and the
rate structure. If the Commission does see a connection, we would be interested to hear how the
Commission believes the proposed rate changes address that problem.
We hope to work with you to understand the most effective ways to promote efficiency, improved
teclmology, nationwide access and functional equivalence for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. We
believe a rate structure that is fair and predictable will encourage innovation and advancement.
We look forward to working with you on this issue.
,
Sincerely,
&2~:L~
RobBisho~~
Member ofCongress
Jason Chaffetz
Member of Congress
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