JOHN KERRY
MASSACHUSETTS
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WASHINGTON, DC 20510-2102
June 17,2010
The Honorable Julius Genachowski
Chairman
Federal Communications Commission
445 Twelfth Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554
Dear Chairman Genachowski:
COMMITIEES:
COMMERCE, SCIENCE,
AND TRANSPORTAllON
FINANCE
FOREIGN RELATIONS
SMALL BUSINESS
As the Federal Communications Commission considers the compensation rate for Video Relay
Service (VRS) providers, I write to stress the value ofthis service to the deaf community. As
you know, just as the non-deaf community uses telephones to connect with people across
distances, VRS allows citizens who are deafto communicate in American Sign Language with
people around the world.
Through a video feed with a middle-man interpreter translating the conversation by phone to the
destination party, and vice versa, VRS serves an indispensible purpose by providing the
capability for deafpeople to call and receive calls from friends, family, co-workers, and
emergency services. Additionally, Title IV ofthe Americans with Disabilities Act requires the
FCC to promote efficiency, technology, access, and functional equivalence for the deaf, VRS is
an incredibly effective means toward those ends, and today, over 100,000 deafAmericans rely
on this service in their daily lives.
For these reasons, it is essential that a fair and reasonable compensation rate be established for
service providers. I understai'1d that the curtentrate expires July 1 ofthis year, and the National
Exchange Carrier Association has recommended significant rate cuts for the larger VRS
providers. Some are concerned'that the proposed rate may not cover the actual costs of
providing a qualityVRSconnection, and as a result may lead to reduced service options and
longer wait times for uscrs. As you consider public comments on this issue and seek to combat
fraudulentclaims in the VRS industry, I urge you to adopt a VR,S rate that appropriately meets
the needs ofthe deaf community. '
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Thank you for your continued careful consideration ofthis matter.
incerely,
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. John FK""" ••
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