Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals With Hearing and Speech Disabilities

In this document, the Commission addresses two issues concerning the provision of Video Relay Service (VRS) in a final rule document, 69 FR 53346, Sept. 1, 2004, a form of telecommunications relay services (TRS). The Commission clarifies that if the calling party or the VRS communications assistant (CA) find that they are not communicating effectively given the nature of the call, the 10 minute in-call replacement rule does not apply and the VRS provider may have another CA handle the call. Also in the document, the Commission clarifies that the VRS CA may ask the VRS user questions during call set-up when necessary to assist the CA in properly handling the call.