PowerPoint Presentation: VRS Consultative Committee of BC
Today (Wednesday, November 19) the VRS Consultative Committee presentation team provided a presentation to the Canadian Radio-Television Commission (CRTC) on issues of accessibility specifically VRS, consultation (or lack by Telus). The presentation team included: Wayne Sinclair, Susan Masters and Monte Hardy. Attached is the Powerpoint presentation we followed (hopefully you all have powerpoint…if not then we will be scheduling a townhall soon).
The presentation went quite well and we understand that there are four themes that seem to be similar across several presentation including ours.
1. consultative process (telephone companies say they do a good job. Consumers say they do a bad job)
2. national (most say yes)
3. funding model (consumers want national competitive model where deaf have choice of different VRS and IPRS-internet protocol relay service–similar with MRC but with computers)
4. how much (consumers want 24/7/365) and when (now).
These themes were exactly the points we wanted to make with the CRTC. I believe that they heard loud and clear these points. We (the presentation team) felt a little disappointed that the CRTC panel did not ask many questions but it became clear that we were echoing the same message as other presentations.
Thanks to the hard working members of the VRS Consultative Committee of BC including:
Lisa Anderson, Sarah Hrycenko, Cecelia Klassen, Danny Lecours, Margo Pelkey, Robie Schoelfield, Ava Hawkins, Nigel Howard, Susan Masters, Wayne Sinclair and Monte Hardy.
We are hoping to schedule a Community Caucus (townhall meeting) soon so that we can provide you with a summary of the presentation and if there are any further actions resulting from the CRTC hearings.
Thank you Deaf Community of British Columbia.
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crtc-transcript
The attached document is a transcript of the VRS Consultative Committee’s presentation at today’s CRTC panel hearing. This is an alternative format (in WORD document) for those of you who don’t have powerpoint on your computers. If you have any questions please bring them to the townhall meeting that we hope to schedule in the next few weeks.
vrsbc@telus.net
Hi Bob,
It’s good news! It makes no sense that Telus becomes responsible for providing VRS, thus depriving us of choices amongst various VRS that could be set up in Canada. The CAD has been after CRTC to allow a national VRS programme, not one for this or that province which is absurd. This should give Deaf people more choices.
If Telus were to continue with the trials, who will that be for? Telus subscribers only? Not Shaw users? I read somewhere that it was to be for Telus subscribers only. In my letter to CRTC (it’s posted in its website), I asked if we were to be forced to switch internet providers.
Too much hassle under this silly two-month or 12-month trial. What would be the reaction of Deaf citizens if the trial ends with no plans to set up a permanent one?
The CRTC has been getting messages loud and clear that we want several VRS and that it becomes national. More choices. More flexibility.
Does anyone know what the CRTC is thinking here? This doesn’t sound like good news to me.
On December 3, CRTC sent Telus and SaskTel a letter asking them provide comments “on the value of proceeding with the [VRS and IP Relay] trials at this time, identifying the impact of stopping the project now.”
http://crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Letters/2008/lt081203.htm
http://crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Letters/2008/lt081212.htm
In response, Telus stated they would “put both the video relay services trial and the IP-Relay services trial on hold, pending a clear determination by the Commission that such trials would be of ongoing benefit to TELUS and its customers.” (See paragraph 8 in the Telus letter below).
http://crtc.gc.ca/public/partvii/2008/8665/c12_200807943/991621.DOC
SaskTel is expected to file their response by Dec 17, 2008.
Hi Dan,
We the members of the VRS Consultative Committee of BC are volunteers. We do not have time to read all 291 materials you suggested. Would you mind summarizing them all for us, highlighting only those you feel deserve our attention. We’d appreciate it very much, smile.
As for contacting representatives of Telus and Sorenson, we are in process of doing exactly this by sending a letter to the companies, not Angela P.
We in the committee are committed to a national platform, meaning national VRS programmes, not the one set up by Telus and its vendor, Sorenson.
If you will read the CRTC material, CRTC has criticized implicitly Telus for not consulting with the people with disabilities, including deaf people. Also, you will notice that Sorenson has avoided the Deaf community in Canada for fear of inciting a riot!
So, you can see, we do have excellent relationship with the CRTC.
Thanks for bringing the matter up. I hope you will highlight the materials for us.
Wayne Sinclair
Hi VRS Consultative Committee of BC,
I found a website of alldeaf com, provide the document of view full version: Relay Service which has 291 titles/subjects. Please read all 291 subjects, let team of VRS Consultative Committees of BC have homeworks to read all 291 titles/subjects.
http://www.alldeaf.com/archive/index.php/f-57.html
Dan
just posted one more website of CRTC update. See most recently ago of date title/subject is bottom to read it.
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/public/2008/8045/decte.htm
Hi VRS Consultative Committee of BC,
I have been browsing for CRTC VRS by through Google Serach and picking up the collective of VRS informations. I would like to provide these informations to VRS Consultative Committee of BC.
I wonder you have been contact Angela P of Edmonton who is representative VRS with Telus and Sorenson, and Canadian Association of Deaf.
Please visit these websites below
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/public/partvii/2008/8665/c12_200807943/list_parties.htm
http://www.cad.ca/en/news/details.asp?newsID=34
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2008/dt2008-1.htm
http://www.sorensonvrs.com/what/canada.php
http://deafnn.wordpress.com/2007/03/28/ccsd-and-cad-affiliates/
I will keep serach more and pick up some information of VRS on CRTC and will post these for you.
Dan Murdoch
Correction: Janice Lyons is one of VRS BC committee too.
VRS Consultative Committee of BC:
Janice Lyons, Lisa Anderson, Sarah Hrycenko, Cecelia Klassen, Danny Lecours, Margo Pelkey, Robie Schoelfield, Ava Hawkins, Nigel Howard, Susan Masters, Wayne Sinclair and Monte Hardy
Wayne,
Thank you for the information.
I agree that MVPs from HOVRS is too good to ignore. I was in Seattle Deaf Expo last month and met with HOVRS staff. They have really good stuff. No question.
Again, thank you for your CRTC presentation along with Monte and Susan. O Canada!
Cheers
Patrick
Patrick,
When, you say. I do not know.
The Sorenson model is outdated, I believe. It uses the H.323 standard. Other videophones such as VPAD uses SIP.
You might wonder about that.
When the first TTYs came out in the late 1960s or early 1970s, they were huge, bulky, and noisy. They used the 45.5 Baudot rate which at that time was outdated. The newer one at the time was ASCII. Unfortunately a lot of our newer TTYs continue to use the 45.5 although it can use ASCII.
Technology is moving fast. I would not want a Sorenson model. In fact, I have a VPAD and am impressed with several of its qualities (not all though). Right now I am looking forward to MVPs from HOVRS.
So, Pat, my friend, going the Sorenson direction, in my opinion, is a mistake. TELUS, I feel, is making a mistake, too. Bell was right when it decided to withdraw from its regional offer of VRS as it wants to see it happening across Canada.
In closing, I am all for all kinds of videophones that employ the highest technology possible and also that can be operated effortlessly with videophones of different makes.
Wayne
Bradford, I am one of the five that helped the Deaf community to form the VRS Consultative Committee of BC last April. The original intention was to communicate with TELUS. Unfortunately, TELUS showed a lack of understanding and appreciation so we moved on to other aspects of telecommunication including 911 and also to communicating with the CRTC.
We told the CRTC that the communication with TELUS was unsatisfactory. Also, we told them we heard that the telephone company contracted with a U.S. VRS company which has ignored requests for communication from our own Council of Service Providers here in B.C. Again, we pointed that out to the CRTC.
The chairman of the CRTC told us that they were quite heavy on TELUS so it is anticipated that TELUS will get in touch with us. I do not have much hope although I am hopeful.
Many in the Deaf community in Metro Vancouver told me that they prefer another VRS provider.
Right now, the CRTC is getting a good, loud and clear message from the Deaf community here in B.C. Other people told us that the CRTC was impressed by our desire to be involved. At least, they now know we want to be involved in the process of policy development.
I am very, very proud of the Deaf community here in B.C. We are quite active.
Right now we are planning to hold a third town hall meeting with the Deaf community. We are looking at both December and January.
Wayne
VRS Consultant Committee, I would like to congratulate you for all of your hard work! I really appreciate your excellent work…pat on your back. BC Deaf Community needs you! Way to go!
Patrick
Bradford, to my understanding, if Telus appoints Sorenson – they(sorenson) will give out free VPs to Canadians just like they did in the U.S. Thats what Sorenson told me before..pretty good news?! But WHEN?!!
Yes I heard the same thing that Sask, Manitoba and some other provinces wont get this service.
Patrick
Thanks Forrest for the update on this issue, I must admit I’m a bit behind on the VRS Consultant Committee’s request to CRTC. However, maybe you can briefly clarify for me and maybe others.
Is the Consultant Committee requesting that Telus provide services for V/P users, similar to the services that Sorenson provides in the USA? If so, does this mean that consumers (Deaf) will receive free the latest model of V/P?
Finally, Will CRTC insist that this service be available across Canada, in every provinces? I heard a rumor, that Sask. and Man, would not get this service, is this true?