"This page is a digitally archived AccessInfo Announcement"

Comments Due: July 19, 2021
Reply Comments Due: August 3, 2021

On June 17, 2021, the FCC released a Public Notice seeking comment on a Petition for Rulemaking and Interim Waiver filed by Convo Communications, LLC (Convo), a provider of video relay service (VRS). 

Convo requests that the Commission amend its rules to: 

  • Raise the cap on VRS minutes handled by communications assistants (CAs) working at home from 50% to 80% of a provider’s monthly minutes; and
  • Partially lift the prohibition on VRS providers contracting for CA services, rather than directly employing CAs, to allow use of contract CAs for up to 30% of a provider’s monthly VRS minutes.

Under the pandemic waiver orders, the rules limiting the percentage of minutes handled by CAs working from home to 50% and prohibiting the use of contract CAs have been waived.

Interested parties may file comments by accessing the Electronic Comment Filing System at https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings.  All filings must reference CG Docket Nos. 03-123 and 10-51.  People with disabilities who need assistance to file comments online at https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings may request assistance by email to FCC504@fcc.gov

Public Notice:
URL:  https://www.fcc.gov/document/comment-sought-convo-petition-rulemaking-vrs
Word:  https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-21-714A1.docx
PDF:  https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-21-714A1.pdf  
Text:  https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-21-714A1.txt

General information about VRS is available at https://www.fcc.gov/vrs.  For further information, please contact Halie Peacher, Disability Rights Office, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, at (202) 418-0514, or Halie.Peacher@fcc.gov.  Individuals who use videophones and are fluent in ASL may call the FCC’s ASL Consumer Support Line at (844) 432-2275 (videophone).

Updated:
Friday, October 4, 2024