On June 22, 2020, the FCC released an Order extending temporary waivers through August 31, 2020, for telecommunications relay services (TRS) providers to ensure relay services remain available during the COVID-19 pandemic.
These waivers allow TRS providers flexibility to deal with reduced staffing and increased call volumes, to enable more of their employees to provide services from their homes, to expand the pool of contractors qualified to provide American Sign Language interpretation services for Video Relay Service (VRS), and to allow registered VRS users who are abroad to make calls to the U.S. during the national emergency.
Order:
URL: https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-extends-telecommunications-relay-service-covid-19-waivers
Word: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-20-650A1.docx
PDF: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-20-650A1.pdf
Text: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-20-650A1.txt
News Release:
URL: https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-further-extends-temporary-waivers-relay-services-rules
Word: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-365061A1.docx
PDF: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-365061A1.pdf
Text: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-365061A1.txt
General information on TRS is available at https://www.fcc.gov/general/telecommunications-relay-services-trs. For further information, please contact Bill Wallace, Disability Rights Office, CGB, at (202) 418-2716, or William.Wallace@fcc.gov. Individuals who use videophones and are fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) may call the FCC’s ASL Consumer Support Line at (844) 432-2275 (videophone).