Since Day 1, the “brown bag” kick-backs, lengthy hold times for a nationwide VP installation network , “conference” calls between hearing and Deaf employees, privacy screen interpreting , Deaf consumer paying no attention for whatever reason, pod casts, blah, blah, blah. They are simply too many to add-up with a variety that rivals counting stars on a clear night.
This “fraudulent” activity has never brought much widespread meaningful attention...until now.

What’s different today is the tanked economy, a new political structure getting “heat to clean house” on the TRS fund from ratepayers and then introducing a new target to locate these unlawful abusers.

The newfound untapped solution for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Office of Inspector General (OIG)? VIs’ at large.
Get the whole story HERE

June '09
TDI casts ominous cloud on FCC proposed VRS ‘09-’10 rate

Recent U.S. Appeals Court decision “in check”
A Consumer Group -Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing,Inc. (TDI) apparently is creating a menacing predicament for some VRS providers in establishing a ‘09-’10 VRS compensation rate. This is being accomplished by requesting to see NECAs “postulating” of the TRS compensation rate funding to VRS providers from the FCC... READ MORE


May '09 FCC proposes ‘09-’10 VRS rate cut...Sorenson squirms

On May 14, the FCC issued a "Notice of Proposed Rule Making" (NPRM) stating 'we should modify the compensation rates for Video Relay Service (VRS) for the 2009-2010 Fund year.'
The deadline for the filed comment period on this issue was initially set for June 4 but has been extended to July 6 due to objections from parties “to allow interested stakeholders more time to comment on the NPRM given its potential impact on the VRS industry”.The ‘modifying’ they’re announcing is a projected CUT for ‘09-’10 funding of the per minute rate, negating the last year of the “contract” that was created in ‘07. That may come as a surprise to some. To others, not so shocking given the current economic crisis.As a resident of Michigan, “ground zero” of economic chaos, chronic dismal expectations with the state economy have been experienced for a LONG period of time.
Operating with less is the rule, not the exception. Government Motors, aka GM, has provided a reality check for thousands and thousands of people in Michigan.
Are you watching California? !Notwithstanding the current economic climate, Sorenson may have brought this “price drop” upon itself.... READ MORE

Dec.'08 Congress busts Kevin Martin's chops, demands change at FCC

When the main VRS provider, Sorenson, was to be audited by the FCC, the company simply refused to allow the auditors access, and the audit was never done. The much smaller companies that were eventually audited turned out to have serious problems. Why did Martin do nothing despite warnings from his own staff? The report doesn't offer a reason, though it does demand an immediate audit of Sorenson and a Government Accountability Office audit of the entire TRS program.READ MORE