In December 2023, the FCC modified several Video Relay Service (VRS) rules by:
(1) increasing from 50% to 80% the portion of a VRS provider’s monthly minutes that may be handled by communications assistants (CAs) working at home;
(2) reducing from three years to one year the amount of prior interpreting experience required of VRS CAs who work at home; and
(3) allowing a VRS provider to contract for interpretation services (either with interpreting agencies or individual interpreters) for up to 30% of its monthly minutes.
On March 21, 2024, the FCC released a Public Notice announcing the effective and compliance dates of these rules. The rules are effective April 22, 2024. The compliance date for the rule increasing the portion of monthly minutes that may be handled by CAs working at home is October 17, 2024.
Link to the Public Notice:
https://www.fcc.gov/document/vrs-improvements-effective-dates
For general information about VRS, visit: https://www.fcc.gov/vrs. For further information about this item, please contact Joshua Mendelsohn, Disability Rights Office, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, at (202) 559-7304 or Joshua.Mendelsohn@fcc.gov.