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Accessible Communications for Everyone
Connect & Communicate

Direct Video Calling (DVC) is one-to-one video communication provided by a call center to allow conversations to occur between two callers using American Sign Language (ASL).

Case Study on DVC Implementation

Thousands of people who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind or have speech disabilities use Video Relay Services (VRS) to place video calls in ASL every day. To communicate, they rely on interpreters to voice their words to hearing callers.

To improve interactions with these callers, the FCC’s Disability Rights Office implemented a Direct Video Calling solution: The “ASL Consumer Support Line” launched in June 2014—the first of its kind in the federal government. Communicating directly now makes each call faster, and has nearly eliminated incoming relay calls to the FCC’s main toll-free number.

After creating a DVC program:

Average call length dropped 42%; Number of deaf callers increased 533%

Why Should You Adopt A Direct Video Calling Program?

Improved Communications
Direct video calling improves privacy and efficiency, which increases productivity.
Career Opportunities
Employing native ASL-users to handle customer service video calls expands hiring opportunities for people with disabilities.
Secure
Use high-speed broadband and your own internal networks without compromising security or facing potential barriers created by firewalls.
The Americans with Disabilities Act
Further your organization’s commitment to the ADA.
Cost Savings
Replacing interpreted calls with direct communication saves money. Increasing the effectiveness of calls and minimizing the need for repeat calls due to miscommunication and/or misunderstanding reduces call times and increases agent productivity.

How Do I Set Up a Direct Video Calling Program?

Set up Diagram of Direct Video Calling Program

Fortunately, the technology needed to implement a Direct Video Calling system is easily obtainable, affordable and also easy to set up.

As part of the Accessible Communications for Everyone (ACE) initiative, the Federal Communications Commission brought together telecommunications and video relay services users, software developers, engineers, researchers and community members to develop ACE Direct. ACE Direct is open source video software that can be used by consumer-facing call centers in government organizations and private sector companies, which allows callers who use American Sign Language to directly interact with customer service representatives.

Visit ACE Direct to learn how easy it is to implement Direct Video Calling.

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DVC Updates

Resources, Blogs, Releases, Events, Videos and More

Resources

Direct Video Calling Primer (PowerPoint || PDF)
ACE Direct - A free, open source Direct Video Calling Center Platform developed by the FCC
Direct Video Calling Factsheet

Videos

GET STARTED!

Become a leader in accessible communication! Contact us at DVC@FCC.gov for more information about ACE Direct.

Note: Direct video calling does NOT replace the need for telecommunications relay services or and video relay services. Some people who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf blind or speech- disabled who do not know American Sign Language may still need to communicate through a text-based relay system or through a speech- to-speech relay service, which uses specially trained operators to facilitate communication on a telephone call.

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