iTRS National Outreach Program Stakeholder Meeting Jan. 17

The FCC held a stakeholders’ meeting for establishing an Internet-based Telecommunications Relay Service National Outreach Program (iTRS-NOP) for video relay service (VRS) and Internet protocol relay service (IP Relay) on Friday, Jan. 17, 2014 from 2-3:30 pm.

The Commission’s June 10, 2013 VRS Reform Order requires the establishment of a two-to-three year pilot iTRS-NOP for VRS and IP Relay to educate the public about the use and availability of TRS and further its acceptance nationwide by hearing persons and merchants. The Order directed the selection of one or more independent iTRS Outreach Coordinators to conduct and coordinate IP Relay and VRS outreach under the Commission’s supervision.

According to the Order, outreach activities should include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Consulting with consumer groups, IP Relay and VRS providers, the TRS Fund administrator, other TRS stakeholders, and other iTRS Outreach Coordinators, if any
• Establishing clear and concise messaging about the purposes, functions, and benefits of IP Relay and VRS
• Educating the deaf, hard of hearing, and speech disability consumers about the broadband adoption programs available to low-income families without access to broadband and VRS
• Determining media outlets and other appropriate avenues for providing the general public and potential new-to-category subscribers with information about IP Relay and VRS
• Preparing for and arranging for publication, press releases, announcements, digital postcards, newsletters, and media spots about IP Relay and VRS that are directed to retailers and other businesses, including trade associations
• Creating electronic and media tool kits that include samples of the materials listed in the previous bullet, and which may also include templates, all of which will be for the purpose of facilitating the preparation and distribution of such materials by consumer and industry associations, governmental entities, and other TRS stakeholders
• Providing materials to local, state, and national governmental agencies on the purposes, functions, and benefits of IP Relay and VRS
• Exploring opportunities to partner and collaborate with other entities to disseminate information about IP Relay and VRS

The Commission notes that nothing said at the meeting should be construed as:

• A Government commitment to buy or otherwise acquire goods or services from any participant
• A suggestion or implication that any participant is or will become a preferred source of acquisition for any particular good or service
• An obligation or suggestion that the Government will develop any particular work statement or include any particular contract term or conditions in a future acquisition as a result of the meeting

For more information, please contact Elaine Gardner, Attorney Advisor, Disability Rights Office, at Elaine.Gardner@fcc.govor (202) 418-0581.