North American Numbering Council

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A Uniform Numbering Scheme for VRS Users and
Providers

• North American Numbering Council
• January 24, 2006

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VRS Overview
Video Relay Service (VRS) is a form of
Telecommunications Relay Service that enables
persons with hearing disabilities who use
American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate with
voice telephone users through video equipment
rather than through typed text.

• Users are able to more fully express themselves
  through facial expressions and
• body language, which cannot be expressed in
  text.
• Calls flow back and forth like hearing calls
• and both users have the ability to interrupt.
• Because of more natural flow, the same
  conversation
• is typically shorter in VRS than text-based
  TRS.
• VRS Calls may be between ASL and either English
• or Spanish.

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TRS/IP/VRS Trends
VRS Exceeds Interstate TRS April 2005
Source National Exchange Carriers Association
(http//www.neca.org/media/0106TRSIPVRSCOMPARISON.
pdf)
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VRS Growth
Source National Exchange Carriers Association
(http//www.neca.org/media/0106VRSCURRENT.pdf)
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VRS Minutes
Source National Exchange Carriers Association
(http//www.neca.org/media/0106TRSStatus.pdf)
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Conceptual VRS Implementation
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Functional Equivalence Issue

• System Works Fairly Well for Deaf-initiated
  Calls.
• Hearing-initiated Calls Are More Problematic.
• Hearing User Must Know
• Which VRS Provider to Contact
• The Type of Identifier Used by that provider
• Psuedo Phone Number
• Extension Number
• User Name
• IP Address
• The Specific Identifier for the Deaf Party
• E911 PSAP Call-back Issue

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VRS and the NANP

• Placing VRS Endpoints on the NANP would approach
  functional equivalency for Deaf and
  Hard-of-hearing.
• Hearing User Dials Deaf Users Unique 10-digit
  Telephone Number.
• Carrier Identification Code used to Route to
  Appropriate VRS Provider.
• Similar Implementation to VoIP.

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Hearing Initiated Call with NANP
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Thank You
Contact Information
Mark A. Ekse Communication Service for the Deaf,
Inc. 102 N. Krohn Place Sioux Falls, SD
57103 [phone] mekse_at_c-s-d.org
Karen Peltz Strauss KPS Consulting. 3508
Albemarle Street, NW Washington, DC 20008 (202)
641-3849 kpsconsulting_at_starpower,net
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