GATINEAU – The CRTC will kick off its hearing into the feasibility of establishing a Canadian video relay service (VRS) on Monday morning.
The hearing follows the Commission’s public consultation into the matter announced last March. Currently, two text-based relay services, Internet Protocol relay and teletypewriter relay, are available to Canadians who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired. Video relay service would enable people who use sign language to communicate with voice telephone users via an operator who relays the conversation from sign language to spoken language, and vice versa.
Simultaneous translation of the hearing will be offered in English and French, as well as in American Sign Language and Langue de signes quebecoise throughout the hearing. Close captioning services will be offered in English on the first day of the hearing.
The Commission will also make a live audio feed of the hearing available on its website. Follow the hearing on Twitter at @CRTChearings, hashtags: #VRS and #CRTC
