OTTAWA–GATINEAU – The CRTC has approved the structure and mandate of the Canadian administrator of the country’s new video relay service, which could be could up and running by late 2015.
The service, green-lit by the Commission in April, will enable Canadians to place phone calls and communicate using American Sign Language (ASL) or Quebec Sign Language (QSL) where the technology is available. Designed for people who are deaf, hard of hearing and speech impaired and other Canadians, and vice versa, an operator facilitates the conversation between the two parties by relaying the conversation between sign language and spoken language.
The CRTC said Thursday that the administrator will operate the video relay service (VRS) and oversee its performance independently from the CRTC. The administrator must, among other things, select the technology that will be used to offer video relay service, create an awareness campaign to promote the service, as well as ensure user confidentiality. It must also regularly report to the CRTC on how the service's implementation is progressing as well as its ongoing operations.
To ensure that different viewpoints are considered, the administrator's board directors will be made up of three directors chosen by organizations representing deaf, hard-of-hearing or speech-impaired persons and two directors chosen by telecommunications service providers. These five directors will select two additional independent directors. In addition to the seven directors, two permanent invitees will be elected by ASL and QSL interpreter organizations and act as special advisors to the board of directors.
An interim three-member board, established further to the CRTC's preliminary view, will oversee the electoral process of the board of directors.
The CRTC also approved a budget of $2.6 million for expenses related to VRS for 2014-2015, to be disbursed from the National Contribution Fund in equal monthly installments.
"Today's decision is another step forward that will enable the community of Deaf, hard-of-hearing and speech-impaired persons to have access to a service that it has asked for”, said CRTC chairman Jean-Pierre Blais, in a statement. “Thanks to this service, it will be better equipped to participate fully in Canada's communication system."
More information about video relay service is available here.
