New video relay service receives CRTC approval for structure, administrator mandate

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...