Dr. Z is beginning a series on the FCC NOI on Video Relay Service. He will do blogs and vlogs on this every week.

The FCC issued a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) on June 28th and we are still waiting for it to be published in the Federal Register to start the comment period which lasts for 30 days. After this, the Reply to Comments will go for 15 days. However, several VRS providers have asked to extend the comment period to 90 days. The FCC has not yet ruled on this.

It is a very comprehensive document–25 pages. It will ask for feedback on two basic topics: 1) Adjustments and Modifications to Improve the Video Relay Service Compensation Methodology and 2) Broad and Economic Issues Concerning Video Relay Service. In both areas, the FCC is asking a lot of questions that need to be answered by the public in the weeks to come. The Notice of Inquiry is an open process and everyone should feel free to submit comments and feedback. The FCC will take close to a year to complete this process and hopefully conclude this by July 1, 2011.

Dr. Z (and the FCC) cares about your communication access.

Disclosure: Dr. Z is a contractor working with CSDVRS on several projects.