GE0013@SIUCVMB.BITNET (Roy Miller) (07/07/90)
Index Number: 9049
A short while ago, Patrick Townson shared with the readers of
this echo information about the start-up of the Illinois Relay
Center which provides "Dual Party Relay Services" with a "voice
carry-over" capability. The Center is now in full operation, and
like relay services everywhere one gets a "busy" signal more
often than one would like. However, the IRC operates 24 hours a
day 7 days a week, so it represents a quantum leap forward over
the relay services that were available in Illinois previously.
I just wanted to clarify a point about the IRC over which there
may be some confusion. As Patrick correctly indicated, the IRC
provides relay services "within" the State of Illinois via a toll
free 800 number. However, the "within" may all too easily have
been overlooked. The IRC will not accept calls originating
within Illinois for any telephone number located outside of the
state. Nor will it accept incoming calls from outside the State
of Illinois for telephone numbers located within Illinois. In
essence, it will not handle interstate calls.
My understanding is that "for profit" organizations (like the
IRC) are not allowed by present FCC regulations to handle
interstate calls. Only "non profit" relay services can do this.
But the "non profit" services tend to have restricted hours of
operation which limits access for deaf callers. There is
presently some consideratiion being given to changing this FCC
regulation, and I would encourage all of you who are interested
in maximizing access to relay services to contact your US
Congressman and/or Senator in support of such a change.
ROY E. MILLER
THE PROFESSOR WHO NEVER LISTENS,
BUT WHOSE EYES HEAR A LOT
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==============================================================================Ann.Stalnaker@p0.f14.n385.z1.fidonet.org (Ann Stalnaker) (07/18/90)
Index Number: 9238
[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]
I'd liked to give my two cents worth (or whatever it's worth) about
state run relay systems.
I understand that with the passage of the ADA that our national long
distance phone carriers as well as the regional baby Bells are making
plans to implement regional/national relay services for us. Oklahoma
has in the past been charging a surcharge of 5 cents per phone customer
to pay for provision of TDDs and relay systems for all HI residents.
It appears that recently the state realized they had accumulated
far more in the fund than expected and have thus dropped the surcharge.
While an independent answering service contractor has been handling
the relay service, it appears that SW Bell has asked to help out
since they more than have the facilities to do so.
I use the relay service quite often in Oklahoma and they do make
long distance calls outside of the state but request that a customer
have a calling card number as it is treated like a third party call
but a bit cheaper than a third party call. I, myself, have felt
this a bit discriminatory since we don't have a choice in using the
service. I noticed that Arkansas had the same type of relay service
that Oklahoma does while I was at the SHHH Convention as I made a
few calls out of state. I believe Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma have
statewide 800 numbers for all towns other than where the service
resides where a local number is used but they do make calls out of
state. Perhaps some of you who live elsewhere can point out some
of these options to your state officials. However, I'm wondering
if it would be worthwhile at this time since I believe AT&T, MCI
and Sprint on working on setting up a national relay system.
Are any of you familiar with what they call the "Voice Bridge"?
I received a call the other day to inform me that I could call using
my voice and using the headset of the phone to install in the acoustic
couplers to receive the transmitted message from the person I was
chatting with by the relay operator. I've yet to try this out but
will definitely make a point to this weekend now that I have some
free time. I'd like to hear others' comments on this.
Boy, did I get longwinded once again - guess that's what happens
when I've been toooo busy behind the scenes! (grin)
--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!385!14.0!Ann.Stalnaker
Internet: Ann.Stalnaker@p0.f14.n385.z1.fidonet.orgJack.O'keeffe@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Jack O'keeffe) (07/19/90)
Index Number: 9321
[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]
AS> Are any of you familiar with what they call the "Voice Bridge"?
AS> I've yet to try this out but will definitely make a point to this
AS> this weekend now that I have some free time. I'd like to hear
AS> others' comments on this.
Be sure to let us know how that works out for you, Annie. There was
an article in the January/February 1990 Shhh Journal about Dual Party
relay systems, and it mentioned the "Voice Carryover" feature or VCO.
It sounds just like the "VoiceBridge" you mentioned. I believe it
said that your voiced reply goes directly to the other party, and
bypasses the relay operator. (Nice for secrets, huh. :-)
We don't have much of a relay here at present, but a Statewide relay
has been approved by our Public fUtility Commission and is scheduled
to go online in September. The contractor is AT&T, and I understand
it will have the VCO feature. But it will still be intrastate, which
isn't good enough. Think about folks like Wayne, living in New Jersey
and working in Philadelphia. He couldn't even call home if the relay
is strictly intrastate. Hopefully we can fix that with ADA.
... Jack.
--
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Internet: Jack.O'keeffe@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.orgjhall@ihuxz.att.com (John R Hall) (07/20/90)
Index Number: 9346 Although I missed the start of this discussion, I find the topic interesting for a couple of reasons. I used to volunteer some time as a relay operator at Deaf Contact Chicago which was one of the precursor organizations to the professionally staffed Illinois Relay Center. Deaf Contact's main problem was that there weren't enough volunteers to act as operators, with a maximum of two or three simultaneously but more often than not just one. On the other hand, we could handle any type of call including local calls which were free, long distance credit card and collect calls, emergency and counseling calls. Also, keeping in mind that the operators were volunteers, there was a level of caring which was not motivated at all by money. The Illinois Relay Center is being run as a service to the local phone company (Illinois Bell) by AT&T. The main advantage is that there are many paid operators working 24hrs/day which gives you much better coverage than before. Also, the technological advances such as the voice bridge are more likely to be introduced in this environment vs. the volunteer organization which couldn't afford it. I don't know if this has been mentioned yet or not, but there is a Deaf AT&T Bell Labs manager who is working at the center in Chicago. In fact, I was in a meeting with him where he was describing the Voice Bridge because he can talk but not hear. The disadvantage of not being able to make out of state calls was mentioned at that time, too. California Relay has the same problem I believe. I can easily forward comments about the Illinois Relay to the management there, so feel free to send me mail. The people involved with the project at AT&T want to make it the best service possible. --John R. Hall
Ann.Stalnaker@p0.f14.n385.z1.fidonet.org (Ann Stalnaker) (07/24/90)
Index Number: 9405
[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]
Jack, the VoiceBridge is a wonderful concept. I think my friends
as well as the relay operators have as much fun as I do.
I called a very good friend at her office the other day to try this
out for the first time. You cannot hook up your TDD as a direct
connect when using this concept and need a phone next to the TDD.
I made the call to the relay operator using the headset of the phone
in the acoustic couplers of the TDD and provided all of the necessary
info as to the call and then requested to use the VoiceBridge. The
operator notified me when my friend was on line and I picked up the
headset and started chatting away, however, instead of saying "Go
Ahead" when I was finished, I decided to be a little daring and said
"Roger and Over" (grin) and quickly put the headset into the acoustic
couplers and before I knew it was reading "Ha ha ha" as it appears
I had the operator and my friend rolling with laughter! My friend
stated it was very quiet and my voice was very clear coming thru
and she decided to join me with a bit of devilment by saying "Over
and Out" when she finished. I have used this concept several times
since and the more I use it the better I like it. You do have a
different feeling when you first try it, especially in my case since
I do not hear a thing on the phone but practice makes perfect!
Yep, you are right, the voice does bypass the relay operator but
with some of the friends I have, they tend to tell the operator what
is so funny when they start laughing, so I dunno if one can be
secretive.
I just chatted with my brother in DC last night (note the hour, yep,
I'm up EARLY trying to catch up on my long neglected posting) and
he mentioned he received two invitations to the signing of the ADA
at the White House next Thursday. I mentioned that I hoped he would
see that the VoiceBridge/VoiceCarryOver is included in the regs when
they do the markups and he said it was already notated in his list
of suggestions/proposals.
--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!385!14.0!Ann.Stalnaker
Internet: Ann.Stalnaker@p0.f14.n385.z1.fidonet.orgJack.O'keeffe@f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Jack O'keeffe) (07/25/90)
Index Number: 9469
[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]
Hi there Annie! My you are up early (or is it late? another all
nighter perhaps?) But it sounds like you are having a ball with
VoiceBridge/VCO. Can you use it with a "Y" connector (like Frank
had in LR), with a voice phone in one side and a TDD in the other?
A headset microphone like the phone operators use would probably
be the best bet. That would leave hands free for typing.
All the posts I recall seeing from Roy Miller have been forwarded
from BitNet, etc. But I could be wrong. We would probably hear
more from him if we could get him on FidoNet. That was a nice
message from him that Wayne forwarded re our get-together in LR.
BTW, whatever has happened to Laurie? We've heard from all of
the other survivors of the Little Rock steam bath, but not a
word from her. Hope everything is okay.
AS> I just chatted with my brother in DC last night and he
AS> mentioned he received two invitations to the signing of
AS> the ADA at the White House next Thursday.
Well I haven't been invited to that particular party, but that's
fine with me. I just want George to sign it so it can get moving.
One fear I have is that too many of us will delude ourselves by
thinking wonderful things will happen automatically once ADA is
signed into law. We are still going to have to fight every step
of the way for things we need. But ADA gives us the legal basis
for the fight.
AS> I mentioned that I hoped he would see that the VoiceBridge
AS> is included in the regs when they do the markups and he
AS> said it was already notated in his list of suggestions.
I will be heading for DC again the end of this month for ANSI
A117 committee meetings. This is where all the proposals for
specification changes that the task groups have been working
on will be finally voted on and ratified. Items that are of
major interest to HI folks include provisions for visual alarms,
and accessable amplified phones and TDDs. The dual party relay
service is fine, but unless we all carry those little portable
TDDs with us whenever we go out it's not much help away from
home. If it is approved, the ANSI spec will require accessable
TDDs in public buildings.
Our phone company, Bell of Pennsylvania, is doing a fine job
of installing amplified public phones. They committed to put
in 15,000 of them, and they are appearing all over the state
except in areas served by GTE instead of Bell. They also
have plans underway to put in a number of those vandal-proof
Ultratec pay TDDs in airports, etc. All this in advance of
ADA. One of the major problems at the convention in LR was
the lack of useable accessable phones. Both the Capitol and
Excelsior Hotels, as well as the State House Center will be
out of compliance with the new specs.
Jack.
... Live, from Beaver County, it's . . . .
--
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