7 Reasons For VRS Fraud

Good government intentions coupled with a flawednumber becomes the default provider who will get
delivery model led to the November arrest of 2699% of that numbers $6.50 minutes.
people in 9 states, millions of dollars in losses for3. Ignoring prohibitions against offer deaf consumers
taxpayers and the TRS fund, and fear in the deafincentives to make VRS calls.
community that a popular route to "functionalWink and nod department. By law, VRS providers are
equivalency" for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals tonot permitted to offer any financial incentives to the
communicate with the hearing world over thedeaf for them to make calls. VRS providers give
telephone lines.away free videophones or computers programmed to
Video Relay Service (VRS) is a videouse their company's services.
telecommunication service that allows deaf,Deaf individuals aren't stupid. If they don't make calls,
hard-of-hearing, and speech-impaired (D-HOH-SI)how long do you think the companies will give the
individuals to communicate using videophones or aequipment away?
computer with a webcam, with hearing people in4. Lack of government oversight.
real-time, via a sign language interpreter.The FCC has very few employees tasked with
Deaf individuals can sign to a Communicationsmonitoring the TRS fund and looking for fraud.
Assistant (CA) who speaks to a hearing person onViolations of the law came from CAs who witnessed
the other end of the phone conversation. Unlikethe VRS abuse and brought in the FBI.
text-based TRS (old TTY phones), conversations flow5. Professional ethics.
smoothly and quickly. All that is required for the deafMany CAs are RID (Registry of Interpreters for the
caller is a web cam and a broadband InternetDeaf) certified. As interpreters, they are not allowed to
connection. The hearing person speaks on normalreveal content of a call to outside parties. CAs who
voice telephone.want to stop fake calls are caught in an ethical
In 2002, the FCC allowed for the reimbursement ofdilemma.
interstate VRS providers via the interstate TRS fund.6. Letting deaf individuals choose their default provider.
As technology and Internet costs have declined, theThis is the root cause of the fraud. Without a default
demand for VRS has grown exponentially.provider, a deaf caller cannot know which company or
How did this lead to massive waste, fraud, and abuse?interpreter will relay his call. The deaf person cannot be
Answer: it had to. While everyone connected to VRSenticed to conspire to make money by placing fake
- the Federal Communications Commission (FCC),run calls.
VRS service providers, and deaf consumers - all have7. Requiring the VRS company to provide both telcom
their theories, I submit that the system is so flawed asand interpreter services.
to invite fraud. The FCC may not want to hear this, butThe FCC licenses telecommunications companies to
as a taxpayer not connected to the VRS industry, theprovide VRS services. The telcoms in tern hire
government should admit its share of the blame andAmerican Sign Language (ASL) interpreters to be
work to correct the problem.CAs. Telcoms are not equipped to supervise and
7 Reasons Behind VRS Fraud:monitor interpreters.
1. High reimbursement for VRS minutes.Telecommunication costs are coming down, and other
Payout for VRS minutes is $6.50+. Big target forsavings could be found by centralizing the switching
dishonest companies. People are greedy. Make it easyand routing of video calls.
to steal. Let them steal from the government.I could go deeper, and I will in future articles. But for
2. Individual VRS providers are allowed to assignnow, understand that good intentions make for bad
10-digit geographical phone numbers.law, worse regulations, and easy targets for waste,
Why does this matter? Company assigning thefraud, and abuse.