CRTC to continue fact-finding on video relay service

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Canada FlagThe Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) says it will continue the search for a sustainable solution to the telecom needs of Canadians with hearing and speech disabilities.


Text relay services available meet the needs of most citizens in Canada with disabilities. However, people who use a sign language as their first or primary language have said that video relay, a sign-language service, would better meet their needs. The CRTC concluded that further study is required to better understand the different projections regarding use and cost of the service.

In 2009, the CRTC decided that it needed more information to accurately assess whether to hold a future proceeding on video relay service, including the number of people requiring the service and its projected use and cost.

The CRTC recently received final reports from both Telus and Bell Canada on their respective video relay service initiatives. Telus conducted an 18-month trial, which provided valuable information on the projected use of the service and associated costs. Bell Canada conducted a study on the feasibility of implementing the service in Canada, which addressed technical and economic issues. Both studies were undertaken in consultation with organizations representing Canadians with hearing disabilities.

The CRTC is seeking to clarify the discrepancies between the two reports regarding the projected use and cost of video relay service. In addition, the CRTC is reviewing other international initiatives and technological advancements to further improve the accessibility of communications services for people with hearing and speech disabilities.

See the reports here:

Telus report

Bell Feasibility Study