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Request for Information
File No.: 8665-C12-201303536
By e-mail
Chris Kenopic, President and CEO
Canadian Hearing Society
271 Spadina Road, Toronto ON
ckenopic@chs.ca
Re: Request for information pertaining to issues related to the feasibility of establishing a video relay service Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2013-155
Commission staff has reviewed your intervention to Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2013-155, and subsequently has the following clarification questions. The responses to these questions will form part of the public record of this proceeding. If the information provided in response to this request for information is of a confidential nature, you may designate this information as confidential. Please consult section 39 of the Telecommunications Act (S.C. 1993, c.38) for more information.
Responses to the questions below should be received no later than 12 July 2013. Please contact Kay Saicheua (kay.saicheua@crtc.gc.ca) at (819) 934-1358 should you have any questions in regard to this letter.
Yours sincerely,
ORIGINAL SIGNED BY/
Nanao Kachi
Director, Social & Consumer Policy
Please answer the following questions on behalf of your organization:
1) Please estimate the average hourly wage for a sign language interpreter qualified to work as a VRS operator. Please list the assumptions used to obtain this estimate, including, for example, the qualifications or experience required to become a VRS operator. In your response, please identify any benefits, for example health benefits or paid-vacation time, which would be funded by the employer, if any.
2) Describe the work conditions required for an interpreter, including the number, the duration, and the timing of breaks an interpreter requires per hour. How, if at all, would these conditions apply to a VRS operator? For example, should a VRS operator take breaks during a call?
Please comment on Ivès’ submission where they state that during peak hours, VRS operators in France operate at roughly an 80% efficiency rate. Namely, for every hour worked, 50 minutes of conversation is relayed and 10 minutes are dedicated for breaks.
3) What types of remote interpretation solutions are available for individuals who are deafblind? If applicable, how may these solutions be applied in a VRS setting?
4) On page 10, section 12 of CHS’ submission, CHS mentions that:
Data from interpreting service providers reveal that the number of freelance interpreters is decreasing while the demand for services is increasing, and that agencies and organizations recruiting staff interpreters find it increasingly difficult to fill vacancies. These same agencies report increases in the rate of “no fill” appointments, meaning the number of appointments where the service provider was unable to secure an interpreter for a client.
Please provide the average annual “no fill” appointment rate. Please provide supporting data, where applicable.
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