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Revised deadline for interventions coming soon - Overview: Video Relay Service (VRS) Review - 1 of 4

Video Transcript

Introduction

Video Relay Service (VRS) is a telecommunications service that enables sign language users and voice telephone users to communicate with each other. A VRS call involves three parties: the caller, the person called, and the relay operator. The operator relays the conversation from signed language to spoken language and vice versa, for example from American Sign Language (ASL) to English, or from Langue des signes québécoise (LSQ) to French.

The Commission created the regulatory framework for the establishment of VRS in Canada in Telecom Regulatory Policy 2014‑187 (the VRS Policy). The VRS Policy, which designated VRS as a basic telecommunications service, was designed to create a service that best fit the Canadian context and to build service capacity within Canada. Following that decision, in Telecom Regulatory Policy 2014‑659, the Commission approved the structure, mandate, and funding process of the Canadian Administrator of VRS (CAV), Inc. (CAV).

In the VRS Policy, the Commission determined that a comprehensive review of VRS should be undertaken three years after the service became operational to ensure that the objectives identified in the VRS Policy were being met. The review would assess

  • whether VRS efficiently addresses the needs of Canadians with hearing and speech disabilities;
  • funding for VRS; and
  • the minimum annual requirements the CAV must meet to receive funding for VRS.

To prepare for the review, the Commission engaged Sage Research Corporation to conduct qualitative research involving focus groups of registered VRS users, which resulted in the Sage Research Corporation Report (the Sage Report). The Sage Report reflects the views and experiences of a sample of Canadians who are registered users of VRS in Canada, objectively captured by Sage Research Corporation.

This video in sign language shows the content of the Introduction in the Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2021-102.

Video Relay Service (VRS) is a telecommunications service that enables sign language users and voice telephone users to communicate with each other. A VRS call involves three parties: the caller, the person called, and the relay operator. The operator relays the conversation from sign language to spoken language and vice versa, for example from American Sign Language (ASL) to English, or from Langue des signes québécoise (LSQ) to French.

The CRTC established requirements for the VRS in 2014 and the service was launched by the Canadian Administrator of VRS (CAV) in 2016. The Commission took the first step to review the VRS in 2019 by conducting focus group research. This formal consultation is the next step of our review.

The review will assess funding for VRS and whether the service efficiently addresses the needs of Canadians with hearing and speech disabilities.
Watch other videos related to this Notice of Consultation:

To enable interested persons whose first language is ASL or LSQ to fully participate in this proceeding, the Commission will accept video submissions in those languages.

Share your views and ideas on the Video Relay Service in Canada

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