After filing my complaint with the FCC I received this e-mail today:
"Thank you for contacting the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding IP Relay service. On October 15, 2014, Purple Communications, Inc. notified the FCC that it will cease providing IP Relay service as of 5 p.m. EST on November 14, 2014. Last week, we assured you that the FCC was working around the clock to ensure that consumers continue to have full access to IP Relay service. We can now report that IP Relay service will continue beyond November 14, 2014, and that Sprint is now processing IP Relay registrations from former Purple customers. We ask for your patience as this transition occurs, while Sprint makes every effort to verify and register legitimate IP Relay users coming over to its service.
In addition, we wish to dispel incorrect rumors that the FCC requires TRS providers to disclose the content of what is said during TRS calls. The FCC has never made any such requests and never will for IP Relay calls or any other TRS call. The FCC has strict rules guaranteeing both the confidentiality of all calls and the privacy of caller information, and we will continue to enforce those rules as they apply to IP Relay or any other form of TRS.
Finally, the FCC recognizes that IP Relay service is a particularly essential form of communication for consumers who are deaf-blind. We are actively working with consumer organizations and Sprint to ensure that people who are deaf-blind continue to have accessible ways to use this service.
We thank you for bringing to our attention your concerns about IP Relay service. We are committed to ensuring that all Americans with disabilities have functionally equivalent telephone service, and are taking actions to fulfill this commitment.
Sincerely,
Federal Communications Commission
Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau
Disability Rights Office"
So, services are going to continue through Sprint Relay only, sounds like wait times for an operator will go through the roof with limited operators for the whole country eh?
I'm still waiting for confirmation from Sprint Relay for a new account.
We'll wait and see, but I have little faith that anything will improve.
Tracy,
"One finds limits by pushing them" ~ Herbert Simon
"Thank you for contacting the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding IP Relay service. On October 15, 2014, Purple Communications, Inc. notified the FCC that it will cease providing IP Relay service as of 5 p.m. EST on November 14, 2014. Last week, we assured you that the FCC was working around the clock to ensure that consumers continue to have full access to IP Relay service. We can now report that IP Relay service will continue beyond November 14, 2014, and that Sprint is now processing IP Relay registrations from former Purple customers. We ask for your patience as this transition occurs, while Sprint makes every effort to verify and register legitimate IP Relay users coming over to its service.
In addition, we wish to dispel incorrect rumors that the FCC requires TRS providers to disclose the content of what is said during TRS calls. The FCC has never made any such requests and never will for IP Relay calls or any other TRS call. The FCC has strict rules guaranteeing both the confidentiality of all calls and the privacy of caller information, and we will continue to enforce those rules as they apply to IP Relay or any other form of TRS.
Finally, the FCC recognizes that IP Relay service is a particularly essential form of communication for consumers who are deaf-blind. We are actively working with consumer organizations and Sprint to ensure that people who are deaf-blind continue to have accessible ways to use this service.
We thank you for bringing to our attention your concerns about IP Relay service. We are committed to ensuring that all Americans with disabilities have functionally equivalent telephone service, and are taking actions to fulfill this commitment.
Sincerely,
Federal Communications Commission
Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau
Disability Rights Office"
So, services are going to continue through Sprint Relay only, sounds like wait times for an operator will go through the roof with limited operators for the whole country eh?
I'm still waiting for confirmation from Sprint Relay for a new account.
We'll wait and see, but I have little faith that anything will improve.
Tracy,
"One finds limits by pushing them" ~ Herbert Simon
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