On April 22 at 8:30 pm ET, the ASL Interpreters Union–OPEIU (ASLIU) will host a public forum alongside U.S. Representative Greg Casar, featuring Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Anna M. Gomez. The event will allow Video Relay Service (VRS) users to communicate their experiences and concerns with the VRS, a critical service regulated by the FCC.
Following the user forum, a meeting for ASL Interpreters to discuss the deteriorating working conditions in the VRS industry will occur on April 30 at 8:30 pm ET. The media are welcome to attend both sessions. Registration for the events can be completed online.
Previously, in January, Representative Casar sent a letter urging the FCC to fulfill its duty to regulate VRS services effectively. The formal demands were reiterated during a joint press conference held outside the FCC in Washington, D.C., on February 27.
ASLIU has been actively engaging to bring attention to the challenges faced by Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing VRS users. These efforts have brought the challenges closer to FCC officials, more than any previous effort in the history of the VRS industry.
Issues have been raised regarding poor working conditions, insufficient pay, and inadequate service quality in the VRS industry. This is attributed partly to a profit-driven approach adopted by Sorenson and ZP Better Together, who are the two largest VRS providers. Such priorities have negatively impacted both interpreters’ working conditions and the quality of services provided to users.
Congressman Casar represents the 35th district of Texas, covering the area from San Antonio to Austin, where ZP Better Together is headquartered. This district includes a significant number of VRS interpreters.
