Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
www.crtc.gc.ca
Common menu bar links
Letter
Sent by email: bell.regulatory@bell.ca
Ottawa, 21 July 2009
Reference: 8665-C12-200807943
David Palmer
Director-Regulatory Affairs
Bell Canada
160 Elgin Street, 19th Floor
Ottawa, ON K2P 2C4
Re: Accessibility of Telecommunications and Broadcasting Services, Regulatory Policy CRTC 2009-430
Dear Mr. Palmer:
In Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2009-430, the Commission reviewed its relay services policy framework. The Commission extended the existing message relay services requirement to include a requirement to provide IP Relay Service. The Commission also determined that further investigation into the cost of providing Video Relay Service (VRS) in Canada is required. In this regard, the Commission considered that information resulting from the Video Relay initiatives (trials), as approved in Telecom Decision 2008-1, will be vital to determining whether a follow-up proceeding on VRS is warranted.
The Commission further notes that as part of the Decision 2008-1 process, Bell is to file information with the Commission on an annual basis on the progress of its VRS initiative. The Commission requests that Bell provide the following information when submitting its update on its VRS trial:
• Whether Bell is providing the VRS directly or through a third-party provider. If using a third-party, provide the name of the third party;
• The number of trial users/participants;
• The number of VRS minutes provided per each month;
• The total amount ($) spent for each month to support the VRS trial;
• The number of ASL and/or LSQ translators required to support the number of users/minutes in the trial;
• The cost of the sign language translators (per minute, hour, or month);
• The cost of the Internet bandwith required to support the trial.
Please contact Martine Vallee ( martine.vallee@crtc.gc.ca ) at 819-997-9254 should you have any questions in regard to this letter.
Yours sincerely,
Original signed by:
Robert A. Morin
Secretary General
