FCC clears GoAmerica for TRS Fund access

From: United Press International - USA - Jun 13, 2006

HACKENSACK, N.J., June 13 (UPI) -- GoAmerica said Tuesday it had been certified by the Federal Communications Commission to provide IP and video relay services.

The certification means GoAmerica may now seek direct compensation from the Interstate Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) Fund for its i711.com, a text-based IP-based relay service for the deaf.

The relay service is based on an operator who acts as a middleman in a conversation involving callers with hearing problems. The operator transcribes what is said and then either reads it aloud or sends the text into a terminal for the caller to read.

Relay services are offered at no charge to the user and reimbursed out of the TRS Fund, which is administered by the FCC.

"We are now able to submit our i711.com minutes directly to the TRS Fund for reimbursement rather than relying on a business partner for these submittals," said Dan Luis, chief executive officer of the New Jersey company. "This certification also provides a clearer path for us as we continue to develop a video relay service that we expect to launch later this year."

© 2006 United Press International, Inc.