Clear2Connect Coalition Comments on FCC Efforts to Modernize the Internet Protocol for Captioned Telephone Service

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has begun to consider ways to change the Internet Protocol for Captioned Telephone Service by allowing automated speech recognition (ASR) services.  NDRN joined 15 other Clear2Connect Coalition members in a filing to urge the FCC to conduct additional testing and to adopt service quality metrics and standards before authorizing any provider to receive compensation for exclusively ASR service.  The concern is that without standards and testing that ASR services will not be able to provide the same level of service that current systems provide and that people with disabilities will lose the ability to stay connected to the community, employment, school, friends, family, and emergency services.