• Internet-based relay service are rapidly becoming the preferred method for phone calls between deaf people and hearing people
• Video relay services, which uses a video connection and a video interpreter is the preferred Internet-based relay service

• There is an effort underway to provide 10-digit geographic telephone numbers (regular telephone numbers) to deaf relay users
• Today the hearing person calls an 800# of the relay provider and then asks to speak to the deaf person
• 10 digit geographic telephone numbers is a major step to providing functional equivalency to deaf people

• Telephone numbers are also important to deaf people access to 9-1-1 services
• 911 PSAPs use the telephone number to locate the caller’s address

• Relay providers can use the same infrastructure that is used to provide 9-1-1 service cell phone users for deaf relay users
• Relay providers have a waiver from the FCC w/r/t providing E9-1-1 service to their deaf users
• That waiver expires at the end of 2007

• There are two proposals for providing telephone numbers to deaf relay users:
• Existing model used for providing telephone numbers to hearing people  
• FCC creates a new entity to assign telephone numbers to deaf people

• The proposal to use the existing model for telephone number administration:
• Will allow for the implementation of telephone numbers and 9-1-1 service to deaf people before the end of the year
• Is functionally equivalent

• The proposal for the FCC to create a new entity:
• Is unnecessary
• Is not functionally equivalent
• Will delay deployment of telephone numbers and 9-1-1 service for at least 12 months
• Will require the FCC to extend the existing 9-1-1 waiver
• May require the industry to develop a new 9-1-1 solution unique to deaf people
• Will create a precedent for treating telephone service differently for deaf people into the foreseeable future