June 18, 2010

NAD CEO Search Process - Announcement of Finalists

>> Click here to view ASL vlog with captions

Hello! I am Bobbie Beth Scoggins, president of the National Association of the Deaf. This is a special announcement on the CEO Search process, begun in the summer of 2009 by the NAD Board of Directors.

In October 2009, the Board established an ad hoc CEO Search Committee (CSC) comprised of eight representatives, including two Board members.

For the next several months, the CSC collected stakeholder feedback and developed a CEO profile and announcement for Board approval. Once this was posted, the CSC worked hard to recruit prospects, evaluate initial applicants, and interview selected individuals.

In the spring of 2010, the CSC completed its charge with submission of the names of top candidates to the Board with all collected information.

On behalf of the Board, I wish to express our deepest gratitude to the eight members of the CSC for contributing their valuable time and expertise and helping to move along the CEO Search.

After careful review and further consideration, the Board is now ready to release the names of finalists for the CEO position.

This is an exciting time - we are now ”“this close" to selecting a CEO who will lead national advocacy efforts for our community and will serve a highly visible spokesperson on many important issues affecting us.

It is now my great pleasure to announce CEO finalists, in alphabetical order:

Shane H. Feldman
Charity Reedy Hines
Howard A. Rosenblum
Darlene Goncz Zangara

Each of the CEO finalists will give their presentations to the public and interact with stakeholders at the 50th Biennial NAD Conference which takes place July 6-10, 2010 in Philadelphia, PA.

Profiles on each of the finalists are now available at www.nad.org/ceosearch, where you can also get in-depth information on the CEO Search process including vlogs and announcements, timelines, position description, finalist profiles, frequently asked questions, and related details.

Transparency is important to us. We want to make sure everyone knows what’s happening with the CEO Search process. Please help us spread the word - share this vlog through Facebook, Twitter, and email. Share the news with your family and friends. If you have comments, you are more than welcome to contact the NAD Board of Directors at ceosearch@nad.org.

Again, on behalf of the NAD Board, I want to congratulate each finalist for reaching this point in the CEO Search process and we express our gratitude to those who applied or sent in nominations.

We look forward to the Conference and hope to see you with us in Philadelphia!

Submitted by NAD on Mon, 06/28/2010 - 14:02

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted rates for 2010-2011 for Video Relay Services (VRS) and other relay services. The FCC is also starting a comprehensive review of VRS to ensure that this vital program is effective, efficient, and sustainable in the future.

FCC Rates for VRS and Other Relay Services

The FCC approved the following VRS rates for 2010-2011:

$6.24 Tier I (up to 50,000 minutes per month)
$6.23 Tier II (50,000 – 500,000 minutes per month)
$5.07 Tier III (above 500,000 minutes per month)

The FCC also approved the following rates for other relay services for 2010-2011:

$2.26 for interstate TTY relay
$3.16 for Speech-to-Speech relay services
$1.67 for interstate Captioned Telephone Service (CTS) and IP CTS
$1.30 for Internet text relay services (IP Relay)

Read the FCC Rate Order for 2010-2011
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-10-115A1.pdf.

NAD Supports FCC Review of VRS

The NAD has long advocated for the FCC to take action to address many VRS issues. The FCC took a big step today by releasing a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) seeking comments about VRS. The focus of this inquiry is on how to improve the way VRS providers are paid and other economic issues. The FCC wants to improve VRS to ensure that VRS is available to all eligible users, encourages innovation, and is provided efficiently. The NAD will respond to the FCC inquiry about these VRS issues to ensure that VRS users achieve functional equivalency.

Read the FCC Notice of Inquiry (June 28, 2010)
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-10-111A1.pdf.

The deadline for responding to this FCC inquiry has not yet been set.

A Comprehensive Review

Today’s announcement builds on efforts begun last month, when the FCC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-10-88A1.pdf. In that notice, the FCC asked for comments about ways to prevent and detect VRS waste, fraud, and abuse. The NAD will respond to that FCC notice to protect and promote the interests of VRS users.

Read the FCC Press Release (May 27, 2010) http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-298446A1.pdf.

The deadline for responding to that FCC notice has not yet been set.

Special Message from the FCC

As you know, a few weeks ago, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to address some VRS issues. After much discussion and deliberation, we are now releasing our Rate Order for the coming TRS Fund Year (July 2010-June 2011), along with a Notice of Inquiry. The Rate Order sets new levels of compensation that are within the range of rates proposed by providers and are closer to their actual costs than past rates. These one-year rates will be in effect while the Commission takes a broader look at the service beginning with the Notice of Inquiry. The Notice of Inquiry seeks your feedback on a number of VRS issues that are designed to strengthen this vital service, both for the immediate future and in the long term. As we have previously stated, the FCC continues to believe that VRS is the most functionally equivalent form of relay for people who communicate using American Sign Language (ASL). We are committed to preserving and protecting the VRS program so that it will continue to meet the communications needs of your community.

Much has evolved in the VRS industry since the FCC first approved this service in 2000. We know that this service has now become the principal form of telephone communication for many of you at your home, at work, and for your routine contacts with family and friends. We join you in praising the benefits that this service has brought, and note that new video technologies offer even greater promise for improving VRS in the coming years. As we approach the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, we look forward to working with you to take a fresh look at the VRS program, so that we can ensure that our rules fully meet your needs for functionally equivalent service. We eagerly await your feedback on our NOI so we can jointly determine how best this goal of the ADA can be achieved.

Joel Gurin, Bureau Chief
Consumer and Government Affairs Bureau
Federal Communications Commission

Read the FCC Press Release (June 28, 2010)
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-299123A1.pdf.