Sprint Seeks IP CTS Emergency Call Waiver; Audiologists to Work With FCC on 'Over-Utilization'
Sprint asked the FCC to waive rules that "hamper" emergency calls via IP captioned telephone service. Sprint is in compliance, said its petition, posted Monday in docket 13-24, noting Innocaption, CaptionCall and Hamilton sought relief earlier. Some required information "is…
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useless" to public safety answering points, Sprint said. "The name of the IP CTS provider, the [communications assistant's] callback number and the CA’s identification number have virtually no value to the PSAP, and delivery of such information actually slows down the emergency call" and sometimes confuses PSAPs. Sprint also targeted a rule requiring IP CTS providers, if a call is disconnected, immediately re-establish contact with users "and/or" PSAPs. It said PSAPs and users should decide about resuming a call, not CAs "in an awkward position to make this judgment call." Noting detailed FCC staff concern about "over-utilization" of captioned phone service, which is subsidized, the American Academy of Audiology vowed to educate members on "IP CTS regulations and guidelines for usage by our patients" and prevent unauthorized usage.