No internet; is there a way to get VRS?

Wirelessly posted (BB Curve 9300)

Jane B. said:
Reba said:
Yes, that's what I meant. The state provides certain equipment for free, and the VRS companies provide their equipment and services for free. The only glitch is the user has to provide his own internet or phone line connection. That part still comes out of the deaf person's pocket.
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Lifeline and/or Safelink? I just Googled it and there seem to be very different programs in different states. Here is a FCC site about it Lifeline: Affordable Telephone Service for Income-Eligible Consumers | FCC.gov
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:ty:
 
Reba said:
Yes, that's what I meant. The state provides certain equipment for free, and the VRS companies provide their equipment and services for free. The only glitch is the user has to provide his own internet or phone line connection. That part still comes out of the deaf person's pocket.
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I believe that Sorensen is the only one that provides free videophones. Its logo is on every videophones that we got from Sorensen which hires trainers to install them in our homes. Some people bought different videophones that have built-in small monitors from ZVRS. What kind of videophones does your state provide for free?
 
diehardbiker said:
In order to get free Videophone from any VRS companies

One that is Deaf or Hard of Hearing
And knows sign language
and HIGH SPEED INTERNET (minimum is 256K)

That is three requirements needs to be met, I am sure this person met two of them but failed to meet third requirement.

I personally have seen many Deaf people in this very same situation. Most of them live far in rural areas or up in mountains where ISP isn't willing to laid cables that would cost them over tens of thousands dollars just for few customers. It is not their own economically viable. This does not mean ISP is greedy, they need to have revenue to keep themselves running rather going broke and going out of business.

One of my good friend who happens to live up in the mountain, his house happen to be about 2,000 feet from the ISP cable end. ISP refused to add another 2,000 feet for him because it is way too expensive for them(ISP). Just think this way, add 2,000 feet would cost ISP maybe 10,000 dollars, how long does monthly of 50 dollars pay off that 10,000 dollars installment (for ISP)? Don't forget the maintenance. That is why ISP isn't willing to go that way.

Finally, if that customer has wireless Internet service available in their area, like Clearwire, Cricket, etc THEN maybe it is worth the try. It may have issue with Video quality. I have seen some Deafies have success with these Wireless Internet Services. It is not a guarantee with Wireless Internet service. (Depends on distance from the tower and speed availability)
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Some rural area have cable or DSL, it is depending on area.

There is other solution - relocation to somewhere that has cable or DSL but sure, it will be expensive.
 
CrazyPaul said:
Interesting! That's good to hear. He didn't say how much he pays monthly for that, did he? BTW, I left a comment under his vlog at YT and hopefully he will answer my question.
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Update: He pays $140 including $10 for equipment lease per month. Wow, that's expensive. At least it works well with VP in the areas where there is no DSL or cable available as he mentioned in his vlog.
 
Reba
Any idea when you will know more about getting help to your friends?

Thanks
 
Jane B. said:
Reba
Any idea when you will know more about getting help to your friends?

Thanks
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I was thinking the same thing myself today.

We correspond by snail mail, so it might take a while. :giggle:
 
Reba said:
I was thinking the same thing myself today.

We correspond by snail mail, so it might take a while. :giggle:
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nowadays... doesn't mail take about 2-3 days? I'm totally clueless cuz I haven't exchanged letters with anybody in... lol decades?
 
Jiro said:
nowadays... doesn't mail take about 2-3 days? I'm totally clueless cuz I haven't exchanged letters with anybody in... lol decades?
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Probably 2-3 days each way for that distance. Plus, I need to allow time for them to go over all the materials that I sent, and for them to contact the organizations that I suggested.

We are in the South, not New Jersey. We move at a slower pace. :lol:
 
Jiro said:
nowadays... doesn't mail take about 2-3 days? I'm totally clueless cuz I haven't exchanged letters with anybody in... lol decades?
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from a 38 year and retired postal employee....


little old you wants your letter to go to
same city...one day
same state....two days
out of state....three days
cities with major distribution centers regardless of distance between them will get mail faster
in other words Houston to NYC is two days...Atlanta to L.A. is two days
 
rolling7 said:
from a 38 year and retired postal employee....


little old you wants your letter to go to
same city...one day
same state....two days
out of state....three days
cities with major distribution centers regardless of distance between them will get mail faster
in other words Houston to NYC is two days...Atlanta to L.A. is two days
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Around here, the same city sometimes takes two days. Grrrr....

From this end of the state to the opposite end, 2-3 days isn't unheard of.
 
Reba said:
Around here, the same city sometimes takes two days. Grrrr....

From this end of the state to the opposite end, 2-3 days isn't unheard of.
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I ordinarily pay very little attention but just ordered something and thought using Post Office rather than UPS would give me a chance of having it by last weekend since PO delivers on Saturday (sure hope we can keep that). So. . . since they use those two services I asked that they send via USPS. They did with it going out of Portage, MI 49024 on April 19 (Thursday) via USPS Priority Mail with Commercial Base Pricing and I got it in Centralia, IL 62801 on April 21(Saturday).
 
Reba said:
Around here, the same city sometimes takes two days. Grrrr....

From this end of the state to the opposite end, 2-3 days isn't unheard of.
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First class mails and Priorty mails take up to 3 days. I still work at USPS. However when and if some plants (around 262 out of 500 plants nationwide) close for good, the mails will be 1-2 days late. We are still waiting for Congress's decision by May 15th.

BTW, as for now if you send a mail to the same city today, it should arrive next day.
 
CrazyPaul said:
First class mails and Priorty mails take up to 3 days. I still work at USPS. However when and if some plants (around 262 out of 500 plants nationwide) close for good, the mails will be 1-2 days late. We are still waiting for Congress's decision by May 15th.

BTW, as for now if you send a mail to the same city today, it should arrive next day.
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Key word is "should." :giggle:
 
Reba said:
They have VRS?

If so, I can mention that to them. The other problem is transportation, so I'm not sure how far away they would have to go.

If they lived closer to me, I would have more information but they live about 200 miles from me.
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Sorry, read it wrong, you mean video relay service.
 
rolling7 said:
from a 38 year and retired postal employee....


little old you wants your letter to go to
same city...one day
same state....two days
out of state....three days
cities with major distribution centers regardless of distance between them will get mail faster
in other words Houston to NYC is two days...Atlanta to L.A. is two days
Click to expand...

When I lived in Central MO, it would take 6 days to get from 1 city to the next, but only 3 days to get from Central MO to South Florida. Now that I am here in S FL, it take 1 day to get in the same city, and 3 days to get anywhere else in the Continental US.
 
Project Endeavor can assist in getting service as well as equipment to those who qualify. Seems your friend would be a good candidate. Products
 
Reba
Was looking back for something else and ran across this thread. How did getting help for you friends ever turn out?
 
diehardbiker said:
Better hurry, their grant is going to deplete soon. Right now they have limited offering and lucky it is landline High speed too.

I really see very limited option for this person. Satellite isn't good option due to latency (It all depends on how many people are using satellite at particular times. If it was low, perfect yes but if too many people are using it, it will slow down which will affect the video quality. Other issue with satellite is only 7.5GB cap. That would mean for VP call last about 4 hours a month before they start to throttle speed. Once throttle the speed, the VP will show poor video easily.
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Your prediction is correct.

It is already depleted now.
 
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