FCC Approves Real-Time Text (RTT) for Enhanced Communication for All (Full Transcript)

Speaker 1: A title in the past is superimposed over a sequence of TTYs, starting with a bulky teletype writer to more refined, miniaturized units. Now to the future, in an office setting a middle-aged man, Norman Williams, Senior Research Engineer, Technology Access Program.

Speaker 2: We have exciting news. He signs. The Federal Communications Commission, the FCC, cast a historic 5-0 vote yesterday on a new communications technology called Real-Time Text, or RTT, for you, deaf, hard of hearing, hearing, and everyone. On new mobile devices starting at the end of December of 2017, you will be able to type in real-time during a call. The goal is that in a few years, RTT devices will replace TTYs everywhere. Let's look at an RTT product in action.

Speaker 1: Who developed this technology?

Speaker 3: The Gallaudet University Technology Access Program, known as TAP, and its longtime partners working since the 1990s on RTT research and development, including the TRACE Center at the University of Maryland and Omnitour in Sweden.

Speaker 2: Norman Williams signs. Gallaudet's TAP, or Technology Access Program, owns a patent for easy chatting with real-time text using the existing and popular instant messaging chat style, for example AOL, AIM, Google Talk, and Facebook Messaging. Instead of showing user is typing and you waiting until they hit enter, RTT can be used in this style to have faster conversation. Cool, right?

Speaker 1: Instant message AIM style. In a yellow chat bubble, Christian Vogler, 240-555-2888. So let's talk about our plans today. In a blue bubble, me, 240-444-4777. So we will meet and watch Star Wars Road tonight. Any idea when and where? In italics, is typing. Then, I want to meet at Regal Chinatown next to Verizon Center. At 10pm, my wife will come too. I just asked her. No, stop. I prefer open captions, not those caption glasses. Let's do AMC Germantown instead of 9pm. They have OC. Oops. Then, patented AIM style real-time text. In yellow, from Christian. So let's talk about our plans today. At bottom, so we will meet and watch Star Wars Rogue tonight. Any idea when and where? Typing. I want to meet at the Regal Chinatown next to Verizon and, oh, no, stop. I prefer open captions, not those caption glasses. Okay, let's do AMC Germantown. We'll ask wife too, followed by, great, let me know. Next, patent. Word scroll. The official patent document from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Text is highlighted. Method for receiving and displaying segments of a message before the message is complete. Inventor, Norman Williams, Assignee Gallaudet University.

Speaker 2: With AT&T and other companies, deaf and hard-of-hearing organizations like TDI, NAD, HLAA, CSD, and many others, we have fought hard to convince the FCC to vote on this new communications technology because it is superior to existing TTY systems. What are the benefits of using RTZ? There are three good reasons. People who need faster interaction than regular texting back and forth, which takes more time. RTT is faster because it allows you to see their typing. And you can interrupt or type at the same time to save time.

Speaker 1: Dr. Vogler.

Speaker 3: With real-time texting, it's a better option for calling 911 than texting because it is more reliable. And many 911 centers do not accept texting yet. If you have RTT, you can call 911 anywhere.

Speaker 2: Mr. Williams. Third, because it helps TTY users who, for example, are in rural areas or places without internet or with older technology. You can communicate with them through RTT with their TTYs. And later, they can get an RTT replacement for their TTYs. RTT will not replace video relay services, but it gives you another option for direct communication with everyone, deaf, hard-of-hearing, or hearing, or you can continue using VRS. That's our recap of RTT, real-time text. Are you ready for the revolution?

Speaker 1: Mr. Williams smiles. A timeline. 2017. Big four carriers make RTT available in either downloadable app or in at least one phone. 2018. Phone manufacturers include RTT functionality in all new phones. 2019. Big four carriers make RTT available in all new phones. 2020. Smaller carriers make RTT available in either downloadable app or in at least one phone. 2021. Big four carriers make RTT available in all new phones. Partners. Omnitor. Gallaudet University. Trace Center. University of Maryland. College Park. Grant sponsor. U.S. Department of Education and Department of Health and Human Services. Gallaudet University. Connect. Discover. Influence.