(Washington, D.C., Feb. 26, 2025) – Today, Representative Greg Casar (D-TX), interpreter members of the ASL Interpreters Union-OPEIU and allies spoke in front of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to address the significant decline of service quality in Video Relay Service (VRS), an essential service ensuring the Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing and Deaf-Blind communities have functionally equivalent service under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Working closely with VRS interpreters, Rep. Casar sent a letter to the FCC urging the agency to act on its duty to regulate VRS. In response, Commissioner Anna Gomez has agreed to attend a first-of-its-kind public forum for VRS interpreters and Deaf users to share their stories directly with FCC officials.
“When unions organize and fight, and when these interpreters fight against the billionaires taking over your economy and your government, they’re not doing it just for themselves. They’re doing it for all of us,” Rep. Casar said at the press event. “Even though they may have all this money, we actually have power.”