What Do You Think of the VRS Arrests?
Friday November 20, 2009
What do you think about the recent indictments of 26 people for stealing millions of dollars from the telecommunications relay services funds? There has been a lot of emotions expressed over this; share your thoughts on the forum. Incidentally, someone asked if I had any relationship to two of the men arrested, because my last name is the same as their last name. I would like to publicly state that I have no relationship to them. I look forward to seeing your thoughts on the forum.
I think the criminals are thieves who’ve stolen money from taxpaying americans during a horrible economy. In the end, every working American lost something because of this. I also think, unfortunately, this will harm the deaf community-many interpreters aren’t getting paid. Hopefully other agencies will take up the slack but right now there are deaf and hearing interpreters at a loss for work.
It’s sad that there isn’t more anger about this in the community. I think the people arrested have many friends who are devastated and don’t want to speak out against people they’ve known for years (not to mention their families.) But this will have far reaching effects for everyone.
I do think that deaf journalists need to get going and start reporting even if only to make sure the deaf defendants get a fair shot, although it seems fairly clear from the evidence that they are guilty.
IT is disheartening, but it is a fact of life. With the growth of the computer age, criminals became more creative, with the introductions of “counterfeit-proof” money, they became more creative and inventive, and so on and so on. It points out there will always be people who take advantage of situations for monetary gain. It is why there must always be oversight of federal and state funds expenditures, to ensure that the public trust and the public money is safeguarded.
On a personal level, I am very upset, because it tends to paint the whole deaf community in a bad light, since we are associated with these people through guilt by association. I hope they are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, fraud must not have the perception of being “white-collar” and victim-less, it must be treated the same as a robbery, assault, etc.
Eddie (Thumpaflash)
I AGREE WITH COMMENT 1 AND 2. I GUESS PROBABLY VISABLE COMPANY WILL SHUT DOWN OR NOT…
I am deaf myself and I thank FCC for much helping us (deaf) to access the high tech communication. Also, FCC pay them real well, yet how much more do the they want??? That is “disheartedly sick”!!!
THAT IS STUPID! I’ve been trying to find a way to communicate with my mom, and friends. Why steal something to get even with others?
You still can. The arrests do not affect the availability of VRS. There are plenty of VRS service providers.