In the September 2023 FCC rulemaking on VRS rates, the FCC estimated that interpreter wages would need to go up by 65 percent. As the FCC noted, “we estimate that each provider’s reported historical costs… will increase by a uniform factor: 75% for engineering and research and development, and 65% for interpreter wages and benefits.”
Let’s be clear. While there are scattered reports of Sorenson giving out big raises, there haven’t been the types of across-the-board raises a projected 65 percent increase in interpreter wages would indicate. Meanwhile, Sorenson refinanced its debt in April. With interest rates at their highest since 2007, this is potentially a costly endeavor. Sorenson carried about $1.2 billion in debt prior, according to a Moody’s Investor Service report from January 2023. ZP meanwhile, has stuck with an average 5-6 percent pay increase. The FCC also gave Sorenson and ZP another 3.7-3.8 percent increase in June. ZP also refinanced $275 million of its debt in March.
If we’re going to be able to have a VRS system that attracts and retains experienced interpreters with advanced levels of fluency in ASL, the providers are going to have to go higher, as they are effectively mandated to do under the FCC rulemaking. That’s why we’ve launched our petition for a wage increase. We also have a wage survey—we’d be interested to hear about the wage increases that you have received. (While we will keep your name private, for data accuracy purposes we do not allow anonymous submissions.)