[blindlaw] FCC seeks comments on accessible mobile phone options for blind and deaf blind

Thu Jul 22 19:16:52 UTC 2010

DA 10-1324
Released:  July 19, 2010
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
And Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau
Seek Comment on Accessible Mobile Phone Options for
People who are Blind, Deaf-blind, or Have Low Vision

Comment Date: September 13, 2010
Reply Comment Date:  September 30, 2010

     On May 13, 2010, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and the
Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau held a workshop on "Expanding
Disability Access with Wireless Technologies" (Wireless Access
Workshop) to learn more about mobile communications issues facing
people with disabilities and the ways in which new technologies can
offer opportunities to meet the communications access needs of this
community.  Participants included stakeholders from the disability
community, industry, academia, and non-profit organizations.  On June
15, 2010, the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau met with twelve
members of the deaf-blind community, along with representatives of the
Helen Keller National Center and the American Association of the
Deaf-Blind.1  The purpose of this meeting was to discuss
telecommunications and Internet barriers experienced by this
population.

     Based on the input that Commission staff received during these
events, along with the record developed in conjunction with the
National Broadband Plan,2 we are concerned that people who are blind
or have other vision disabilities have few accessible and affordable
wireless phone options.3  More specifically, according to statements
made at the workshop, the vast majority of mobile telephones are not
accessible to this population without the addition of expensive
software.  We are also concerned that many wireless technologies may
not be compatible with Braille displays needed by individuals who are
deaf-blind.  In addition, according to the participants of the June
15th meeting, many specialized technologies needed to enable wireless
telecommunications access for the deaf-blind community are cost
prohibitive and difficult to find.

   In order to be fully informed on the issues raised by consumers and
determine appropriate next steps to achieve telecommunications access
for these populations, we seek input from all stakeholders on the
following:

(1) The wireless phone features and functions in the current
marketplace that are not accessible for people who are blind, have
vision loss, or are deaf-blind and the extent to which gaps in
accessibility are preventing wireless communication access by these
populations;

(2) The cost and feasibility of technical solutions to achieve
wireless accessibility for these populations;

(3) Reasons why there are not a greater number of wireless phones -
particularly among less expensive or moderately-priced handset models
- that are accessible to people who are blind or have vision loss;

(4) Technical obstacles, if any, to making wireless technologies
compatible with Braille displays, as well as the cost and feasibility
of technical solutions to achieve other forms of compatibility with
wireless products and services for people who are deaf-blind;

(5) Recommendations on the most effective and efficient technical and
policy solutions for addressing the needs of consumers with vision
disabilities, including those who are deaf-blind.

(6) Recommendations on actions that our bureaus or the Commission
should take to address the current lack of access.  For example, is
additional guidance needed on specific access features that should be
included in wireless products? Should we facilitate a dialogue among
stakeholders in order to reach a specific agreement to address the
accessibility concerns outlined above?

Pursuant to sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's rules,
interested parties may file comments on or before September 13, 2010
and reply comments on or before September 30, 2010.  Comments may be
filed using:  (1) the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System
(ECFS), (2) the Federal Government's eRulemaking Portal, or (3) by
filing paper copies.  See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking
Proceedings, 63 FR 24121 (1998).

* Electronic Filers:  Comments may be filed electronically using the
Internet by accessing the ECFS:  http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/.  Filers
should follow the instructions provided on the website for submitting
comments.

* Paper Filers:  Parties who choose to file by paper must file an
original and four copies of each filing.  If more than one docket or
rulemaking number appears in the caption of this proceeding, filers
must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or
rulemaking number.

* Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial
overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service
mail (although we continue to experience delays in receiving U.S.
Postal Service mail).  All filings must be addressed to the
Commission's Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal
Communications Commission.

* The Commission's contractor will receive hand-delivered or
messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission's Secretary at
236 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, Suite 110, Washington, DC  20002.  The
filing hours at this location are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.  All hand
deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners.  Any
envelopes must be disposed of before entering the building.

* Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express
Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton Drive,
Capitol Heights, MD  20743.

* U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail must be
addressed to 445 12th Street, SW, Washington DC  20554.

A copy of this document and any subsequently filed documents in this
matter will be available during regular business hours at the FCC
Reference Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW, Room CY-A257,
Washington, DC 20554, (202) 418-0270.  This document and any
subsequently filed documents in this matter may also be purchased from
the Commission's duplicating contractor at their website,
www.bcpiweb.com, or by calling 1-800-378-3160.  A copy of the
submission may also be found by searching on the Commission's
Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) at
http://www.fcc.gov.cgb/ecfs.

To request materials in accessible formats for people with
disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format),
send an e-mail to fcc504 at fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental
Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-0432 (TTY).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Elizabeth Lyle, Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau, (202) 418-1776; TTY (202) 418-1169 or email
at Elizabeth.Lyle at fcc.gov.

-FCC-

1 Meeting summary available at
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020511584.
2 See, e.g., American Association of the Deaf-Blind Comments in re:
NBP PN#4 (Comment Sought on Broadband Accessibility for People with
Disabilities Workshop II:  Barriers, Opportunities, and Policy
Recommendations - NBP Public Notice #4, GN Docket Nos. 09-47, 09-51,
09-137, Public Notice 24 FCC Rcd 11968 (CGB 2009), filed Oct. 6, 2009,
at 1-2.
3 See e.g., Comments of Paul Schroeder, American Foundation for the
Blind, "Expanding Disability Access with Wireless Technologies," (May
13, 2010), (Wireless Access Workshop),
http://reboot.fcc.gov/video-archives.
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PUBLIC NOTICE

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