[Blindtlk] I was watching the Oscars last night and there was a commercial on the Comcast cable box for the blind

Tue Feb 24 19:27:05 UTC 2015

Hello:

The number for Comcast customers with disabilities is 855-270-0379.

Sandra

-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ray Foret
Jr via blindtlk
Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2015 2:05 PM
To: Bob Hachey; Blind Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] I was watching the Oscars last night and there was a
commercial on the Comcast cable box for the blind

Actually, Bob, your info is just a bit off.  By July of this year, all
providers MUST, provide the FCC a plan for accessibility.  They must
actually be physically doing it by December of 2016.  That's the law.  They
have no other choice.  We don't need to tell them because they already know
it:  but, might be helpful to push them in that direaction.  ONe word of
caution.  Don't expect the regular customer service reps to know anything
about this.

Sincerely,
The Constantly Barefooted Ray

Still a happy Mac, Verizon Wireless iPhone 6+ and Apple TV user!

Sent from my Mac,
the only computer with full accessibility for the blind built-in

> On Feb 24, 2015, at 12:17 PM, Bob Hachey via blindtlk
<blindtlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi all,
> Since I am not a Beta tester I am not under any orders to stay silent 
> about the exciting features that we who are blind can expect to see 
> from our cable and satellite providers over the next few years.
> Firstly, these changes are due largely to the 21st Century 
> Communication and Video Accessibility act of 2010, (CVAA). This law 
> requires not only video description of television programming, but it 
> also requires accessibility for cable boxes, other video devices and
mobile devices.
> The requirement for accessible cable boxes takes effect on July 1, 2015.
> This will mean access to things like the cable guide, the Digital 
> video recorder and all of the onscreen menus that a cable box 
> provides. No doubt that we are way behind the UK in accessible cable 
> boxes. Also, Comcast has taken the lead here, thanks in large part to 
> Tom Wlodkowsky, Vice-president for accessibility at Comcast who is blind.
> Frankly, as things stand now, I'd have to say that Comcast is likely 
> to be the only provider who will be providing accessible onscreen 
> services in time to comply with the FCC regulations. I sure do hope 
> I'm wrong here, but I've not seen very much evidence that others in 
> the industry including Verizon and Time Warner are on track to provide
this new access by July 1.
> While it was ACB which did much of the advocacy for the CVAA, we could 
> use the help of all cable TV and satellite users who are blind or 
> visually impaired. Now is the time for all cable TV users to be asking 
> their providers for accessible set-top boxes. Tell your provider what 
> such access will mean to you and remind your provider that the CVAA 
> requires that this access be provided by July 1 of this year.
> There is a part of me that wishes I was still a Comcast user. Five 
> years ago, I was not very happy with Comcast and I got a great offer from
Verizon.
> But, in the end, we need users of all providers to advocate so that 
> the new law will be followed and so that all blind and visually 
> impaired users of cable and satellite TV may have full access to the
services provided.
> AS July 1 draws near, I will provide here a detailed set of 
> instructions on how to file complaints with the FCC in cases where 
> this access is not provided by that date. Enforcement of laws like 
> this is a complaint-driven process .
> Bob Hachey
> 
> 
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