[Electronics-talk] Satellite TV, Direct TV specifically

[Matthew Chao]

At this rate, wonder if we'll see accessible cable and satellite in 
our lifetime.--Matthew Chao

At 02:35 PM 10/28/2009, you wrote:
>I agree.
>If I am not mistaken the FCC past some laws in 1998 which mandated 
>that all communication devises will be made accessible to people 
>with disabilities.
>They did a lot of testing and determined the technology was 
>available.  All that had to be done was to pull it together and 
>create the accessible devises.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org 
>[mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of 
>ckrugman at sbcglobal.net
>Sent: Monday, October 19, 2009 3:02 PM
>To: Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances
>Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] Satellite TV, Direct TV specifically
>
>It sounds like there needs to be increased regulation of cable and satellite
>providers that includes the requirement that on screen software and tuner
>boxes are made accessible. Unless regulation occurs we as blind people will
>be left out of the increased digital age.
>Chuck
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "James Aldrich" <jajkaldrich at gmail.com>
>To: "Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances"
><electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: Monday, October 19, 2009 9:16 AM
>Subject: [Electronics-talk] Satellite TV, Direct TV specifically
>
>
> > Hello all!
> >
> > Dar and I recently had to call Direct TV to have a technician come out to
> > determine what was wrong with the satellite signal in our bedroom.  The
> > Living room TV and digital  Box as well as Satellite Box seemed to be
> > working okay!  I guess that would be all fine and good if they would
> > simply
> > send a technician as we requested!  They seem to be so insistent that
> > they,
> > the customer representative  can solve our problem if we could tell them
> > what is on the screen!  That sounds familiar right?  Depending on the
> > representative, some become so indignant with us if we don't tell them
> > what
> > is on that screen!  It is almost as if they don't believe we are blind,
> > they
> > talk down to us or blame us for the trouble we are having!  We finally got
> > a
> > supervisor and we managed to get a number for our account!  The first
> > technician who came out didn't know what was up or down I don't think!  He
> > called in someone else and the trouble was found and fixed within a minute
> > or so.  The trouble was on the outside hardware!  For whatever reason, our
> > local digital TV box wasn't working but it somehow mysteriously started to
> > work late last night!  Direct doesn't bring in the local channels in this
> > area, have to rely on the on air signal.  Surely!  There is a better way
> > to
> > deal with this problem!  We did tell them to keep in our record that we
> > are
> > blind!  We did have a neighbor come over and he couldn't solve the problem
> > either.
> >
> > Direct TV works well when working properly!  I wish we didn't have to deal
> > with so many indifferent customer service reps just to get something
> > fixed!
> > This of course is a part of being a large company and don't know whether
> > the
> > reps are outsourced yet or not!  Regardless of the situation, I hope
> > something can be done about this and if a repair technician is requested,
> > we
> > can get one, no questions asked!  Hopefully, everything will be fine for
> > the
> > next year or so.  Dar did get a customer agreement where she pays extra
> > for
> > having the extra supportive services.  I'm certain they can solve a good
> > percentage of the problems over the phone if the customer can read the
> > screen!  I understand this and also understand this is how they are
> > trained,
> > but there are situations as ours where sending the technician is really
> > the
> > best plan which usually involves fewer people!  Of course, it would be
> > nice
> > if we could get screen reader technology to work on their hard disks in
> > their receivers but that's another matter!
> >
> > Thanks for reading!
> >
> > Jim Aldrich
> >
> >
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>
>
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