[Electronics-talk] cable access

[Gerald Levy]

By and large, the major cable operators don't give a rat's ass about their 
blind customers.  Despite the new Telecommunications Access law, most of 
them have no plans to introduce accessible set-top cable boxes anytime soon. 
My cable provider, Time Warner, doesn't even know what I'm talking about 
when I ask their customer service agents about accessible cable boxes. 
Because they are monopolies in most markets, cable operators can pretty much 
do anything they damn well please with complete impunity.  If I had my 
druthers, I would cancel my cable service altogether and save $110 a month, 
but then I would not be able to get TV reception at all because rooftop 
antennas are not permitted in my apartment building, and decent reception 
with an indoor antenna is impossible.  All thanks to the FCC's shortsighted 
decision to transition from analog TV to digital TV in 2009 without 
bothering to consider all the ramifications.

Gerald


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ashley Bramlett" <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
To: "Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances" 
<electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, January 04, 2014 9:56 PM
Subject: [Electronics-talk] cable access


> Hi all,
>
> I’d like to have a tv when I’m on my own. For now, I can get assistance 
> with our cable tv options when someone is available.
> Actually, we have fios now.
>
> Obviously, I can manipulate the remote; the buttons are tactile.
> I can even see the name of a tv program when looking fairly close to the 
> screen; but reading long menus would not be possible.
>
> However, much stuff is on screen in this digital age.
>
> Is it possible to have cable or verizon fios when living alone?
> I see no way we can access those menus.
> In essense you have limited access and pay full price. Would you pay for 
> it without accessing much of its features?
>
> I’ll just state some features and see if they are accessible somehow. 
> Maybe you all use aps.
> All are on screen, and therefore seem inaccessible.
>
> 1. the tv guide
> 2. on demand tv
> 3. the dvr function
> 4. ordering movies
> 5. any statements about station outages.
>
> Do any providers have talking menus or large print ones? Do any of them 
> provide braille information to you?
> How has the company accomodated you, if at all?
>
> Thanks.
> Ashley
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