[gui-talk] Fwd: more TV providers provide talking menus for blind subscribers

[Gerald Levy]

Well, apparently this accessible box is currently only available to Charter 
customers and not Time Warner customers.  So despite flooding the local 
airwaves in New York City with commercials proclaiming a "new day" for cable 
customers now that Time Warner is Spectrum Cable, absolutely nothing has 
changed.  When I call Time Warner customer service, now rebranded as 
Spectrum, I get the same brain dead service agents who barely speak or 
understand English who have no idea what I'm talking about when I inquire 
about talking cable boxes.  And with accessibility rules likely to be 
relaxed by the incoming administration, it will be a long time, if ever, 
before accessible boxes become available for us poor Time Warner customers.

Gerald



-----Original Message----- 
From: Mike Arrigo via gui-talk
Sent: Wednesday, December 28, 2016 10:23 AM
To: gui-talk at nfbnet.org
Cc: Mike Arrigo
Subject: Re: [gui-talk] Fwd: more TV providers provide talking menus for 
blind subscribers

I got a new box from Charter spectrum last week, and I have to say,
it's really nice. The menus speak allowing you to change the set top
box settings such as audio output, whether to enable the second audio
program feature, which is where video descriptions are usually carried,
and to read information about the box such as the software version. My
box is not a DVR, just a cable box. Also, when you press the guide
button, the guide speakss as you move through the different items.
Finally, as you move to different channels, the channel name and
current program are spoken. I would encourage anyone who has this
available to take advantage of it. While it is required by law, the
more people who take advantage of the service, the better, as it lets
the companies know that there is an interest in these features, and may
encourage them to continue making it better rather than just providing
the minimum that is required. One major provider that was not on this
list is AT&T u-verse, wonder if they will end up providing something as
well. It's kind of a shame that it took a law to get companies to do
this, they should have done it because it's the right thing to do, but
I guess we benefit either way.
Original message:
> The area of accessible television is getting more
> activity of late -- this information may interest you.

> Dave





>> From: Ray Foret jr <rforet7706 at comcast.net>
>> Subject: more TV providors provide talking menus for blind subscribers
>> Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2016 02:50:28 -0600
>> To: David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com>

>> Greetings,
>> As we all know, the Federal Communications
>> Commission has inacted the Telecommunications
>> act which requires provision for talking menu
>> and or talking guide structure for blind
>> subscribers of TV providing services.  The first
>> link is critically important for it leads to a
>> FAQ sheet in which there is information for filing complaints if 
>> necessary:

>> <https://www.fcc.gov/television-and-set-top-box-controls-menus-program-guides-factsheet>https://www.fcc.gov/television-and-set-top-box-controls-menus-program-guides-factsheet


>> Following is a list of TV providers who now
>> provide some kind of audio or talking menu
>> structure for blind subscribers.  Mostly, these
>> providers require that the subscriber have the
>> top of the line DVR box for this to work.  I
>> must admit that I was quite surprised to see the
>> TV satellite companies on board.


>> Comcast:

>> <http://www.comcast.com/accessibility>www.comcast.com/accessibility

>> Tivo:
>> <https://www.tivo.com/accessibility>https://www.tivo.com/accessibility
>> Spectrum, (formerly Charter)
>> <http://www.charter.net/support/accessibility/talking-guide-spectrum-guide-support/>http://www.charter.net/support/accessibility/talking-guide-spectrum-guide-support/
>> Direct TV:
>> <https://support.directv.com/equipment/talking-guide-faq>https://support.directv.com/equipment/talking-guide-faq
>> and Dish Network:
>> <https://www.dish.com/accessibility/>https://www.dish.com/accessibility/
>> Verizon Fios:
>> <http://www.verizon.com/about/accessibility/text-speech?pos=1>http://www.verizon.com/about/accessibility/text-speech?pos=1

>> Of course, Apple TV is accessible and that’s always a plus too.



>> Sent from my Mac, The Only computer with full
>> accessibility for the blind built-in

>> Sincerely, The Constantly Barefooted Ray,

>> Still a very happy Comcast XFinity Voice
>> Guidance, Mac, Verizon Wireless iPhone7+ and Apple TV user!
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