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

[Gerald Levy]

Did you read my previous message?  I pointed out that accessible boxes are 
currently available only to Charter customers and not Time Warner customers, 
and that the two companies are continuing to operate independently of each 
other under the Spectrum banner.  And the Telecommunications Act is 
irrelevant if the new FCC chairman fails to enforce it.  So go ahead and 
protest your outrage over the unavailability of accessible cable boxes to 
the blindness advocacy groups now that the Dec. 20 deadline has passed and 
see how far you get. Current FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler is basically sitting 
in his little office and twiddling his thumbs until his resignation becomes 
official on Jan. 20, at which time there will be no one running the FCC 
until President Trump appoints a successor. So the whole accessibility issue 
is one bigmurky mess right now.

Gerald






-----Original Message----- 
From: Les Kriegler via gui-talk
Sent: Wednesday, December 28, 2016 12:37 PM
To: 'Discussion of the Graphical User Interface, GUI Talk Mailing List'
Cc: Les Kriegler
Subject: Re: [gui-talk] Fwd: more TV providers provide talking menus for 
blind subscribers

Gerald, you should check out your factsbefore making statements about 
Spectrum.  They have accessible boxes now.  Also, the FCC already passed 
legislation regarding the need for accessible set top boxes which took 
effect on December 20.

Les

-----Original Message-----
From: gui-talk [mailto:gui-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Gerald Levy 
via gui-talk
Sent: Wednesday, December 28, 2016 6:55 AM
To: Discussion of the Graphical User Interface, GUI Talk Mailing List 
<gui-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Gerald Levy <bwaylimited at verizon.net>
Subject: Re: [gui-talk] Fwd: more TV providers provide talking menus for 
blind subscribers


Well, you can essentially kiss the Telecommunications Accessibility Act 
goodbye.  The current FCC Chairman, Tom Wheeler, whill be stepping down on 
Jan. 20, and his successor, appointed by the incoming president-elect is 
likely to favor less government regulationof the airwaves and minimal 
enforcement of FCC rules. So there will not be any pressure on the cable 
companies or TV manufacturers to make their products blind accessible.
Anyone who believes otherwise is living in a dream world.  So unless your 
cable provider already offers accessible boxes, you will probably have a 
very long wait to get one.  Spectrum Cable, which has been bombarding local 
TV stations in New York City to introduce itself and proclaim ""a new day"
for cable TV service, still has absolutely no plans to offer accessible 
boxes any time soon, and now there will be little pressure on them to do so.

Gerald



-----Original Message-----
From: David Andrews via gui-talk
Sent: Tuesday, December 27, 2016 8:12 PM
To: david.andrews at nfbnet.org
Cc: David Andrews
Subject: [gui-talk] Fwd: more TV providers provide talking menus for blind 
subscribers

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-control
>s-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-gu
>ide-support/>http://www.charter.net/support/accessibility/talking-guide
>-spectrum-guide-support/
>Direct TV:
><https://support.directv.com/equipment/talking-guide-faq>https://suppor
>t.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://ww
>w.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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