<html>
<head>
<style><!--
.hmmessage P
{
margin:0px;
padding:0px
}
body.hmmessage
{
font-size: 12pt;
font-family:Calibri
}
--></style></head>
<body class='hmmessage'><div dir='ltr'><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><br id="FontBreak"></font><br><br><font color="#5f497a" size="3" face="Comic Sans MS"><strong>Trudy L. Pickrel</strong></font><br><strong><font color="#5f497a" face="Comic Sans MS">President</font></strong><br><strong><font color="#5f497a" size="3" face="Comic Sans MS">Maryland Parents of Blind Children </font></strong><br><font color="#5f497a" size="3" face="Comic Sans MS"><strong><a href="http://www.mdparentsofblindchildren.org" target="_blank">www.mdparentsofblindchildren.org</a></strong><a href="http://www.mdparentsofblindchildren.org" target="_blank"></a></font><a href="http://www.mdparentsofblindchildren.org" target="_blank"></a><br><strong><font color="#5f497a" size="3" face="Comic Sans MS">TLC by the Lake's Standard Poodle's</font></strong><br><strong><font color="#5f497a" size="3" face="Comic Sans MS"><a href="http://www.tlcbythelake.com" target="_blank">www.tlcbythelake.com</a></font></strong><br><strong><font color="#5f497a" size="3" face="Comic Sans MS">301-501-1818</font></strong><br><strong><font color="#5f497a" size="3" face="Comic Sans MS"></font></strong> <br><strong><font color="#5f497a" size="3" face="Comic Sans MS"></font></strong> <br><br><br><br> <BR><div><hr id="stopSpelling">From: nfbmd@earthlink.net<br>To: nfbmd@riccobono.us; deborahb14@verizon.net; mcikeyc@aol.com; dearl@BISM.org; tlpickrel@hotmail.com; mlomax1@umbc.edu; eringlein@nfb.org; rsager@bism.org; mauriceperet@gmail.com; shahm28@hotmail.com<br>Subject: FW: URGENT: WE NEED LETTERS TO MAKE E-READERS ACCESSIBLE BY LABOR DAY <br>Date: Wed, 28 Aug 2013 17:39:43 -0400<br><br><style><!--
.ExternalClass p.ecxMsoNormal, .ExternalClass li.ecxMsoNormal, .ExternalClass div.ecxMsoNormal {
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
}
.ExternalClass a:link, .ExternalClass span.ecxMsoHyperlink {
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;
}
.ExternalClass span.ecxMsoHyperlinkFollowed {
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;
}
.ExternalClass span.ecxEmailStyle17 {
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:windowtext;
}
.ExternalClass span.ecxEmailStyle18 {
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D;
}
.ExternalClass .ecxMsoChpDefault {
font-size:10.0pt;
}
.ExternalClass div.ecxWordSection1 {
}
--></style><div class="ecxWordSection1"><p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">Hello All,</span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"> </span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">As you will see from the below item, we need to take action quickly. Please adapt the attached skeleton letter and send it by email as instructed below. After you send your own letter, please get the information out to other chapter members who will do something about it. While we have up to Monday, let’s do it now so that we don’t forget about it over the holiday weekend. If you need help, feel free to call me.</span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"> </span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">I wanted to personally ask you to take care of this because of your leadership.</span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"> </span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">Thanks,</span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">Sharon</span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"> </span></p><div><div style="border-width: 1pt medium medium; border-style: solid none none; border-color: rgb(181, 196, 223) currentColor currentColor; padding: 3pt 0in 0in;"><p class="ecxMsoNormal"><b><span style='font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'>From:</span></b><span style='font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'> McLarney, Lauren [mailto:LMcLarney@nfb.org] <br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, August 28, 2013 5:07 PM<br><b>To:</b> alaskanfb@yahoo.com; kccajun@att.net; Pat.nfb@att.net; State President, Arkansas; donaldpfield@gmail.com; info@michaelhingson.com; rhouston58@gmail.com; nfbcrivercity@gmail.com; woodseric3@gmail.com; jbeecham@cocenter.org; kevanworley@worleyenterprises.com; president@alumni.ecu.edu; ntwales@omsoft.com; State President, District of Columbia; smith990@gmail.com; majla@verizon.net; valkemadenise@aol.com; State President, Florida; State President, Georgia; stootle@nfbga.org; State President, Hawaii; one.fisherman@hawaiiantel.net; young.brandon4@gmail.com; State President, Iowa; hoovere74@gmail.com; State President, Illinois; rosesloan2013@u.northwestern.edu; highlander@indy.rr.com; State President, Kansas; rob.tabor@sbcglobal.net; pam.glisson@insightbb.com; lizngraves@gmail.com; aelia@mac.com; wa2ios.mark@gmail.com; nfbmd@earthlink.net; State President, Maine; f.wurtzel@att.net; suncat0@gmail.com; State President, Minnesota; hstevens@blindinc.org; sbwright95@att.net; glsbyrd@att.net; burke.dall@gmail.com; State President, Montana; angusparker@suddenlink.net; sharon_newton@bellsouth.net; Anthony@olivero.us; State President, New Hampshire; tti777@gmail.com; martinez.joni@gmail.com; State President, New Mexico; State President, Nevada; winds159@yahoo.com; ajacobs633@aol.com; chrisminkler@gmail.com; Pierce, Barbara; brian_royko@live.com; State President, Ohio; Gfarnum@cox.net; State President, Oklahoma; State President, Oregon; artds55@comcast.net; michelleandremy@gmail.com; Angies143@verizon.net; debracanc2@myfrontiermail.com; trevorwhite79@gmail.com; jrs3147@comcast.net; jose.marquez.texas@gmail.com; State President, Utah; karl@axistech.net; sachin.pavithran@usu.edu; gyeager12@gmail.com; State President, Vermont; hviens76@gmail.com; State President, Washington; mjc59@q.com; wolvessarah@hotmail.com; krnfbmbwv@gmail.com; slk5111@hotmail.com; State President, Wyoming<br><b>Cc:</b> Sidhu,Mehgan; Yingling, Valerie; Pare, John; Hartle, Jesse; Lewis, Anil<br><b>Subject:</b> URGENT: WE NEED LETTERS TO MAKE E-READERS ACCESSIBLE BY LABOR DAY <br><b>Importance:</b> High</span></p></div></div><p class="ecxMsoNormal"> </p><p class="ecxMsoNormal">Hello Legislative Directors,</p><p class="ecxMsoNormal"> </p><p class="ecxMsoNormal">We need your help! The Coalition of E-Reader Manufacturers has submitted a Petition for Waiver to the FCC asking that e-readers be exempt from the Twenty First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) accessibility requirements. I have attached the Petition. NFB has written comments opposing the request, and we are asking other groups to sign on. I have also attached those comments. But the FCC needs to hear from our members – blind people who want access to e-readers – and the more people they hear from, the better. We are asking all Legislative Directors to find people in their respective affiliates to edit the attached skeleton letter and return it to us. The letter is already formatted and has an outline, but it is up to each person to make it personal and select which talking points they want to use. Finished letters should be sent to Valerie Yingling at <a href="mailto:vyingling@nfb.org">vyingling@nfb.org</a> by <b>8pm on Monday, September 2</b>. Valerie will proofread each document to make sure there are no typos and the customized points are still on message, and then we will submit the letters all at once when they are due on September 3<sup>rd</sup>. We are short on time but I trust that this issue is pressing to our membership and we will get a good amount of letters. </p><p class="ecxMsoNormal"> </p><p class="ecxMsoNormal">For some background: The CVAA requires that all mobile devices with advanced communications services (ACS) be accessible to blind people, but the law allows manufacturers to request a waiver for equipment that is not intended for ACS. The Coalition (comprised of Amazon, Sony and Kobo) claims that the primary purpose of e-readers is reading, and that the ACS found in e-readers is so incidental and ancillary that it is not an intended purpose of the device. We know this is not true – e-readers are outfitted with built-in web browsers and designed for social media. The Coalition also claims that to make e-readers accessible would require a fundamental overhaul that would render e-readers obsolete, harm the public interest, and not provide substantial benefit to blind people. We know that this offensive claim is also not true. It is critical that the FCC hear from all of us – it is the only thing that can defeat the petition. Regulation is legislation’s sister, so I know we can count on all of you to get a good amount of feedback to the FCC. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to email me or Valerie. Looking forward to seeing everyone’s letters. </p><p class="ecxMsoNormal"> </p><p class="ecxMsoNormal">Cheers,</p><p class="ecxMsoNormal">Lauren</p><p class="ecxMsoNormal"><b><span style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'> </span></b></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal"><b><span style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'>Lauren McLarney</span></b></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'>Government Affairs Specialist</span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'>NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND</span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'>200 East Wells St.</span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'>Baltimore, MD 21230</span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'>(410) 659 9314 ext. 2207</span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'><a href="mailto:lmclarney@nfb.org">lmclarney@nfb.org</a></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal"> </p><p class="ecxMsoNormal"> </p><p class="ecxMsoNormal"> </p></div></div> </div></body>
</html>