[nfb-db] Telecommunications Equipment for Deaf-Blind Persons

[Randy Pope]

Question:  Are there any DeafBlind people assisting in the NDBEDP outreach
program?

 

Randy

 

From: nfb-db [mailto:nfb-db-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of David Andrews
Sent: Friday, October 25, 2013 9:16 PM
To: nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nfb-db] Telecommunications Equipment for Deaf-Blind Persons

 





I have been asked to distribute the following.  




Dear David, 

  

I have been charged with the outreach program for :I Can Connect" in 5
states, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, 

OKLAHOMA, WASHINGTON and WISCONSIN 

  

  

  

Changing what it means to be blind, 

Marcus Simmons, President, 

Wayne County chapter NFBMI 

28179 Brentwood 

Southfield, MI 48076-3069 

president at map-n.org 

(248) 552-8928







NDBEDP.pdf
Consumer Guide
9
National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program 
Background 
The Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010
(CVAA) authorizes the 
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to provide funding for local
programs to distribute 
equipment to low-income individuals who are "deaf-blind" (see definition
below.) The FCC may use up 
to $10 million annually from the interstate Telecommunications Relay Service
fund for this purpose. 
Pilot Program 
In 2011, the FCC established the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution
Program (NDBEDP) as a 
pilot program. The pilot program has been in effect since July 1, 2012, and
the FCC may extend the 
program another year. The pilot program provides valuable information that
the FCC will use to help 
develop and implement an effective and efficient permanent deaf-blind
equipment distribution program. 
How does the pilot program operate? 
The FCC selected and certified one entity in each of the 50 states, plus the
District of Columbia, Puerto 
Rico, and the Virgin Islands, to receive FCC support to distribute equipment
to low-income individuals 
who are deaf-blind. The FCC allocated a minimum of $50,000 to each of the 53
certified programs, 
plus additional funding based on the size of each state's population. As a
result, states with large 
populations were allocated larger amounts of funding than states with small
populations. 
The FCC also set aside $500,000 each year for the Perkins School for the
Blind to coordinate outreach 
to promote this new equipment distribution program nationwide. 
Who is eligible to receive equipment? 
Under the CVAA, only low-income individuals who are deaf-blind are eligible
to receive equipment. 
Applicants must provide verification of their status as low-income and
deaf-blind. 
The CVAA requires that the term "deaf-blind" has the same meaning given in
the Helen Keller National 
Center Act. In general, the individual must have a certain vision loss and a
hearing loss that, 
combined, cause extreme difficulty in attaining independence in daily life
activities, achieving 
psychosocial adjustment, or obtaining a vocation (working). 
The FCC defines "low income" to mean not more than 400% of the Federal
Poverty Guidelines, as 
indicated in the following chart: 
 
table with 4 columns and 11 rows
2013 Federal Poverty Guidelines  
Number of persons in family/household 
400% for everywhere, except Alaska and Hawaii 
400% for Alaska 
400% for Hawaii  
1 
$45,960 
$57,400 
$52,920  
2 
62,040 
77,520 
71,400  
3 
78,120 
97,640 
89,880  
4 
94,200 
117,760 
108,360  
5 
110,280 
137,880 
126,840  
6 
126,360 
158,000 
145,320  
7 
142,440 
178,120 
163,800  
8 
158,520 
198,240 
182,280  
For each additional person, add 
$16,080 
$20,120 
$18,480 
table end
 
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 
(aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/13poverty.cfm)
What kind of equipment can be distributed? 
The equipment distributed must be designed to make telecommunications (such
as wireline and 
wireless telephone communication), advanced communications (such as
Internet-based voice 
communication, e-mail, instant messaging and interoperable video
conferencing services), and access 
to the Internet (including information services) accessible. The equipment
distributed may be 
hardware, software or applications, separate or in combination, mainstream
or specialized. The 
equipment must meet the needs of the deaf-blind individual to achieve
access. Certified programs may 
also provide equipment warranties, maintenance, and repairs for such
equipment depending on 
available funding. 
Besides distributing equipment, what will the NDBEDP certified programs do? 
Certified programs will inform their communities about this new program to
distribute equipment to low-
income residents in their states who are deaf-blind. They will verify that
applicants are eligible to 
receive equipment. They will assess each applicant's communications
equipment needs to select 
appropriate equipment to meet those needs. They may also help install and
provide training for the 
equipment distributed. 
How do I find the certified program that serves my state? 
Information about how to find the NDBEDP certified program in your state is
available during the on the 
FCC website at 
www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/national-deaf-blind-equipment-distribution-program
,
by calling 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) voice or 1-888-TELL-FCC
(1-888-835-5322) TTY, or by 
sending an email to 
dro at fcc.gov.
How can I help the NDBEDP be successful? 
list of 4 items
Tell people about the program. 
Tell the FCC how the NDBEDP helped you or someone you know. 
Tell the FCC how the program can be improved. 
Tell the FCC about new types of technologies that should be included for
distribution. 
list end
You may also file an informal complaint with the FCC if you think someone
has violated the NDBEDP 
rules. Informal complaints may be filed by calling 1-888-CALL-FCC
(1-888-225-5322) voice or 
1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) TTY; faxing 1-866-418-0232, or by writing
to: 
Federal Communications Commission 
Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau 
Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division 
445 12th Street, S.W. 
Washington, DC 20554 
For More Information 
For inf
ormation about other communications issues, visit the FCC's Consumer 
website at 
www.fcc.gov/consumer-governmental-affairs-bureau,
or contact the FCC's Consumer Center by 
calling 1-888-CALL-FCC voice or 1-888-TELL-FCC TTY; faxing 1-866-418-0232;
or writing to the 
address listed above. 
### 
For this or any other consumer publication in an accessible format
(electronic ASCII text, Braille, large print 
or audio), please write or call us at the address or phone number below, or
send an email to 
FCC504 at fcc.gov.
This document is for consumer education purposes only and is not intended to
affect any proceedings or 
cases involving this subject matter or related issues. 
Last Reviewed 5/2/13

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