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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Question: Are there any DeafBlind people assisting in the NDBEDP outreach program?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Randy<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> nfb-db [mailto:nfb-db-bounces@nfbnet.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>David Andrews<br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, October 25, 2013 9:16 PM<br><b>To:</b> nfbwatlk@nfbnet.org<br><b>Subject:</b> [nfb-db] Telecommunications Equipment for Deaf-Blind Persons<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><br><br><br><br>I have been asked to distribute the following. <br><br><br><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Dear David,</span> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>I have been charged with the outreach program for :I Can Connect" in 5 states, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>OKLAHOMA, WASHINGTON and WISCONSIN <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Changing what it means to be blind, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Marcus Simmons, President, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Wayne County chapter NFBMI <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>28179 Brentwood <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Southfield, MI 48076-3069 <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><a href="mailto:president@map-n.org">president@map-n.org</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>(248) 552-8928</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in'><br><br><br><br><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NDBEDP.pdf<br>Consumer Guide<br>9<br>National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program <br>Background <br>The Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA) authorizes the <br>Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to provide funding for local programs to distribute <br>equipment to low-income individuals who are “deaf-blind” (see definition below.) The FCC may use up <br>to $10 million annually from the interstate Telecommunications Relay Service fund for this purpose. <br>Pilot Program <br>In 2011, the FCC established the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP) as a <br>pilot program. The pilot program has been in effect since July 1, 2012, and the FCC may extend the <br>program another year. The pilot program provides valuable information that the FCC will use to help <br>develop and implement an effective and efficient permanent deaf-blind equipment distribution program. <br>How does the pilot program operate? <br>The FCC selected and certified one entity in each of the 50 states, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto <br>Rico, and the Virgin Islands, to receive FCC support to distribute equipment to low-income individuals <br>who are deaf-blind. The FCC allocated a minimum of $50,000 to each of the 53 certified programs, <br>plus additional funding based on the size of each state's population. As a result, states with large <br>populations were allocated larger amounts of funding than states with small populations. <br>The FCC also set aside $500,000 each year for the Perkins School for the Blind to coordinate outreach <br>to promote this new equipment distribution program nationwide. <br>Who is eligible to receive equipment? <br>Under the CVAA, only low-income individuals who are deaf-blind are eligible to receive equipment. <br>Applicants must provide verification of their status as low-income and deaf-blind. <br>The CVAA requires that the term "deaf-blind" has the same meaning given in the Helen Keller National <br>Center Act. In general, the individual must have a certain vision loss and a hearing loss that, <br>combined, cause extreme difficulty in attaining independence in daily life activities, achieving <br>psychosocial adjustment, or obtaining a vocation (working). <br>The FCC defines "low income" to mean not more than 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, as <br>indicated in the following chart: <br> <br>table with 4 columns and 11 rows<br>2013 Federal Poverty Guidelines <br>Number of persons in family/household <br>400% for everywhere, except Alaska and Hawaii <br>400% for Alaska <br>400% for Hawaii <br>1 <br>$45,960 <br>$57,400 <br>$52,920 <br>2 <br>62,040 <br>77,520 <br>71,400 <br>3 <br>78,120 <br>97,640 <br>89,880 <br>4 <br>94,200 <br>117,760 <br>108,360 <br>5 <br>110,280 <br>137,880 <br>126,840 <br>6 <br>126,360 <br>158,000 <br>145,320 <br>7 <br>142,440 <br>178,120 <br>163,800 <br>8 <br>158,520 <br>198,240 <br>182,280 <br>For each additional person, add <br>$16,080 <br>$20,120 <br>$18,480 <br>table end<br> <br>Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services <br>(aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/13poverty.cfm)<br>What kind of equipment can be distributed? <br>The equipment distributed must be designed to make telecommunications (such as wireline and <br>wireless telephone communication), advanced communications (such as Internet-based voice <br>communication, e-mail, instant messaging and interoperable video conferencing services), and access <br>to the Internet (including information services) accessible. The equipment distributed may be <br>hardware, software or applications, separate or in combination, mainstream or specialized. The <br>equipment must meet the needs of the deaf-blind individual to achieve access. Certified programs may <br>also provide equipment warranties, maintenance, and repairs for such equipment depending on <br>available funding. <br>Besides distributing equipment, what will the NDBEDP certified programs do? <br>Certified programs will inform their communities about this new program to distribute equipment to low-<br>income residents in their states who are deaf-blind. They will verify that applicants are eligible to <br>receive equipment. They will assess each applicant's communications equipment needs to select <br>appropriate equipment to meet those needs. They may also help install and provide training for the <br>equipment distributed. <br>How do I find the certified program that serves my state? <br>Information about how to find the NDBEDP certified program in your state is available during the on the <br>FCC website at <br><a href="http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/national-deaf-blind-equipment-distribution-program">www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/national-deaf-blind-equipment-distribution-program</a> ,<br>by calling 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) voice or 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) TTY, or by <br>sending an email to <br><a href="mailto:dro@fcc.gov">dro@fcc.gov</a>.<br>How can I help the NDBEDP be successful? <br>list of 4 items<br>Tell people about the program. <br>Tell the FCC how the NDBEDP helped you or someone you know. <br>Tell the FCC how the program can be improved. <br>Tell the FCC about new types of technologies that should be included for distribution. <br>list end<br>You may also file an informal complaint with the FCC if you think someone has violated the NDBEDP <br>rules. Informal complaints may be filed by calling 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) voice or <br>1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) TTY; faxing 1-866-418-0232, or by writing to: <br>Federal Communications Commission <br>Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau <br>Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division <br>445 12th Street, S.W. <br>Washington, DC 20554 <br>For More Information <br>For inf<br>ormation about other communications issues, visit the FCC’s Consumer <br>website at <br><a href="http://www.fcc.gov/consumer-governmental-affairs-bureau">www.fcc.gov/consumer-governmental-affairs-bureau</a>,<br>or contact the FCC’s Consumer Center by <br>calling 1-888-CALL-FCC voice or 1-888-TELL-FCC TTY; faxing 1-866-418-0232; or writing to the <br>address listed above. <br>### <br>For this or any other consumer publication in an accessible format (electronic ASCII text, Braille, large print <br>or audio), please write or call us at the address or phone number below, or send an email to <br><a href="mailto:FCC504@fcc.gov">FCC504@fcc.gov</a>.<br>This document is for consumer education purposes only and is not intended to affect any proceedings or <br>cases involving this subject matter or related issues. <br>Last Reviewed 5/2/13<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>