[nfbcs] Amazon and Sony Are Requesting That The Accessibility Requirement Be Waived for E-Book Readers

Fri Aug 9 16:49:44 UTC 2013

So Mike, lets adopt your attitude about this. Then what?

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Mike Freeman
Sent: Friday, August 09, 2013 9:58 AM
To: 'NFB in Computer Science Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [nfbcs] Amazon and Sony Are Requesting That The Accessibility Requirement Be Waived for E-Book Readers

It is unenforceable due to political reasons, not constitutional ones. Congress is double-plus allergic to enacting mandates upon industry. Therefore, if any corporations raise a stink, you can bet they'll be listened to, at least by the House of Representatives. That's why NFB is not pushing either the Technology Bill of rights or its younger sibling, the Home Appliance Accessibility Act. I'm not making judgments on this; I'm just acknowledging political reality.

I consider that we will have to file comments with FCC opposing amazon and Sony. I merely express a fear that we will lose. That doesn't mean we shouldn't try; it just means we should not wear rose-colored glasses.

With this post, I will cease responding to further posts in this thread as it is clear that we need to respond and further comments are simple waste of bandwidth.

Mike Freeman

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ryan Stevens
Sent: Friday, August 09, 2013 7:27 AM
To: 'NFB in Computer Science Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [nfbcs] Amazon and Sony Are Requesting That The Accessibility Requirement Be Waived for E-Book Readers

Hi, everyone,

Article I, Section 8 of the US Constitution lists the powers granted to Congress.  The third of these reads, "to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes."  I'd say it's blatantly obvious that Amazon and Sony engage in commerce among the several states (and for that matter, with foreign nations).  Let's not forget that these words, known as the interstate commerce clause, were used to uphold the Civil Rights Act when it was challenged back in the '60's.  With this, I don't know how we can assume the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act, which is established law, is unenforceable.  We cannot...cannot...cannot simply roll over because we've fallen into this myth that only companies who do direct business with the government can be mandated to incorporate full accessibility into their products.

   Ryan

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Mike Freeman
Sent: Thursday, August 08, 2013 6:53 PM
To: NFB in Computer Science Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfbcs] Amazon and Sony Are Requesting That The Accessibility Requirement Be Waived for E-Book Readers

No, John; I merely consider the law unenforceable.
Mike

On Aug 8, 2013, at 15:17, "John G. Heim" <jheim at math.wisc.edu> wrote:

> Huh? This is about the Twenty-first Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act.  Are you saying you don't think that law should ever have been passed?  These companies are saying they don't want to comply with an existing law.
> 
> [I must be in Mike's killfile.]
> 
> On 08/08/13 16:08, Mike Freeman wrote:
>> I guess I'm a minority of one but I truly don't see how we can 
>> philosophically justify protesting except possibly on moral grounds 
>> if e-reader manufacturers leave us out. IMO that's their prerogative.
>> By the same token, though, they have to take the consequences, i.e., 
>> that they cannot market to Government or schools. That's where the 
>> stick lies. There ain't no carrot.
>> 
>> Mike Freeman
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Kevin 
>> Fjelsted
>> Sent: Thursday, August 08, 2013 12:19 PM
>> To: NFB in Computer Science Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [nfbcs] Amazon and Sony Are Requesting That The 
>> Accessibility Requirement Be Waived for E-Book Readers
>> 
>> * The FCC needs to be flooded with well thought out public comments 
>> before the comment period expires.
>> * Social media such as FaceBook, Twitter Linked in… needs to be used 
>> to help as many people as possible know what Amazon and the other 
>> companies are doing.
>> * If any school is considering purchasing or taking advantage of an 
>> Amazon or other eReader that is not accessible they need to be called 
>> out in a constructive way and pointed to the laws re: accessibility
>> 
>> On Aug 8, 2013, at 2:12 PM, "Jeanine Lineback" 
>> <jeanine.lineback at gmail.com>

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