[Nfbmo] FCC Seeks Comments on Accessible, Affordable Cell Phone Options

Dewey Bradley dewey.bradley at att.net
Fri Jul 23 20:35:12 UTC 2010


No, that's what I was saying, I would be nice.
The technolagy has been there for years, but we have to be kept in our 
place.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bryan Schulz" <b.schulz at sbcglobal.net>
To: "NFB of Missouri Mailing List" <nfbmo at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, July 23, 2010 2:31 PM
Subject: Re: [Nfbmo] FCC Seeks Comments on Accessible,Affordable Cell Phone 
Options


> hi,
>
> have you found a sat/cable box that will speak the menus on the screen?  i 
> would say those are still a ways off.
>
> Bryan Schulz
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Dewey Bradley" <dewey.bradley at att.net>
> To: "NFB of Missouri Mailing List" <nfbmo at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, July 23, 2010 1:27 PM
> Subject: Re: [Nfbmo] FCC Seeks Comments on Accessible,Affordable Cell 
> Phone Options
>
>
>> This is a step in the right direction, It would be nice to go buy a phone 
>> and have it accessible right out of the box, the same with things like 
>> cable and sattlelight receavers
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Shelia Wright" <sbwright95 at att.net>
>> To: "NFB of Missouri Mailing List" <nfbmo at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Friday, July 23, 2010 8:54 AM
>> Subject: Re: [Nfbmo] FCC Seeks Comments on Accessible, Affordable Cell 
>> Phone Options
>>
>>
>>> Thanks Fred. This is good info to have and for us to act on.
>>> Shelia
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Fred Olver <goodfolks at charter.net>
>>> Sent: Friday, July 23, 2010 7:00 AM
>>> To: nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org; NFB of Missouri Mailing List 
>>> <nfbmo at nfbnet.org>; Blindad at babel-fish.us
>>> Subject: [Nfbmo] FCC Seeks Comments on Accessible, Affordable Cell Phone 
>>> Options
>>>
>>>  Subject: FCC Seeks Comments on Accessible, Affordable Cell Phone 
>>> Options
>>>  for the Blind
>>>
>>>
>>>  Below is a notice the Federal Communications Commission released
>>>  Monday seeking comments on systemic approaches the agency can take in
>>>  increasing accessible and affordable cell phone options for the blind.
>>>  For those in the United States, this is an excellent opportunity to
>>>  share our concerns and ideas for something better.  The footnotes are
>>>  at the end of the document.
>>>
>>> DA 10-1324
>>>  Released:  July 19, 2010
>>>  Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
>>>  And Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau
>>>  Seek Comment on Accessible Mobile Phone Options for
>>>  People who are Blind, Deaf-blind, or Have Low Vision
>>>
>>>  Comment Date: September 13, 2010
>>>  Reply Comment Date:  September 30, 2010
>>>
>>>      On May 13, 2010, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and the
>>>  Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau held a workshop on "Expanding
>>>  Disability Access with Wireless Technologies" (Wireless Access
>>>  Workshop) to learn more about mobile communications issues facing
>>>  people with disabilities and the ways in which new technologies can
>>>  offer opportunities to meet the communications access needs of this
>>>  community.  Participants included stakeholders from the disability
>>>  community, industry, academia, and non-profit organizations.  On June
>>>  15, 2010, the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau met with twelve
>>>  members of the deaf-blind community, along with representatives of the
>>>  Helen Keller National Center and the American Association of the
>>>  Deaf-Blind.1  The purpose of this meeting was to discuss
>>>  telecommunications and Internet barriers experienced by this
>>>  population.
>>>
>>>      Based on the input that Commission staff received during these
>>>  events, along with the record developed in conjunction with the
>>>  National Broadband Plan,2 we are concerned that people who are blind
>>>  or have other vision disabilities have few accessible and affordable
>>>  wireless phone options.3  More specifically, according to statements
>>>  made at the workshop, the vast majority of mobile telephones are not
>>>  accessible to this population without the addition of expensive
>>>  software.  We are also concerned that many wireless technologies may
>>>  not be compatible with Braille displays needed by individuals who are
>>>  deaf-blind.  In addition, according to the participants of the June
>>>  15th meeting, many specialized technologies needed to enable wireless
>>>  telecommunications access for the deaf-blind community are cost
>>>  prohibitive and difficult to find.
>>>
>>>    In order to be fully informed on the issues raised by consumers and
>>>  determine appropriate next steps to achieve telecommunications access
>>>  for these populations, we seek input from all stakeholders on the
>>>  following:
>>>
>>>  (1) The wireless phone features and functions in the current
>>>  marketplace that are not accessible for people who are blind, have
>>>  vision loss, or are deaf-blind and the extent to which gaps in
>>>  accessibility are preventing wireless communication access by these
>>>  populations;
>>>
>>>  (2) The cost and feasibility of technical solutions to achieve
>>>  wireless accessibility for these populations;
>>>
>>>  (3) Reasons why there are not a greater number of wireless phones -
>>>  particularly among less expensive or moderately-priced handset models
>>>  - that are accessible to people who are blind or have vision loss;
>>>
>>>  (4) Technical obstacles, if any, to making wireless technologies
>>>  compatible with Braille displays, as well as the cost and feasibility
>>>  of technical solutions to achieve other forms of compatibility with
>>>  wireless products and services for people who are deaf-blind;
>>>
>>>  (5) Recommendations on the most effective and efficient technical and
>>>  policy solutions for addressing the needs of consumers with vision
>>>  disabilities, including those who are deaf-blind.
>>>
>>>  (6) Recommendations on actions that our bureaus or the Commission
>>>  should take to address the current lack of access.  For example, is
>>>  additional guidance needed on specific access features that should be
>>>  included in wireless products? Should we facilitate a dialogue among
>>>  stakeholders in order to reach a specific agreement to address the
>>>  accessibility concerns outlined above?
>>>
>>>  Pursuant to sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's rules,
>>>  interested parties may file comments on or before September 13, 2010
>>>  and reply comments on or before September 30, 2010.  Comments may be
>>>  filed using:  (1) the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System
>>>  (ECFS), (2) the Federal Government's eRulemaking Portal, or (3) by
>>>  filing paper copies.  See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking
>>>  Proceedings, 63 FR 24121 (1998).
>>>
>>>  * Electronic Filers:  Comments may be filed electronically using the
>>>  Internet by accessing the ECFS:  http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/.  Filers
>>>  should follow the instructions provided on the website for submitting
>>>  comments.
>>>
>>>  * Paper Filers:  Parties who choose to file by paper must file an
>>>  original and four copies of each filing.  If more than one docket or
>>>  rulemaking number appears in the caption of this proceeding, filers
>>>  must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or
>>>  rulemaking number.
>>>
>>>  * Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial
>>>  overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service
>>>  mail (although we continue to experience delays in receiving U.S.
>>>  Postal Service mail).  All filings must be addressed to the
>>>  Commission's Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal
>>>  Communications Commission.
>>>
>>>  * The Commission's contractor will receive hand-delivered or
>>>  messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission's Secretary at
>>>  236 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, Suite 110, Washington, DC  20002.  The
>>>  filing hours at this location are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.  All hand
>>>  deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners.  Any
>>>  envelopes must be disposed of before entering the building.
>>>
>>>  * Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express
>>>  Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton Drive,
>>>  Capitol Heights, MD  20743.
>>>
>>>  * U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail must be
>>>  addressed to 445 12th Street, SW, Washington DC  20554.
>>>
>>>  A copy of this document and any subsequently filed documents in this
>>>  matter will be available during regular business hours at the FCC
>>>  Reference Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW, Room CY-A257,
>>>  Washington, DC 20554, (202) 418-0270.  This document and any
>>>  subsequently filed documents in this matter may also be purchased from
>>>  the Commission's duplicating contractor at their website,
>>>  www.bcpiweb.com, or by calling 1-800-378-3160.  A copy of the
>>>  submission may also be found by searching on the Commission's
>>>  Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) at
>>>  http://www.fcc.gov.cgb/ecfs.
>>>
>>>  To request materials in accessible formats for people with
>>>  disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format),
>>>  send an e-mail to fcc504 at fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental
>>>  Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-0432 (TTY).
>>>
>>>  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Elizabeth Lyle, Wireless
>>>  Telecommunications Bureau, (202) 418-1776; TTY (202) 418-1169 or email
>>>  at Elizabeth.Lyle at fcc.gov.
>>>
>>>
>>>  -FCC-
>>>
>>>  1 Meeting summary available at
>>>  http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020511584.
>>>  2 See, e.g., American Association of the Deaf-Blind Comments in re:
>>>  NBP PN#4 (Comment Sought on Broadband Accessibility for People with
>>>  Disabilities Workshop II:  Barriers, Opportunities, and Policy
>>>  Recommendations - NBP Public Notice #4, GN Docket Nos. 09-47, 09-51,
>>>  09-137, Public Notice 24 FCC Rcd 11968 (CGB 2009), filed Oct. 6, 2009,
>>>  at 1-2.
>>>  3 See e.g., Comments of Paul Schroeder, American Foundation for the
>>>  Blind, "Expanding Disability Access with Wireless Technologies," (May
>>>  13, 2010), (Wireless Access Workshop),
>>>  http://reboot.fcc.gov/video-archives.
>>>  ??
>>>
>>>  ??
>>>
>>>  ??
>>>
>>>  ??
>>>
>>>  PUBLIC NOTICE
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
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>
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