[real-eyes] Re: Fw: FCC Proposes to Update Rules Allowing Accessibility to Advanced Communications for 54 Million Consumers with Disabilities
- From: "jose" <crunch1@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <real-eyes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 8 Mar 2011 06:14:49 -0600
I pray that together we can all work towards a common goal. I pray that we
as persons with disabilities can once and for all be on the same page and
not try to dismantle the work that has begun.
Jose Lopez, President
Lopez Language Services, LLC
"We Speak Your Language"
Call us anytime at 888.824.3022
----- Original Message -----
From: "Reginald George" <sgeorge@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <real-eyes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2011 4:16 AM
Subject: [real-eyes] Fw: FCC Proposes to Update Rules Allowing Accessibility
to Advanced Communications for 54 Million Consumers with Disabilities
> FCC Proposes to Update Rules Allowing Accessibility to Advanced
> Communications to 54 Million Consumers with DisabilitiesThis was posted to
> several other lists. I repost it here with my comments.
> Apple Computer has set the bar in this area IMO, buy accurately reading
> the future, and building universal design into their products from the
> ground up. They should be commended and supported by disabled consumers
> everywhere. If we want to truly make a difference we need to take
> advantage of these comment periods to the F.C.C. and let our voices be
> heard. We have never had a commission in office that is so responsive to
> our needs. They appear to truly understand the importance of giving
> everyone a level playing field when it comes to communication and access
> to the public networks of this country. These are game changing pieces of
> legislation. We have an unprecedented opportunity here to make a
> difference that may never come again.
>
> Respectfully:
>
> Reginald George
> Adaptive Technology Specialist
> Kansas City Missouri
> 816-200-1064
> adapt@xxxxxxxxx
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: White House Disability Group
> To: jasmurphy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Sent: Monday, March 07, 2011 4:58 PM
>
>
> Please circulate so everyone will have a chance to participate in the
> process.
>
>
> Washington, D.C. â?" As part of its ongoing efforts to implement the
> â?oTwenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of
> 2010â?? (CVAA), the Federal Communications Commission issued three Notices
> of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRMs). The CVAA is considered the most
> significant piece of accessibility legislation since the passage of the
> Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990. The CVAA has modernized existing
> communications laws to ensure that people with disabilities are able to
> share fully in the economic, social, and civic benefits of broadband and
> other 21st century communication technologies.
>
>
> The first of the three FCC CVAA-related NPRMs approved by the Commission
> seeks to ensure that the 54 million individuals with disabilities living
> in the United States are able to fully use advanced communications
> services, equipment and networks. Section 255 of the Communications Act
> now requires telecommunications and interconnected VoIP manufacturers to
> provide such access. The NPRM seeks to ensure that when Section 716 is
> implemented, it will fully complement Section 255. Until now, people with
> disabilities often have not had full access to the benefits of rapid
> technological changes in advanced communications. Wireless handsets have
> evolved into multi-media devices capable of accessing the Internet,
> sending e-mails or text messages, and enabling video conversations.
>
>
> The Advanced Communications Services NPRM seeks comment on the following:
>
> â?¢ How should the FCC implement the requirements of Section 104
> of the CVAA, which creates new sections 716 and 717 of the Communications
> Act? It is essential that the Commission ensure that manufacturers of
> â?oadvanced communications servicesâ?? (ACS) equipment make their devices
> and products accessible to people with disabilities. In certain cases
> where manufacturers cannot achieve compliance by making their products or
> services accessible, they must ensure that their equipment and services is
> compatible with assistive technologies used by people with disabilities.
>
> â?¢ Are there steps that the Commission should be taking to
> enhance its enforcement and recordkeeping procedures for manufacturers and
> providers, under Sections 255 and 716? The CVAA directs the Commission to
> implement new procedures in this area under Section 717.
>
> â?¢ With section 718 taking effect in 2013, what steps can the
> Commission and stakeholders take to ensure that ACS manufacturers and
> service providers are working to make mobile phone Internet browsers
> accessible to people who are blind or visually impaired?
>
>
> The FCC approved a second NPRM that seeks comment on reinstatement and
> modification of the video description rules originally adopted by the
> Commission in 2000. Video description is the insertion of audio-narrated
> descriptions of a television program's key visual elements into natural
> pauses in the program's dialogue. This feature makes television
> programming more accessible to people who are blind or visually impaired
> by providing them with essential information that is otherwise conveyed to
> the audience only visually.
>
>
> This NPRM would reinstate the Commissionâ?Ts video description rules that
> were previously overturned by the U.S. Court of Appeals more than a decade
> ago. The enactment of the CVAA in 2010 provided the Commission with ample
> authority for the reinstatement of these rules.
>
>
> As directed by Congress in the CVAA, the proposed rules would require:
>
> * Large-market broadcast affiliates of the top four national networks
> and large multichannel video programming distributors (â?oMVPDsâ??) to
> provide video description;
> * These broadcasters to provide 50 hours per quarter of
> video-described primetime or childrenâ?Ts programming, with affected MVPDs
> providing the same amount on each of the five most popular non-broadcast
> networks; and
> * All network-affiliated broadcasters and all MVPDs to â?opass
> throughâ?? any video description included in network or broadcast
> programming they carry. Live or near-live programming would be exempt
> from the proposed rules.
>
>
> Finally, the FCC approved a third NPRM to implement Section 103(b) of the
> CVAA, which mandates that the Commission extend participation in and
> contribution to the Telecommunications Relay Service (â?oTRSâ??) Fund to
> interconnected and non-interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol
> (â?oVoIPâ??) service providers. Although interconnected VoIP service
> providers already contribute to the Fund under Commission rules, this
> would statutorily codify that practice, and further extend this obligation
> to non-interconnected providers. The TRS Fund compensates TRS providers
> for the costs of providing service to individuals with hearing and speech
> disabilities.
>
>
> Contributions to the TRS Fund are calculated on the basis of annual
> interstate end-user telecommunications revenues. There is a â?osafe
> harborâ?? provision that permits interconnected VoIP providers to
> calculate their contributions on the basis of actual revenues or a traffic
> study, or to rely on a â?osafe harborâ?? provision that allows them to
> consider 64.9% of their revenues to be interstate telecommunications
> revenues.
>
>
> The TRS Fund NPRM seeks public comment on the following:
>
> * Should the safe harbor provision extend to non-interconnected VoIP
> providers?
>
> * What revenues should be included in calculating TRS contributions,
> i.e., just revenues from interstate end-user calls or revenues from all
> sources?
>
> * Should the FCC require VoIP providers that offer services for free
> and have zero end-user revenues to make any contributions to the TRS Fund?
>
>
> Action by the Commission March 2, 2011, by Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
> (FCC 11-37, FCC 11-36, FCC 11-38) respectively. Chairman Genachowski,
> Commissioners Copps, McDowell, Clyburn and Baker. Separate Statements
> issued by Chairman Genachowski and Commissioner Copps. Docket Nos. CG
> 10-213, MB 11-43, CG 11-47.
>
> For more news and information about the FCC please visit: www.fcc.gov
> <http://www.fcc.gov/>
>
> The White House · 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW · Washington DC 20500 ·
> 202-456-1111
>
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> ATI (Adaptive Technology Inc.)
> A special interest affiliate of the Missouri Council of the Blind
> http://moblind.org/membership/affiliates/adaptive_technology
>
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> ATI (Adaptive Technology Inc.)
> A special interest affiliate of the Missouri Council of the Blind
> http://moblind.org/membership/affiliates/adaptive_technology
>
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