[WADNet Post] August 21, 2006: TDI Action Alert
- From: WADNet Post Editor <wadneteditor@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: wadnetpost@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 22 Aug 2006 00:21:09 -0500
TDI ACTION ALERT
-- TDI-L eNote 8/16/06
================================================
TDI-L eNote 8/16/06
ACTION ALERT - Let the FCC Know You Oppose New Policy Weakening
Television Emergency Captioning Requirements.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) periodically sends out
notices to broadcasters reminding them of their obligation to make their
televised emergency bulletins accessible to viewers with hearing and
vision disabilities by making such information equally accessible by
both audio or by video (text or graphics).
On July 20, 2006, a routine reminder notice* was sent out - followed by
an unusual clarification on August 7, 2006*. This clarification was an
attempt to answer some questions that broadcasters had asked the FCC
earlier in response to fines that were assessed against eight television
stations in 2005 for failing to make their emergency bulletins accessible.
As a result of this clarification, newscasters in the top 25 television
markets* (reaching more than 40% of the US population) can easily avoid
their obligations to caption their emergency bulletins. While it is
true that television stations are permitted to use visual aids other
than captioning to make their emergency bulletins accessible (e.g. maps,
crawling text, graphics, or pictures on paper in front of a camera),
none of these methods are equal to captioning in the amount of
information that they provide. Broadcasters in the top 25 markets are
already required to caption their regular newscasts and have established
relationships with captioning providers that they can summon during an
emergency. The problem is that the clarification says that the FCC will
not investigate if a TV station claims that they could not use
captioning during a local emergency.
TDI NEEDS YOUR HELP! TDI and other organizations for deaf and hard of
hearing consumers feel that this action by the FCC will put our lives in
danger. Next time there is an emergency, you may only see maps on the
TV, but you will not know the important details of the emergency such as
the safest routes to travel, what you must do to "shelter in place" (or
stay inside wherever you are), where to go to a shelter, when it is safe
to come out again and resume normal activities? News broadcasters must
serve everyone in their communities, and that includes making their
emergency bulletins fully accessible so that all people can take
whatever action is necessary to save their lives, secure their property
and help loved ones.
PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO THE FCC and tell them to remove the
clarification regarding emergency announcements issued on 8/7/06.
Forward and share this email alert with your friends. Please send an
email to the FCC at fccinfo@xxxxxxx, and send a copy of your email to
TDI at info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Write in your own words as a deaf or hard of hearing television viewer.
Here are some suggestions to use to tell why you need to see captions
for all emergency announcements. Your reasons might include:
- That you will be able to understand safety instructions better.
- That they will help you develop and carry out your emergency plans
together with confidence and include all family members, especially your
children.
- That you have always watched television with captions and want to
continue to do so in an emergency.
The above are only suggestions. You probably have your own reasons for
wanting to use captioning during an emergency. Please write your own
email today saying why you want and need the FCC to rescind (remove) its
8/7/06 clarification to television broadcasters.
Feel free to use this sample letter below or use your own words.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
August 16, 2006
Kevin J. Martin, Chairman
Michael J. Copps, Commissioner
Jonathan S. Adelstein, Commissioner
Deborah Taylor Tate, Commissioner
Robert M. McDowell, Commissioner
Dear Commissioners,
This is to let you know that I fully support the petition filed by
TDI and other national organizations with the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) on August 14, 2006 requesting that you rescind your
clarification of 8/7/06 regarding captioning of emergency announcements
on TV.
Given that the local broadcasters in the top 25 television markets
currently have real-time closed captioning capabilities, and provide
captions routinely for their local news shows, I fully expect them to
provide closed captioning for all breaking news, including emergency
announcements that are broadcast to their viewers.
For example, if I live in Texas, and there is a tornado, I would
want my local TV station to tell me using closed captions when the
tornado is about to strike, its current direction and speed, immediate
action to take, and when it is safe to go outside again.
Closed captioning gives me many more details, nearly equal to what
is audible. While visual information is welcome via other methods, such
as crawls, signs, and graphics, the information that they convey is
limited, and this can endanger my life, health, and safety, and property
during an emergency. My survival needs are equally important to those
of others in the community.
I support TDI's request that the FCC withdraw its August 7, 2006
clarification notice, and continue to maintain its effective enforcement
of its current 79.2 regulations on emergency information broadcasts.
Human lives are precious, and access to safety information is a vital
American right!
Thank you for your consideration,
Sincerely,
(your name)
(home address)
(home city, state & zip code)
(email address.)
cc: Monica Desai, Chief, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau
Jay Keithley, Deputy Chief, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau
Tom Chandler, Chief, Disability Rights Office
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
*For more information:
- Routine reminder notice to broadcasters on their obligations regarding
emergency news bulletins sent out on July 20, 2006 -
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1483A1.pdf
- Clarification to broadcasters on August 7, 2006 -
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1600A1.pdf
- Nielsen List of Designated Market Areas -
http://www.nielsenmedia.com/DMAs.html
# # #
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
About TDI: Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc. is
a nonprofit advocacy organization that promotes equal access to
telecommunications, media and information technology for individuals who
are deaf and hard of hearing. Since 1968, TDI has successfully advocated
for a variety of federal legislation to improve the lives of people with
hearing loss, including the Hearing Aid Compatibility Act of 1988, the
Americans with Disabilities Act and the Television Decoder Circuitry
Act, both of 1990, and the Telecommunications Act of 1996. In addition,
TDI advocates for administrative rules and policies that will provide
greater access to wireless technology, as well as complete and
high-quality captioning of television programs. Since its inception, TDI
has promoted equal access to 9-1-1 centers and other public safety
answering points, and is now working to ensure full access for deaf and
hard of hearing people to information during natural or manmade
disasters and other types of emergencies. TDI annually publishes a
national directory and resource guide, commonly known as The Blue Book,
which is a popular resource book for people who are deaf and hard of
hearing, as well as The GA-SK Quarterly News Magazine. For more
information about TDI, visit www.tdi-online.org.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
(Contributed by: Jim Powell, President of WTCI)
=============================================
Leslie Riggs
WADNet Post Editor & Listserv Administrator
Wisconsin Association of the Deaf
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