Public Workshop On Internet Access
21 12 2009Folks..
This is seriously an important one! Although not specified for deaf/hoh/speech disabled persons, it does impact people with disabilities. So STRONGLY suggest you follow this, and encourage Movers and Shakers from the disability world to file comments or participate in these round of workshops. You, Gentle Readers, should likewise file comments. These workshops will be held at the FCC on Jan 13 and 19.
Refers to a government website on Internet; check out the following link:
Open Internet Government Website
By the way above has a video clip and it is open captioned. Chairman Julius Genachowski speaking on the Open Internet NPRM. Worth watching.
Basically it is about ensuring that Internet is kept "free and open Internet" where all walks of life including small and large businesses have access to without worrying about Internet providers imposing Internet "fees".
We need to add that access to Internet are and should continue to provide access for deaf/hoh/speech-disabled communities. At the same time, we need to express that FCC should apply Section 255 to the services that are using Internet. Examples are: Video Clip News from CNN, Fox, etc. Right now rules somewhere say that because these news are Internet thus do not fall under Section 255 regulations. Hey, you legal folks, let me know if I got that right or not. If not, please enlighten us.
The danger as I see it is that maybe the FCC "inadvertently" prevent any type of regulation on Internet thus these rules may apply to video news or others on Internet thus we deaf/hoh/speech-disabled are out of luck. Yes, we want Internet to be kept free and open, but at the same time we want to have access to various services that we currently do not have access to (video news are good example).
eyes open & thumbs up,
Ed
Long Links:
Workshop on Internet: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-295283A1.pdf
Open Internet Gov: http://www.OpenInternet.gov/
In addition to captioning, we should request that additional IP addresses could be added at no additional cost for multi-videophone use; that is, if the H.323 technology is still required.
Ed –
Clarification. Section 255 does not cover video programming. Section 255 requires access to telecommunications — products and services used to communicate on the telephone network. See FCC fact sheet at http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/section255.html.
The Twenty-first Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (H.R. 3101), when passed, will require video programming distributed over the Internet to be captioned. See a summary of H.R. 3101 at http://www.coataccess.org/node/4623 and the following excerpt from Section 203 of the bill:
“This section also amends the definition for video programming to include video programming distributed over the Internet or by some other means, to ensure the continued accessibility of video programming to Americans with disabilities as this programming migrates to the Internet. The FCC is directed to establish a schedule of deadlines for the provision of closed captioning of such Internet-based video programming.”
Hope this clarification is helpful.
Rosaline Crawford
Director, NAD Law and Advocacy Center
Rosaline,
Right you are on Section 255 being limited to telecommunications (service or products). Thanks for clarification.
Folks, however, the need to submit comments or remarks to the FCC on the need for captioned news of Internet News still hold.
eyes open & thumbs up..
“Free and open” does not mean freedom from responsibility. If major news and information services will not caption because they don’t want to spend the money, they are essentially asking to be regulated.
Dianrez,
You’re so right. Unfortunately, I think that is what it will take. Remember we deaf/hoh did not have access to telephone service for many years until Congress came up with ADA and forced the access to telephone industry. So FCC folks, regulate away!
eyes open & thumbs up..