Ed’s Telecom Alert

All..

This is really exciting.  Dept of Justice wants to hear from you all on various accessibility issues from ADA.  

Accessibility of Web Info and Services

"The Department of Justice (Department) is considering revising the regulations implementing title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA or Act) in order to establish requirements for making the goods, services, facilities, privileges, accommodations, or advantages offered by public accommodations via the Internet, specifically at sites on the World Wide Web (Web), accessible to individuals with disabilities."

and this

"..considering revising the ADA’s title II regulation to establish requirements for making the services, programs, or activities offered by State and local governments to the public via the Web accessible."

I’ve said that many times before; hold your silence, gov’t decides what you need, but if you tell gov’t what you want, gov’t will follow your suggestions (at least if enough of you express, they usually do).  

Sooo  be brave and tell DOJ what you think and what should be done.    Link explains how to express to the DOJ.  

I will be one of them.   My major beef is non-captioned of the video clips of news media like CNN and others.    Be sure to instruct DOJ to create a rule not to use voice to text cuz it is not accurate yet, or use teleprompter cuz ad libs often are lost in that.   We want the captioning of the whole shebang news clips.  

eyes open & thumbs up,

Ed

Long Link:

Access – http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#documentDetail?R=0900006480b20b1a

Folks..

My apologies to those who already got this, but I thought worth posting for those who may have not seen that one.   

ICED Resolution

Quote

"Therefore we:

• Reject all resolutions passed at the ICED Milan Congress in 1880 that denied the inclusion of sign languages in educational programs for Deaf students;
• Acknowledge and sincerely regret the detrimental effectsof the Milan conference; and
• Call upon all Nations of the world to remember history and ensure that educational programs accept and respect all languages and all forms of communication."

My reaction?   YAHOO and HUZZAH!    

eyes open & thumbs up,

Ed

Long Link:

ICED – http://www.iced2010.com/pdf/Statement%20of%20Principle%20and%20Accord%20for%20the%20Future%281%29.pdf

All..

Here are misc news of happenings recently – short ones.

4 Petitioners Motion

"An extension of time is necessary and in the public interest to allow interested parties to gather information, conduct meaningful dialogue concerning the intertwined and dynamic issues presented with respect to video relay service (“VRS”), and to allow commenter to develop meaningful in-depth positions concerning this critical proceeding."

"Such an extension is particularly warranted in light of the Commission’s desire for input on so many varying critical questions relating to the VRS program’s effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability, as is the case here.
Petitioners therefore submit that a reasonably moderate extension of the comment deadline will enable stakeholders to more thoroughly evaluate and respond to the NOI and thus provide more substantive, thorough and thoughtful comments."

FCC Denies SVRS’s Stay Motion

Basically FCC denies SVRS’s Stay Motion.  Here is a quote:

"Although Sorenson nominally seeks a "stay," it asks not just that we stay the interim rates, but also that we take affirmative steps to re-institute the former VRS rate that expired on June 30, 2010. For the reasons set forth below, we deny the request."

As result, SVRS now seeks court to overturn the FCC’s decision.    

Contribution Factor

Contribution factor simply means when National Exchange Carrier Association "collects" from all telephone companies, etc. to "contribute" to Interstate TRS Fund.  Interstate TRS Fund is what reimburses all relay providers.

The pertinent quote that basically address the main issue:

"Based on the adoption of these rates and NECA’s proposals, the Commission hereby adopts a carrier contribution factor of 0.00585, and a funding requirement of $433,990,484.98 for the 2010-2011 Fund year.11    The Commission adopts these rates, and this contribution factor and funding requirement, for a period of one year, except as otherwise provided herein."

eyes open & thumbs up,

Ed

Long Links:

4 Petitioners – http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020550986
FCC Denies – http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020549754
Contribution – https://prodnet.www.neca.org/publicationsdocs/wwpdf/fcc10115.pdf