9-1-1 Accessible by text and video?

23 11 2010

Folks..

In the near future Emergency 9-1-1 to allow texting and video streaming?  It would be way cool to be able to do that.  

More Accessible 911?

Quotable quotes:

"In a bid to bring the life-saving emergency service 911 into the 21st century, the FCC is looking at letting citizens report crimes through text messages and even stream video from their mobile phones to emergency centers."

"..911 handles more than 230 million calls a year — 70 percent of which now come from mobile phones."

"It’s not clear yet where the money will come from for the upgrades, whether they will be federal requirements states and cities must carry out or if they will simply be suggestions."

I am aware that NENA is already discussing how to utilize VRS into the infrastructure of emergency dispatch’s ability to receive emergency calls.  Whether it be from VRS providers, or create a national emergency call center just for the emergency VRS calls?  What do you think, my dear friends?  

eyes open & thumbs up,

Ed

Long Link:
http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/11/fcc-911-texting/

Comments : 5 Comments »
Categories : Alerts, Digress to Other Issues, Technology Innovations

Greg Hlibok Now A CHIEF of Disability Rights Office

16 11 2010

Folks..

Seriously good news!

Greg has been named as Chief of the FCC’s Disability Rights Office.  

Check out the news.

CHIEF GREG

Quotable quotes:

“Greg will be heading up the Disability Rights Office at a crucial time, as the FCC ramps up to implement the most significant disability law in two decades,” said FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski."

"He will be the first head of DRO who has a disability. Under his direction, the office will work to ensure that people with disabilities can share fully in the economic and social benefits of emerging 21st century technologies.”

"He is known nationally for his role as spokesperson for the Deaf President Now movement in 1988, which led to the selection of Gallaudet University’s first deaf president."

"At the FCC, he has taken the lead in several key rulemaking proceedings on telecommunications access for people with disabilities, including new initiatives on the National Broadband Plan."

New duties: "..including telecommunications relay service (TRS), access to telecommunications equipment and services by persons with disabilities, access to emergency information, and closed captioning. DRO also provides expert advice and assistance to other Bureaus and Offices, consumers, and industry,"

Greg, although I speak for myself, I have no doubt that I also speak for teeming masses of deaf/hoh that you have our HEARTFELT CONGRATULATIONS!

eyes open & thumbs up,

Ed

Long Link to CHIEF GREG

http://www.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2010/db1116/DOC-302803A1.pdf

Comments : 14 Comments »
Categories : Alerts, FCC Issues