Check this link out

$201K Bill

Quotable quotes:

"A South Florida woman got the shock of her life when she opened a recent cell phone bill: she owed $201,000"

"Celina Aarons has her two deaf-mute brothers on her plan. They communicate by texting and use their phones to watch videos.  Normally, that's not a problem. Aarons has the appropriate data plan and her bill is about $175. "

"But her brothers spent two weeks in Canada and Aarons never changed to an international plan. Her brothers sent over 2,000 texts and also downloaded videos, sometimes racking up $2,000 in data charges."

"T-Mobile told Aarons the bill was correct. She called Miami TV station WSVN, which contacted T-Mobile. The station reports that T-Mobile cut Aarons' bill to $2,500 and gave her six months to pay."

My position is that T-Mobile has the responsibility to notify and warn the user that cost exceeded $175; and ask "continue?".  Nice of T-Mobile to reduce to $2,500, but it is still way too high for not having forewarned the users.  It is T-Mobile's blasted fault as I see it.   The users should have known better, but since telephone companies serve the people, they need to be sensitive to their needs, I believe.   

Curious: do you agree with me or is it "just too bad"?      

"Deaf-mute" – geez, in this day and age, some media have not learned the politically correct labels.   

eyes open & thumbs up,

Ed Bosson

Long Link:

http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/south-florida-woman-gets-201000-cell-phone-bill/1197329

Basically the main issue of the article is:

"Wireless firms are worried about being left out of the FCC's plan to reform a federal fund that subsidizes telecom services to rural areas"

Wireless

Wireless is conveying that the amount set aside for telecomm and wireless "..was out of step with the rising popularity of wireless devices."

Mainly wireless objected to $4.2 billion for wireline, and only $300 million for wireless.  Wireless claims that:

"At this time, when smart phones now place enormous computing power in an average person's hands, when tablets are on the verge of revolutionizing industry and education, and when demand for mobile broadband is exploding in our urban centers, this is not an investment mix that will provide rural Americans with the opportunities they need to compete."

-On the political side:

"Chairman Jay Rockfeller said he spoke with officials from the FCC that were "not thrilled" about the committee holding a hearing on USF reform.  The commission officials, according to Rockefeller, were concerned about the GOP-controlled House deciding to hold its own issue on the hearing.  The FCC is capable of moving forward on USF reform without legislation, but the size of the fund – along with the current budgetary and political climate on the Hill – all but assures the issue will draw substantial interest from lawmakers on the relevant committees."

eyes open & thumbs up,

Ed Bosson

Long LInk: 

http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/187155-wireless-firms-want-in-on-usf-reform

By now I imagine many of you got this email below as well.

Self explanatory so no comment from me other than that is simply a great idea to see how emergency broadcast works out.

eyes open & thumbs up,

Ed Bosson

*************************************************************

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are planning the first EAS nationwide test, which will take place at 2:00 PM (EST), on Wednesday, November 9, 2011.  The test will last approximately three (3) minutes.  Normal programming will return following the test.

• The November 9 test will utilize what is called a “live” national alert code, i.e., a coded message that will present itself to viewers as an actual emergency announcement, not a test.  This is necessary in order to allow FCC and FEMA to test the reliability of EAS equipment and the state of readiness of EAS operators and participants.  
• As a consequence, however, while an audio message will announce that the exercise is a “Test Only,” there may not always be a corresponding visual message alerting viewers that this is only a test.
• FCC and FEMA are conducting a public relations campaign utilizing print, broadcast, and other media to prepare the public for the test.
• We kindly request that you assist us in getting word out about the Nov. 9^th test to your constituents and communities, so that they know that the November 9^th event is only a test.  
• The FCC is also working with broadcasters and other television distributors to ensure that audio and video public service announcements will air during the weeks before November 9.  
• Attached is a brief explanation about the test, that you may use in your group’s newsletters, telephone trees, blogs, meeting announcements, or any other way your group uses to communicate important information.   
• Additional information about the test is available at the FCC’s website (www.fcc.gov/nationwideeastest ).

We will send you a reminder about the test 2 weeks before the Nov. 9^th test, 2 days before the test and the day of the test.  We appreciate your consideration of this request. 

Best Regards,

Karen Peltz Strauss                  Gregory Hlibok                        Cheryl King

A combined telephone representatives expressed a concern in their letter that I agree.

USF DEBT

I know Congress is desperate to find additional funds to pay off the debt, but this quote scares me.

"Our concern first materialized upon seeing the flawed recommendation in the December 1, 2010 report of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform that identified the private Universal Service Fund (USF) as a source of public debt reduction."

"And in recent days our unease has grown as we have learned that the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction may also be focusing on this ill-advised proposal."

Basically this is saying why not use USF to pay off federal debt.   

"Throughout its long history, the USF has always been maintained outside the U. S. Treasury and managed by a non-governmental entity."

The above quote, I agree.   The sticky problem is whether the USF is a public fund or private fund?   This group responded to this with the following quote:

"..legal precedents and guidance definitively confirm that the USF monies do not constitute “public monies” that are received for the use of the United States, but rather are private funds that are merely derived and distributed at the direction of federal statute. "

Now I admit I am at dilemma.  In this very edsalert, I have maintained that TRS Fund is a public fund.  What I believe is that any private funds contributed into a "public" service now becomes public fund.  However, I am of the opinion that even though TRS Fund is public fund, it is used only for TRS alone and cannot be used for other.  I see the same thing for the USF.   However, I see that this group is concerned that Congress looks for loopholes to use "public fund" to pay off the federal debt.   Their worrisome concern is valid, I think.  

Let me know what you think?  

eyes open & thumbs up..

Ed Bosson

Long Link: https://prodnet.www.neca.org/publicationsdocs/wwpdf/92611ntca.pdf

We all know cochlear implant is controversial.  I acknowledge that it worked very well for many people, and I also am aware that it did not work too well for many people as well.    As the cochlear technology keeps improving, it should present less problem; however, I do not think we're there yet.    It really is dependent on the individual's past history and nature of his/her losing hearing of whether this works or not.  I won't go into this, though, as this is a recall blog.   

This is a recall to a specific cochlear implant model.

Cochlear Recall Article

Quotable quotes:

"Bionic ear maker Cochlear has been forced to begin a global recall of the world’s thinnest hearing implants after some stopped working."

Model type:

"The company has begun recalling its entire Nucleus CI500 range, which makes up the bulk of its sales, from shelves after a rise in the number of faults with the CI512 model."

"While Cochlear believes the faults are unlikely to cause any health problems for people with defective implants, they are offering replacement models for re-implantation."

"Cochlear chief executive Chris Roberts said he was unable to say how many of the “very reliable” titanium-based devices were faulty."

eyes open & thumbs up,

Ed

Long LInk: http://www.suntimes.com/business/7627305-420/bionic-ear-maker-cochlear-recalls-hearing-implants.html

Check this out.

SprintLandLine

"The service, which will offer unlimited domestic calling for $19.99 per month, lets home or small business customers use a landline phone to connect to Sprint’s wireless network."

Landline to connect to wireless network?  Cool!  But note this:

"Verizon Wireless launched a service highly similar to Sprint Phone Connect back in February. Verizon calls its offering Home Phone Connect and it, too, offers unlimited calling for $20 a month by using a device similar to the one from Axesstel that is free with a two-year contract."

I still have landline as I do occasionally use landline for TTY Relay Service and to communicate with relatives as our Internet does have high speed broadband Internet.   This is something I may check into if it is really cheaper and reliable.  Any of you used that?  If so, your feedback, please?    

eyes open & thumbs up,

Ed Bosson

Long Link: http://www.telecompetitor.com/sprint-targets-landline-voice-customers-with-new-wireless-offering/

This is intriguing letter from a group of companies and Association regarding advanced communication in rural areas.

Quotable quotes:

"..an unprecedented agreement to reform the mechanisms that support the affordability and availability of advanced communications services in rural areas."

"This universal service fund (USF) and intercarrier compensation reform framework represents the country's best chance to stabilize, modernize, and expand rural networks for years to come."

"..represents a new funding paradigm for rural telecommunications, redesigning support programs for the IP era. Our complementary proposals would promote sustainable, affordable broadband throughout rural America and make those who receive funds accountable to invest in the delivery of such service."

"The plans are aimed at balancing the dual needs to deploy broadband in hard-to-serve rural markets and sustain existing broadband assets. For rural wireless, we propose to set aside $300 million annually, an amount far in excess of the FCC’s recent Mobility Fund proposal."

I do not know whether to support that or not, but on the face value, it looks promising for the rural areas in getting better service; perhaps high speed broadband services.   

This statement "Our framework, which is comprised of two complementary plans to support the deployment and continued operation of networks by providers of all sizes, has recently been submitted to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)."  Indicates plans already submitted.    Check out the FCC website on this unless one of you can readily find it and provide links to that?    

eyes open & thumbs up..

Ed Bosson

Long LInk:  http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/EAAC/
]]> http://www.edsalert.com/2011/03/17/need-comments-from-yall-for-ng9-1-1-1/feed/ 4 http://www.edsalert.com/2011/03/11/apple-ipad-2-att-and-verizon-rates/ http://www.edsalert.com/2011/03/11/apple-ipad-2-att-and-verizon-rates/#comments Fri, 11 Mar 2011 19:45:13 +0000 edsalert http://www.edsalert.com/?p=1564 Folks,

Did a little research myself on IPAD 2 as I wanted to purchase 2 iPAD 2 for myself and wife. I was thinking of getting the WiFi + 3G plan. The fact there is no "unlimited plan" and AT&T and Verizon only offer usage rates gave me a pause so am holding back until I hear more on this and would love to hear your thoughts/analysis.   Here is the information I have found out.  

Keep in mind that if you get WiFi product, then you do not need to worry about this.  If you plan to get WiFi + 3G product, then it could become worrisome.   Here’s why.  Before I go on, keep in mind, signing with either AT&T or Verizon does NOT lock you to a two-year term.   So you can switch to other if u think other is cheaper in the long run. 

First check out Money’s analysis the link below.

MoneyAnalysis

Quotable quotes:

"..there are a total of eight different AT&T and Verizon plans that you can choose from, each with a different set of data caps and overage charges."

Yikes..

"A data plan with a 250 megabyte cap gets you about 1,300 Web pages, 400 photo downloads, 60 songs, 14 YouTube videos, or about an hour of Netflix videos. A 1 gigabyte plan gets you 6,500 Web pages, 2,000 photos, 300 songs, 65 YouTube videos or between three and six hours of Netflix viewing."

3 to 5 hours of Netflix movie uses up 1 GB, so don’t watch too many movies using the 3G network – better with WiFi if you can find it. 

Now more to our needs.   Why not simply just stay with WiFi only?  Can do that, but the problem is if later you see 3G turning into 4G or 6G, and would be lot faster than WiFi.  WiFi product can’t change over to WiFi + 3G; that’s why they are selling separately.   Darn.   I would love just to test WiFi, and if that does not meet my need, then upgrade to WiFi + 3G.  Nope, can’t do that – at least that’s my understanding.  If me wrong, feel free to correct me.   Also, some large cities have abundance of WiFi, then the choice would be easy.  Other cities not so plentiful so choice should be WiFi + 3G product?    If you stay home all the time, then WiFi alone should suffice if u already have wireless network at home/work. 

Sorry to digress..but here are some interesting and a bit bothersome analysis.

Let’s say you want 2 GB plan for $25 a month with AT&T. 

"A video conversation consuming 320kbps in each direction – 640kbps total – will run into the 5gb cap in 18 hours 38 minutes. That’s an average of 36 minutes per day over a 31 day month."  This one is from a Convo staff’s analysis.  

To hit the 2 GB cap, it would only take 7 hours 27 minutes. That’s a little less than 15 minutes a day. Hmm  we have 30 days a month.  AT&T and Verizon must think a day equals a month. 

Now keep in mind that is for 3G product.  Also, note 320 kbps is the low end of speed; many video phones are higher like 512 kbps which means will gobble up even more memory. 

Remember if you have access to WiFi, usage won’t count against you.  

Anyway, so if you use 3G product for browsing, viewing You Tube (just watch 10 minutes of HD video clip will use up 2 GB right there), email, texting, and watching movie, you will pay a penny more than you want to.  

Minimal use of 3G, AT&T plan is better, use lot of 3G, Verizon is better with $80 a month per 10 GB.  Yike, that may still not be enough for us deafies who will use lot of video chats.  

So what do you think, folks?    Be prolific in your thoughts.   

eyes open & thumbs up,

Ed

Long Link: 

MoneyAnalysis:
http://money.cnn.com/2011/03/11/technology/ipad_plan_cost/index.htm

By now, one would think that issue should not be a problem for deaf/hoh, but, it still is. 

Hosp Denied Request

Quotable quotes:

"The Florida Human Relations Commission must determine whether a Hialeah hospital meets the legal definition of a public establishment so it can be determined whether it should have provided a sign-language interpreter to a deaf patient, a state appeals court ruled Tuesday."

My reaction was "What?  Seriously?"   It is a no brainer that hospital should provide interpreting service.  

"The plaintiff, Maura Mena, brought a discrimination complaint, alleging that her request for a sign-language interpreter was denied."

"The commission has made a ruling on this issue before, saying that hospitals aren’t primarily engaged in selling food, even if they have a cafeteria, and therefore don’t qualify."

Geez – looking for loopholes, huh?

"But a three-judge panel of the 1st DCA on Tuesday said whether the particular hospital is qualified depends on whether it “holds itself out as serving patrons” of the cafeteria. And that question of fact must be answered before the court can rule, the panel said, sending the case back to the Human Relations Commission to determine the answer."

It is really sad that this still happens in this enlightened age.

eyes open & thumbs up,

Ed

Long Link:
http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/12/29/1991985/deaf-patient-files-complaint.html