Terri,
I don't entirely agree with your reasoning. When traveling with their cell phone, sighted persons have options that we don't. That is, they can use telephone books that are available at pay phones and when in stores or other establishments, they can ask to use phone books to look up numbers. Busy clerks will often have time to loan a person a phone book, but not have the time to look up telephone numbers, especially if you want to look up more than one number.
Also, using your reasoning, long distance telephone companies would not need to provide free directory assistance because they don't provide phone books for all locations throughout the U.S. Yet they provide free directory assistance to the blind.
Harvey Boots
---- Original Message ------
From: Terri Hedgpeth <[log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Update on Sprint PCS free directory assistance
Date: Thu, 7 Aug 2003 12:41:36 -0700
Hey, wait a minute. Where did this sense of entitlement come from. The only
reason wired lan lines offer free directory assistance is because it
provides equal access for blind persons to their published print phone book.
There isn't a published print directory that wireless companies provide for
their customers. Thus, sighted have to pay for directory assistants, so why
not blind people. That is reverse discrimination. I am blind and I hope
others will join me in speaking out against this.
_________________________________
Terri Hedgpeth
Disability Specialist .
Disability Resources for Students
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ 85287-3202
(480) 965-1232 (v)
(480) 965-0441 (fax)
-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, August 07, 2003 11:28 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Update on Sprint PCS free directory assistance
--part1_44.33fa9883.2c63f42d_boundary
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Hello, everyone:
I received my second call from the executive operations office of Sprint PCS
this morning. For those of you who don't recall the details, I filed an FCC
complaint against Sprint PCS for their failure to provide free directory
assistance and connectivity for those of us in the blind community.
Most established land line companies waive the fees with only a signed
directive, so why not the cellular folks? I am aware that some wired line
services
(other than SBC) make a fuss, but they'll remove the charges if you call
them
and give them a gentle push. But, you have to do it every month.
Again, Sprint PCS contends there's no FCC requirement for free cellular
directory assistance and connectivity, but on their own, they are willing to
do an
engineering feasibility study -- and they're willing to spend the dollars to
reach the goal of better service for blind cellular phone users. There are
multiple directory assistance companies throughout the nation, depending
what
satellite is closest to the caller, and some may be out of business by the
time
Sprint PCS asks if they'll come on board.
Sprint's initial talks with some of them said, "Sure, we'll be glad to get
on
the bandwagon." I suggested to the coordinator a positive outcome could
provide great PR, therefore increase sales and service, yadda, yadda, yadda.
I'll wait to see where this goes. Perhaps one day the FCC will say this
should be a requirement of all cellular service providers, so please stay
tuned.
BTW: No animals were killed to send you this update and no charges for time
were made to eBlind. It's just a bit of a Thursday diversion...
Sheila
Sheila R. Ashcraft, eBlind! Outreach Coordinator
PO Box 430209, Pontiac, MI 48343-0209
(248) 334-4329 Voice (248) 334-2226 Fax
e-Mail Address: [log in to unmask]
(If this e-mail requires a response, please do so promptly. Thanks.)
--part1_44.33fa9883.2c63f42d_boundary
Content-Type: text/html; charset="US-ASCII"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
<HTML><FONT FACE=3Darial,helvetica><FONT SIZE=3D4 FAMILY=3D"SANSSERIF"
FACE=
=3D"Arial" LANG=3D"0"><B>Hello, everyone:<BR
I received my second call from the executive operations office of Sprint
PCS=
this morning. For those of you who don't recall the details, I
filed=20=
an FCC complaint against Sprint PCS for their failure to provide free
direct=
ory assistance and connectivity for those of us in the blind community. <BR
<BR
Most established land line companies waive the fees with only a signed
direc=
tive, so why not the cellular folks? I am aware that some wired line
s=
ervices (other than SBC) make a fuss, but they'll remove the charges if
you=20=
call them and give them a gentle push. But, you have to do it every
month.&n=
bsp; <BR
<BR
Again, Sprint PCS contends there's no FCC requirement for free cellular
dire=
ctory assistance and connectivity, but on their own, they are willing to
do=20=
an engineering feasibility study -- and they're willing to spend the
dollars=
to reach the goal of better service for blind cellular phone users.
T=
here are multiple directory assistance companies throughout the nation,
depe=
nding what satellite is closest to the caller, and some may be out of
busine=
ss by the time Sprint PCS asks if they'll come on board. <BR
<BR
Sprint's initial talks with some of them said, "Sure, we'll be glad to get
o=
n the bandwagon." I suggested to the coordinator a positive outcome
co=
uld provide great PR, therefore increase sales and service, yadda, yadda,
ya=
dda. <BR
<BR
I'll wait to see where this goes. Perhaps one day the FCC will say
thi=
s <U>should</U> be a requirement of all cellular service providers, so
pleas=
e stay tuned. <BR
<BR
BTW: No animals were killed to send you this update and no charges for
time=20=
were made to eBlind. It's just a bit of a Thursday diversion...
</FONT=
><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" style=3D"BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=3D4 FACE=
=3D"Alba Matter" LANG=3D"0"><BR
Sheila</FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" style=3D"BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff"
SI=
ZE=3D2 FAMILY=3D"SANSSERIF" FACE=3D"Arial CYR" LANG=3D"0"><BR
Sheila R. Ashcraft, eBlind! Outreach Coordinator <BR
PO Box 430209, Pontiac, MI 48343-0209<BR
(248) 334-4329 Voice (248) 334-2226 Fax<BR
e-Mail Address: [log in to unmask]<BR
(If this e-mail requires a response, please do so promptly.
Thanks.)</=
B></FONT></HTML
--part1_44.33fa9883.2c63f42d_boundary--
VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
To join or leave the list, send a message to
[log in to unmask] In the body of the message, simply type
"subscribe vicug-l" or "unsubscribe vicug-l" without the quotations.
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Content-type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-transfer-encoding: quoted-printable
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 3.2//EN"
<HTML
<HEAD
<META HTTP-EQUIV=3D"Content-Type" CONTENT=3D"text/html; =
charset=3Diso-8859-1"
<META NAME=3D"Generator" CONTENT=3D"MS Exchange Server version =
5.5.2655.35"
<TITLE>RE: Update on Sprint PCS free directory assistance</TITLE
</HEAD
<BODY
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2>Hey, wait a minute. Where did this sense of =
entitlement come from. The only reason wired lan lines offer free =
directory assistance is because it provides equal access for blind =
persons to their published print phone book. There isn't a published =
print directory that wireless companies provide for their customers. =
Thus, sighted have to pay for directory assistants, so why not blind =
people. That is reverse discrimination. I am blind and I hope others =
will join me in speaking out against this.</FONT></P
<BR
<BR
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2>_________________________________</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>Terri Hedgpeth</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>Disability Specialist .</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>Disability Resources for Students</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>Arizona State University</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>Tempe, AZ 85287-3202</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>(480) 965-1232 (v)</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>(480) 965-0441 (fax)</FONT
</P
<BR
<BR
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2>-----Original Message-----</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>From: [log in to unmask] [<A =
HREF=3D"mailto:[log in to unmask]">mailto:[log in to unmask]</A>=
]</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>Sent: Thursday, August 07, 2003 11:28 AM</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>To: [log in to unmask]</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>Subject: Update on Sprint PCS free directory =
assistance</FONT
</P
<BR
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2>--part1_44.33fa9883.2c63f42d_boundary</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>Content-Type: text/plain; =
charset=3D"US-ASCII"</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit</FONT
</P
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2>Hello, everyone:</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>I received my second call from the executive =
operations office of Sprint PCS</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>this morning. For those of you who don't =
recall the details, I filed an FCC</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>complaint against Sprint PCS for their failure to =
provide free directory</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>assistance and connectivity for those of us in the =
blind community.</FONT
</P
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2>Most established land line companies waive the fees =
with only a signed</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>directive, so why not the cellular folks? I am =
aware that some wired line services</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>(other than SBC) make a fuss, but they'll remove the =
charges if you call them</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>and give them a gentle push. But, you have to do it =
every month.</FONT
</P
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2>Again, Sprint PCS contends there's no FCC requirement =
for free cellular</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>directory assistance and connectivity, but on their =
own, they are willing to do an</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>engineering feasibility study -- and they're willing =
to spend the dollars to</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>reach the goal of better service for blind cellular =
phone users. There are</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>multiple directory assistance companies throughout =
the nation, depending what</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>satellite is closest to the caller, and some may be =
out of business by the time</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>Sprint PCS asks if they'll come on board.</FONT
</P
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2>Sprint's initial talks with some of them said, =
"Sure, we'll be glad to get on</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>the bandwagon." I suggested to the =
coordinator a positive outcome could</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>provide great PR, therefore increase sales and =
service, yadda, yadda, yadda.</FONT
</P
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2>I'll wait to see where this goes. Perhaps one =
day the FCC will say this</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>should be a requirement of all cellular service =
providers, so please stay tuned.</FONT
</P
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2>BTW: No animals were killed to send you this update =
and no charges for time</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>were made to eBlind. It's just a bit of a =
Thursday diversion...</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>Sheila</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>Sheila R. Ashcraft, eBlind! Outreach =
Coordinator</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>PO Box 430209, Pontiac, MI 48343-0209</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>(248) 334-4329 Voice (248) 334-2226 Fax</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>e-Mail Address: [log in to unmask]</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>(If this e-mail requires a response, please do so =
promptly. Thanks.)</FONT
</P
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2>--part1_44.33fa9883.2c63f42d_boundary</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>Content-Type: text/html; =
charset=3D"US-ASCII"</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable</FONT
</P
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2><HTML><FONT =
FACE=3D3Darial,helvetica><FONT SIZE=3D3D4 =
FAMILY=3D3D"SANSSERIF" FACE=3D</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>=3D3D"Arial" =
LANG=3D3D"0"><B>Hello, everyone:<BR></FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>I received my second call from the executive =
operations office of Sprint PCS=3D</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2> this morning.&nbsp; For those of you who =
don't recall the details, I filed=3D20=3D</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>an FCC complaint against Sprint PCS for their =
failure to provide free direct=3D</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>ory assistance and connectivity for those of us in =
the blind community. <BR></FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2><BR></FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>Most established land line companies waive the fees =
with only a signed direc=3D</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>tive, so why not the cellular folks?&nbsp; I am =
aware that some wired line s=3D</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>ervices (other than SBC) make a fuss, but they'll =
remove the charges if you=3D20=3D</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>call them and give them a gentle push. But, you have =
to do it every month.&n=3D</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>bsp; <BR></FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2><BR></FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>Again, Sprint PCS contends there's no FCC =
requirement for free cellular dire=3D</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>ctory assistance and connectivity, but on their own, =
they are willing to do=3D20=3D</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>an engineering feasibility study -- and they're =
willing to spend the dollars=3D</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2> to reach the goal of better service for blind =
cellular phone users.&nbsp; T=3D</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>here are multiple directory assistance companies =
throughout the nation, depe=3D</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>nding what satellite is closest to the caller, and =
some may be out of busine=3D</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>ss by the time Sprint PCS asks if they'll come on =
board.&nbsp;&nbsp; <BR></FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2><BR></FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>Sprint's initial talks with some of them said, =
"Sure, we'll be glad to get o=3D</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>n the bandwagon."&nbsp; I suggested to the =
coordinator a positive outcome co=3D</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>uld provide great PR, therefore increase sales and =
service, yadda, yadda, ya=3D</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>dda.&nbsp; <BR></FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2><BR></FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>I'll wait to see where this goes.&nbsp; Perhaps =
one day the FCC will say thi=3D</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>s <U>should</U> be a requirement of all =
cellular service providers, so pleas=3D</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>e stay tuned.&nbsp; <BR></FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2><BR></FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>BTW: No animals were killed to send you this update =
and no charges for time=3D20=3D</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>were made to eBlind.&nbsp; It's just a bit of a =
Thursday diversion... </FONT=3D</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>><FONT COLOR=3D3D"#000000" =
style=3D3D"BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=3D3D4 =
FACE=3D</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>=3D3D"Alba Matter" LANG=3D3D"0"&g=
t;<BR></FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>Sheila</FONT><FONT =
COLOR=3D3D"#000000" style=3D3D"BACKGROUND-COLOR: =
#ffffff" SI=3D</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>ZE=3D3D2 FAMILY=3D3D"SANSSERIF" =
FACE=3D3D"Arial CYR" =
LANG=3D3D"0"><BR></FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>Sheila R. Ashcraft, eBlind! Outreach =
Coordinator&nbsp; <BR></FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>PO Box 430209, Pontiac, MI =
48343-0209<BR></FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>(248) 334-4329 Voice (248) 334-2226 =
Fax<BR></FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>e-Mail Address:&nbsp; =
[log in to unmask]<BR></FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>(If this e-mail requires a response, please do so =
promptly.&nbsp; Thanks.)</=3D</FONT
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>B></FONT></HTML></FONT
</P
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<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>To join or leave the list, send a message to</FONT
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VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
To join or leave the list, send a message to
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