Some cellular providers, such as Cingular Wireless offer free directory
assistance to the blind.
The FCC's Section 255 rules on directory assistance were discussed in this
space earlier. since the federalization of telephone accessibility, the FCC
has not ruled on the matter whether for wireline or cellular telephone
service.
Kelly
----- Original Message -----
From: <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, August 29, 2004 11:02 AM
Subject: Re: Verizon settlement is a start, not a finish
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> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
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>
> All good points. Even my new Sprint PCS Sanyo, with its super sized
buttons,
> speaker, and improved voice activation are all great equipment features.
> However, the service side will continue to fall short until there's free
directory
> assistance and connectivity to published phone numbers (not cellular
numbers)
> as there is with my SBC home phone service. During my sighted days, I
carried
> an old phone directory in my car to look up numbers. Without sight,
that's
> no longer an option away from my home base.
>
> My most recent conversation with a Sprint representative only produced the
> following suggestion: "Use a payphone to get the number, then dial it on
your
> cellphone." It's that kind of logic that makes my now nearly sightless
eyes
> cross. Besides, with the explosion of cell phones users, payphones are
> rapidly being removed from malls, street corners, drug stores, etc., for
lack of
> revenue. So, unless I'm willing to pay $2.50 or so per day for a couple of
> numbers from Sprint directory assistance, I'm stuck. I'm already paying
$40 a month
> to Sprint PCS, so I'm not interested in adding $25 or so because of my
> inability to look them up.
>
> Bottom line: the FCC regs do not address directory assistance for blind
or
> visually impaired cellular users. How can we effect change? By letting
the FCC
> know we're here, we use cellphones, and we have a voice.
>
> Someone suggested to me change will occur when someone on the FCC board
has a
> family member who becomes visually impaired. Until then, they won't 'get
> it.' How sad.
> Sheila Ashcraft
> eBlind! Advisory Board member
>
> --part1_149.31edb96a.2e635804_boundary
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>
> <HTML><FONT FACE=3Darial,helvetica><HTML><FONT SIZE=3D6 PTSIZE=3D24
FAMILY=
> =3D"SANSSERIF" FACE=3D"Arial CYR" LANG=3D"0"><B>All good points. Even my
new=
> Sprint PCS Sanyo, with its super sized buttons, speaker, and improved
voice=
> activation are all great equipment features. However, the service
sid=
> e will continue to fall short until there's free directory assistance and
co=
> nnectivity to published phone numbers (not cellular numbers) as there is
wit=
> h my SBC home phone service. During my sighted days, I carried an old
phone=20=
> directory in my car to look up numbers. Without sight, that's no
longe=
> r an option away from my home base. <BR>
> <BR>
> My most recent conversation with a Sprint representative only produced the
f=
> ollowing suggestion: "Use a payphone to get the number, then
dia=
> l it on your cellphone." It's that kind of logic that makes my
n=
> ow nearly sightless eyes cross. Besides, with the explosion of cell
ph=
> ones users, payphones are rapidly being removed from malls, street
corners,=20=
> drug stores, etc., for lack of revenue. So, unless I'm willing to pay
$2.50=20=
> or so per day for a couple of numbers from Sprint directory assistance,
I'm=20=
> stuck. I'm already paying $40 a month to Sprint PCS, so I'm not interested
i=
> n adding $25 or so because of my inability to look them up. <BR>
> <BR>
> Bottom line: the FCC regs do not address directory assistance for
blin=
> d or visually impaired cellular users. How can we effect change? By
le=
> tting the FCC know we're here, we use cellphones, and we have a voice.
<BR>
> <BR>
> Someone suggested to me change will occur when someone on the FCC board
has=20=
> a family member who becomes visually impaired. Until then, they
won't=20=
> 'get it.' How sad. <BR>
> </FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" BACK=3D"#ffffff"
style=3D"BACKGROUND-COLOR:=20=
> #ffffff" SIZE=3D5 PTSIZE=3D18 FACE=3D"Alba" LANG=3D"0"><I>Sheila
Ashcraft<BR=
> >
> eBlind! Advisory Board member</B></I></FONT></HTML>
>
> --part1_149.31edb96a.2e635804_boundary--
>
>
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>
>
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
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