Phone Industry
>Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2007 17:45:54 -0400
>From: Justice For All Moderator <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Blind Customers Take Action against the Cell Phone Industry
>Organization: Justice For All E-Mail Network
>
>Blind Customers Take Action against the Cell Phone Industry
>
>August 2, 2007
>
>Washington, DC - Blind and visually impaired customers are taking
>legal action against the cell phone industry in an effort to
>improve cell phone accessibility. This week, 11 customers from
>across the country filed complaints with the Federal
>Communications Commission (FCC), which enforces Section 255, the
>law that requires phones to be designed to be accessible for
>people with disabilities. Complaints were filed against both the
>cell phone carriers and manufacturers.
>
>"These complaints illustrate a market failure on the part of the
>cell phone industry to address accessibility," said Paul
>Schroeder, VP, Programs and Policy Group at the American
>Foundation for the Blind. "While some companies have taken steps,
>consumers with vision loss have few good options for
>accessibility, and almost no reliable information about
>accessibility."
>
>There is a growing need for accessible phones given the increasing
>rates of vision loss. Experts predict that by 2030, rates of
>severe vision loss will double along with the country's aging
>population. For people with vision loss, finding a cell phone with
>a readable screen or with voice output of essential features like
>menus or text messages is almost impossible. Some companies, like
>AT&T, have taken the lead on providing accessible phones. But too
>often the handsets and services are not designed to be user-
>friendly for those who are blind or visually impaired. Earlier
>this month, AFB initiated a campaign called 255 Action to help
>people with vision loss understand access requirements, and if
>necessary, file complaints. As part of that campaign, AFB sent
>letters to leading cell phone service providers and manufacturers
>asking what they are doing to meet the needs of people with vision
>loss. Frequent complaints from blind and visually impaired cell
>phone customers include:
>
>* cell phones do not provide for audio output of information
>   displayed on the screen;
>* the visual displays on most phones are hard to read;
>* numeric and control keys are not easy to distinguish by touch;
>   and
>* product manuals or phone bills are not available in braille,
>   large print, or other formats they can read.
>* The complaints filed with the FCC came from customers in
>   Florida, Georgia, Colorado, California, and West Virginia.
>
>QUOTES FROM FCC FILINGS
>
>Problems Purchasing Equipment
>
>"In November 2006, I asked for assistance in identifying and
>purchasing a new telephone. The agent was completely uninformed
>regarding available phones with built-in accessibility features
>for a Blind user. Indeed, the representative did not even
>understand what features a Blind user would need in purchasing a
>phone."Melissa Green, Greeley, CO
>
>Phones Features Are Inaccessible
>
>"I cannot text message, surf the Internet, or use the phonebook.
>Additionally, the numbers displayed on the keypad are too small
>for me to read, thus I have to use the voice recognition feature
>to call contacts in my phonebook. This poses some limitations,
>because I can only program in ten names, yet I have many more
>contacts than this amount."Douglas Brooks, Winston, GA
>
>"Even after setting my phone's level of brightness to the highest
>level, I still have to use a closed circuit television (cctv) to
>read the text displayed. This magnification device is quite large,
>encompassing a television set with a similar sized stand. This
>defeats the "mobile" aspect of my phone, since I have to wait
>until I am at home to enter contacts in the phonebook, change
>settings, etc."Richard Rueda, Union City, CA.
>
>Documentation Is Inaccessible
>
>"Upon receiving my phone, I was given an inaccessible print manual
>explaining how to use the phone. However, because I am totally
>Blind, I cannot read the text on the instruction manual. My
>phone's instruction manual is in a pdf file, which I have
>difficulty accessing with my computer's screen reading software
>because graphical representations are used to instruct a person on
>how to use the phone."George Roberts, Orlando, FL
>
>Phones With Access Software Cost More
>
>"In order to access the features of the MotorolaQ, I had to make
>an additional out-of-pocket purchase of Mobile Speaks (a screen
>reader) to access the cell phone features. While this phone is
>more accessible than the Katana with my add-on software, it was
>quite expensive, and I would not have purchased it if my previous
>phone was accessible. Being Blind forced me to stretch my budget
>to the limits in order to have access to my cell phone's
>features."Tony Claive, Winter Park, FL
>
>Customer Service Is Inadequate and Accessibility
>Features/Information are Unavailable
>
>"I went to my local Sprint store, and explained that I was legally
>blind and looking for an accessible cell phone. The salesperson
>did let me know about getting my bill in large print format.
>Sprint's representatives were unable to provide me with a
>description of the accessibility and compatibility features of
>their phones."Dennis Wyant, Melbourne, FL
>
>###
>
>Media Contact:
>Adrianna Montague-Gray
>AFB Communications
>212-502-7675
>[log in to unmask]
>
>Press Release at http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?DocumentID=3596
>
>EDITORS NOTE: To file your complaint at the FCC about an
>inaccessible cell phone, use FCC online form at
>http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cib/fcc475.cfm (Tips: You must name a
>company in 2a; Put zeroes in the boxes if you don't have the
>company phone number; describe your concern in answer to Question
>2f  and you should ask for a remedy). For further information on
>accessible telecommunications and technology, please contact AAPD
>staffer Jenifer Simpson at [log in to unmask]
>
>SOURCE: American Foundation for the Blind.
>________________________________________________________________
>
>For more telecommunications issues, see:
>http://www.aapd.com/News/telecomm/index_tc.php
>
># # #
>
>MODERATOR, Anne Sommers, JUSTICE FOR ALL -- A Service of the
>American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD). To
>contact Anne, please email her at [log in to unmask] To
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>
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>
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