Hi Sheila, Thanks for saying it all. Especially the part about someone
in a regulatory agency when they or a close family member becomes blind
or visually impaired. There is nothing like a personal experience to
motivate persons in a regulatory agency into REAL action. In the
meantime I will continue to use my old fashioned push-button home phone
with all the perks available to the blind on the former "Ma Bell" land
line. This 83 year old male has learned over time that Progress is
sometimes illusionary. So get used to it.
Gordon
####
[log in to unmask] wrote:
>
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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>
>
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>
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[log in to unmask] In the body of the message, simply type
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