Colin,

One reason that driving rules are bent with impunity is that nobody wants to 
lose the privilege of driving.  Free matter, on the other hand, affects a 
very small minority, and one that most people aren't particularly concerned 
about, especially if that minority is perceived as getting a deal they 
really don't deserve.  Your example of the 24-channel mixer would probably 
not stand up well in court even though it seems perfectly reasonable to you. 
That's where the phrase "jailhouse lawyers" comes into play; they're people 
who are convinced they have an airtight legal case, but they're still behind 
bars.

Steve

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Colin McDonald" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2012 14:30
Subject: Re: Old keyer available


> good stuff, that's what I was after.
> I expect canada post has similar, if not precisely the same rules and regs
> governing free matter for the blind materials.
>
> I must say though, having a drivers license and driving is also a
> privallage, and people abuse the rules of the road without even thinking 
> and
> it is tolerated and accepted for the most part.
> While it's always safe to abide by the rules and regs of a particular
> process, sometimes those rules and regs can be bent as they say without
> anyone getting upset or it becoming a serious problem.
> The spirit of the law is to allow blind persons, and organizations who
> assist the blind specifically, who are considered to be members of society
> with less access to financial resources compared to other members of
> society, to send important blind specific items from one place to another.
> obviously your not going to send stuff that isn't well within that
> definition.
> However, if you are sending something, from one blind person, to another,
> and it does meet requirements of being specifically blind friendly,
> accessible, or access related in some way, then I think it's ok to use the
> service, and not be thought to be abusing it.
> Remember, the rules and regs were created a rather long time ago when
> braille paper materials, and perhaps large print materials, and cassettes 
> or
> records were about the height of accessible material.  Now, we have allot 
> of
> digital material, and the devices used to replay that digital material.
> Along with allot of different equipment that can be said to be used to
> create accessible material in a digital format.
> I could potentially say a 24 channel mixer, microphones, and computer 
> would
> be a set of devices used to create recordings for the blind, and with 
> blind
> specific content.
> That would fall within the regs, even though those items were not
> specifically designed and manufactured for "the blind".
> anyway, sending something through free matter that doesn't precisely meet
> the regulations isn't going to find you in court or jail by any stretch of
> the imagination.
> the worst that might happen is they'll return the posted item.
>
> 73
> Colin, V A6BKX
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Ronald E. Milliman" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2012 9:39 AM
> Subject: Re: Old keyer available
>
>
>>A keyer is absolutely not eligible to be mailed as "Free Matter for the
>> Blind."  It is not made specifically for a blind person and does not fit
>> within either the letter or spirit of the postal regulations. Knowingly
>> misusing the "Free Matter for the Blind," privilege is both unethical and
>> illegal.
>>
>> As the President of the South Central Kentucky Council of the Blind, I
>> have
>> studied the postal regulations quite closely and even conferred with the
>> postal authorities to be sure I understood the regulations before we used
>> the "Free Matter for the Blind" stamped on our mailings and shipments
>> going
>> to our members, mailing materials to doctors' offices, etc.  Believe it 
>> or
>> not, the postal inspectors will and do inspect some mailings and 
>> shipments
>> to be sure they are not in violation of the postal regulations.  No, they
>> do not inspect everything that is sent as "Free Matter for the Blind," 
>> but
>> they will check anything that looks even a little suspicious.
>>
>> To use the "Free Matter for the Blind" mailing privilege, your item must
>> be
>> specifically for a legally blind person or persons and includes Braille
>> and
>> large print matter and devices designed for the specific use of blind
>> people.  A Victor Reader Stream can be sent as "Free Matter for the
>> Blind,"
>> but an Olympus DS-50, which has speech built into it, cannot be sent as
>> "Free Matter for the Blind" because the Olympus DS-50 was not designed
>> specifically for the blind; though, it can certainly be used by the 
>> blind.
>> In like manner, all of the Apple products, e.g. iPhone Apple TV, etc.
>> cannot be shipped as "Free Matter for the Blind," even though they all
>> have
>> Voiceover built into them and can be used by a blind person.
>>
>> Ron M.
>>
>>
>> Dr. Ronald E. Milliman, retired Professor Western Kentucky University
>>
>> Chair, American Council of the Blind Public Relations Committee
>> Monthly Monetary Support Program (MMS) Committee
>>
>