Well, I guess all my ham gear that has speech built-in would qualify under 
your definition, I think NOT

Howard #3

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jose Tamayo (KK4JZX)" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2012 11:34 AM
Subject: Re: Old keyer available


>I have a question Ron, :
>
> Example:  Olympus Ds-50:  Well, a blind person would not purchas an 
> Olympus
> Ds-50 if it were not accessible.  Reading the regulations, I found that a
> blind person must be registered with the Postal Service as being blind in
> order to have this service available.  So, I wonder if registering for 
> this
> service and purchasing products  that are specifically geared to the blind
> would allow for the  rule to be used.  The postal service should have no
> issue with a device that is sent specifically to a blind person that is
> registerd with the local post office as such.  One might argue otherwise,
> but would the service be available in that case?
>
> I have another question:  What if the Olympus DS-50 is packaged with  a 
> USB
> flash card that contains an audio file with instructions?  Or what if the
> device is included with a Braille instruction booklet?  Would that allow 
> the
> sender to use the FREE MATTER FOR THE BLIND option.
>
> Ron, I want yoyou to know that I am  not trying to argue:  I just want to
> check what the options might be.
>
> Regards,
>
> Jose - KK4JZX
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> On Behalf Of Ronald E. Milliman
> Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2012 11:39 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> 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