Hi, Jose, you asked some very good questions, and I feel very certain that
in either scenario, the postal authorities, if asked, would say it would
not be eligible to be sent as Free Matter for the Blind; again, since the
device itself, the DS-50, is not specifically designed for blind use.
Personally, I think the way the regulations are written; they are open for
different interpretations.  For that reason, whenever we have been in
doubt, we always take whatever we are going to mail or ship to the Post
Master in our local post office and ask him.  Then, if we send whatever it
is and it is ever questioned by the postal inspector, we can always say
that we had the permission of the Post Master before we sent it.  That
might not get us out of having to pay shipping, but it will keep us from
losing our shipping/mailing privileges! <Smile>

Jose, I am curious...  What is your nationality?  Are you Cuban?  My wife
is Hispanic, but she is Spanish/Italian.  She speaks fluent Spanish.  I
sure wish I did! <Smile>

Ron (K8HSY)


At 12:34 PM 9/11/2012 -0400, you wrote:
>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
>
Dr. Ronald E. Milliman, retired Professor Western Kentucky University

Chair, American Council of the Blind Public Relations Committee
Monthly Monetary Support Program (MMS) Committee