---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 6 Aug 1999 07:10:17 -0700
From: Terry Lopez <[log in to unmask]>
To: david chittenden <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Fw: Fw: Telecom Victory!  Congratulations!


----- Original Message -----
From: Terry Lopez <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, August 06, 1999 7:01 AM
Subject: Fw: Fw: Telecom Victory! Congratulations!


> > >              Telecom Victory!  Congratulations!
> > >
> > >The FCC listened to your call for telecommunications access for all.
> > >Congratulations to all who wrote, called, faxes and emailed.  You won!
> > >
> > >Vice President Gore made this statement regarding the FCC's
> announcement
> > >that it will make telecommunications services and equipment accessible
> > >for people with disabilities:
> > >
> > >"When President Clinton and I fought for the Telecommunications Act of
> > >1996, we wanted to ensure that all Americans -- including the 54
> million
> > >Americans with disabilities -- would have the opportunity to be full
> > >participants in the Information Revolution.
> > >
> > >"That is why I am pleased that today the Federal Communications
> > >Commission, under the leadership of Chairman Bill Kennard, announced
> that
> > >it will help make telecommunications services and equipment accessible
> > >for people with disabilities.  Telecommunications can allow people
> with
> > >disabilities to lead more independent lives, and increase their
> > >employment opportunities -- but only if these technologies are
> designed
> > >with their needs in mind.
> > >
> > >"I want to thank those in industry and the disability community who
> found
> > >common ground on this important issue.   I am confident that America's
> > >innovative telecommunications companies will rise to this challenge,
> and
> > >will develop accessible technologies that will amaze and delight us.
> By
> > >working together, the FCC, industry and the disability community will
> > >help ensure that our newest technologies reflect our oldest values."
> > >
> > >For more info call 202-456-7035.
> > >
> > >--
> > >
> > >And some media coverage of the telcom victory:
> > >
> > >Making Cell Phones Disabled-Friendly
> > >By John Schwartz Washington Post Staff Writer
> > >Wednesday, July 14, 1999; Page E1
> > >
> > >"Cellular phones that provide clear sound over hearing aids or "speak"
> > >usage instructions to the blind could become commonplace under rules
> that
> > >federal regulators plan to enact today.
> > >
> > >The new rules to be ordered by the Federal Communications Commission
> > >would require that new telecommunications products and services be
> usable
> > >by people who are physically disabled, and could ultimately transform
> the
> > >telephones and services used by every American, said FCC Chairman
> William
> > >E. Kennard.
> > >
> > >"This action represents the most significant opportunity for people
> with
> > >disabilities since the passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act
> of
> > >1990," Kennard said, calling the new regulation "the ADA for the
> > >information age."
> > >
> > >The communications industry is largely on board with the new rules.
> > >Objections that some companies raised at the draft-rule stage were
> worked
> > >out, several industry representatives said.
> > >
> > >Disabled people have long complained that many of the mass-market
> > >products sold by the telecommunications industry are useless to them.
> > >People who use hearing aids, for instance, often have trouble talking
> on
> > >cell phones because the electronics in the two devices conflict.
> Simple
> > >modifications could make usable the high-tech devices that have become
> > >common in daily life for many Americans.
> > >
> > >Many of these features could come about simply by tweaking the
> software
> > >in today's phones, said Gregg C. Vanderheiden, a professor of
> industrial
> > >engineering at the University of Wisconsin.
> > >
> > >For example, the small screens that are showing up on more and more
> > >phones could be engineered to provide readouts for a text transmission
> > >system used by the deaf. Some of the benefits, such as voice commands
> for
> > >people unable to use their hands, would be enjoyed by anyone using the
> > >upgraded equipment, Vanderheiden said -- in the same way that
> television
> > >closed captions are used by people who want to watch TV with the sound
> > >off.
> > >
> > >Vanderheiden has created a prototype cell phone with special
> > >diamond-shaped button that allows users whose fingers might bump
> unwanted
> > >keys to select the buttons they want and then confirm the choice. That
> > >button can also be programmed to make the phone speak the function of
> the
> > >other buttons, so that the phone can be more easily used by the blind.
> > >
> > >Rather than mandate specific features and "micro-manage"
> manufacturing,
> > >Kennard said, the new rules will require companies to meet with
> advocates
> > >for the disabled and design access into phones from the start.
> > >
> > >Kennard said any added expense of creating these features will be more
> > >than offset by increased sales.
> > >
> > >The costs of implementing the features should not raise prices
> greatly,
> > >agreed Al Lucas, a vice president with cell-phone maker Motorola Inc.
> who
> > >is responsible for designing the company's products so they will be
> > >accessable to the disabled.
> > >
> > >Cellular companies are ready to comply with the new rules, Lucas said.
> > >"We are totally, 100 percent behind it," so long as the FCC does not
> > >require onerous record-keeping requirements for companies to prove
> that
> > >they are considering disability issues, Lucas said.
> > >
> > >Brian F. Fontes of the Cellular Telecommunications Industry
> Association
> > >said the FCC won't require that every phone and pager support every
> > >feature: "If every single product had to accommodate a variety of
> > >disabilities . . . some of those features may in fact be in conflict
> with
> > >each other," Fontes said.
> > >
> > >Instead, the FCC is calling for features that are "readily
> achievable,"
> > >and will decide whether companies are living up to their obligations
> on a
> > >case-by-case basis.
> > >
> > >The FCC is pushing the industry in a direction it has already chosen,
> > >said Bradley A. Williams, an analyst with securities firm Legg Mason
> Wood
> > >Walker Inc. "You don't have to be disabled to have desires to seek
> room
> > >for improvement in terms of design and features and functionality," he
> > >said.
> > >
> > >The benefits of the new rules could extend far beyond the traditional
> > >ranks of the disabled, said Jeff Kramer, legislative representative
> for
> > >the American Association of Retired Persons. "For our membership, it's
> an
> > >important issue" to have phones for those whose vision and sight might
> be
> > >fading with age.
> > >
> > >But "it's not just for people who are in their seventies and
> eighties,"
> > >Kramer said -- "we're finding people who are reaching their fifties
> are
> > >having more problems than they had in the past" with hearing loss,
> > >possibly because of exposure to loud music in their youth."
> > >
> > >
> > >--
> > >
> > >Congratulations!
> > >
> > >Fred Fay
> > >Chair, Justice For All
> > >[log in to unmask]
> > >http://www.jfanow.org
> > >
> > >=====================================================================
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> > >
>
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