Verizon settles O'Day complaint

by
Jeffrey Silva
Aug. 27, 2004 1:16 PM EST

WASHINGTON-Verizon Wireless today said it reached a settlement with Dr.
Bonnie O'Day over a 2003 complaint filed with the Federal Communications
Commission
in which she alleged the nation's top mobile-phone operator violated federal
law by failing to make its products and services accessible to people with
visual disabilities.

The settlement follows an accord O'Day, who is blind, reached with Audiovox
Communications Corp. last December regarding a separate but related
complaint.

O'Day praised the settlement, stating: "I filed the complaint because blind
and low-vision people were frustrated with the pace of progress achieved by
the wireless industry. Verizon Wireless' commitment in this settlement to
breaking down the barriers to accessibility, however, makes them a leader in
providing wireless access to blind and visually impaired consumers."

Terms of the settlement were not released. The parties, however, said
Verizon Wireless later this year intends to introduce a moderately priced
wireless
handset with new accessibility features to address some of the concerns
raised by O'Day. The O'Day-Audiovox settlement also led to the production of
a
new mobile phone that can be used by blind people.

The FCC did not immediately respond to a question on whether, as a result of
the two settled complaints, it intends to affirmatively press for improved
access to mobile-phone service for consumers who are blind.

The joint press release said Verizon Wireless has taken additional steps to
provide people with disabilities easier access to user information such as
bills,
manuals and product information in accessible formats; to modify its Web
site to be more user friendly for blind and low-vision individuals; and to
modify
employee training on disability issues.

The release said Verizon Wireless also is assessing additional, more
advanced speech output capabilities for mobile handsets carried on its
network with
a view toward incorporating these capabilities in future models.

Scott H. Strauss and James N. Horwood of Spiegel & McDiarmid represented O'Day.
The two lawyers took the case on a pro bono basis because of its potential
significance to visually impaired mobile-handset customers and to the
companies that offer products and services to them. Earlier this year,
Strauss received
the American Foundation for the Blind's 2004 Access Award in appreciation of
his efforts.


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