roundtable: Making the NII Accessible for People w-Disabilities

roundtable: Making the NII Accessible for People w/Disabilities

Making the NII Accessible for People w/Disabilities

Andrew Blau (benton@clark.net)
Mon, 21 Feb 1994 13:07:48 -0500 

Date: Mon, 21 Feb 1994 13:07:48 -0500
Message-Id: <199402211807.NAA17880@clark.net>
To: roundtable@cni.org
From: Andrew Blau <benton@clark.net>
Subject: Making the NII Accessible for People w/Disabilities

The following message asks for support to modify H.R.'s 3626 & 3636 to
improve access for people with disabilities.  Some of the proposals
described below appear to have been developed by the Consortium for
Citizens with Disabilities Task Force on Telecommunications, the co-chairs
of which (Jenifer Simpson, UCPA, and Paul Schroeder, ACB) participate in
our roundtable meetings.

Please review and pass on as appropriate.  For more information, contact
the original poster, Harvey Goodstein at Gallaudet, or Jenifer or Paul.

Thanks.

-Andrew Blau
 Benton Foundation/Communications Policy Project

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>Date: Mon, 21 Feb 1994 11:18:53 -0500 (EST)
>From: Timothy Stark <tstark@clark.net>
>Subject: INFO HWY -- URGENT -- FAX/CALL NOW!! (fwd)
>To: staff@clark.net
>
>All:
>
>    Please take that action with congressmen about proposal laws. Thank you.
>
>-- Tim Stark
>
>Timothy Stark                   Inet: tstark@clark.net
>6130 Edsall Rd. #301            TDD: (703)212-9731  FAX: (703)212-7598
>Alexandria, Va. 22304-5859      Voice: Via VA Relay Center (800)828-1140
>"God bless you! - My friend, Washington DC. - The Most Deaf Population City!"
>
>---------- Forwarded message ----------
>Date: Mon, 21 Feb 1994 00:16:54 -0500 (EST)
>From: HARVEY GOODSTEIN <HGOODSTEIN@gallua.gallaudet.edu>
>To: tstark@clark.net
>Subject: INFO HWY -- URGENT -- FAX/CALL NOW!!
>
>**** TFA ACTION ALERT ****
>February 20, 1994
>
>IT IS URGENT, URGENT, URGENT THAT ALL OF YOU FROM ALL OVER THE
>COUNTRY FAX OR CALL THE FOLLOWING CONGRESSMEN OR STAFF REGARDING
>TWO INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY BILLS IN THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
>DELEGATES.  THE COMMITTEES WILL VOTE ON THESE TWO BILLS AS EARLY AS
>THIS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23.  
>
>OUR STRONG INTEREST IN THESE BILLS IS IN REGARD TO ACCESS TO
>TELEPHONE AND CABLE TV SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. 
>
>BE SURE TO FAX (OR CALL) ON MONDAY FEB 21 AND TUESDAY FEB 22 AS
>INSTRUCTED BELOW.  PLEASE SHARE WITH OTHER INDIVIDUALS AND
>ORGANIZATIONS AND HAVE THEM FAX (OR CALL), TOO!  YOU CAN ALSO MAKE
>TOLL FREE TTY CALLS; DIRECTIONS FOR MAKING SUCH TOLL FREE TTY CALLS
>ARE GIVEN AT THE END OF THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE.
>
>DEADLINE: THIS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22!!!!  ACT NOW!!!!  --Harvey--
>
>----------------------------------------------
>BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TWO BILLS:
>
>H.R. 3626 -- "BROOKS-DINGELL BILL" 
>[TO BE VOTED IN COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND COMMERCE]
>This bill would allow the regional Bell operating companies (RBOCs)
>to provide long distance telephone services, and to manufacture
>telecommunications equipment.  It also includes language in section
>229(g) requiring that Bell company manufactured equipment and
>advances in network services be accessible to individuals with
>disabilities.
>
>H.R. 3636 -- "MARKEY-FIELDS BILL"
>[TO BE VOTED IN SUBCOMMITTEE ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND FINANCE
>BEFORE MOVING INTO FULL COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND COMMERCE]
>This bill would allow the RBOCs to provide cable TV services in the
>same region.  The bill includes access requirements for telephone
>network services in section 102(d)(4).  However, the bill is not
>clear on full and equal access to cable TV programs.  ACCORDINGLY,
>WE NEED TO URGE MEMBERS TO INCORPORATE IN H.R. 3636 THE ACCESS
>REQUIREMENTS AS PROPOSED BY THE CONSORTIUM FOR CITIZENS WITH
>DISABILITIES (CCD), WHICH WOULD REQUIRE CLOSED CAPTIONING (AND
>VIDEO DESCRIPTION FOR BLIND INDIVIDUALS) OF ALL CABLE TV PROGRAMS
>PROVIDED BY THE RBOCS, 24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS A YEAR.
>-----------------------------------
>
>H.R. 3626 -- BE SURE TO FAX OR CALL THREE PEOPLE, NAMELY
>CONGRESSMEN BROOKS AND DINGELL, AND PROFESSIONAL STAFF DAVID LEACH
>(FAX NUMBERS GIVEN BELOW) WITH A MESSAGE SUCH AS THE FOLLOWING:
>
>       "I am John/Jane Doe, and I am one [or friend] of 24 million
>       deaf and hard of hearing individuals in America. [On behalf of
>       the Organization....] I am calling (faxing) you to urge
>       Members of Committee on Energy and Commerce to support H.R.
>       3626, along with the access requirements for individuals with
>       disabilities included in section 229(g) of the bill.  Please
>       do not hesitate to contact me or my organization at the
>       address .... or fax or phone number.... Thank you."
>
>------------------------------------
>
>H.R. 3636 -- BE SURE TO FAX OR CALL FOUR PEOPLE, NAMELY CONGRESSMEN
>MARKEY AND FIELDS, AND PROFESSIONAL STAFF GERALD WALDRON AND DAVID
>LEACH (FAX NUMBERS GIVEN BELOW) WITH A MESSAGE SUCH AS THE
>FOLLOWING:
>
>       "I am John/Jane Doe and I am one [or friend] of 24 million
>       deaf and hard of hearing individuals in America. [On behalf of
>       the Organization....] I am calling (faxing) you to tell you
>       that it is of critical importance that Members of the
>       Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance incorporate in
>       H.R. 3636 the cable TV access requirements as proposed by the
>       Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD).  Please do
>       not hesitate to contact me or my organization at the address
>       .... or fax or phone number.... Thank you."
>             
>-------------------------------------
>CALL OR FAX:                                                    FOR
>
>Mr. David Leach, Professional Staff Member                      H.R. 3626, 3636
>Committee on Energy and Commerce
>2125 Rayburn House Office Building
>Washington, DC 20515
>FAX: 202-225-2525
>
>The Honorable Jack Brooks, Chair                                H.R. 3626
>Committee on Judiciary
>2449 Rayburn House Office Building
>Washington, DC 20515
>FAX: 202-225-1584
>
>The Honorable John D. Dingell, Chair                            H.R. 3626
>Committee on Energy and Commerce
>2328 Rayburn House Office Building
>Washington, DC 20515
>FAX: 202-225-7426
>
>The Honorable Edward J. Markey, Chair                           H.R. 3636
>Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance
>2133 Rayburn House Office Building
>Washington, DC 20515
>FAX: 202-225-8689
>
>The Honorable Jack Fields, Ranking Member                       H.R. 3636
>Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance
>2228 Rayburn House Office Building
>Washington, DC 20515
>FAX: 202-225-6899
>
>Mr. Gerald Waldron, Majority Staff Member                       H.R. 3636
>Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance
>2133 Rayburn Office Building
>Washington, DC 20515
>202-225-8689
>
>-------------------------------------------
>
>TO MAKE TOLL FREE TTY CALLS TO ANY MEMBER OF CONGRESS INCLUDING
>CONGRESSMEN AND STAFF MEMBERS ABOVE, DO THE FOLLOWING:
>
>First, dial the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at the
>toll free number, 1-800-877-8339.  Then, ask the relay agent to
>call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121, and ask the
>Switchboard operator to switch your call to Member's or staff's
>telephone.  You do not need to know the phone numbers of your
>Representatives or Senators; the Switchboard operator will simply
>switch your calls to any Member.  Note that your long distance TTY
>calls would be toll free only if you use FIRS.
>
>--------------------------------------------
> 
> David Levine            | * Husky Labs *   
> motodave@clark.net      |               Interconnectivity Consultants
> husky@clark.net         | 
> 202.363.1044            | 4000 Ellicott St., NW  Washington, DC 20016
> 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Andrew Blau
Communications Policy Project
Benton Foundation
1634 Eye St., N.W., 12th Fl.
Washington, DC  20006

(v) 202.638.5770, x31
(f) 202.638.5771

ablau@cap.gwu.edu
       - or -
benton@clark.net

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