June 1, 2005 (Vol. 5, Issue 8)

In This Issue:

UPCOMING EVENTS

1. RESNA's 28th International Conference on Technology & Disability, June 23-27, 2005.
2. Instructional Technology and Education of the Deaf (International Symposium), June 27-30, 2005.
3. TDI to host 16th Biennial Conference in New Orleans, July 11-13, 2005.

FCC TELECOMMUNICATIONS/REGULATIONS

1. Commission Requires Interconnected VoIP Providers to Provide Enhanced 911 Service.
2. NECA Submits 2005-2006 Payment Formula & Fund Size Estimates for TRS.
3. FCC Announces Additional Members to the Consumer Advisory Council.
4. FCC Launches New E-Mail Service to Deliver Timely and Customized Communications Information to Subscribers.

FOR YOUR ACTION/INFORMATION

1. New Voting System Guidelines to Cover Accessibility.
2. Access Board Elects New Chair and New Board Members Named.
3. U.S. Postal Service & GSA Adopt New Accessibility Standards.
4. Digital Television Information from the FCC.

ARTICLES/PUBLICATIONS

1. Cognitive Aids: Focus of Wireless RERC Research.

PAST EVENTS

1. 2005 Accessibility University.

RESOURCES

1. Tutorial on Accessible Telecommunication Products Available.

UPCOMING EVENTS

1. RESNA's 28th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TECHNOLOGY & DISABILITY
June 23-27, 2005
Atlanta, GA

The Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) is calling for participation for this conference. "RESNA will...offer a packed Exhibit Hall, Product Demonstrations and Training sessions, two days of Pre-Conference Instructional Courses, and 3 full days of Workshops, Interactive Poster Sessions, Themed Paper Sessions, and distinguished speakers."

For more information: http://www.resna.org

2. INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY AND EDUCATION OF THE DEAF (INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM)
June 27-30, 2005
Rochester, NY

"The program will focus on the education of deaf students in K-12 and postsecondary environments using technology from around the world. Among international participants, there will be representation from five international postsecondary programs serving deaf students. These professionals will present and discuss issues related to technology and education."

Conference Announcement & Fact Sheet:
http://www.rit.edu/~techsym/FactSheet_2005.pdf

For more information: http://www.rit.edu/%7Etechsym

3. TDI TO HOST 16th BIENNIAL CONFERENCE
New Orleans
July 11-13, 2005

More than 300 participants, including consumers with hearing loss, vendors and key officials - are expected to gather at the 16th Biennial TDI International Conference, to be held in New Orleans, Louisiana, July 11-13, 2005. At the exhibits, open to the public during the Conference, attendees will view state-of-the-art technologies with great potential to expand opportunities, increase accessibility, and foster new possibilities for ease in communication.

Among the scheduled presenters are numerous leaders in the telecommunications field, such as the Chief of the Disability Rights Office of the FCC, Tom Chandler, and the former head of the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, FCC, Dane Snowden, as well as industry speakers from Motorola, Hamilton, and Cingular, among others.

To view the current program, access:
http://www.tdi-online.org/neworleansconference/tdi/16daybyday.htm

FCC TELECOMMUNICATIONS/REGULATIONS

1. COMMISION REQUIRES INTERCONNECTED VoIP PROVIDERS TO PROVIDE ENHANCED 911 SERVICE.

Press Release, FCC, Commission Requires Interconnected VoIP Providers to Provide Enhanced 911 Service, May 19, 2005.

Word: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-258818A1.doc

PDF: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-258818A1.pdf

The FCC is requiring voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) phone service providers to "supply enhanced 911 (E911) emergency calling capabilities." In part, these requirements will ensure that: (i) emergency operators have the customer's call back number and location; and (ii) all VoIP customers are informed of E911 service capabilities and limitations. For further details on specific requirements, see links above.

2. NECA SUBMITS 2005-2006 PAYMENT FORMULA & FUND SIZE ESTIMATES FOR TRS.

Public Notice, FCC, National Exchange Carrier Association (NECA) Submits the Payment Formula and Fund Size Estimate for Interstate Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) Fund for July 2005 Through June 2006 (DA 05-1175), Apr. 28, 2005.

Word: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-05-1175A1.doc
PDF: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-05-1175A1.pdf

"NECA proposes a carrier contribution factor of 0.00528, and a fund size requirement of $413.3 million. NECA proposes per completed minute compensation rates of: $1.312 for traditional TRS and for Internet Protocol (IP) Relay (compared to $1.398 for the 2004-2005 fund year); $1.579 for Speech-to-Speech (STS) (compared to $1.596 for the 2004-2005 fund year); and $5.924 for Video Relay Service (VRS) (compared to $7.596 for the 2004-2005 fund year)."

The public comment period has closed.

3. FCC ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL MEMBERS TO THE CONSUMER ADVISORY COUNCIL.

By this Public Notice, the Federal Communications Commission ("Commission") announces the appointment of twenty (20) additional members to its Consumer Advisory Committee ("Committee"). On March 8, 2005, the Commission previously announced the appointment of thirty-five (35) members to the Committee. See Public Notice DA 05-549 as published in the Federal Register on March 30, 2005, 70 FR 16284-01.

To see the full text of this announcement, access:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-05-1323A1.doc

4. FCC LAUNCHES NEW EMAIL SERVICE TO DELIVER TIMELY AND CUSTOMIZED COMMUNICATIONS INFORMATION TO SUBSCRIBERS.

The FCC's Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB) is launching the "Consumer Information Registry," an expanded and improved e-mail service that will deliver to subscribers customized information about the FCC's actions and related developments in telecommunications and other communications services.

The Registry is an Internet database that can be customized to deliver information on whatever topics the subscriber chooses. Whether it's digital television, telephone issues, telecommunications issues specific to people with disabilities, or anything else in the communications field, information on all these topics will be available through the Registry. Attorneys, consultants, engineers and individual consumers are among those who will benefit from subscribing.

For more information about the service, see the full text of the announcement at:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-258976A1.doc

To sign up for the service, access: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/contacts/.
Subscribers will be asked to indicate the subjects on which they wish to receive information.

FOR YOUR ACTION/INFORMATION

1. NEW VOTING SYSTEM GUIDELINES TO COVER ACCESSIBILITY.

New Voting System Guidelines to Cover Accessibility, Access Current, 11(2), Mar./Apr. 2005.
http://www.access-board.gov/news/Access%20Currents/Mar-Apr05.htm

The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) has drafted new guidelines for voting systems in federal elections pursuant to the Help America Vote Act. In part, the Act mandates that "voting systems and polling places are accessible to people with disabilities." The guidelines address the need for accessibility in voting equipment for all voters.

The EAC will be announcing a request for public comment.

Review the draft guidelines: http://vote.nist.gov

2. ACCESS BOARD ELECTS NEW CHAIR AND NEW BOARD MEMBERS NAMED.

Board Elects Chair; President Names New Board Members, Access Current, 11(2), Mar./Apr. 2005.
http://www.access-board.gov/news/Access%20Currents/Mar-Apr05.htm

The Access Board has four new members and a new chairperson. The Board elected Jan Tuck to the position of chair in March. President Bush appointed Tricia Mason, Philip G. Pearce, Daniel O. Rios, and John O. Woods, Jr. to the Board.

To view these members' experience with accessibility issues, access:
http://www.access-board.gov/news/Access%20Currents/Mar-Apr05.htm

3. U.S. POSTAL SERVICE & GSA ADOPT NEW ACCESSBILITY STANDARDS.

U.S. Postal Service and GSA Adopt New Accessibility Standards, Access Current, 11(2), Mar./Apr. 2005.
http://www.access-board.gov/news/Access%20Currents/Mar-Apr05.htm

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and the General Services Administration (GSA) have adopted heightened standards to govern all aspects of new or altered federal buildings, replacing their use of the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards. The Access Board has aided in the training of hundreds of USPS facility personnel on the new standards. The new guidelines will also further the updating of facility standards in the private sector, and state and local government facilities covered by Title II of the ADA.

Access the new guidelines: http://www.access-board.gov/ada-aba.htm

4. DIGITAL TELEVISION INFORMATION FROM THE FCC.

[In an effort to bring information to our readers about new and emerging technology, we periodically post information of interest. The following is from the FCC website and from an industry website on Digital Television (DTV).]

DTV is a new type of broadcasting technology that will transform television as we now know it. DTV technology will allow broadcasters to offer television with movie-quality picture and CD-quality sound, along with a variety of other enhancements. DTV technology can also be used to transmit large amounts of other data into the home, which may be accessible by using your computer or television set.

To see more about recent regulatory action from the FCC, access:
http://www.fcc.gov/dtv/

Digital television (DTV) is a new type of broadcasting technology that transmits the information used to make a TV picture and sound as "data bits" (like a computer). This allows a digital broadcaster to carry more information than is currently possible with analog broadcast technology. Digital technology allows the transmission of pictures with higher resolution for dramatically better picture and sound quality than currently available - called High Definition Television (HDTV) - or the transmission of several "standard definition" TV programs at once - called "multicasting." "Standard definition" digital TV pictures would be similar in clarity and detail to the best TV pictures being received and displayed today using the current analog broadcast system and TV receivers. DTV technology can also be used to provide interactive video and data services that are not possible with "analog" technology.

Converting to DTV will also free up parts of the scarce and valuable broadcast airwaves. Those portions of the airwaves can then be used for other important services, such as advanced wireless and public safety services (for example, police, fire departments, and rescue squads).

To see more about Digital Television, access:
http://www.dtv.gov/index.html

ARTICLES/PUBLICATIONS

1. COGNITIVE AIDS: FOCUS OF WIRELESS RERC RESEARCH, TECHNOLOGY & DISABILITY POLICY HIGHLIGHTS, APR. 2005.

http://www.wirelessrerc.gatech.edu/news/publications.html

The April 2005 issue of Technology & Disability Policy Highlights reviews "Works in Progress: Mobile Wireless Technology as Cognitive Aids," discussing the Wireless RERC Research Project. The project reportedly aims "to use mobile wireless technology to develop a compensatory aid or prosthesis...[for] people who have cognitive impairments resulting from acquired brain injuries."

Source available by subscription or online purchase:
Haberman, V., M. Jones and J. Mueller (2005). "Works in Progress:
Mobile Wireless Technology as Cognitive Aids." IEEE Pervasive Computing, 4(2), pp. 82-83.
http://csdl.computer.org/comp/mags/pc/2005/02/b2toc.htm

PAST EVENTS

1. 2005 ACCESSIBILITY UNIVERSITY
May 13-14, 2005
Austin, TX

This year's training conference on accessible web development, held in state of the art facilities at St. Edward's University, has been described as a "great success." Course Materials are available online for many of the trainings at Access U:
http://www.knowbility.org/conference/?content=logIn

For more information: http://www.knowbility.org/conference/

RESOURCES

1. TUTORIAL ON ACCESSIBLE TELECOMMUNICATION PRODUCTS AVAILABLE, ACCESS CURRENT, 11(2), MAR./APR. 2005.

http://www.access-board.gov/news/Access%20Currents/Mar-Apr05.htm

As part of the Access Board's on-line '508 Universe' program, the Board has made available the last in a series of web-based training courses. This new course aims to ensure "access to telecommunication products under section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act...[and] is designed for those involved in the purchase or procurement of telecommunication products for Federal agencies."

Other tutorials in the series address "software applications and operating systems; desktop and portable computers; and self contained, closed products, such as information kiosks, calculators, and fax machines."

For more information: http://www.section508.gov