AFTERNOON SESSION
>>> CAN PEOPLE HEAR ME OKAY?
>> EXCUSE ME, WE WOULD LIKE TO GET
STARTED.
OF COURSE NOT A MOMENT TOO SOON.
THIS PANEL WORKSHOP IS CALLED IS ABOUT
THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1996.
WITH A SPECIFIC FOCUS OF COURSE ON ITS
IMPLICATIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES.
MY NAME IS ANDREW BLAU.
I DIRECT THE PROGRAM IN COMMUNICATION
POLICY AT THE BENTON FOUNDATION HERE IN
WASHINGTON.
LY BE THE MODERATOR OF THIS PANEL.
IT IS KIND OF A KIND WAY OF SAYING THAT
YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT TO SAY MYSELF ABOUT
THIS BUT IT WOULD BE HIGH JOB TO KEEP
THIS PANEL OF EXPERTS ON TRACK EXAMPLE
FOCUS {SKED} PRINCIPALLY, MAKING SURE
THAT THE WE GET THE MOST OUT OF THIS
WHICH I THINK IS A RELATIVELY SHORT
AMOUNT OF TIME ON PRESENTATIONS EXAMPLE
IF WE CAN SPEND MOST OF OUR TIE ALLOWING
YOU THE PEOPLE HERE TO BRING YOUR
QUESTIONS FORWARD AND HAVE THEM ANSWERED
FROM THE VARIETY OF PER SPECIFICTIVE OF
PEOPLE HERE WHO ALL HAVE AN EXPERTISE IN
COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY AND POLICY,
AND ACCESS AND CAN SORT OF ENRICH ALL OF
OUR UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE
OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES THAT THE
NEW ACT PROVIDES TO MAKE SURE THE
TRADITIONAL MANDATE IS REALLY CAN BE MET
IN THIS NEW ENVIRONMENT.
AS MANY OF YOU ARE AWARE.
ON FEBRUARY 8TH OF THIS YEAR, PRESIDENT
CLINTON SIGNED THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS
ACT OF 1996.
AN ACT THAT REWROTE AND REORGANIZED THE
WAY IN WHICH TELECOMMUNICATIONS IN THIS
COUNTRY IS ORGANIZED.
IT'S PRINCIPAL FEATURES ARE A REAL
PREFERENCE FOR COMPETITION OVER MORE
TRADITIONAL FORMS OF REGULATIONS, A
PREFERENCE TO PROMOTE COMPETITION
BETWEEN INDUSTRIES THAT HAVE FORMERLY
BEEN KEEP SEPARATE SUCH AS CABLE
COMPANIES, LONG DISTANCE COMPANIES AS
WELL AS AN INTEREST IN PROMOTING THE
TRADITIONAL NOTICE OF UNIVERSAL SERVICE
BUT RINGING IT INTO THE UNIVERSAL AGE.
THAT CHALLENGE, HOW TO PROMOTE
COMPETITION, AS WELL AS UNIVERSAL
SERVICE IN MAKING SURE THE BENEFITS OF
THE INFORMATION AGE REACH ALL AMERICANS
AND HOPEFULLY, THIS TIME, WE CAN REALLY
MEAN ALL AMERICANS WILL BE ONE OF THE
CORE CHALLENGE.
CERTAINLY FOR POLICY MAKERS WHO WILL BE
IM{MENL}ING THIS FACT THAT WILL FALL TO
THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION AS
WELL AS MANY STATE COMMISSIONS BUTS A
CHALLENGE FOR NONPROFIT GROUP, COMMUNITY
GROUP, INDUSTRY, AND ALL OTHERS WHO ARE
INTERESTED BECAUSE THIS -- IT'S CLEAR
THAT THE AS WELL INTENTIONED AS THE
FRAMERS OF SOME OF THESE PROVISIONS MAY
HAVE BEEN, THEIR SUCCESSFUL
IMPLEMENTATION WILL REQUIRE THE FULL
PARTICIPATION OF ALL THOSE WITH
EXPERTISE, OF ALL THOSE WITH INTEREST,
OF ALL THOSE WHO HAVE A NEEDS THAT THE
OUTCOME CAN BEST SERVE.
WE ARE REFER TOGETHER THE PEOPLE IN THIS
ROOM AS WELL AS YOUR COLLEAGUES HERE AT
THIS CONFERENCE AND WITH WHOM YOU WORK,
BRING A LOT OF EXPERTISE TO THESE
QUESTIONS MAY NOT BE TELECOMMUNICATIONS
EXPERT, MANY OF YOU BUT WHOSE EXPERIENCE
IN THE FIELD NEED TOTS BE PART OF THE
POLICY MAKING PROCESS W THAT, WHAT I
WOULD LIKE TO DO IS BEGIN THE PROCESS OF
GETTING THE STORY OF THE NEW LAYOUT BY
TURNING TO SOME PANELIST TOSS DO THAT.
EACH ONE OF OUR PANELISTS COME FROM
DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES HAS DIFFERENT
HISTORY WITH TELECOMMUNICATIONS ISSUES
POLICY AND ADVOCACY AND HOLD A DIFFERENT
PART OF THE SORRY FOR WHERE WE NEED TO
GO FORWARD.
I WILL NOT SPEND ANY MORE TIME ON
INTRODUCTIONS FOR THEM.
THOSE WHO ARE KNOWN I HAVE ASKED THEM TO
IDENTIFY THEMSELVES.
I WILL ASK WHO I HOPE IS KNOWN THIS ALL
OF YOU, CERTAINLY KNOWN TO ME AS ONE OF
THE FOREMOST ADVOCATES IN THE COMMUNITY
OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AS WELL AS
WHEN HE WAS HERE IN WASHINGTON.
I HAD THE GREAT PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH
PAUL SCHROEDER AS ONE OF THE MOST
SUCCESSFUL ADVOCATES IN THE
TELECOMMUNICATIONS ARENA.
PAUL IS WITH THE AMERICAN FOUND TIOMFOR
THE BLIND, BASED IN CHICAGO.
HE WILL LEAD OFF OUR DISCUSSION.
I WOULD ASK HIM AS WELL AS THE OTHER
PANEL LIFT TO SPEND ABOUT FIVE TO TEN
MINUTES TO MAKE SURE WE LEAVE THE HOST
TIME FOR QUESTIONS.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS AS YOU LISTEN TO
PAUL OR OTHERS, I WOULD LIKE TO PUT
THOSE OFF TO THE END AFTER EVERY ONE HAS
HAD A CHANCE TO MAKE THEIR COMMENTS BUT
THAT ALSO SUGGESTS YOU MIGHT WANT TO JOT
DOWN A QUESTION SO IT WILL STILL BE
FRESH ONCE WE TURN TO DISCUSSION
PORTION.
WITH THAT, LET ME TURN IT OVER TO PALM.
>> THANKS A ANDREW.
I WILL {SED} STAND UNBECAUSE IT IS AFTER
LUNCH AND I HAVE TO STAY AWAKE.
SO IF YOU NEED TO STAND UP, I'M WITH THE
AMERICAN FOUND DIX FOR THE BLIND IN
CHICAGO THOUGH I DID SPEND 3 DELIGHTFUL
YEARS AS A LOBBYIST FOR -- I'M SORRY, I
WAS AN EDUCATOR.
WE NEED TO ASK TO YOU USE THE MIKE.
NOW I CAN'T WALK AROUND BUT I CAN MOON
DANCE.
AND THE I GUESS, THE REASON WE GOT A
LITTLE LATE START IS REALLY MY FAULT BUT
ONCE A LOBBYIST, ALWAYS A LOBBYIST.
I HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO SOMEONE FROM A
O L WHO IS RECEPTIVE TO LISTENING WHICH
IS NEAT AND TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT
IS A SEARCH SERVICE THAT BLIND FOLKS
PRETTY MUCH CAN'T USE.
WE ALWAYS LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO TREE
TO GET THE MESSAGE IF YOU WILL.
I'M NOT GOING TO START WITH ALEXANDER
GRAM BELL OR JUDGE GREEN AND PROBABLY
NOT WITH A HOLE BUNCH OF OTHER THINGS
BUT HE LET ME VERY QUICKLY LAY OUT THE
GROUNDWORK AND THEN THE REST OF THE
PANEL WILL CERTAINLY BRING US FORWARD TO
WHAT WE PREFER BECAUSE I'M VERY
INTERESTED IN EVERY ONE'S VIEWPOINT
AROUND THE PROM FOR HOW WE MOVE ON FROM
HERE.
THE MANY OF YOU KNOW, I GUESS THAT THE
ISSUES AROUND REFORMING AND REVISING
COMMUNICATIONS LAW HAVE BEEN ON GOING
FOR A LICENSING TIME AND IN PARTICULAR
GOT GOING AFTER THE DE{VES} TOUR AND ALL
THAT IN THE 80S WHEN THE TELEPHONE
STRUCTURE CHANGED REMARKABLELY.
THOSE ACTIVITIES REALLY CAME TO THE
FOREFRONT IN THE EARLY 90'S I THINK WHEN
MOMENTUM REALLY BEGAN TO TAKE PLACE.
IT WAS AT THE SAME TIME THAT THE
DISABILITY COMMUNITY, AT LEAST A FEW OF
US SUDDENLY REALIZE WE HAD {F} WE HAD AN
INTEREST HERE THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE
{BFLT}.
{THRP} CERTAINLY PIECES OF LEGISLATION
PRIMARILY DEALING WITH HEARING AID
COMPATIBILITY AND ISSUES AROUND THAT
BEFOREHAND.
BUT IN TERMS OVERLOOKING THE THE OVERALL
STRUCTURE, THE ENVIRONMENT, NOT OF US
WERE NOT AWARE THAT WE HAD AN ISSUE, FEW
WERE, DEBORAH KAPLAN, WHO I KNOW CAME TO
SOME GROUPS IN THE LAST 80S MANY OF WHOM
LISTENED TO WHAT SHE HAD TO SIGH OR MAKE
NOT SO POLITELY, WHY DO WE CARE ABOUT
WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THE TELEPHONE {P}
COMPANY.
WE CAN PICK UP A PHONE JUST FINE.
SO MOST OF US I DON'T THINK WERE AWARE
BUT FOR THE TO YOUOUSLY, SOME OF US DID
GET THE NOTION THAT WE DID HAVE
SOMETHING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT.
IN 1991, FOUND BEGAN TO FIND A
RECEMENTTIVE AUDIENCE BOTH ON THE HILL
AND INDUSTRY TO WHAT WE HAD TO SAY.
THAT YEAR, BILLS WERE {GIP}ING TO MOVE.
THESE WERE SIMILAR TO PEES OF
LEGISLATION THAT HAD BEEN INTRODUCED
BEFORE WITH THE BASIC CONCEPT OF GIVING
THE SOMEWHAT NEW THREE CREATED BELL
COMPANYS THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE IN
OTHER ENVIRONMENTS AND LATER ON, {F}, IT
WAS ALSO ADDED TO TELEVISION FOLKS TO
COME PEE AS TELEPHONE CARRIERS AND THE
LIGHT LIKE.
HAS FAIRLY HAND HAND DESCRIPTION OF THE
BUT IN A SENSE THAT, IS THE ENVIRONMENT
WE STEPPED INTO.
COUPLE OF POINTS, FIRST OF.
>>, IS JURISDICITIONS HERE WERE
ENORMOUSLY COMPLEX, ENFOR PEOPLE WITH
SOME SKILL AND NONE OF US IN THE
DISABILITY COMMUNITY HAD MUCH SKILL WHEN
IT CAME TO THE COMMUNICATIONS ACT OF
1924 AND THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LEGISLATION.
THESE WERE REMARKABLELY AND DIFFICULT
COMPLEX AREAS FOR {TOUTS} STEM INTO,
VERY KNEW ARENA.
SECONDLY, HALT WE WERE TRYING TO DO WITH
RESPECT, EFFECT A VERY, VERY LARGE
SEGMENT OF THE OVERALL MARKETPLACE.
LATER ON WHEN HEALTHCARE REFORM CAME ON,
WE HAD ALREADY HAD A TASTE OF WHAT IT
{E} LIKE WHEN YOU TRY TO YES CALL WITH
17TH OF THE ECONOMY AND WE WERE DOING
THE SAME THING WITH TELECOM, ONLY IN
THIS CASE, ONLY ABOUT 3 OR 4 OFOUS
INVOLVED IN IT.
AT LEAST WE HAD A FEW MORE IN HEALTH
CARE.
IT WAS NEW, {DVNING}, COMPLEX AND IT WAS
AN AREA THAT HAD ITSELF VERY EACHMENTS
KNOWLEDGE OF DISABILITY OR IT WAS NOT
CREATING THE VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION
SYSTEM FOR THE SPECIALIZED SYSTEM {KREE}
ABED BY PEOPLE WHO KNEW SOMETHING ABOUT
DISABILITY.
THIS WAS DONE IN A COMPLETELY NEW AREA
TO {ZPUS} WE WERE COMPLETELY NEW TO MOST
OF FOLKS AROUND THE TABLE.
I'M SAYING MOST OF THESE CALF YET
BECAUSE NOT EVERYBODY IS HAPPY WITH WHAT
WAS ACCOMPLISHED.
BUT NEITHER AM IM.
I AM TELLING YOU WHY I THINK SOME OF THE
THINGS ARE THE WAY THEY R THE OTHER
THING THAT HELPED IN 1919 AND '92 IS WE
BEGAN TO GET A FAIRLY RECEPTIVE AUDIENCE
WITH SOME INDUSTRY LAYERS AGAIN, MANY OF
WHOM HAD ALREADY HEARD FROM A FEW
VISIONARYS LIKE DEBORAH KAPLAN, FRANK
AND PAM RANSOM ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY BUT
THEY BEGAN TO LISTEN TO THEM AND IN THE
CONTEXT OF NEW LEGISLATION AND I WOULD
SAY NEEDING ALL THE FRIEND THEY CAN GET
TO HELP MOVE THIS NEW LEGISLATION
THROUGH CONGRESS BEGAN TO LISTEN TO THE
DISBILL FEEL UNCOMMUNITY AND THOSE
REPRESENTING THE COMMUNITY HERE IN
WASHINGTON.
SO IN THOSE YEARS OF 1991, AND 1992, WE
DID FIND A RESOMETIVE AUDIENCE,
PARTICULAR LYNN THE REGIONAL BELL
COMPANIES WHO HAD A SAYING -- A SAYING
INF AMOUNT TO GAIN FROM THE CHANGING THE
STRUCTURE.
WE SAT DOWN, NEGOTIATED LANGUAGE IN GOOD
FAITH AND I WOULD SAY WITH SOME OF THE
FINER INDIVIDUALS WHO NOT ONLY WERE
NEGOTIATING AS GOOD WASHINGTON
NEGOTIATORS WILL BUT ALSO HUMAN BEINGS
WHO TOOK TIME TO LISTEN TO WHAT THE
ISSUES WERE, BOB WILLIAM WHO IS USES
COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY TO SPEAK AND
MYSELF, WERE THE TWO NEGOTIATORS.
AND I THINK JUST OUR PRESENT PROBABLY
TAUGHT A LOT TO OUR INDIVIDUAL AND OUR
PRESENCE IN THEIR OFFICE TAUGHT AS GREAT
DEAL ABOUT THE COMPANY.
THOSE NEGOTIATIONS WERE COMPLETED,
LANGUAGE EMERGED WHICH WAS PUT INTO
LEGISLATION, BUT SIR LATED AROUND
CONGRESS BETWEEN 1992 AND 1994.
I MENTIONED EARLIER THE JURISDICTIONS
ARE VERY COMPLEX IN THIS LEGISLATION.
AND SO SINCE WE HAD NEGOTIATE WE HAD THE
BELL OPERATING COMPANIES, MOST OF THE
LANGUAGE THAT WE NEGOTIATED APPLIED TO
THEM.
BUT THE LANGUAGE THAT WE NEGOTIATED, YOU
THINK WAS VERY FAR SIGHTED.
PAUSE WHAT IT REALLY SAID FOR THE FIRST
TIME IN A UNIVERSAL SORT OF WAY, WAS
THAT A SEE SIGNER OF A PRODUCT OR A
SERVICE HAD TO DESIGN THAT PRODUCT OR
SERVICE IN A WAY THAT WILL PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES COULD USE IT.
OF COURSE, WE BASED THAT ON THE
ARGUMENTS WE HAD USED ENDURE THE
AMERICAN WITH DISABILITIES ACT FOR NEW
CONSTRUCTION, IN DESIGNING BUSSES THAT
WERE ACCESS {SIBL} AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT NOW, WE'RE GETTING DOWN TO THE LEVEL
OF YOUR LOCAL CITY AND RADIO SHELF AND
PURCHASE OFF THE SHELF.
THAT WAS A REVOLUTION AREA STEP FORWARD,
WE ALSO OF COURSE NEGOTIATED LANGUAGE TO
PROVIDE {SFORB} ACCESS TO VIDEO
PROGRAMMING THROUGH CLOSED CAP {SHUB}S
AND NOT NEARLY WHAT WE WOULD HAVE LIKED
BUT LANGUAGE WHICH BEGAN TOLL MOVE VIDEO
DESCRIPTION FORWARD.
TOLL BRING US UP TO THE PRINTS AND TO
1996, MOST OF THAT LANGUAGE SURVIVED
INTACT, AND I THINK IN SOME WAYS IN AN
IMPROVED NORM BECAUSE IT APPLIED MORE
UNIVERSALLY IN THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS
ACT WHICH ULTIMATELY PASSED IN 1996 SO
THAT IN FACT IT DOES APPLY TOLL ALL
MANUFACTURERS OF CUSTOMER PREMISES
EQUIPMENT AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
EQUIPMENT AND HOPEFULLY, SOMEBODY ELSE
HERE WILL HELP TELL YOU WHAT THAT MEAN
AND APPLIED TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS
SERVICES SO NO LONGER RESTRICTED TO THE
BELL COMPANIES BUT IT IS A UNIVERSALLY
APPLIED.
DOES GIVE RESPONSIBLE DETO THE COST F C
Y, FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION,
THEY ARE HERE TODAY AS WEPT.
AND THE INDIVIDUAL {KRO} ACCESS LANGUAGE
REMAINED WITH SOME MODIFICATIONS BUT
STILL, REQUIRING A MOVE TOWARD CLOSED
CAPTIONING OF VIDEO PROGRAMMING AND
UNFORTUNATELY, STILL, ONLY A STUDY TO
PROMOTE VIDEO DESCRIPTION, BUT MORE THAN
CERTAINLY THOSE OF US WHO ARE BLIND WHO
HAD BEFORE IN GETTING ACCESS TO VIDEO
PROGRAM PROGRAMS.
LY DROP THERE AND LET SOMEBODY ELSE MOVE
FROM THIS POINT.
ANDREW, DO YOU HAVE A DIRECTION FOR WHO
IS NEXT.
>> YES.
>> THANK YOU.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK LINDA DUBROOF FROM
THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION TO
TAKE IT UP NEXT AS YOU JUST HEARD PAUL
SAY, A NUMBER OF THE ACT PROVIDES A
BROAD FRAMEWORK WITH SOME GOOD
PRINCIPALS BUT ASK AS NUMBER OF OTHER
ENTITIES MOST IMPORTANTLY IN MANY REGARD
THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION TO
TAKE A LIEDER SHIP ROLE IN MAKING THOSE
PROMISES REALITY.
LINDA WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THOSE
SECTIONS OF THE {SHAKT} AND WHAT THE
COMMISSION A WORK IS DOING TO THE TASK
FORCE THAT SHE LEADS.
LINDA.
>> THANK YOU.
CAN EVERYBODY HEAR ME.
MY NAME IS A LINDA DUBROOF WITH THE
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION, I
KNOW MANY OF YOU AND THOSE THAT I DON'T
KNOW, HELLO.
I WARE TWO HATS AT THE COMMISSION AND
SOMETIMES THEY ARE ON PARALLEL TRACKS
AND SOMETIMES NOT DIRECTOR OF THE
DISABILITIES ISSUE TASK FORCE AND I'M
ALSO THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF A DECISION IN
THE COMMON CARRIER BUREAU.
THE FCC FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DO NOT KNOW
US, THE LITTLE AGENCY THAT COULD WOULD
AND SHOULD EXPAND ACCESS TO
TELECOMMUNICATIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES.
AND YOU MAY HAVE SEEN AN ARTICLE EARLIER
THIS WEEK IN THE "WASHINGTON POST" THAT
OUR BUREAU, THE COMMAND CARRIER BUREAU
IS BURNING THE MID-NILE OIL TO HEAT
THESE DEADLINES IMPOSE BY THE '{96}
{SAKT} AND EVERYTHING YOU READ IS TRUE.
THE {F} {DRFMENT} C OF 1996 IS VERY
DIFFERENT THAN THE FCC OF 1995 AND
BEFORE.
WE'RE BOLDLY GOING WHERE NO FCC HAS GONE
BEFORE.
WE HAVE QUITE A MISSION IN DISABILITY
AND THAT'S'S WHAT I WANT TO TALK TO YOU
ABOUT THIS AFTERNOON.
TWO PRIMARY SECTIONS OF THE ACT THAT
EXPAND TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACCESS FOR
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
THE FIRST ONE IS SECTION 255.
AND IT IS CALMED AS PAUL POINTED OUT,
ACCESS TO SERVICES BY PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES.
IT DOES REQUIRE ALL PROVIDERS, ALL
PROVIDERS OF TELL {DMUN} {KAX} SERVICES
AND MANUFACTURERS OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
EQUIPMENT AND CUSTOMER PREMISES
EQUIPMENT WHICH YOU WILL HEAR CALLED C P
EI SYRUP BY DENNIS WHO I'M THRILLED IS
HERE TO TALK ABOUT EQUIPMENT AND C P E
AND {P} IT REQUIRES TO US ENSURE THAT
EQUIP.
AND SERVICES ARE ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITY IF READILY ACHIEVE ABLE.
THE ADA DEFINITION WITH DISBILL THREE
AND READILY ACHIEVE ABLE ARE
INCORPORATED BY {RFERNINGTS} {RVRNINGTS}
INTO THE STATUTE.
NOW, THE -- {RVRNLTS}, HAS SET UP A
FEDERAL ADD {VYTION} RECOMMITTEE TO AND
C P E AND HAS ALREADY BEGAN ITS
CONSIDERATIONS THE F C K HAS TEAM OF
PEOPLE AND I'M REALLY PLEASE TODAY BE
WORKING WITH THE ACCESS BOARD ON THIS.
WE ARE ALSO GOING TO BE PUTTING OUT SOME
RULEMAKINGS VERY SOON.
TO ASSIST THE ACCESS BOARD IN {DVRL} AGO
WRITTEN RECORD FOR EQUIPMENT AND C P E
ISSUES CAN TO FOCUS IN A NOTICE OF
PROPOSED RULEMAKING ON THE SERVICE
ACCESSIBILITY ISSUES.
SO WE'RE WORKING VERY HARD ON THAT.
THERE ARE SOME VERY INTRICATE ISSUES WE
WILL BE DEALING WITH FOR EXAMPLE,
DEFINING THE TERM "CPE,
TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES REGULATIONS
AND AS WITH YOU APPLY THEM TO DISABILITY
ACCESS, IT WILL GET VERY INTERESTING.
CONSUMER WITH DISABILITY, AND THE
INDUSTRY ARE COMING TOGETHER TO DISCUSS
AND NEGOTIATE ACCESSIBILITY, BEFORE WE
EVEN HIT -- BEFORE THE RULEMAKING HIT
THE DRAWING BOARD WHICH IS VERY EXCITING
TO US, WE'RE PLEASED TO SEE THIS IS SORT
OF IN THE {LINLD} OF PRO DE{REK} TORE
FRAMEWORK THAT WAS EN{VINTION}ED BY
CONGRESS IN ADOPTING THE '96 AGENT.
IT IS HARD TO MAKE PREDICTING IN THE
TELECOM INDUSTRY.
WE HOPE THIS SECTION 265 WILL NOT ONLY
BE IMMEMBERED BUT WILL PLANT SEED STORE
SUCCESSFUL INFORMATION HIGHWAY.
WE HOPE PEOPLE WILL COME TOGETHER, GOSH
{SHAT} AND BOTH SIDES WILL DEVELOP
WORKING RELATIONSHIPS AND MECHANISMS TO
ENSURE THAT UNIVERSAL DESIGN IS FIRMLY
IN GRAIN IN ALL SECTORS OF
TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY.
WE HOPE WILLING THAT THE INDUSTRY WILL
GO FURTHER.
WE HAD A BIG SUCCESS IN THIS LESSON WHEN
WE IMMENED T R S {H} IS TRULY A SUCCESS
STORY OF THE ADA, VERY HUGE CONSUMER
COMPLAINTS, {EE} NORM HAS GROWTH, AND SO
WE HOPE THAT THIS WILL BY A SIMILAR
IMPLEMENTATION AND AT THE ACCESS BOARD.
THE SECOND PROVISION, SECTION 713, THIS
IS CALLED VIDEO PROGRAMMING ASK TEST SIS
BILL {SFEE} AND PAUL BROUGHT THIS UP
WITH REGARD TO VIDEO DESCRIPTION, THIS
IS BOTH VIDEO DESCRIPTION, CAPTIONING
AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT WILL BRING THIS
NEED {WRA} YAE TO DEAL WITH ALL
DISABILITIES REQUIRES FCC AS PAUL
POINTED OUT TO REPORT TO CONGRESS,
DEVELOP RULES FOR CLOSED CAPTIONING,
DEVELOP RULES.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF
THE FCC THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY HAVE A
CONGRESSIONAL MANDATE TO ADOPT RULES.
ALSO, REQUIRES {TOUTS} STUD SDI AND
REPORT TO CONGRESS ON VIDEO DESCRIPTION
FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH VISUAL
DISABILITIES.
NOW, IN ANTICIPATION OF THIS LAW, WE
RELEASED A NOTICE OF INQUIRY IN DECEMBER
AND ANOTHER CONFERENCE THAT ONE WAS IN
NEW YORK.
IT WAS ALSO CO-HOSTED BY SOME {HA}
AMAZING PEOPLE AND IT WAS AT THE LIGHT
HOUSE IN DECEMBER 4TH I BELIEVE BECAUSE
ON THE 35TH, WE RELEASED THE NOTICE OF
IN YEAR ON YOUR OWN, WE WERE HOPING FOR
LEGISLATION, BUT WE TOOK A LITTLE WHILE
AND RECEIVE EXTENSIVE COMMENT AND AS WE
SPEAK, STAFF PEOPLE AT THE FCC FROM THE
CABLE SERVICES BUREAU {RA} AND THE MASS
MEDIA BUREAU ARE AT AT WORK ON THIS
INITIAL REPORT TO CONGRESS.
WHICH IS MANDATED BY STAT THEIR AND WILL
BE DELIVERED TO CONGRESS ON MY BIRTHDAY,
AUGUST 6TH.
THAT'S THE BEST BIRTHDAY PRESENT I CAN
EVER GIVE TO CONGRESS.
I NOTED THAT ITEM YESTERDAY.
IT IS REALLY, JUST SUCH A PLEASURE TO GO
INTO THE OFFICE YESTERDAY AND FIND THAT
SITTING ON MY DESK.
LET ME TALK ABOUT SOMETHING WHICH I A AM
FILMED FINDING IS A BIT OVERLOOKED
ANOTHER PROVISION IS SECTION 261, {KA}
CALLED INTER CON {SNERX} AND HAS DUTIES
TOWN ALL TELECOMMUNICATION CARRIER THAT
IS SECTION PLACE AS DUTY ON ALL
TELECOMMUNICATION CARRIERS NOT TO
INSTALL NETWORK FUNCTION, FEATURES OR
CAPABILITIES THAT DO NOT COMPLY WITH
SECTION 255.
SO ONCE WE HAVE THE 2535 STANDARDS IN
PLACE, THEN, THAT WILL BE A GUIDE FOR
THE INDUSTRY AND THEY CANNOT INSTALL
THINGS THAT DON'T -- A ARE NOT IMPROPER.
NOW, OUR COMMON CARRIER BUREAU STAFFER
ARE HARD AT WORK TODAY, YESTERDAY, LAST
NIGHT, LAST WEEKEND, AND SOME OF THEM
ARE WALKING IN RIGHT NOW AT THEIR LITTLE
BREAK FROM 251, IN FACT, YOU {HA} BY
HEARING SOME HORROR STORIES NOT JUST IN
THE "WASHINGTON POST" ABOUT HOW THEY
BEEN WORK {ROING} 16 HOUR AS DAY, COMING
IN ON WEEKEND AND GIVING UP OUR TIME OFF
TO WORK ON 251.
ARTICLE THE LONG HOURS ARE TRUE BUT
PEOPLE TELL ME IT IS A LABOR OF {SLOF}
AND PROBABLY THE HOST HISTORIC THING
THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED SINCE THE DE{VES}
TOUR OF AT&T.
THERE IS AN AUGUST 8TH DEADLINE CAN THE
SCHEDULE IS JUST GRUELING.
AND THAT PUPPY IS GROWLING.
LET ME GIVE YOU THE BIG PICTURE.
THE POST AND THE 1996 WORLD AT THE F C Y
WE KIND OF GOTTEN INTO THE HABIT, ONE
JUST TO OWED SAY PREP DE{VES} TOUR, NOW
WE SAY PRE'96 ACT AND POST '96.
FROM A REGULATORY STANDPOINT OUR
CONGRESSIONAL MANDATES AT THE FCC HAVE
DRAMATICALLY CHANGED.
OUR OLD WAYS OF LOOKING AT THE INDUSTRY
HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY THROWN OUT THE
WINDOW.
AND I'M FOND {HOFPD} SAYING THAT NOW
THAT THE '96 ACT HAS PASSED, ALREADY
BROAD MANDATES AFFECTING PEOPLE?
AND THE DIVISION BULL TEE COMMUNITY HAS
FINALLY ARRIVED ON THE GROUND FLOOR.
NOW, I LOOK TO THINK OF THE DISABILITIES
ISSUES TASK FORCE WHICH I'M THE DIRECTOR
OF AS IN INFO RAMP IT {SKV}.
WE'RE YOUR INFO RAMP.
OKAY, GIVE US INFORMATION.
WE WILL RAMP IT UP TO THE RIGHT PLACE S
AND ALSO, CONTINUE TO WORK ON THE
INITIATIVE THAT IS WE STARTED LAST YEAR.
THERE IS MUCH WORK AHEALED BUT FOR THE
{HOFMENT}, {BAEM} WITH DISABILITIES ARE
NOW ON THE SAME LAYING FIELD AS THE BIG
GUNS OF THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY,
PLAT.
EVERYBODY IS STARTING FROM THE SAME
POINT.
IN THIS PIECE OF {LAELINGTSES} {LATION}.
IN -- LEGISLATION.
IN ORDER TO {SIJDZ} IN OUR EFFORT,
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES MUST CONTINUE
TO LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE EXAMPLE NOT
BECOME OVERLY FOCUSED ON MICRO ISSUES.
THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
AS TECHNOLOGY CON VERGE, IT BECOMES
IMPOSSIBLE TO FOCUS ONLY ON ONE
PARTICULAR AREA OF TECHNOLOGY.
DISABILITY ADVOCATES MUST SCREEN
EVERYTHING FROM ALL BUREAUS AND ALL
OFFICES OF THE FCC FOR DISBILL FEEL
IMPACT.
YOU CAN'T JUST MONEY IN ON ONE THING.
LET THREE TELL YOU SOME EXAMPLES OF
THIS.
SOMETIME, ISSUES THAT PEOPLE THINK HAVE
NO ACCESS BUT IN FACT THEY DO.
FOR EXAMPLE, HOW WILL NUMBER PORT BILL
TEE A{FARINGT} T R S SERVICES HOW WILL
NEW LOCAL COMPETITION AFACT THE MARKET
FOR ACCESSIBLE SERVICE.
HOW WILL PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY BE
AFFECT {PED} BY THE NEW UNIVERSAL
SERVICE PARADIGM.
HOW WILL CAPTION CAN REQUIREMENTS APPLY
TO OPEN VIDEO SYSTEMS?
THESE ARE ALL BIG I CAN PICTURE ISSUES
THAT MUST NOT BE OVERLOOKED.
IF MY OF THOSE ISSUES YOU ARE THINK
TOGETHER YOURSELF, WHAT THE HECK IS SHE
TALKING ABOUT YOU CAN YOU NEED THE TALK
TO THE REPRESENTATIVE ON THOSE ISSUES.
OKAY, THE TASK FORCE, I KEEP TALKING
ABOUT THE TASK FORCE, THOSE OF YOU NOT
FAMILIAR WITH THEM, IT WAS SET UP AND WE
FOUND OUT THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FCC LAST
YEAR AND HAS REPRESENTATIVES FROM EVERY
BUREAU AND OFFICE SO. IF THERE IS AN
ISSUE YOU WANT TO TALK TALK ABOUT, YOU
CAN CALL THE TASK FORCE, YOU CAN TALK TO
ME, I CAN TELL YOU WHO THE
REPRESENTATIVE IS IF I DON'T KNOW THE
ISSUE OR EXPERT {TON} ISSUE {FRX} I'M
AM, WE WILL CHAT.
WE ARE REALLY EXCITED BECAUSE WE HAVE
MANUAL REPORT WHICH I BROUGHT LOTS OF
COPIES OF AND I HAVE IT ON DISK FORM
WHICH THESE DISKS HAVE THE ACT THE NEW
HEARING AID COMPATIBILITY REPORTS SO
THIS IS VERY EXCITING.
THE D I T HAS SEVERAL GOALS ONE IS IS
THAT IT IS A SINK {ZPAL} POINT OF
CONTACT WHICH WE EVER HAD BEFORE AT THAT
TIME THE FCC IN THE OLD DAY {FS} YOU
DIDN'T KNOW MY NAME ARE 0 OR THAT I
WORKED ON DISABILITY ACCESS, IT COULD
TAKE YOU TEN OR FIFTEEN PHONE CALLS TO
WHO WAS A LIVE HUMAN BEING ON PHONE AND
ONE YOU FOUND A LIVE HUMAN BEING ON THE
PHONE, THEY MAY NOT NOT WHAT YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT.
WE ARE ACCESSIBLE BY PHONE, T T C, P C,
HOME PAGE, YOU NAME IT.
WE BRING CONSUMERS AND INDUSTRY
TOGETHER.
WE BEEN KNOWN AS SORT OF THE GREAT
FACILITATOR TOSS TRY TO WORK OUT
CONSENSUS AGREEMENTS BETWEEN CONSUMERS
AND THE INDUSTRY AND WE'RE ALSO A POINT
OF COORDINATION, KIND OF A BIG CATCHER'S
NET.
WHEN KAREN RAN SON, OR PAUL SCHROEDER OR
SOMEBODY SAYS WE YOU MISSED, WE CATCH I
HOME FULLY, IN OUR SECOND YEAR, WE WILL
KNOW WHAT IS COMING UP AHEALED OF NINE
AND REALLY BE PROACTIVE.
NOW, AT THE MOMENT, AT THE COME {MIFX},
WE'RE WORKING ON 2535 AND 713.
THOSE ARE OUR TOP PRIORITY BUT I'M LEASE
TODAY A{NOUJS} JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, THE
COMMISSION ADOCUMENTED REPORT AND ORDER
SETTING UP NEW RULES NOR HEAR AGO AID
COMPATIBLE WIRELESS ISSUES THE WIRE LINE
ISSUES ARE RESOLVED.
AND OUR TASK FORCE HAD A MAJOR ROLE AND
SETTING UP THE NEGOTIATED RULEMAKING
COMMITTEE THAT LED TO THESE NEW RULES.
THAT COMMITTEE AND JOE GORDAN IS SITTING
HERE TO MY RIGHT HE WAS {TON} COMMISSION
WITH ME, I THINK PAM RANSOM IS HERE TOO.
WE GOT SOME COMMITTEE MEMBER MEMBERS.
THAT PROS LEFT ME WITH A STRONG
CONVICTION THAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
IN INDUSTRY CAN ALWAYS FIND SOME COMMON
GROUND.
MAYBE NOT A LOT, BUT SOME COMMON GROUND
EVEN ON HIGHLY {KONTSES} VARY {SAL}
ISSUES LIKE ACT.
WE WILL BE SOME {BRALT}ING ON JULY 26,
THE ADA AND OUR THIRD OF T R S.
THAT THIS YEAR, LAST YEAR, WE HAD MISS
AMERICA.
I'M NOT SURE WE CAN BEAT THAT.
BUT, THIS YEAR, WE HAVE SOME SURPRISES
IN STORE FOR YOU.
SO LOOK FOR FAXED ON WE WILL BE SHIPPING
THINGS OUT TO ALL OF {ZMU} CONTACT THE
COMMISSION BEFORE JULY 26TH IF YOU WANT
OBEY INFORMED IN OUR BIG CELEBRATION.
WE HAVE COPIES AVAILABLE OF THE ANNUAL
VOTE AND OTHERS AND THE BEAUTIFUL LOGO
THAT IS ON THE COVER WAS ACTUALLY
DE{DINDZ} BY A GALLAUDET STUDENT.
WE REALLY LOVE IT.
SO WE THANK YOU FOR BRINGING US THIS
STUDENT.
IN CONCLUSION, I WANT TO GIVE YOU SO YOU
PER {PEKTS}TIVE.
AMERICAN IS CHANGING SO RAPIDLY AND WHAT
WE THOUGHT WAS IMPOSSIBLE HAS BECOME
INEVITABLE.
IN FACT THIS WHOLE BUILDING IS AMAZING
HERE ARE SOME IMPOSSIBLES THAT BECOME
INEVITABLE IN MY LIFE TIME, A CAR IN
EVERY GARAGE, A TV IN EVERY HOME, THE
END OF INFECTIOUS CHILDHOOD DISEASES,
INCREASE INCREASES UNAUTO SAFETY, THE
END OF THE EVIL IMPAYER OF THE SOVIET
UNION.
MONICA SELES BACK ON THE TENNIS CIRCLE,
PEOPLE WITH HEARING AND SPEECH
DISABILITIES TALKING ON THE TELEPHONE.
A PERSONAL LAPTOP COMPUTER, {SENL} AGO
LETTER BY PUSHING A BUTTON ANYWHERE IN
THE WORLD ALSO KNOWN HAS E-MAIL AND {P}
{P} SIGN FED.
>>> WELL, NEXT, I WOULD LIKE TO TURN TO
DENNIS CANNON OF THE ACCESS BOARD.
ONE OF THE REMARKABLE THINGS ABOUT
TELECOM ACT IS THAT WHILE MOST OF THE
IMMEN {TAPTION} WORK OF IT IS OBEY DONE
AT THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS WHICH IS
MORE TRADITIONAL FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LEGISLATION, THE TELECOM ACTS OF '96
CARVES OUT A SPECIAL RULE FOR THE ACCESS
BOARD TO DEVELOP GUIDELINES AND THESE
CONSUMER PRIME MISSES EQUIPMENT WHICH
ARE PHONES AND FAX MACHINES IN THOSE
DEVICES THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR HOME, ON
YOUR DESK TOP, YOUR KITCHEN COUNTER TOP,
ET CETERA AND SO DEVELOPS A ROLE FOR THE
ACCESS BOARD AS WELL AS THE MORE
TRADITIONAL TELECOM AGENCY.
DENNIS IS WITH {TOUTS} TALK MORE ABOUT
THAT RULE AND THE DIRECTION HE SEEKS.
DENNIS?
>> OKAY FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW
WHAT THE ACCESS BOARD IS, IT AFORMAL
NAME GIVES A PICK {GER} CRAMP TOSS
SIGNER, IT IS THE ARCHITECTAL AND
TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS COMPLIANCE
BOARD.
YOU CAN SEE WHY WE SHORTENED IT TO
ACCESS BOARD.
IT IS A LOT EASIER TO SAY.
IT WAS CREATED UNDER SECTION 502 OF THE
REHABILITATION ACT BACK IN {199} {F} 73.
ITS TASK AT THAT POINT WAS TO ENFORCE
SOMETHING CALLED THE ARCHITECTAL
BARRIERS ACTS WHICH SAID THAT FOUR
FEDERAL AGENCIES HAD DEVELOPED STANDARD
FOR ANYTHING BUILT WITH FEDERAL MONEY.
THEY PRIMARILY INCLUDED {ARKT}
TERRITORYAL FEATURES.
IN 197, CONGRESS RETHOUGHT THE {SKBOORD}
REORGAN HIDE I HAD IT AND ALSO, SAID IN
ITS LATER REPORT AND AMENDMENT THAT ONE
OF THE ISSUES IT WAS TO {KRK} IN THE
ACCESS WAS COMMUNICATIONS ACCESS.
THERE WAS ACTUALLY A THOUGHT OF CHANGING
IT TO THE ARCHITECT TALL AND
TRANSPORTATION AND {CHUN} {KPATION}S BAR
QUESTIONS COME PLOW {YANS} BOARD AND
FORTUNATELY, THAT IDEA.
KILLED VERY QUICKLY.
BUT, WHEN THE BOARD BEGAN ALSO IN '78 TO
DEVELOP MINIMAL GUIDELINE {PS} FOR THE
STANDARDS, IT PUT IN STANDARD
REQUIREMENTS FOR THING ITS LIKE THE TTYS
AND THE HEARING AID COMPATIBILITY OF
TELEPHONES AND DIGITAL AND SO FORTH
AGENE FOCUS ON THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
WHICH IS BASICALLY OUR SPECIALTY.
WHEN THE ADA CAME ALONG, CONGRESS USED
THE SAME MODEL AND SAID, LET'S GIVE THE
BOARD THE AUTHORITY TO DEVELOP MINIMAL
GUIDELINES A COUPLE OF OTHER AGENCY
THERE IS ACTUALLY DEVELOP THE STANDARDS
BUT THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES.
SO WE DID A FOR THE ADA AND THE ADA
ACCESSIBILITY GUIDELINES IN INCLUDE
PROVISIONS FOR T T C AND TELEPHONES AND
SO FORTH.
AND EVEN THOUGH COMMUNICATIONS BARRIERS
WAS A STUDY ITEM WE WERE SUPPOSED TO
DEAL WITH, WE HAD NOT GOTTEN INTO
TELECOMMUNICATIONS SO ALONG COMES
{STHAKTS} AND CONGRESS SAID OKAY, HERE
IS THIS AGENCY THAT BEEN DEALING WITH
ACCESS FOR A WHILE, LET'S GIVE IT A ROLE
TO LAY.
WELL, TELECOMMUNICATIONS IS SOME WHAT A
NEW HEAR BECAUSE IT DOES NOT INVOLVE THE
NICE BUILT FIXED FACILITIES THAT WE'RE
USE TODAY THINKING OF.
ONE OF THE THING THAT IS HOUR BOARD HAS
BEEN TRYING TO DO OVER THE LAST FEW
YEARS IN DEVELOPING ACCESS STANDARDS TO
GET INPUT FROM THE BEST MINDS AND PEOPLE
ON THIS -- ON ANY SUBJECT AND PUT
TOGETHER A COOPERATIVE KIND OF THING
THAT INCHES BOTH THE DISBILL FEEL
COMMUNITY, FEDERAL AGENCIES AND THE
PRIVATE SECRETARY FOR AND SO NORTH.
SO WE DECIDED TO CREATE A FEDERAL
ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHARTERED UNTHE
FEDERAL CALLED THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS
ACCESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE, T A A {KR},
TOUGH HAVE AN ASK {KRO} {NUM} HERE OR
YOU CAN'T SURVIVE FOR VERY LONG.
AND THIS COME MIGHT HAS SO FAR MET ONCE.
WE GOT ABOUT 60 APPLICATIONS FOR
MEMBERSHIP.
NARROWEDED THAT DOWN TO 33 WHICH IS
REALLY KIND OF AN UNWIELDING SIZE.
WE WERE HOPING FOR SOMETHING LIKE 20 DO
25 MAXIMUM.
IT WAS 33 WHEN I CAN'T MET THE FIRST
TIME, IT BECOME UNWIELDING PLUS TWO.
TWO ADDITIONAL MEMBERS WERE ADDED BY THE
COMMITTEE BECAUSE ITS FELT A IT WANT TED
EXPERTISE FROM A COUPLE OF OTHERS SO
NOW, WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 35 MEMBERS.
IT IS QUITE AN INTERESTING MEET TOGETHER
GET ALL THOSE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM {MRUTS}
ALTERNATES AND SO NORTH.
WE MET ONCE, SO FAR.
WE WILL MEET AGAIN ON THE AUGUST 14TH TO
{16} {I}.
WE HAVE NOT FOUND A LOCATION YET.
THEY ARE THEY WILL HAUL BE IN
WASHINGTON.
THE COMMITTEE WILL FINISH UP ITS WORK IN
DECEMBER.
ALMOST PROBABLY BE A TOTAL OF ABOUT FIVE
MEETINGS I THINK THEY DECIDED ON.
THE COMMITTEE'S JOB IS TO PROVIDE TO THE
ACCESS BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS ON
STANDARDS FOR CUSTOMER PREMISES
EQUIPMENT, C P E, AND TEAM
COMMUNICATIONSING EQUIPMENT.
WE'RE NOT DEALING THE SERVICE SIDE.
THIS IS STRICTLY THE EQUIPMENT SIDE.
WHICH INCLUDES SOFTWARE IN TERMS OF THE
TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT IF IN FACT
THAT'S NECESSARY FOR THE OPERATION.
THE SERVICE PROVISIONS ARE BASICALLY THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE FCC FCR THE BOARD
CREATED A ADHOC COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD
ITSELF THAT IS WORKING ON THE ACT AT
RULEMAKING PROCESS AND THAT COMMIT THREE
IS A GROUP THAT SAT DOWN AND CHOSE THE
NUMBERS FOR THE A {DRFMENT}.
FCC SITS ON THAT COMMITTEE.
FCC HAS BEEN SENDING MEMBER {OS} TO
ACTUAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND
WE'RE TRYING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO MAKE
SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS VERY CAREFULLY
COORDINATED.
SO THERE ARE NO SURPRISES AND EVERYBODY
IS SPEAKING OFF OF THE SAME MENU AND SO
FORTH.
THE COMMITTEE AS I SAY IS TO GIVE
RECOMMEND {DAX}S TO THE ACCESS BOARD.
THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS WILL THEN BEEN
TRANSLATED INTO A NOTICE OF PROPOSED
RULEMAKING.
NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING WILL BE
NUMBER ESTABLISHED IN THE FEDERAL
REGISTER FOR SOME COMMENT PERIOD.
THE PUBLIC WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
COMMENT ON THOSE PROPOSED REGULATIONS
AND THEN, FINAL REGULATIONS WILL BE
ISSUE BED I THE AGENCY AND THESE ALL
HAVE A STATUTORY DEADLINE OF AUGUST OF
1997.
SO AS YOU SEE, WE ARE WORKING UNDER VERY
TIGHT TIME FRAME, MAYBE NOT QUITE AS
TIGHT AS THE F C BECAUSE THEY HAVE QUITE
LOTS MORE THINGS TO DO.
WE ONLY HAVE ESSENTIALLY ONE, ALTHOUGH A
VERY LARGE ONE.
THE QUESTIONS A HAVE COME UP OF COURSE
ARE JUST EXACTLY WHAT IS C P E?
WOMEN, IT IS A TELEPHONE, THATALLY
FAIRLY SIMPLE TO DO.
BUT WHAT IF YOU USE SOMETHING LIKE A YO
YO WHICH IS A PIECE OF HARD {WAE} THAT
IN INCLUDE SOFT WEAR THAT TURNS YOUR
COMPUTER TO A TELEPHONE.
ALREADY A COUPLE OF SOFTWARE PROGRAM
THAT IS DO SIMILAR KINDS OF THING
EXAMPLE THE YO YO ACTUALLY ANSWERS YOUR
PHONE WHEN YOUR COMPUTER IS OFF.
IN FACT, ONE TESTER WHO WHO WAS LAYING
WITH THIS DECIDED IT WAS SO MUCH MORE
CON {VEN} ELEMENT BENT WAYS IT HAD LOTS
OF OTHER EXTRA FEATURES THAT HE HAS NO
TELEPHONE AT ALL IN HIS OFFICE ANY MORE.
DOES THAT MEAN THE COMPUTER IS C PE?
WOMEN, I THINK IT IS.
THE QUESTION THEN, IS HOW FAR REACH CAN
DO YOU GO?
DOES IT JUST GO TO THE MODEM.
WHAT ABOUT A MODEM THAT IS NOT
COMPATIBLE TO TTY?
DOES THAT MEAN THE V-DOT 18 STANDARD IS
SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE CONSIDERED.
THESE ARE ALL ISSUE THAT IS NEED TO BE
ADD {DRE}EDED BY THE COMMIT {TIPT}.
IT IS MADE UP BY INTERESTING GREAT DOLE
OF FUN TO LISTEN TO THESE PEOPLE BECAUSE
A LOT OF THEM ARE REELING IN THE HIGH
END OF THE HIGH TECH FIELD AND IS
WONDERFUL TO SORT OF BE PART OF THIS
ISSUE.
I MYSELF AM SORT OF INVENT TERP.
I HAVE A DEGREE IN PHYSICS BUT
TELECOMMUNICATIONS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT
I BEEN WORKING ON BEFORE YOU WILL THOUGH
I LIKE TO LAY WITH COMPUTER AND SO
NORTH.
THIS IS GREAT FUN FOR ME.
ALL OF THE MEETINGS ARE OPEN TO THE
PUBLIC.
AT THE END OF EACH DAY, THERE IS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE
TO RAISE ANY ISSUES AND ADDRESS THE
COMMITTEE ON ANYTHING IT WANT.
HE OR SHE WANT.
THOSE ALL GO INTO A RECORD OF WE DO
MINUTES SUMMARY MINUTES.
WE ADOPT DO TRANSCRIPTS OF THE MEETINGS
AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE THROUGH THE
AS {SPIS}S OF THE TRACE CENTER AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN, TRACE HAS
CREATED A LIST SERVE FOR US FOR THOSE OF
YOU WHO DO NOT KNOW, IT IS LIKE A GIANT
MAILING LIST.
WHAT YOU CAN DO IS IF IF YOU'RE A MEMBER
IS SUB{JIB} TO THE LIST SERVE AND POST
ANYTHING YOU WANT IN AND ALREADY A
COUPLE OF DISCUSSIONS RIGHT NOW GOING ON
ABOUT HOW AND WHAT KIND OFFICE EQUIPMENT
SHOULD BE COVERED.
IF YOU'RE NOT A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE,
YOU CAN ALSO SUB{JIB} TO THE LIST SERVE
AND LISTEN IN ON ALL THE DISCUSSIONS.
CANNOT POST DIRECTLY ITEMS TO IT BUT IF
YOU WANT TO POST SOMETHING LIKE A
RESPONSE OR PIECE OF INFORMATION OR
WHATEVER, YOU CAN E-MAIL THOSE TO ME.
I WILL GIVE YOU MY E-MAIL ADDRESS TO MY.
THEY WILL BE SCREENED.
WE ARE GOING TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT WE
PUT UP.
BUT PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SEND THINGS TO IT
CAN DO SO EITHER TO ME OR THE CHAIR OF
THE COMMITTEE.
THE -- THERE HAS BEEN A SUBGROUP CREATED
AT THE LAST MEETING OF FOLKS WHO ARE
GOING TO PUT TOGETHER A ESSENTIALLY A
TRAIL BALLOON OF FORMAT, FOR WHAT THE
STANDARD MIGHT LOOK LIKE {SKMFMENT}
THAT'S GOING BE DISCUSSED AT THE VERY
NEXT MEETING.
AND TRYING TO FILL IN SOME OF THOSE
PIECES.
THE MAJOR ITEM THAT IS HAVE COME UP ARE
THINGS LIKE MAKING SURE WHATEVER THESE
GUIDELINES ARE, THEY ARE FLEXIBLE ENOUGH
THAT THEY WILL COFFEE TOUR TECHNOLOGY.
WE DON'T WANT TO LOCK OURSELVES INTO
SOMETHING THAT WORKS FOR TODAY'S
EQUIPMENT AND TOMORROW, A NEW PIECE
COMES SOUGHT AND THERE IS NO WAY THE
APPLY THEM.
WE WANT STANDARD TO BE FLEXIBLE, EASE TO
TO IMMELT.
WE WANT TO BASE IT ON UNIVERSAL DESIGN,
TO MAKE SURE THAT ACCESS IS BUILT SIN
AND WHEN WITH A MINIMUM OF ASSIST EDDIE
VICES THAT YOU HAVE TO ADD ON TO THE
SYSTEM.
AND IF YOU HAVE AN ASSISTTIVE DEVICE, IT
NEED {OS} BE COMPATIBLE SO THERE NEEDS
TO BE ISSUES OF MAKING SURE ALL OF THOSE
THINGS WORK WITH THE EQUIP: THIS IS NOT
A SMALL TASK.
AND IT WILL TAKE A LOT OF WORK.
THE COMMIT TEE HAS ITS WORK CUT OUT FOR
IT IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
HOPEFULLY, ALREADY SOME EXISTING
STANDARDS OUT THERE.
WE KNOW OF A FEW THAT WILL SORT OF FORM
A BASIS WORKING DOCUMENT FROM WHICH TO
START.
SO WE WON'T HAVE TO REINVENT THE WORLD.
BUT WE ARE LOOKING FOR HELP FROM
EVERYBODY.
AS I SAY, I WELCOME ANYBODY WHO WANT TO
{SKUB} DESCRIBE TO THE LIST SERVE.
LY NOT TELL YOU HERE BECAUSE IT IS A
LITTLE COMPLICATED PROCESS.
IF YOU HAVE INTERNET ACCESS EXAMPLE CAN
GET TO THE PHRASE WEB SITE, YOU CAN
CLICK ON THE DESIGN GOING ACCESSIBLE
WORLD AND THERE IS A TELECOMMUNICATIONS
SUBCATEGORY AND AN EX-PLANNING NATION OF
THE LIST SERVE AND HOW TO SUBSCRIBE TO
IT THERE.
I'M BE HAPPY TO TELL ANYBODY WHO WANT.
MY E-MALL ADDRESS IS CANNON, C A N N O
{NRX}, AT ACCESS, ACC E S S HYPEN,
BOARD, DOT GOV.
AS I SAY, {SINDZ} THING TO ME THAT YOU
WANT TO POST TO THE LIST SERVE,
QUESTIONS, IF YOU WANT A COPY, I CAN
SEND YOU A COPY OF THE SUMMARY OF THE
MINUTES THAT WE DID WHICH IS FOR PUBLIC
DISTRIBUTION AGAIN, ACCEPTED ME AN
E-MAIL MESS SYNCH.
{IJ} FIX FAX IT TO YOU OR E-MAIL IT IF
YOU WANT TO USE A SCREEN READER AND SO
NORTH.
WE'RE VERY MUCH OPEN TO ANY KIND OF
INPUT FROM ANYBODY WHO HAS INFORMATION
THAT WILL HELP US WITH THIS VERY
COMPLICATED PROBLEM.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH DENNIS.
ONE OF THE MANY PLEASURES OF THE WORK I
DO IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS IS THE CHANCE
TO MEET AND WORK WITH AND WORK ALONGSIDE
IN TELL {DPEMENT} COMMITTEE PEOPLE WHO
ARE WORK TOOK PROMOTE ACCESS DID
UNIVERSAL SERVICE AND REALLY WORKING TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE KIND OF SOCIAL
BENEFITS THAT WE OFTEN HEAR TALK {ELD}
ABOUT TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACTUALLY ARE
DELIVERED IN THE FIELD.
ONE OF THE -- IN MY MORE RECENT -- ONE
OF THE PEOPLE I MET RECENTLY IS OUR NEXT
SPEAKER, KATHYRN BROWN.
SHE IS THE DEEP SEE ADMINISTRATOR
ASSOCIATE ADMINISTRATOR AT THE NATIONAL
TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION
ADMINISTRATION.
THAT {E} AN AGENCY WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT
OF COMMERCE THAT IS {PRIN} PAM PLACE
WHERE THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH GETS ITS
INFORMATION ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS ISSUES
AND MOLSON THREE AND HAS MANY OTHER
RESPONSIBILITIES SOME OF YOU MAY BE
FAMILIAR WITH THE GRANTS PROGRAM, OFTEN
REFER TO AS THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS
INFRASTRUCTURE ASSISTANT PROGRAM THAT
AACE {SIFPT}ED A LOT OF NONNONPROFIT.
A PROGRAM RUN OUT OF THAT {EING}.
LET ME TURN IT OVER TO KATHRYN TO
CONNECT THE DISCUSSION WE BENNING HAVING
TO THE BROADER DISCUSSION ABOUT
UNIVERSAL SERVICE AND SUBJECT ON WHICH
MANY PARAGRAPHS ARE SPENT IN THE TELECOM
ACT.
KATHRYN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, IT IS GOOD SO BE HERE
WITH YOU.
I THOUGHT WHAT I WOULD STRIKE TO DO AS I
HAD DOMESTIC POLICY OFFICE AT N T I A
AND WE BEEN RESPONSIBLE AND VERY
INVOLVED WITH GIVING ADVICE TO THE
PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT TO
SECRETARY OF COMMERCE ON
TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT FOR BOTH ADOPTION
AND NOW, IMPLEMENTATION.
AWANT TO APPLAUD THE SPEAKERS WHO HAVE
ALREADY GONE BEFORE ME.
THESE ARE THE FOLKS WHEN HAVE REALLY
PUSHED THIS ISSUE AND ARE NOW VERY MUCH
INFORMED WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION PHASE
WHICH IS CRUCIAL AT THIS POINT.
THE FCC IS DOING A TERRIFIC JOB OF
TRYING TO FIND A FOCAL POINT FOR FOLKS
TO COME TO THE FCC TO TALK ABOUT ISSUES.
THE ACCESS BOARD, I HAD THE HONOR OF
SITTING ON THE ADHOC COMMITTEE THERE.
VERY HARD AT WORK TRYING TO ENSURE THEY
HAVE THE RIGHT KIND OF INPUT TO MAKE THE
POLICY DECISIONS THAT ARE AT THIS POINT,
VERY CRUCIAL.
AND WHAT I THOUGHT I WOULD DO PERHAPS IS
A PUT SOME MEAT ON THE BONES OF THAT
PART OF LINDA'S PRESENTATION WHICH WAS
ABOUT THE BROADER PICTURE.
IN TRYING TO SHOW YOU THE PLACE IN WHICH
YOU ARE SITTING IN THE REALLY REVOLUTION
CHANGE RIGHT NOW, IN THE INDUSTRY.
I THINK SIT CRUCIAL THAT YOU UNDERSTAND
THAT THIS INDUSTRY IS CHANGING.
{Z} IT IS CHANGING VERY RAPIDLY IN THE
NEXT FIVE YEAR ARE.
WE WILL SEE A DIFFERENT INDUSTRY THAN
THE ONE THAT WE ARE ALL VERY USED TO AND
AS ADVOCATES, THE ONE THAT WE KNOW HOW
TO GET TO E {Z} IN THE PAST, I CAME TO N
{TISMT} I A FROM IF NEW YORK I WAS A
REGULATE FOR AND CONSUMER SERVICES
PERSON AND THERE WAS AN INTERFACE WITH
MANY OF THE COMMUNITY WHO IS HAD AN
INTEREST IN TELECOMMUNICATIONSS AND WE
WERE FRANKLY ABLE TO DO SOME THINGS
BECAUSE WE WERE DEALING WITH ONE COMPANY
OR TWO COMPANIES OR A COUPLE OF
COMPANIES AT A TIME.
AND WE WERE THE REGULATE FOR AND HELD
THE PURSE SPRINGS AND THE ABILITY TO
MAKE RULES AND REGULATIONS.
THAT IS CHANGE CAN WHAT I LO DO IS TRY
TO PAINTS.
>> PICTURE OF HOW THAT IS CHANGING.
WE ARE MOVE FROM A HIGHLY REGULATED
MONOPOLY SITUATION IN THE LOCAL MARKET,
THAT IS YOUR LOCAL TELEPHONE COMPANY.
YOU HAD ONE FOR ALL THESE YEARS AND WE
HAVE SEEN IN THE LAST FIFTEEN YEARS,
COMPETITION IN THE LONG DISTANCE MARKET
AND THERE, WE STILL HAVE A LIMITED
NUMBER OF COMPETITORS.
WE ARE MOVING FROM THAT ENVIRONMENT
WHERE WE SORT SORT OF NOW WHO THE
TELEPHONE COMPANY WAS TO A VERY CHANGED
ENVIRONMENT WHERE THE MARKET WILL BE
OPEN TO NEW COMPETITORS COMING IN.
ALMOST WE HOPE IF WE ALEAVE THE PURPOSES
OF THE ACT, BE A CHOICE NOR CUSTOMERS.
FOR THEIR LOCAL TELEPHONE COMPANY.
AND NOT ONLY WILL THE CONSUMER HAVE A
CHOICE OF VARIOUS LINE -- WIRE TYPE
TELEPHONE COMPANY, BUT THEY MAY WELL
HAVE CHOICES OF COMPANY COMPANIES WHO
ADD DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGY, SOME WIRELESS
TECHNOLOGY, CABLE, AND BEYOND THAT, WE
ARE USING OUR COMPUTERS DIFFERENTLY.
WE HAVE A DIFFERENT NEED FOR DATA
TRANSFER AND TRANSMISSION AND ALL OF
THOSE ISSUES ARE NOW COMING TOGETHER IN
A NEW WAY.
ADD TO THAT, THIS NOTION THAT BROADCAST
ITSELF WHAT WE ARE RECEIVING AND WHAT WE
MAY BE ABLE TO SEND OVER OUR TELEVISION
SETS IS ALSO CHANGING.
WHAT THIS ACT ANTICIPATES IS THAT THERE
WILL BE ROBUST COMPETITION FOR YOUR
MONEY.
{Z} FOR YOU.
SO THAT YOU CAN THE CONSUMER WILL BE
ABLE TO PICK VARIOUS SERVICE THAT IS
DON'T {VM} CHRIS OR WE DON'T DON'T KNOW
OR CAN'T THINK ABOUT RIGHT NOW.
THE ACT THEN DOES SPECIFIC THINGS WITH
RESPECT TO BRINGING COMPETITION INTO THE
MARKET.
NUMBER ONE: NUMBER TWO: IT SAYS NOW THAT
AS A NATIONAL POLICY, WE'RE COME
{MIBLINGT} TODAY THIS NOTION OF
UNIVERSAL SERVICE.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
IT MEANS THAT THERE IS A AFFORDABLE,
ACCESSIBLE, SAY VAILABLE TELEPHONE
SERVICE FOR -- OR TEAM COMMUNICATION
SERVICE, FOR ALL AMERICANS.
AND IT DOES SOME VERY SPECIFIC THINGS IN
THE ACT WITH RESPECT TO THE DISABILITY
COMMUNITY THAT ARE TEAR RISK.
IT TALKS ABOUT UNIVERSAL DESIGN.
IT TALKS ABOUT INTER CON NEXT AND INNER
{OP} PROSECUTE ABILITY, CRUCIAL HERE
THAT THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE PUT AT THE
END OF THE LINE CAN BE OPERATED WITH THE
NETWORK.
THAT AS DIFFERENT NETWORKS ARE PUT
TOGETHER AND THERE WILL BE, DIFFERENT
TELEPHONE NETWORKS AND WE KNOW RIGHT NOW
THAT THEY CAN JOIN TOGETHER IN A WAY
THAT THEY CAN TALK TO EACH OTHER AND
THAT WHATEVER WE {M} DECIDE WE MUST
HAVE, WHATEVER STANDARDS WE NEED TO
HAVE, TO ENSURE THAT THE DISABILITY
COMMUNITY CAN USE THAT NETWORK IN EVERY
POSSIBLE WAY, THAT EACH AND EVERY INTER
CONNECTOR ALSO HAS THOSE STANDARDS IN
PLACE.
NOW, ENVISION THIS BECAUSE NOW, YOU HAVE
MANY PLAYERS IN THE ENVIRONMENT..
YOU MAY HAVE DIFFERENT NETWORKS IN THE
ENVIRONMENT.
YOU HAVE MANY PLAYERS MAKING DIFFERENT
EQUIPMENT THAT YOU PUT ON THE END OF
THAT NETWORK AND ALL OF THAT WE WANT TO
WORK THAT WAY THAT IS ACCESSIBLE AFFORD
SABLE AND AVAIL BELIEVE I BELIEVE TO
YOU.
THAT-{DHRB} AVAILABLE TO YOU.
THAT'S WHY WHEN YOU HEAR FOLKS TALKING
THEY ARE WORKING DAY AND NIGHT, BELIEVE
THEM BECAUSE IT IS A COMPLEX, HUGE
ISSUE.
THE CAUTION I HAVE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND
ONE COMING FROM THE COMMERCE END OF
THIS, I LIKE TO RAISE EVERY TIME IN
EVERY SETING LET'S BE CAREFUL WE DON'T
KEEP THIS ISSUE IN ONE BOX.
THAT WE SAY THAT ISSUE IS BEFORE THE
ACCESS BOARD OR LINDA'S COMMITTEE HAS IT
SO WE'RE OKAY.
AT THE SAME TIME THAT THIS WORK IS GOING
ON, THE BOARD GENERAL WORK IN UNIVERSAL
SERVICE IS PROCEEDING.
SO BEFORE THE FCC THERE IS A HUGE RULE
MAKING RIGHT NOW ON WHAT THIS NOTION OF
ACCESSIBLE AVAILABLE TELEPHONE SERVICE
TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES SHOULD BE.
INVOLVED IN THAT ARE QUESTIONS OF HOW WE
HOOKUP OUR SCHOOL AND LIBRARYS, HOW WE
SERVICE OUR MEDICAL CENTERS, OUR CLINICS
OUR RURAL AREAS.
AS WE ARE LOOKING AT EACH ONE OF THOSE
ISSUE, EVERY SINGLE TIME, WE NEED TO
SAY, ARE WE CAN LOOK AT UNIVERSAL DESIGN
ISSUES AND ARE WE SURE THAT WE HAVE IN
INCLUDE EVIDENCE HAVE PARTS OF THE
COMMUNITY?
AND HAS ANYBODY CHECKED WITH LINDA?
AND HAS ANYBODY TALKED TO DENNIS?
AND THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
IT SEEMS TO ME AS YOU'RE ADVOCATING I
WANT TO {KAX} YOU FROM LOOKING AT THIS
TO FAR ROLL HE AND MAKE SURE WE ARE LOOK
{INGT} AT IT BROADER AND BROADER.
SIMILARLY, WITH RESPECT TO THE
COMPETITION ISSUES, THE INTER CONNECTION
ISSUE WHICH IS ARE WAY ABOVE MOST
AMERICANS HEAD, WAY ABOARD THE LAY
PERSON'S DUTY BUT WILL ABSOLUTELY IMPACT
YOU BECAUSE IT WILL TURN OUT WHO DID BE
PURE PROVIDER, {HAMENT} KIND OVER PRICES
THE THEY WILL BE ABLE TO CHARGES TO YOU,
WHETHER THERE SHOULD BE SPECIAL PRICES
FOR INSTANCE, RELAY, DO WE KEEP THOSE
DISCOUNTS, WILL LOW INCOME CONSUMERS
CONTINUE TO HAVE THE DIS{KOUBTSES}.
-- ALL OF 0 THOSE ISSUES DRINKLY IMACT
THIS COMMUNITY HAS WOMEN.
SO {P} YOU'RE VERY GOOD PEOPLE WATCH, NT
IA IS WATCHING.
WE COMMENT TO THE FCC ONLY ALL THESE
PROCEEDINGS.
WE SEEK BEFORE THE INDUSTRY ALL OF THE
TIME AND EVERY POSSIBILITY, EVERY
POSSIBLE TIME WE CAN, WE TALK ABOUT THE
VICE PRESIDENT'S VISION OF A NATIONAL
INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE, THAT IS
AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE.
AND THAT MEANS EVERY ONE.
SO AS WE'RE GOING FORWARD, IT ABSOLUTELY
IMPORTANT NOW TO START DEFINING VERY
CAREFULLY WHERE ARE THE IN {TR}
SECRETARY PLACE WHERE ARE THE POINT THAT
IS WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE OPEN
ACCESS.
AND THEN TO ENSURE IS THAT WE GET THEM
TO THE RIGHT AVENUES SO THAT IN THE
LARGER DEBATE, THIS ISSUE IS NOT LOST.
{P}.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR FINAL PANEL PRESENTATION, I WOULD
I CAN TO TURN TO DMITRI BELSER OF
PACIFIC {BVM}.
ONE OF THE MANY LESS {SN} I LEARNED FROM
COLLEAGUES IN THIS COMMUNITY IS THAT
VERY FEW OF US ARE LIKELY TO BUILD OUR
OWN NETWORK DEVELOP OUR OWN APPLICATIONS
AND OR DESIGN OUR OWN SERVICE AND IT IS
VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE WORK WITH, TALK
TO AND LEARN FROM THOSE PEOPLE IN THE
INDUSTRY TROY WHO ARE DOING THOSE
THINGS.
THEY NEED TO KNOW WHAT WE ARE THINKING
ABOUT TO REACH OUT TO MANY OF US TO GET
OUR VIEWS AND OPINIONS IF THEY DON'T
HAULS GET IT RIGHT BY SOME OF OUR
ACCOUNTS, IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE
RELATIONSHIP {STHO} GO BACK AND CONTINUE
THAT DIALOGUE.
ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE IS DMITRI BELSER WHO
IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE CORPORATE PER
{SPEKT} SNIFF AND WHAT HIS COMPANY,
PACIFIC BELL IS DOING IN THE NEW
ENVIRONMENT CREEPED CREATED.
>> THANK YOU.
YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT TO ADD TO WHAT THE
OTHER PANELISTS HAVE SAID.
I'M SITTING HERE IN.
>> OF EVERY THAT IS GOING ON ESPECIALLY
LISTENING TO LINDA KNOWING THAT {RT} OF
MY JOB IS HELPING SPECIFIC TELL SIS
IMPLEMENTS THE DESIGN AND WHAT A HUGE
JOB THAT IS.
I WAY, PACIFIC BELL, CLAIMED I CAN TO
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THEY
DEVELOPED AND WHAT I SEE AS THE PATH
FORWARD.
PACIFIC BELL BROUGHT TOGETHER A LOT OF
COMMUNITY ACT THETIVE TEE AS YOU
PROBABLY KNOW, IN CALIFORNIA, PEOPLE
HAVE A SOME WHAT HEIGHTENED SENSE OF
POLITICAL ACTIVISM.
AND SO, OUR CONSUMER ARE NOTHING IF NOT
VOCAL.
CONSUMERS HAVE BEEN COMING TO PACIFIC
BELL ON VARIOUS PANEL {STS} SAYING YOU
REALLY NEED TO LOOK THE IF ISSUES AROUND
THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY AND OUR ACCESS.
SO PACIFIC BELL BROUGHT TOGETHER WHAT WE
CALLED THE ADVISORY GROUP FOR PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES, 14 COMMUNITY LEADERS
IN VARIOUS COMMUNITY, BEEN BRA KAPLAN
WAS CHILDREN OVER OUR MEMBERS THANK GOD.
WE GAVE THEM A CRASH COURSE ON HOW
PACIFIC BELL WORK, HOW THE PROCESS WORKS
AND WHAT WE WERE DOING AND THEN WE SORT
OF SET THEM LOSS ON THE PRODUCT
DEVELOPMENT PEOPLE.
WHAT THEY TOLD THEM WAS THAT YOU NEED TO
BE LOOKING AT UNIVERSAL DESIGN, NEED
OBEY DEVELOP {EING} PRODUCTS THAT ARE
ACCESSIBLE AND YOU'RE ALSO AND HERE'S
REALLY WHERE THE MEAT MEAT OF IT WAS,
YOU'RE MS. MISS AGO HUGH MARKET, 5.7
MILLION PEOPLE IN CALIFORNIA.
5.7 OUT OF A POPULATION OF 33 MILLION.
AND WHEN WITH SAID THAT, ALL THE JAWS
DROPPED AND HE SAID, OKAY, WE'LL DO
THIS.
WE WANT THOSE PEOPLE.
PACIFIC BELL A{DOPD}ED UNIVERSAL DESIGN
POLICY IN 1964.
SINCE A TIME, WE BEEN WORKING ON THE
UNIVERSAL DESIGN POLICY BY THE WAY WAS
A{DOPD} BY PACIFIC TELL SIS WHICH IS THE
PARENTS COMPANY TO PACIFIC BELL THAT.
POLICY IS IN EFFECT WITH ALL THE HOLDING
COMPANIES ALL THE SUBSIDIARIES.
SO ALL OF THE SUBSIDIARY THAT IS ARE
WORKING ON VIDEO SERVICE ARE GLOBAL
SERVICES INTERNET SERVICES ARE ALL GOING
TO BE HELD TO THE UNIVERSAL DESIGN
STANDARDS AND.
THE I THINK ALREADY A COUPLE OF REALLY
IMPORTANT LESSONS FROM WHAT HAPPENED
WHAT PACIFIC.  -- {Z} NOW THAT WE HAVE
THE IT, I ALWAYS TALK TOO FAST.
PEOPLE IN CALIFORNIA CAN NEVER
UNDERSTAND ME BECAUSE I GREW UP IN NEW
YORK.
SO -- THE I THINK THAT IT IS IMPORTANT
TO LOOK WHAT WHAT PACIFIC BELL DID AND
WHAT PACIFIC BELL IS DOING.
THE ADVISORY GROUP CAME TO US AND SAID,
YOUALLYLY HAVE TWO CHOICES HERE, YOU CAN
SET THE STANDARD OR FOLLOW THE STANDARDS
AND WHICH DO YOU WANT TO DO.
THE WE WANT TO SET THE STANDARDS.
WE'RE VERY INVOLVED IN MAKING SURE THAT
THE STANDARDS {TON} UNIVERSAL DESIGN ARE
ENFORCED BROADLY AND THAT ALL COMPANIES
WILL BE HELD TO THESE STANDARDS.
WE THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT
THESE STANDARDS BE OUT THERE AND PEOPLE
ALL THE COMPANIES BE USING THEM, NOT
JUST STORE EXAMPLE, NOT JUST THE
REGIONAL BELL COMPANIES.
I THINK SIT IMPORTANT FOR CONSUMER TO BE
VERY, VERY {SNFLD} IN WHAT IS GOING ON
WITH THE TELEPHONE COMPANY.
WONDERFUL REGULATIONS GOING UPON BUT AS
YOU HEARD, SO MUCH HAPPENING.
SIT IMPORTANT FOR CONSUMER TO BE GOING
TO THEIR PHONE COMPANIES AND SAYING WHAT
ARE YOU DOING ABOUT THIS?
NOT ONLY PHONE, BUT CABLE INDUSTRY
ASALLY.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT THIS TO DEVELOP
A UNIVERSAL DESIGN POLICY, HOW WILL YOU
MEET THESE {TAND} {DARD}S THE MORE WE
CAN GET THE WORE OUT ABOUT UNIVERSAL
DESIGN, PRINCIPLE, THE MORE THE MORE
LIKELY THAT THE COMPANIES WILL BE
LOOKING AT THEM AND ADHERE TOGETHER HEM
AND HOT TRYING TO HIDE BEHIND PHRASES
LIKE READILY ACHIEVE ABLE.
ONE THING THAT PACIFIC HAS DONE SO
DEVELOP SOME FILTER FORCE THE PRODUCT
DEVELOP.
PROCESS WHERE WE SCREEN PRODUCTS.
FOR ACCESSIBILITY.
THOSE FILTER WHICH IS CAROL SPOKE OF
YESTERDAY HAVE FINALLY ARRIVED IN
WASHINGTON.
SO CAROL CODY CAN DISTRIBUTE COPIES OF
THEM.
BUT PACIFIC BELL MADE THE DECISION NOT
TO KEEP THAT INFORMATION PROPRIETARY.
EVERY ONE USING IT, DIFFERENT COW
COMPANIES USING IT DID REALLY WORKING ON
THIS DOG AND SEEING THIS HAS A EFFORT.
CO{LAL} IMPORTANTTIVE EFFORT.
THE MESSAGE I THINK COMPANIES NEED TO
GET IS THIS IS NOT JUST A REGULATORY
REQUIREMENT BUT THAT UNIVERSAL DESIGN
MEANS CREATING PRODUCTS MORE USE BELIEVE
BY EVERY ONE, GIVES COMPANIES A
COMPETETIVE EDGE AND IF THERE IS A
SIGNIFICANT MARKET TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
THESE PRODUCTS AND SENIORS.
IF NOTHING ELSE HAPPEN FROM THE
CONFERENCE, IF IF PEOPLE TAKE THAT
MESSAGE BACK, WE WILL A ACCOMPLISHED A
LOT.
THANKS.
>> THIS IS GOOD NEWS BECAUSE WE THOUGH
HAVE ABOUT 90 MINUTES LEFT THIS
AFTERNOON TO REALLY GET IT TO WHAT I
THINK IS HOPEFULLY, MOST PRODUCT SNIFF
AND IN {STRURKT}TIVE PART OF OUR
AFTERNOON WHICH IS A REAL DIALOGUE.
YOU HAVE HERE A GROUP OF EXPERTS
INVOLVED IN SETING THE RULES {REN}
REGULATOR ARE RECENTLY, LINDA THE HEAD
OF THE F C Y REED HUNDT SAID THEY ARE
INVOLVED IN WHAT HE CALLED THE MANHATTAN
PRODUCT OF TOTALLY REINVENT THE RULES BY
WHICH THE COMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY AND
OUR COMMUNICATIONS ENVIRONMENT WILL BE
ORGANIZED.
WE GOTTEN A VERY GOOD MAP OF THIS NEW
TERRAIN, SOME OF THE IMPORTANT LANDMARK,
SOME OF THE AND HOPEFULLY, THE EXPRESS
WAYS KIND OF COMPASS FOR DIRECTION AND A
SHARED SENSE OF A DESIGNATION.
BUT I'M SURE THAT MANY OF THE THINGS
HERE THAT WERE SAID COULD BE EXPLORED
FURTHER BUT I WANT THAT TO BE DIRECTED
MOSTLY BY THE PEOPLE HERE IN THE
AUDIENCE, PEOPLE WHO NEED TO BE INVOLVED
IN IN A PROCESS AND WOULD LIKE TO HEAR
MORE ABOUT ONE OR MORE THING THAT IS YOU
HEARD ABOUT OR ONE OR MORE THING THAT IS
YOU HAVE NOT YET HEARD ABOUT THAT YOU
KNOW IS OUT IS THERE AND YOU WOULD LIKE
THE HEAR SOMETHING ABOUT.
TO DO THAT, I WOULD LIKE ANY WEB WHO IS
INTERESTED TO RAISE A HAND AND I'LL CALL
ON YOU AND IF YOU CAN IDENTIFY YOURSELF
FOR OTHERS IN THE LOOM FOR ONLY ME WHO
MAY NOT KNOW YOU.
ONE OF THE THING I DO HOPE WE GET A
CHANCE TO TALKING HERE IS THIS NOTION OF
READILY {HA} CHIEF ABLE CERTAINLY, WHEN
I HEARD ABOUT IT, {P} IN THE COURSE OF
FROM {SES}, IT SEEMED TO BE SOMETHING
PEOPLE WERE TALKING QUITE A LOT ABOUT
BECAUSE OF THE SUCCESSFUL DEFINITION OF
WHEN THE THAT IS.
MIGHT DETERMINE THE DEGREE TO WHICH GOOD
INTENT BECOMES GOOD REALITY.
BUT WITH THAT, LET ME TURN TO THE FIRST
QUESTION.
YES, SIR.
>> I THINK WE WERE THINKING ABOUT THE
SAME THING BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO ASK
ABOUT THE READILY ALEAVE ABLE CAUSE AND
THROUGHOUT {IFERP} ON THE ADA, THE
STATEMENT OF READILY ACHIEVE ABLE SCARCE
ME.
>> FOR PEOPLE USING THE INFRA RED LOOP,
IF THEY CAN MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE
MICROPHONE TO THE FRONT OF THE ROOM, IT
MY TAKE AN EXTRA MOMENT BUT MAKE SURE
THAT EVERY ONE CAN HEAR THE QUESTION.
IF YOU COULD IDENTIFY YOURSELF AGAIN,
SIR.
>> MY NAME IS BANG LONG AND I THINK WE
WERE THINKING ABOUT THE SAME THING,
UNDER THE ADA {URKTS} READILY ACHIEVE
TABLE AND THROUGH MYES PAID, I SEEN
FACES THEN THEY SAY READILY ACHIEVE ABLE
{URX} IT SCARES ME BECAUSE THAT JUDGMENT
IS LEFT TO PEOPLE WHO MOST TIMES DOES
NOT HAVE A DISABILITY.
OR DOES NOT HAVE A HEARING IMPAIRMENT OR
VISUAL IMPAIRMENT.
IT SCARES ME FOR THAT DECISION TO BE
MADE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO DO NOT GO
THROUGH THE PROBLEMS THAT WE GO THROUGH.
I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I THEY
THE L C C ACCESS BOARD AND -- F C Y AND
BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT IT'S GOING 0
BECOME A PROBLEM BECAUSE BUSINESS HAS
GOT -- WILL USE THAT WORD EVERY TIME YOU
TURN AROUND IF YOU LET THEM.
>> LET ME I'LL TALK THIS, I'LL TALK THE
FIRST CRACK AT THAT, BECAUSE I HAVE THE
FIRST CRACK OF ANYBODY HERE NEGOTIATING
THE LANGUAGE.
FIRST OF ALL, WE STARRED WITH UNDUE
BURDEN AS THE TERM WE WARNED WHICH IS
REALLY THE MORE COMMON ADA TERM.
LET ME ME SAY TWO THINGS FIRSTS OF ALL,
UNDO {BUR} DONE SOUND BETTER THAN
READILY ACHIEVE ABLE BECAUSE THAT IS
IMPORTANT BECAUSE AS SOMEBODY PUT IT TO
PEOPLE WHEN CERTAIN THINGS ARE
NEGOTIATED FOR THE ADA AND THERE WERE
QUESTIONS RAISED ABOUT WE CAN'T RETRO
FIT ALL THESE BUILDING FOR WHEELCHAIR
USERS THAT IS AN INCREDIBLE HARDSHIP,
ESSENTIALLY, WHAT PEOPLE DID WAS COME UP
WITH A NEW NAME FOR THE SAME CONCEPT,
VIRTUALLY AND YET, READILY {HA} CLOSE
ABLE IS A LOWER STANDARD BUT WHEN YOU
LOOK AT FACTORS THAT DESCRIBE WHAT IS
MATCH BY READILY ACHIEVE {ZLABL} AND
WHAT IS {MANLT} BY UNDO BURDEN, THEY ARE
{SIM} {LERP}.
THEY TALK ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE COMPANY
AND THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES THAT ARE
AVAILABLE IN THE WORK FORCE AND THEY
TALK ABOUT THE EFFECT ON THAT COMPANY
AND THINGS OF THAT SORT.
SO IT IS -- IT WOULD BE FAR BETTER IF WE
HAD NO INCENTIVE AT ALL AND IT WOULD BE
FAR BETTER IF 400 PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES SITTING IN CONGRESS RATHER
THAN CURRENTLY, ONE OR TWO, DEPENDING ON
HOW YOU SLICE IT.
BUT THAT IS NOT THE CASE.
SO WE HAVE A LESS THAN PERFECT STANDARD.
WE ALSO HAVE AN INDUSTRY THAT IS FAIR TO
SAY, EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL AND HEALTHY.
AND TO MY WAY OF THINKING IT WILL BE
PRETTY HARD FOR MOST TELECOMMUNICATIONS
COMPANIES TO ARGUE THAT DESIGNING ACCESS
CREATES ANY KIND OF BURDEN UPON THEM,
PUT IT ANOTHER WAY, DESIGNING ACCESS IS
VERY ACHIEVE ABLE.
THE OTHER THING THAT IS IN FACT
HAPPENING TECHNOLOGY IS THAT SO MANY
THINGS ARE BECOMING POSSIBLE AS LINDA
POINTED OUT THAT WERE NEVER POSSIBLE
BEFORE WITH TECHNOLOGY AND SO
ALTERNATIVES AND ADDITIONAL
ACCOMMODATIONS BEING BUILT INTO A PIECE
OF TECHNOLOGY ARE NO LONGER THE KIND OF
BURDEN SOME ACT {TYFP} TEE SO ENFOR
SMALLER COMPANIES, I SUSPECT THAT IF
THEY FOLLOW A PROCESS THAT REALLY DOES
REQUIRE THEM TO THINK SERIOUSLY ABOUT
DISBILL FEEL AT THE DEVELOP.
AND DESIGN PHASE, WE'RE GOING PHOTO FIND
THAT MOST COMPANIES CAN ACHIEVE ACCESS
WITHOUT US HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT WHAT
STANDARD THEY FOLLOW.
SO YOU'RE RIGHT, IT IS A PROBLEM,
CONCERN AND ONE WE WILL HAVE TO WRESTLE
WITH AS WE DETERMINE WHAT IT MEANS BUT I
DON'T THINK IT IS NECESSARILY THAT WE'RE
ANYWHERE NEARLY ALL IS LOST BECAUSE WE
HAVE A REALLY ACHIEVE ABLE STANDARD.
>> THIS IS DENNIS CANNON.
{Z} IN THE ADA, "READILY ACHIEVE ABLE"
REFER TOSS EXISTING FACILITY THE IDEA
WAS WE CAN'T MAKE THE WORLD THAT WAS
BUILT YEAR AS GUY, BUILDINGS BACK TO THE
1800 ACCESSIBLE OVERNIGHT AND SOME OF
THEM ARE MORE DIFFICULT TO DO THAN
OTHERS.
IN THE TELECOM ACT HOWEVER, IT TALKS
ABOUT MANUFACTURERING EQUIPMENT THAT IS
NOT ACCESSIBLE WHICH MEANS IT REFERS TO
NEW FEATURE {VER} FUTURE TECHNOLOGY HAS
BUILT OF MISS MATCH.
BUT IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF
WHAT READILY ACHIEVE ABLE IS TRYING TO
DO WITH THE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE
WHICH IS NOT REQUIRE ACCESS TO SOMETHING
IF IT IS TOO DIFFICULT OR TOO EXPENSE
STIFF TO DO THAT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT SOMETHING NEWLY MANUFACTURE {ERD}
IN THE DESIGN STAGE WHEN PEOPLE ARE
SITTING AROUND THE TABLE DREAMING UP NEW
TECHNOLOGY, ALMOST ANYTHING IS READILY
ACHIEVE ABLE.
>> LINDA?
>> I WANTED TO ADD FROM MANY OF OUR
EXPERIENCE ON THE HEARING AID WE ARE
MAKE {HK} ON THE WIRE LINE SIDE FOUND
THAT VERY THING IS TRUE WHAT DENNIS AND
PAUL ARE TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE A
TELEPHONE WHICH IS PRETTY LOW TECH IN
TERMS OF WHAT WE HAVE NOW BUT A
TELEPHONE THAT HAS TO BE RETROFITED FOR
HEARING AID COMPATIBILITY COULD COST
$500 DEPEND DE{PELD}ING ON THE PHONE,
BUT A PHONE PLAINTIFFED WITH A COIL
INSIDE COST ABOUT ANYWHERE FROM $25
CENTS TO MAYBE 50 CENTS {STORX} THE
INCREMENTAL VALUE GOES WAY UP AND IF YOU
START THE MANUFACTURERING STAGE, YOU'RE
WAY AHEALED.
SO ALSO IN THAT COMMIT THREE IS THAT THE
VOLUME {YU} YUM CONTROL OR AMPLIFICATION
AND THE SAME THING IS TRUE, IF IT IS
DESIGNED ORIGINALLY WITH VOLUME CONTROL
WHICH HELPS A LOT OF PEOPLE, NOT JUST
PEOPLE WITH HEARING DISABILITY, ALL
AMERICANS, IT'S ALSO INCREDIBLY LESS
EXPENSIVE AND THAN IF YOU HAD TO PUT IT
IN AFTERWARDS.
SO I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT WE GET
THE STANDARDS RIGHT SO PEOPLE KNOW HOW
TO IN CORPORATE INTO DESIGN, ACCESSIBLE
FEATURES.
I WANT TO ADD SOMETHING BECAUSE BOTH MY
STAFF MEMBERS HAD TO LEAVE BEFORE I GOT
TO INTRODUCE THEM.
{THRP} HERE AND {P} PAM GREGORY AND
CHERYL TODD DER AND THEY ARE THE MOST
WONDERFUL INDIVIDUALS IF YOU TALK TO
THEM ON THE PHONE, WILL YOU NOT WANT TO
GET OFF THE PHONE BUT THEY HAD TO LEAVE
AND GO BACK TO THE GRUELING F C Y WHERE
THE LIGHTS ARE ON UNTIL 2 A.M. BUT
WANTED TO LET ME TELL THAW THE ANNUAL
REPORTS AND THE {HAK} PRESS RELEASES ARE
ON THE BACK {FABL} UNABLE AND THE REST
ARE ON THE TABLE AT THE REGISTRATION
DESK WHERE ALL THE OTHER TEARS ARE.
I HAVE ABOUT 3 DISKS LEFT THOSE THINGS
ARE ON DISK.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE A COPY, LEASE TAKE
THEM BECAUSE I'M NOT -- {P} HIGH HI, HIM
DAVID FROM ST. LEWIS.
I WOULD LIKE THE FOLLOW-UP THAT QUESTION
OF READILY ACHIEVE BELIEVE WITH TWO
QUESTIONS.
ONE IS DO ANY OF YOU SEE ANY GOAL WITH
RESPECT TO DESIGN AND EQUIPMENT OR
SERVICES OR ANYTHING THAT IS ON THE
HORIZON THAT WE ARE LIKELY TO LOSE AND
THAT WE WANT BECAUSE IT'S NOT READILY
ACHIEVE ABLE?
AND MY SECOND QUESTION IS: CAN YOU TELL
ME FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT YOU THEY ARE THE
TOP FIVE PROBLEM AREAS WHERE IT IS
POSSIBLE THAT BECAUSE OF THE INDUSTRY
CONCERNS, SOME DESIGN ISSUE IS GOING TO
WORK OUT THAT A SERVICE OR EQUIPMENT IS
NOT ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITY.
I WOULD {H} I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING THE
PARTICULARS OF WHERE THE FIGHTS ARE IN
CASE-BY-CASE KIND OF SETING AND WHAT
PROBLEMS WE'RE REALLY FACED WITH.
THANK YOU.
>> WHO WOULD LIKE THAT?
>> I CANNOT COMMENT, THAT WOULD
PRESIDENT A WANT ME ON THE WHOLE
PROCESS.
I'M THE MOST POSITIVE PERSON IN THE
WORLD.
SO I WOULD THINK THAT I COULD NOT
PINPOINT ANYTHING AT THIS STAGE.
WE HAVE NO EVEN GOTTEN COMMENT YET ON
THE WAY WE'RE GOING TO GO.
SO I THINK I WOULD HAVE A BETTER IDEA.
>> I UNDERSTAND.
>> AND ALSO KIND OF WE ALWAYS LIKE TO
LOOK AT THINGS IN POSITIVE.
>> WELL, CAN YOU PUT IT IT IN ANOTHER
WAY AND SAY WHAT ARE FIVE AREA THAT IS
WE OUGHT TO BE PAYING ATTENTION TO?
>> WELL, THAT {F} THAT I COULD COMMENT
ONLY.
AS {SI} SAID IN MY LITTLE CHAT, I THINK
AND I AGREE WITH OUR GREAT
REPRESENTATIVE FROM N T I A, I THINK
EVERYBODY IS CLOSING THEIR EYE TOSS
UNIVERSAL SERVICE AND I THINK THIS IS AN
AREA.
I INSISTED MY HUSBAND EVEN MISSED MY
BABY SHOWER BECAUSE WE DECIDED WE SHOULD
BY AT THE UNIVERSAL SERVICE INITIAL
MEETING WHEN THEY GOT THEIR ORIGINAL,
THERE WAS AN EN BANC HEARING ON
UNIVERSAL SERVICE BECAUSE THE TASK FORCE
TRIED TO HAVE INPUT TRYING TO INCLUDE
THE LANGUAGE AND IT WAS NOT ADOPTED BY
THE COMMISSION.
SO I THINK THAT WE NEED TO KEEP
HAMMERING AWAY AT UNIVERSAL SERVICE OR
DISABILITY ISSUES WILL BE LEFT OUT.
THAT IS ONE KEY AREA.
ANOTHER THING IS IN IN THE I THINK
EVERYBODY BETTER WATCH OUT FOR THE PRO
SEALING THAT IS WILL BE ON-GOING ON
DIGITAL TELEVISION.
THAT IS ONE AREA WHERE PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES WILL ALSO LOSE OUT.
IF VOICES ARE NOT HEARD LOUD AND STRONG.
USAGE OF THE AUDIO CHANNEL AND THE TEXT
LINES VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE USE OF THOSE
FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND PEOPLE
ALL SOAP AND PRO SEWEDS AND PARTICULARLY
251 AND 251-A WHICH IS THE
INTERCONNECTION AND INNER {OP} PER
ABILITY BECAUSE EVERY ONE WILL NOR GET
ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THEY SAY, WE DON'T
HAVE 255 STANDARDS YET.
WE ARE NOT PRIORITZED BUT BELIEVE ME,
YOU GOT TO KEEP PRESSURE ON THAT THEY
HAVE TO BE ACCESSIBLE.
I GOT THREE, NO {URX} FOUR, DID I GET
FOUR.
ONE THING I WANT TO POINT OUT, IS WE HAD
A TOP TEN LIST, THE CHAIRMAN AND I CAME
UP WITH THIS TOP TEN LIST TO MAKE
AMERICA MORE ACCESSIBLE.
WE WILL GIVE OUR REPORT {KRD} ON JULY
26TH.
THE ONES WE HAVE NOT CHECKED OFF ARE
GOING TO BE PART OF THE NEXT TOP TEN
LIST FOR OUR YEAR NEBRASKA TWO.
WE NEED INPUT ON WHAT ELSE IN WHAT ELSE
IS ON THE WISH LESS.
SO E DISH MAIL US EITHER AT OUR WEB
SITE, CALL US OR WHATEVER BECAUSE WE
WILL BE WORKING ON THAT.
THANKS FOR BRINGING THAT UP.
IT IS A REALLY TOUGH QUESTION.
>> LET ME ADD ONE QUICK LITTLE THING
HERE, IN TERMS OF WHAT HEIGHT NOT BE
READILY ACHIEVE ABLE WHICH IS NEWTON THE
HORIZON, WE HAVE NOT SEEN VERY MUCHMENT
SOME OF THAT FOR EXAMPLE, THEY ARE DOING
A HOT OF THINGS WITH VIRTUAL REALITY
WHICH IS VERY DIFFICULT CONCEPTUALLY
DIFFICULT TO MAKE ACCESSIBLE.
IN REALITY IT IS NOT BECAUSE THE PICTURE
THAT YOU SEAL OF THE UP SUPER MARKET,
THIS IS A EXAMPLE THAT GREGG VAN VAN
USES WHERE YOU LOOK THE THE SHELF, GO
DOWN THE ROW AND PICK OFF THE BOX BY
CLICKING ON IT.
THE REASON THAT PICTURE IS THERE BECAUSE
ALL THE INFORMATION IS THERE.
AND WHAT -- ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS MAKE
SURE YOU TAKE THAT INFORMATION IN
PRESENT IT IN A DIFFERENT FORM WHICH IS
LIKE A MEN YOU.
SIT BASICALLY THERE.
WHAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE IS THAT WHEN
PEOPLE DO THINGS LIKE THAT.
THAT THEY A: MAKE THE INFORMATION THAT'S
THERE AVAILABLE AND B.
IMTHEN THEY TRANSMIT IT {HU} SOME
PROCESS, THEY THEY DON'T STRIP OUT THE
INFORMATION IS THIS THAT WHEN YOU GET IT
TO YOUR END USER, YOUR DEVICE COULD PULL
IT OUCH BECAUSE IT'S STILL THERE.
SO A LOT OF THIS IS NOT THE CASE OF IT'S
ALL THAT DIFFICULT ALTHOUGH FROM THE
START, IT SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE AWFULLY
DIFFICULT TO MAKE A VIRTUAL REALITY
THING ACCESSIBLE TO A PERSON WHO CAN'T
SEE.
IN MANY WAYS, IT IS NOT IF YOU THINK
ABOUT IT {RL} EARLY ENOUGH AND GET IN
VERY EARLY SON AND REALIZE WHAT IT IS
YOU'RE DOING AND HOW YOU ARE PRESENTING
THAT INFORMATION AND MAKE SURE YOU KEEP
THE INFORMATION THERE AND HAVE IT
AVAILABLE.
>> OF COURSE THAT WORK IS BEING DONE
TODAY ON WEB PAGES?
>> RIGHT.
IS.
>> PAUL: I WANTED TO JUST FOLLOW-UP AND
SORT {SHOF} A{ZPREE} WITH SOME OF IN A
AND SAY, THAT IN MY VIEW, IT'S CONTENT
AND THAT IS A CRITICAL ISSUE.
I GUESS READILY ACHIEVE ABLE IS REALLY
THE RIGHT QUESTION.
IT IT IS NOT SO MUCH THE WAY WE THINK OF
READILY ACHIEVE ABLE, IT IS THE IRK OF
WHO HAS THE KNOW HOW TO BE ABLE TO MAKE
SOME OF THESE THINGS ACCESSIBLE.
SO IN MANY WAYS, I THINK THE SAME THINGS
THAT WE'RE WRESTLING WITH NOW, CONTEMPT,
INFORMATION STRUCTURE, INTERFACE, FROM
MY PERSPECTIVE AS A {MRINDZ} PERSON
GOING TO THE ISSUES I SUSPECT WE BEEN IS
WRESTLING WITH IT BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A
DAMN SIGHTED WORLD BUT THAT IS A REALLY
WHERE EVERYBODY IS.
AND IT IS AS DIFFICULT TO MAKE AN
ENVIRONMENT LIKE THIS IN THIS BUILDING
USER FRIENDLY FOR A BLIND PERSON, IT IS
MORE {CHAL} {LEPING}, WHERE YOU DON'T
HAVE A ELECTRIC GUIDE DOG OR SINCES LIKE
HEARING AND {TOUFERJTS} ACCESSIBLE.
SO THAT TO INTO AND THAT'S IS REALLY
ACHIEVE ABLE IN THAT THERE IS NOT
NECESSARILY THE TECHNICAL KNOW HOW TO
SOLVE THAT {TIN} OF EXAM LENGTH.
THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING IN EDUCATION
AND PARTICULARLY IN THE EDUCATION AREA,
I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE LOSSES TO
OUR KID WHO IS ARE BLIND AND VISUALLY
IMPAIRED.
>> THANK YOU.
DEBBIE HAS THE MIKE.
>> THIS IS DEBBIE KAPLAN.
JUMP AS A {Z} BRIEF COST BEFORE A LONGER
ONE ON THE QUESTION OF REALLY ACHIEVE
ABLE, IT SEEMS TO ME THEN, THAT WHERE
POLICY MIGHT BE {LEEL}ING TO THE
REGULATIONSS EXAMPLE THIS IS PROBABLY
LOWER WITH THE F C Y IS IN MAKING A
DISTINCTION IN HOW THE F C Y THEN TREATS
COMPANIES WHO DOED ADDRESS ACCESSIBILITY
IN THE DESIGN STAGE AS OPPOSED TO THOSE
THAT SHOW UP WITH A COMPLAINT
{LOMINGTS}ED AGAINST THEM WHO SAY IT IS
NOT REALLY ACHIEVE ABLE NOW BECAUSE THEY
DIDN'T ADDRESS ACCESSIBILITY AT THE
DESIGN STAGE.
CLEARLY, YOU CAN'T TREAT COMPANIES THE
SAME, A COMPANY LIKE PACIFIC BELL WOULD
GET TREATED DIFFERENTLY THAN A COMPANY
LIKE -- I JUST DON'T KNOW WHO.
A LONGER THE COMMENT ON THE SUB{JVKTS}
OF UNIVERSAL SERVICE, -- SUBJECT OF
UNIVERSAL SERVICE, IT IS IMPORTANT TO
CONCEPTUALLY TIE IN EXISTING PROGRAMS
THAT IN EFFECT, ACHIEVE UNIVERSAL
SERVICE FOR DISABLED PEOPLE.
THAT'S THE RELAY PROGRAM AND THE
EQUIPMENT DISTRIBUTION PROGRAMS IN SOME
BUT NOT ALL OF THE STATES.
IN HOOKING THE FORWARD IN TERMS OF HOW
TO ACHIEVE UNIVERSAL SERVICE IN THE
FUTURE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES,
THERE IS PRESSURE NOW IN CALIFORNIA FOR
VIDEO RELAY SERVICES.
FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAF WHO ARE SAYING
WELL, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE
IN OUR LANGUAGE AND AND WE THINK THAT'S
MORE EFFECTIVE AND REALLY, A TRUER
APPROXIMATION OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
SERVICE IF WE'RE ABLE TO CONVERSE IN OUR
OWN LANGUAGE AS OPPOSED TO HAVING TO USE
THESE TEXT DEEP {VITS}S AND TALK IN A
DIFFERENT LANGUAGE THAN WHAT WE'RE USED
IT, THE OBVIOUS PROBLEM WITH IN A FOR
POLICY MAKERS IS THAT IS A WHOLE LOT
MORE EXPENSIVE RIGHT NOW THAN PROVIDING
TEXT STUDENTSS TEXT RELAY SERVICES.
CLEARLY, THESE ADAPTIVE TECHNOLOGY SORT
OF OR ADD ON SERVICES ARE GOING TO GROW
IN THE EXPENSE TO WHOEVER IS PAYING FOR
THEM IN CALIFORNIA, IT IS THE RATE
PAYERS.
IF UNIVERSAL DESIGN IS NOT ADOPTED, AS
SOON AS POSSIBLE BY AS MANY YOU COMPANYS
FOR AS MANY DIFFERENT PRODUCT AND
SERVICES AS POSSIBLE, UNIVERSAL DESIGN
PROVIDES ACCESS THROUGH OFF THE SHELF
PRODUCT AND SERVICES {THER} {RET}
THEORETICALLY FOR NO EXTRA COST TO
ANYTHING, AS {OP} {PYTS}ED THE HAVING TO
BUY ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT OR PAY FOR
SERVICES TO PROVIDE BASIC VOICE SERVICE
TOSS PEOPLE WHEN EVERYBODY ELSE IS USING
{AUT} MATED SYSTEMS NOW WHERE NO
OPERATORS INVOLVED.
IT SEEMS THEN THAT THE REGULATORS AS
THEY MOVE AHEAD IN UNIVERSAL SERVICE
OUGHT TO {REK} {FID} THAT BOTH AT THE
FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL AND SAY, WE WILL
GIVE IT INCENTIVES TO COMPANIES THAT CAN
PROVE TO US THAT THEY ARE IMPLEMENTING
UNIVERSAL DESIGN BECAUSE THEY ARE
CUTTING THE COST TO EVERYBODY ELSE OF
PROVIDING ACCESS TO DISABLED PEOPLE.
ESPECIALLY IN A REGULATED ENVIRONMENT TO
REGULATED COMPANIES.
MAYBE COMPANIES {REK} LAYED THAT WANT TO
COME IN AND COMPETE EITHER {HU} FEDERAL
REGULATIONS OR STATE REGULATIONS SHOULD
BELGIUM SOME SORT OF BREAK IN TERMS OF
WHAT THEY PAY INTO UNIVERSAL SERVICE
FUND.
IF THEY ARE IMMEN {LINGDZ} UNIVERSAL
DESIGN.
AFTER ALL, THEY ARE SAVEING EVERYBODY
MONEY.
SO I THINK THAT'S WHERE IT TIES INTO
UNIVERSAL SERVICE.
IS AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER {TA}
REGULATIONS CAN PROVIDE INCENTIVE AS
WELL AS MANDATES.
THE MANDATES ARE MOVING FORWARD BUT I
THINK THE JOB THERE IS LAYING ALL THIS
OUT TO THE REGULATORS WHO PROBABLY HAVE
NOT THOUGHT IT THROUGH AND DO NOT
UNDERSTAND THAT IT COST MONEY AND THAT
ALREADY ALTERNATIVES TO EXPENSIVE
PROGRAMS THAT ARE PROVIDING IN REALITY,
NOT AS HIGH A LEVEL OF ACCESS AS THE
LEVEL OF ACCESS THAT CAN BE ACHIEVED
THROUGH UNVARY CALL DESIGN.
>> THIS IS NOT REALLY A RESPONSE SO MUCH
AS ONE OF THE KEY ISSUES THAT WAS RAIDED
DUSK OUR ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING WAS
THAT UNIVERSAL DESIGN IS A PROCESS, NOT
A PRODUCT.
AND THAT WHAT YOU REALLY NEED TO DO IS
ESTABLISH AN EXPECTATION ON THE PART OF
THE PUBLIC FOR ONE THING THAT EQUIPMENT
WILL BE UNIVERSALLY DESIGNED, BUT BUILD
INTO YOUR DESIGN DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM,
SOME KIND OF A PROCEDURE WHERE BY YOU
START THINKING ABOUT THESE THING IS IN
THE VERY BEGINNING.
SO THE GUIDELINES MIGHT NOT LOOK OR HAVE
PIECES THE THAT ARE DIFFERENT FROM WHAT
WE NORMALLY THINK OF AS GUIDE LINES THAT
MIGHT HAVE IF NOT REGULATIONS POSSIBLY
SOME ADVISORY INFORMATION THAT SUGGEST
ALONG THE LINES OF THE PACT BELL FILTER
THAT IS TOUGH CREATE A PROCESS BY WHICH
YOU DEVELOP YOUR PRO PRODUCT THAT WILL
RESULT IN UNIVERSALLY DESIGNED DEVICES
AND THAT YOU OUGHT NOT TO BE LOOKING AT
IT IN TERMS OF ACCESSIBILITY.
IN OTHER WORDS, YOU OUGHT NOT TO BE LOOK
{INGT} AT IT AS TO WHAT WE CAN DO TO OUR
PRODUCT TO MAKE IT USE BELIEVE BY
DISABLED PEOPLE.
THAT'S TOO LATE.
YOU'RE ALREADY AT THE WRONG END WHEN YOU
STARTS DOING THAT.
YOU NEED TO THINK HOW CAN WE DESIGN A
PRODUCT SUCH THAT IT IS USABLE BY THE
MAXIMUM NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS.
AND ONCE YOU DO IT THAT {SQA} AND THINK
OF DISBY TEE AS PART OF THE OVERALL
PROCESS AND HOT THE ADD ON, YOU WILL BE
IN A LOT BETTER POSITION.
>> I WANT TO CHANCE THAT SPECIFICALLY
WITH RESPECT TO THE F C Y UNIVERSAL
SERVICE DOCK {KET} NOW OPEN.
THE JOINTS BOARD WILL BE LOOKING AT WHAT
THE DEFINITION OF BASIC SERVICE IS.
BASIC SERVICE WILL BE THAT SERVICE THAT
WILL RECEIVE SUBSIDIES OUT OF A
UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND.
YOU WILL SEE BECAUSE I SPECIFICALLY
WROTE THE FOOTNOTE THAT THOSE SERVICES
SHOULD BE-{THRB} THAT THE OPEN AND
UNIVERSAL DESIGN ISSUES THAT WE'RE
TAKING UP OVER HERE, SHOULD LOOKED AT IN
TERM OF THE DEFINITION OF BASIC SERVICE
TO THAT IN ABSOLUTELY, THAT RELAY AND
EQUIPMENT HAS TO {SNA} AND AS WELL HAS
LOW INCOME, BECAUSE SO MUCH OF OUR
DISABLED COMMUNITY OF OUR LOW INCOME
COMMUNITY HAVE DISABILITIES.
SO WE HAVE TO ENSURE THOSE DISCOUNTS
REPA MAIN IN THAT FIND.
ALSO THE BUSINESS BASIC SERVICE THAT IS
WILL BE SUBDIVIDED IF WELL WILL ARE ALSO
ACCESSIBLE.
AND THAT DOCKET IS OPEN NOW.
THERE HAS BEEN A SUSPECT MEN TREE NOTICE
PUT OUT BY THE -- SUSPECT MEN TREE
NOTICE WITH THE DATE OF AL 10TH -- FIRST
WEEK OF AUGUST IS THAT FURTHER COMMENTS
HAVE TO GO IN.
I DO NOT THINK THERE IS A SPECIFIC
QUESTION ON THIS BUT THAT SHOULD NEVER
STOP ANY ONE FROM SPEAKING.
SO LET ME GIVE YOU THAT HEADS UP ON
THIS. FROM THAT BASIC SERVICE PACKAGE,
ALL OF THE REGULATORY INCENTIVE WILL
COME, ALL THE REPRESENT OF THE
DISCUSSION AND SO THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE
IN {BRAT}ED IN HIGH VIEW IN THAT
DEFINITION.
>> ALSO, SON A MORE LONG {RANLTSES}
VIEW, ONE OVER THE THINGS WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT IN ALLEGE IS THE EQUIPMENT DISBACK
PROGRAM IS SET UP TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO
BASIC SERVICE.
IN CALIFORNIA, SO FAR, THAT'S BEEN
DESCRIBED AS DIAL TONY.
SO BASICALLY, WE'RE PROVIDING IN {DN} TO
RAPIDLY APPROACHING THE 21TH CENTURY.
I THINK SIT IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO BE
LOOKING AT UNIVERSAL DESIGN AS WHAT IS
BASIC SERVICE?
AND IT BECOMES THING LIKE ACCESS TO
INTERNET THAT THESE PRODUCT THERE IS END
UP SAYING THE RATE PAYERS MONEY BECAUSE
THERE WILL NOT BE THE NEED TO RETRO FIT.
>> LINDA: I COULD STRESS ENOUGH HOW
IMPORTANT IT IS TO COMMENT IN THIS
PROCEEDING.
WE HAVE LIKE ANOTHER CHANCE.
I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME ADVOCATES FOR
DISABILITY COMMUNITY WHO DID COMMENT IN
THE UNIVERSAL SERVICE DOCKET, BUT I
THINK THAT THESE IDEAS LIKE THIS THAT
ARE MUCH MORE SOLID AND WELL DEFINED
MIGHT HELP THE STATE AND FEDERAL
REGULATORS FOCUS ON THE POTENTIAL REALLY
OF SAVING MONEY AT THE SAME TIME AS
BILLING FUND.
NOW, I WANT TO COMMENT ON SOMETHING
ABOUT THE T R S {SFUNLD} AND POSSIBLY IN
INCLUDING IT IN THE UNIVERSAL SERVICE
FUND.
THAT SORT OF GIVES ME IF GOOSE BUMPS
BECAUSE HAVING SET UP THE T R S FUND ON
PURPOSE OUTSIDE OF UN{RER} {SAL} SERVICE
BECAUSE IN THE OLD DAYS, I DON'T THINK
ANYBODY UNDERSTOOD OUT IT WORK ANY WAY
AND THING LIKE ACCESS LINES MADE NO
SENSE TO ME ENTHOUGH I UNDERSTOOD WHAT
THEY WERE.
BUT IN TERMS OF A CLEAN FUND WHERE THERE
IS REAL MONEY IN A GOES IN AND REAL
MONEY THAT GOES OUT THE T R S FUND
WORKS.
IS AND I WOULD NOT BE ADVERSE TO ADDING
IT INTO A UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND THAT IS
LOGICAL AND THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE
COSTS ARE LOW AND WELL, THERE HAS BEEN A
LOT OF TALK ABOUT ADDING T R S INTO THE
LARGER {SNUND} AND NOT HAVING TWO
SEPARATE FUNDS AND I THINK AT THIS
POINT, I WOULD ADVOCATE KEEPING IT SOME
{VAT} AND CLEAN BECAUSE IT IS ONE OF THE
ONLY FUND THAT IS WORKS.
THERE IS NO SETTLEMENTS WHERE THE LEFT
HAND REALLY DOES NOT KNOW HOW MUCH AND
THE RIGHT HAND SAYS THEY PUT IT IN AND
THERE IS NO COLLECTION, THIS IS A FUNDS
WHERE BASICALLY EVERY ONE WHO PROVIDES
INTERSTATE SERVICE PUTS MONEY IN AND
EVERY ONE WHO PROVIDES T R S TAKES MONEY
OUT.
AND IT'S BEEN TERRIFIC.
I'M NOT AN ECONOMY NO {MISMT},
ACCOUNTANT OR ANYTHING, I WROTE THE RULE
{SOS} THAT IT WORKS.
THE OTHER POINT IS THAT I THINK THAT
EVERYBODY WOULD LOVE A BREAK.
I THINK EVERY COMPANY WOULD {LOK} A
BREAK ON WHAT THEY HAVE THE PAY TO
UNIVERSALS SERVICE.
I THINK IT IS AN EXCELLENT IDEA TO GIVE
THEM IN {SEN} SELF.
HOWEVER T R S, THE LOCAL, CHANGE
COMPANIES THAT PAY FOR T R S IN SOME WAY
FOR THE CONTINUE EXTRA STATE SIDE, SOME
STATES STATES OFFER TAX INCENTIVE ARE TO
COMPANIES WHO DO THIS BUT ONLY TWO
STATES IN {RT} U U.S. ARE COMPANY THAT
IS TAKEN {VAK} OF THOSE INCENTIVES SO
THE INCENTIVES MAY HAVE TO BE SOMETHING
THAT THEY BITE ON AND NOT JUST.
SO I THINK THAT -- I THINK THAT THE
UNIVERSAL DESIGN IDEA AS AN IN {SN}TIVE
AND ALSO, ENFORCEMENT, I HOPE WE GETS
LOADS OF COMMENT ABOUT THAT.
YOUR COMMENTS REALLY MATTER.
WHEN I TRIED TO ROUND UP PEOPLE TO COME
TO THE UNIVERSAL SERVICE COMMITTEE
MEETING I COULD {NONT} FIND ANY ONE.
I HAD TO STACK THE DECK WITH DISABILITY
TASK FORCE NUMBERS.
I GOT ONE GUY TO COME ALL THE WAY FROM
NEW YORK.
I REMEMBER THIS NOW AND HE HAPPENED TO
HAVE ANOTHER MEETING AND HE WAS GOING
GOING TO BE IN TOWN.
BUT I COULD NOT GET ANYBODY TO COME TO
FIND OUT WHAT THE ISSUES WERE.
SO PLEASE, I THINK THIS IS AN AREA WHERE
WE NEED TO GET YOUR ADVOCATES TOGETHER
AND AT LEAST UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES SO
CAN --.
>> YOU BEEN VERY PATIENT.
LET ME ASK FOR A 30 MORE {PD} SECONDS OF
YOUR PATIENCE BECAUSE WE BROUGHT UP HERE
A COUPLE OF TIMES UNIVERSAL SERVICE
PROCEEDING AND SOME NEW QUESTIONS THAT
HAVE COME UP FOR COMMENT.
LET ME JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO IDENTIFY
THE TIME LINE THOSE -- THE JOINT BOARD
THAT IS DECIDING THE QUESTION OF
UNIVERSAL SERVICE ISSUED A SET OF I
BELIEVE IT IS 72 QUESTION THAT IS
{THEMD} LIKE WRITTEN SPOONS TO BE AUGUST
SECOND.
THE REASON THEY ARE ACTING SO QUICKLY IS
THAT THEY ARE UNDER A MANDATE BY
CONGRESS TO COME UP WITH A SET OF
RECOMMENDATIONS AN ENTIRE SET OF
RECOMENDATIONS OF UNIVERSAL SERVICE BY
THE FIRST WEEK OF NOVEMBER OF THIS YEAR.
THAT SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE MAID
TO THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
FOR TO BE CONSIDERED AS A WHOLE, THEY'RE
NOT SUPPOSED TO TINKER WITH THE DETAIL,
CONSIDER THEM AS A WHOLE AND ISSUE A
FINAL SET OF RULES ABOUT UNIVERSAL
SERVICE BY MAY MOVE NEXT YEAR.
SO IS AT SOME LEVEL LEVEL, THIS IS
MOVING VERY QUICKLY, AND THE {YTED}S YOU
HAVE, BRING THESE THINGS TOGETHER TO GET
YOUR ISSUES BEFORE THEM, THEY ARE STILL
OPENING BUT THE PROCESS IS MOVING
QUICKLY.
SO WITH THAT, LET ME TAKE YOUR QUESTION,
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
>> FIRST OF ARTICLE, I JUST WANT TO
MONTH THE ARE {VIRT} AM CONFERENCE, --
{VIRLT}AL CONFERENCE -- YOUR NAME?
>> DAVID NELSON WITH AMTRAK.
WASHINGTON D.C..
HIM USING A WOMAN'S FEMALE VOICE.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN HOOK UP TO A
{VIRLT}AL CONFERENCE, I WAS WONDERING
HOW-I FEEL LIKE A WOMAN HERE.
ANY WAY, THERE WAS A RECENT QUESTION
DEBBIE AND THEN THERE WAS SOME ANSWERS
AND IT GOT A LITTLE MIXED UP THERE.
BUT MAYBE MY COMMENT MAY NOT BE THIS
RESEARCH L I AND THIS AUGUST {KOND} WITH
THE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS, I'M MY
CONCERN IS THAT VERY PLUSH A CONSUMER.
YOU DON'T HAVE THE TIME REALLY TO SIT
DOWN AND FIGURE OUT YOU KNOW THE LAWS
AND THE FOR THE LEGAL TERM AND SO FORTH.
I HOPE SOMEBODY CAN PROVIDE {E} INTO
WITH SOME PAPERWORK IN SIMPLE LANGUAGE
SO I CAN MAKE SIMPLE RESPONSE AND TRYING
TO DO THAT WITHIN TWO WEEKS.
>> GIVE YOUR WEB SITE FOR GOODNESS
SAKES?
>> WELL, I BEEN AVOIDING THE WEB.
PAUSE I'M AFRAID AFRAID OF BECOMING
ADDICTED.
SORRY TO SAY THAT.
AND SECONDLY, I'M NOT WILLING TO PAY FOR
A SECOND PHONE LINE.
IF I'M USING THE FIRST PHONE LINE.
YOU KNOW, IF IT IS BUSY AND MY DEAF
FRIENDS CAN'T CALL ME BECAUSE YOU DON'T
HAVE A TTY {RN} VOWING OR SOMETHING
WHICH IS SIMILAR TO VOICE MAIL.
IT IS NOT ACCESSIBLE TO TTY UNTIL TTY
MAIL IS SET UP, THEN, MAYBE I WILL USE
IT MORE OFTEN.
OKAY, UNIVERSAL SERVICES I'M VERY
STRONGLY INTERESTED IN THAT AREA.
CONCERNED ABOUT CABLE, THE BEST BELIEVE
IS {F} EXAMPLE IS 90 PERCENT OF CABLE
SHOWS ARE NOT CAPTIONED.
AND SO, ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO BOYCOTTED,
I DON'T JOIN ANY LOCAL CABLE BECAUSE WHY
SHOULD I PAY FULL SERVICE WHEN I DON'T
GET FULL SERVICE.
I'M SURE IT IS THE SAME WITH MANY BLIND
PEOPLE.
SO I'M CONCERNED WITH THE RULES THAT
HAVE BEEN DECIDED HAVING TO WAY FOR
ANOTHER TWO OR THREE YEARS AND IT WON'T
BE SERVICES FOR A LONG TIME.
I HOPE THERE IS SOME {KIJDZ} OF
UNIVERSAL SERVICE FOR MAP WHO DON'T GET
THAT FULL {STRS} THROUGH THE CABLE
COMPANIES.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT QUESTION.
AND SECOND, IS I S D N?
{6} I'M NOT REAL CLEAR ON HOW THIS FITS
IN, BUT LIKE SOMEBODY SAID ABOUT
CALIFORNIA, WITH THE VIDEO RELAY, MY
CONCERN IF I CAN USE THAT ON MY CURRENT
PHONE LINE, IF FRAME PER SECOND IS NOT
FAST ENOUGH TO MAKE IT CLEAR SIGNING.
BECAUSE OF MY CURRENT TELEPHONE LINE TO
MY HOME, IT IS ON OLD COPPER LINE.
AND I KNOW THAT IN D.C., UNFORTUNATELY,
MY OPINION, THE PUBLIC SERVICE
COMMISSION MAY BE THE LAST TO PERMIT TO
REPLACE TELEPHONE LINES WITH FIBER
OPTICS.
SO I HOPE THAT THE FCC WILL DO A LITTLE
BIT KICKING OF OUR STATE PUBLIC SERVICE
COMMISSION SOMEHOW.
>> COULD YOU JUST ASK WHAT SPEED IS
NECESSARY FOR SIGNING?
AND.
>> WELL, I S D N IS THE ANSWER, IT WILL
SPEED UP THE FRAME PER SECOND.
BUT THE CURRENT PHONE LINES ARE COPPER.
AND THEY CAN ONLY HANDLE UP TO WHAT IS
IT, FIFTEEN FRAMES PER SECOND.
WE NEED 30 AT MINIMUM, 30.
SO IN OTHER WORDS IF I HAVE MONEY, IF I
WAS A MILLIONAIRE, I COULD PAY SEVERAL
HUNDRED DOLLARS OR A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO
RELAYS THE PHONE LINE FROM A
{SWIFERNLTS} TO MY HOUSE.
-- REPLACE TO GET AN I S D N WHY SHOULD
I HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT.
>> OKAY.
I WOULD I CAN TO GET BACK -- {P} BEFORE
WE GOT I HEARD AT LEAST THREE QUESTIONS.
ONE WAS ABOUT HOW TO MAKE CLEAR THE FCC
PROCESS.
SECOND WAS ABOUT CAPTIONING FOR ON CABLE
AND A BROADER QUESTION ABOUT UNIVERSAL
SERVICE IN ALL MEDIA.
AND THIRD WAS A QUESTION ABOUT HOW THE
REGULATORY PROCESS MIGHT BE USED TO PUSH
FOR THE KIND OF INVESTMENT THAT WOULD BE
NECESSARY TO ENABLE PEOPLE WHO SIGN TO
USE THE PUBLIC SWITCH NETWORK TO SIGN --
AS AN VEHICLE TO SIGN WITH OTHERS WITH
WHOM THEY COMMUNICATE THAT WAY.
IS THAT RIGHT?
>> WELL, THE THIRD ONE, I HAVE A CONCERN
ABOUT OUR STATE PUBLIC SERVICE
COMMISSION.
THEY ARE VERY STUBBORN PEOPLE.
THEY ARE NOT MOVING VERY FAST.
AND MAYBE I WE WILL BE THE LAST STATE TO
CATCH UP.
I'M JUST ASKING THE FCC --.
>> LET ME TAKE A BRIEF TEMPT AT THE
FIRST QUESTION ABOUT TOP TRANSLATION OF
BETWEEN THE KIND OF LANGUAGE USED BY
FEDERAL REGULATORY AGENCIES AND TECH
KNOLL {ZBIFT} AND ECONOMISTS AND HOW TO
MAKE THAT MORE ACCESSIBLE.
THAT'S A PROBLEM WE ALL FACE.
AT THE BENTON FOUNDATION, WE MADE OUR
ATTEMPT TO TRY TO ADDRESS THAT.
OTHER -- WE HAVE A WEB SITE FOR YOUR
FRIENDS ON THE WEB, SHARE THIS WITH YOU,
OUR WEB SITE IS W W W DOT BENTON DOT O R
G.
THERE YOU WILL FIND DOCUMENTS THAT ARE
WRITTEN FOR NONPROFESSIONAL OR
NONTECHNICAL PERSON.
{LATS} GUIDE THERE CALLED HOW TO FOLLOW
THE PAPER CHASE AT THE F C Y JUMP TO LET
YOU KNOW HOW TO STAY AFF AND AND WHAT
ARE THE {RIFERMENT}S NOR MAKE ASK FILING
IN THE PROMER FORM SO THAT YOUR COMMENTS
WILL BE PART OF THE FILE.
OTHER GROUP, THE ALLIANCE FOR PUBLIC
TECHNOLOGY HAS ALSO DONE THAT KIND OF
{TRANSES} {LITION} WORK AND MANY OTHERS
HAVE.
SO THERE ARE MATERIALS OUT THERE.
OUR WEB SITE ON UNIVERSAL SERVICE
HASSELINGS TO IT {FT} MUST BEFORE AT
THIS POINT HUNDREDS OF OTHER SORTS ABOUT
UNIVERSAL SERVICE.
SOME OF THEM WILL BE VERY MANY TECHNICAL
AND ARE WHAT YOU WANT TO AVOID.
YOU CAN WE WE HOPE YOU CAN ENTER THINK
LEVEL {FL} TECHNICAL DIFFICULT.
ON THE DAN {SLUN} AND UN{VR} {SAL}
SERVICE.
>> LINDA: CAN I HANDLE THAT ONE.
>> I WAS GOING TO PASS IT ON.
>> ON THE CAPTIONING, ACTUALLY, WE JUST
LAUNCH IN IN DECISION THE N O I, IF
NOTICE OF INQUIRY ON CAPTIONING AND
VIDEO DESCRIPTION.
AND BACK IN DECEMBER, I THINK IT WAS
ONLY LIKE ABOUT 4% OF PROGRAMMING ON
CABLE WAS CAPTIONED FOR SOME REASON, 4%
COMES TO MIND.
I'M {WOUK} WORKING OFF INVESTIGATENESS
HERE BUT I REMEMBER IT.
AND IN COMMENTS THAT WE RECEIVED FROM
THE CABLE INDUSTRY AS AS A RESULT OF THE
NOTICE, THEY SUGGESTED THAT PERHAPS NOW,
THEY ARE UP TO 24% WHICH IS STILL NOT
EVEN 50/50.
PHILADELPHIA BREY RAIN IS {SILING} RIGHT
HERE FROM N C I, HITS {DROM} IS THAT BY
THE YEAR 2,000 EVERYTHING WILL BE
CAPTIONED AND HE WILL I HAVE GIVE YOU
HIS HOME NUMBER ON {500} {CHN} {NEL}S
AND HE WILL GIVE YOU HIS HOME PHONE
NUMBER.
THIS IS A MAN WITH VISION.
BUT ANY WAY, THIS INQUIRY, WE OWE
CONGRESS A REPORT IN AUGUST, EARLY
AUGUST TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT THE STATE
{THOFP} CAPTIONING AND VIDEO DESCRIPTION
IS CURRENTLY.
AND MAKE RECOMENDATIONS TO THEM ABOUT
HOW WE ARE GOING TO MAKE RULES ON
CAPTIONING AND WHAT WE WOULD SUGGEST ON
VIDEO DESCRIPTION.
SO I THINK THAT THAT IS ASIDE FROM WHO
THE WILL PAY FOR IT.
THATJUST WHAT THE STATE OF THE INDUSTRY
IS.
COST OF COURSE IS VERY IMPORTANT IN THIS
AREA.
BUT, THE NEXT STAGE, THE NOTICE OF
PROPOSED RULEMAKING ON CAPTIONING WILL
UNDERTAKE COST ANALYSIS, ET CETERA AND
HOW AND WHO IS GOING TO PAY FOR THIS.
NOW, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
THAT YOU LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE AGAIN,
BECAUSE IF SOMETHING LIKE CABLE
CAPTIONING OR ANY TIME OF CAPTIONING OR
VIDEO PROGRAMMING ACCESSIBILITY WILL BE
COVERED UNDER A UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND,
THAT'S A WHOLE ANOTHER KETTLE OF FISH
AND HAS TO BE PROPOSED AND THOUGHT ABOUT
BECAUSE THESE TWO PROVISIONS ARE A
DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF THE ACTS.
AND SO, PEOPLE WHO WORK A LOT OF TIMES
ON TITLE 7 OF THE ACT DON'T WORK ON
TITLE TWO WHICH IS COMMON CARRIER AND SO
THE CABLE PEOPLE AND MEDIAL PEOPLE DO
NOT ALWAYS TALK TO THE COMMON CARRIER
PEOPLE.
IN FACT, THEY ARE IN DIFFERENT BUILDINGS
NOW.
SO THAT IS THE TASK FORCE AGAIN IS AN
INFO RAMP BECAUSE WE HAVE SOMEBODY FROM
EVERY OFFICE AND BUREAU AND HEAVY TO SIT
NEXT TO EACH OTHER AT THE MEETING.
LIKE IT OR NOT.
IT AND EXCHANGE INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR
DOCKETS.
IN FACT NOW, THEY ALL HAVE TO REVIEW
EACH OTHER AS DOCKETS WHICH WAS NEVER
DONE BEFORE.
SO WE MOVING FORWARD THERE.
BUT A{GARBLING}, I WOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF THIS W, W DOT BEEN PHONE DIDN'T
PINNED OUT WHAT UNIVERSAL SERVICE IS
ABOUT SO THAT YOU CAN MAKE SOME
COMMENTS.
OUR IS W W W DOT FCC DOT GOV AND WE HAVE
A DISABILITY HOME PAGE WITHIN THAT SITE.
THAT IS JUST STORE DISABILITIES AND IT
IS HYPER LINKED TO HAUL THESE PRO
SEALINGS.
>>> THANK YOU.
ONE THING I PROPOSE IS THAT BEFORE WE
LEAVE HERE TODAY, WE WILL FILL UP THE
SCREEN AND I WILL WRITE MY WEB SITE.
A COUPLE OF WEB SITES HAVE COME UP WHERE
YOU HAD AN E-MALE ADDRESS SO WE CAN PUT
THAT UPTON THE WHITE FORWARD ANDLY TAKE
CARE HALF THAT BEFORE WE LEAVE HERE
TODAY.
WE HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION HERE.
>> HIVE, JENNIFER FROM EASTER SEALS
SOME.
I WANT TO GIVE YOU GUYS A CHANCE TO
DISCUSS UNIVERSAL SERVICE AND ASK ABOUT
THE NOTICE THAT'S OUT NOR AUGUST SECOND
CAN ACCESS FOR SCHOOL AND LIBRARYS.
AND I WANT TO GET YOUR FEELING ON HOW
THIS PROCESS WILL AFFECT THE JOB WITH
DISABILITY IN THE CLASSROOM AND WHETHER
YOU THINK THIS WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR EXPAND {LINGD} ACCESS TO DIFFERENT
KINDS OF TECHNOLOGY IN TERMS OF MORE
AVAILABILITY OR PROVIDE FURTHER HURDLES
IN TERMS OF THINGS BEING ACCESSIBLE AND
A GREATER VARIETY OF MEDIA TO DEAL {TW}
THE CLASSROOM.
>> I CAN JUMP SAY SOMETHING REALLY
BRIEFLY.
I THINK IT IS THIS PRO PROVISION WILL DO
A GREAT DEAL FOR CHILDREN WITH
DISABILITIES.
I THINK CHILDREN WITH DISABILITY IS VERY
NEAR AND DEER I KNOW TO OUR CHAIRMAN'S
HEART.
HE TALKS ABOUT EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
AT ANY CHANCE HE GETS AND ON EVERY TYPE
OF IMMEDIATE {YAFMENT} WE KNOW HAVE A
HEALTH ADVISORY COMMIT TO AND INTERNAL
MEDICINE COMMITTEE AND REPRESENTATIVE
FROM THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY ON THIS
COMMITTEE.
IT MET YESTERDAY, AND IT MEETS I THINK
EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS AND IT IS AN
AMAZING GROUP OF PEOPLE FROM ALL KINDS
OF MEDICAL PROFESSIONS {EK} ET CETERA.
SO I I THINK THE VOICE IS BEING HEARD
THERE, AT LEAST INPUT BEING {MAVMD}.
HOW IT ACTUALLY AFFECTS CHILDRENS WITH
DISABILITY IS YET OBEY SEEN BUT I THINK
THAT THE ISSUE IS ON THE RADAR SCREEN IF
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, MUCH MORE SO THAN
THE GENERAL SERVICE ISSUES.
>> THIS IS PAUL SCHROEDER I HAVE A GREAT
DEL DEAL OF FEAR, WE HAD VIRTUALLY NO
IMPACT I'M SORRY TO SAY {TON} THAT
DEBATE.
THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OUTSIDE OF
IS ULCERS DO DOES NOT STEAM TO RECOGNIZE
HAS DISABILITY DEN NONMA MUCH CABLE
FOLKS JUST HELD {THER} MEETING TO TALK
ABOUT WIRING THE CLASSROOM AND OTHER
FAIRLY PROMINENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
DISABILITY SPEAKING AND STILL, IT DID
NOT COME UP AS AN ISSUE.
A COUPLE OF US {QMENT} ON THE ORIGINAL
UN{VR} {SAL} SERVICE COMMENTS AND WE
NEED TO IMPROVE WHAT WE SAID AND NEED TO
FOCUS ON THE CLASSROOM SOME.
I GUESS TO PUT IT ANOTHER WAY, THERE IS
ONLY SO MUCH THAT CAN BE DONE THROUGH
THIS MECHANISM.
THIS IS A START AND THIS IS THE PLACE
WHERE PEOPLE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT
THERE IS AN ISSUE HERE.
FOR THE DUTIES BILL TEE COMMUNITY BUT
ALREADY A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHERS THAT WE
NEED TO BE WORKING WITH AND THE MULTI
MEDIA IN DUTIES FREE PRO RILING THE
CONTEMPT.
WE NEED TO BE WORKING WITH THE
INTERACTIVE SERVICE FOLKS COMPUTER
FOLKS, SOME OF THIS WILL FALL INTO THE
WORK WITH THE ACCESS BOARD IS DOING AS
WELL.
SO TO SOME DEGREE, ALREADY LIMITATIONS
ON WHAT-{DHRB} THERE ARE LIMITATIONS IF
YOU GO THROUGH EITHER ONE OF THESE
NOTICE, YOU WILL NOT FIND MUCH TO
{SFONDZ} TO IN DISABILITY, YOU HAVE TO
MAKE IT UP AND FIND IT.
MY PARTING SHOT TO EVERYBODY IS MONTH
MATTER WHAT YOUR INTEREST IN HOOK CAN
THROUGH THESE NOTICES IS, PLEASE TRY TO
FIND WITHIN YOUR ORGANIZATIONS SOME TIME
TO SUBMIT SOME COMMENTS IF ONLY TO
REGISTER THE POINT THAT UNIVERSAL
SERVICE WIRING THE CLASSROOMS IF YOU
WILL, NEED TO ADDRESS KID WITH
DISABILITIES BECAUSE THAT POINT HAS NOT
RUNNING HOME YET EVER THOUGH SOME PICKED
IT UP.
DAVID CAR.
...  ADA, WE ALL KNOW THAT THE ADA
COMMENT UNDER CATEGORY IS GOING WITH
THAT, IS THERE ANY WAY TO...
>>> THE TERMS LIKE READILY ACHIEVE ABLE
AND SO FORTH, HAVE THE SAME MEANING IN
THE TELECOM ACT AS THEY DO IN THE ADA
BUT THEY ARE SEPARATE STATUTES SO IN
ORDER TO DO SOMETHING WITH THE
TELECOMMUNICATIONS {APINGT}, YOU WOULD
HAVE TO PHYSICALLY AMEND THAT ACT.
NOTHING IS SACRED.
THERE IS ALL SORTS OF A {ZPX} AND PEOPLE
DON'T LIKE ACCESS IN SOME CASES A LOT OF
THE TAX ON THE ADA ARE BASICALLY
REPUBLIC LATE TODAY WHAT THEY CONSIDER
TO BE SPECIFIC PROVISIONS.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY HAS RAIDED THE
ISSUE OF THAT YOU KNOW, READILY ACHIEVE
ABLE IN THE CONTEXT OF NEWLY DESIGNED
EQUIPMENT IS A BURDENSOME ISSUE AT THIS
POINT.
IN FACT, DURING OUR ADD RYE RECOMMITTEE
MEETING THE ISSUE OF ASH ASH ADVISORY
COMMITTEE MEETING THE ISSUE OF IN TERP
LETING WHAT CONSTITUTES
TELECOMMUNICATIONSS AND C P E SHOULD BE
INTERPRETED BROADLY WAS THE WAY THE
COMMITTEE CAME OUT.
WHAT WAS AN INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE.
>> I HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD TO THAT
BECAUSE THAT IS AN EXCELLENT COMMENT.
IT HAS COME UP TWICE ALREADY.
ONCE IN THE HEARING ADD COMPATIBILITY
NEGOTIATED RULEMAKING A TAX ON THE
COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS COME BECAUSE
GROUPS -- ONE GROUP IN PARTICULAR
THOUGHT WE WERE DUPLICATING THE WORK OF
OF THE ADA THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN
ANTICIPATE IN THE TELECOM ACT
IMPLEMENTATION AS WELL.
BECAUSE WHY ARE WE DOING ALL THIS STUFF
ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS WHEN THERE ARE
PROVISIONS THAT MIGHT CROSS OVER.
WELL, I MAY BE THE ONLY PERSON TO HAVE
READ TITLE FIVE, DO YOU KNOW THE ADA HAS
FIVE AT THAT TIME TALLS.
HAS ANYBODY READ TITLE FIVE WITH ME?
GOOD, TITLE FIVE WHEN ATTACK TO A LOT OF
CONSUMERS THEY SAY THERE ARE ONLY FOUR
TITLES, THERE IS EMPLOY.
THIS AND THAT AND THE OTHER THING.
TITLE FIVE IS VERY CLEAR, TITLE FIVE
PROVISION IN THE ADA SAYS THAT THIS ACT
SHALL DO NOTHING TO DISCOURAGE FURTHER
LEGISLATION, AND ANY OTHER LEGISLATION
THAT PROMOTES ACCESSIBILITY YOU KNOW, IT
DOES NOT NEGATE IT.
I PUT IT VERY MUCH SIMILAR, BUT ANY WAY,
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP
STRESSING AS WE ADOPT AND IMPLEMENT
TELECOM ACT OF '96 THAT WE ARE NOT
DUPLICATING.
IN FACT, WE ARE EXPANDING THE GUIDING
PRINCIPLES OF THE ADA.
THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
>> I LIKE TO THINK ABOUT THIS IN A
SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT WAY BECAUSE YOU BRING
UP A PROBLEM THAT ONE ALWAYS FACES IF
YOU REPORT ONE STATUTE TO ANOTHER, THEN,
ALL OF A SUDDEN IF THERE IS A PROBLEM
WITH THAT STATUTE, YOU THINK YOU HAVE A
PROBLEM HERE.
LET'S REMEMBER AGAIN THAT THIS ACT IN
THE BROADEST SENSE CHANGES THE INDUSTRY.
FROM AN INDUSTRY WHERE THERE WAS ONE
PROVIDER THAT WAS VERY HEAVILY STATE
{REK} LAY {THAED} WE COULD {MON} FOR AND
THAT WE COULD ASSURE THAT ONE PROVIDER
WOULD MEET THE PUBLIC POLICY NEEDS THAT
THE STATE FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
SAYS THEY SHOULD {MEEPT}.
NOW, {WRVP} THIS ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE'RE
GOING TO HAVE MULTIPLE PROVIDERS,
MULTIPLE EQUIPMENT MAKERS, MULTIPLE
MANUFACTURER WHO IS WILL ALL INTER
CONNECT WITH THIS NETWORK.
WHAT I BELIEVE THIS STATUTE SAYS UNDER
THE VERY CLEAR GOALS OF THE
ADMINISTRATION IN THIS COCONGRESS, WAS
THAT THIS NETWORK HAS TO BE ACCESSIBLE
TO EVERY ONE AND FROM A TECHNOLOGICAL
POINT OF VIEW, WE HAVE TO HAVE INTER
{OP} PER ABILITY, WE HAVE TO HAVE
STANDARDS SO THAT PEES OF THE NETWORK
OPERATE AND THAT THEY MEET THE GOALS
THAT WE HAVE SET AS A NATION TO HAVE
FULL ACCESSIBILITY.
SO {KBHIM} WHILE I THINK SIT HELPFUL TO
USE THE PROVISIONS OF THE ADA IS
ABSOLUTELY HELPFUL BECAUSE THAT IS THAT
IS A STATUTE THAT SETS VERY CLEAR
MANDATES.
ALSO THINK IT IS HELPFUL TO KEEP IN MIND
THAT THIS IS PART OF A WHOLE STRUCK
{THURP} AND VERY IN IN TRY GAL.
YES, SIR.
>>> MY NAME IS ROBERT NICOLES.
OF WASHINGTON D.C..
I WANT TO ASK MR. DUBROOF, CAPTIONING.
THE CAPTIONING IS PART OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION CALLED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED
WITH THE HOUSE 0...  VOTED TO CUT THE
FUNDING FOR CAPTION AND THE DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION {P} THUS {P} THE PERSON FOR
CAPTIONS THERE IS NO MORE 50% OF
CAPTIONS FOR HEARING IMPAIRED.
IF QUESTION TO YOU IS WHAT WILL YOU DO
FOR THE PROVISION FOR THE CAPTIONS
WITHOUT THE BUDGET FROM THE DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION?
DO YOU FOLLOW MY QUESTION.
YOU HAVE EXPERT SITTING RIGHT HERE,
PHIL, BUT THERE HAS BEEN IN THE RECORD,
CURE {REBTS}LY, A LOT OF INFORMATION
ABOUT HOW {MURN} THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION RECEIVES TO CAPTION.
CAPTIONING THE COST OF CAPTIONING IS A
REAL {HOLINGTS}, THE FUNDING SOME
CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY SEED MONEY FROM
GRANTS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION,
SOME CAPTIONING IS FUNDED BY CORPORATE
SPONSORSS MANY WAY THAT IS THINGS GET
CAPTIONED.
IT IS WITH THAT SET UP, IT IS REALLY
AMAZING THAT SO MUCH IS CAPTIONED.
THE REPORT THAT WE GIVE TO CONGRESS NEXT
MONTH WILL COMMENT ON THIS AND I CAN'T
PREGUESS WHAT WE ARE GOING TO SAY, BUT I
CAN SAY THAT OUR CONCERN IS THAT BEFORE
RULES ARE ADOPTED WHICH WILL MANDATE CAN
SHUNING WHICH IS COMING UP VERY SOON
UNDER THE ACT UNDER SECTION 713, WE WANT
TO MAKE SURE THERE IS A TRANSITION SO
THERE IS NO TIME AT WHICH THERE IS LESS
CAPTIONING.
{E} {6} AND THAT IS OUR GOAL.
SO IF WE SUCCEED, WE WILL NOT HAVE ANY
TIME WHERE CAPTIONING DROPS FROM THE
LEVEL WHERE IT IS RIGHT NOW FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND OTHER
FUNDING.
AND THAT CAPTIONING -- THE NUMBER OF
SHOWS AND HOURS CAPTIONED WILL GO UP
ENORMOUSLY TO HOPEFULLY, TO WHAT PHIL'S
GOAL IS AS WE IMPLEMENT THE FINAL RULES.
>> BRUCE BAILEY WITH THE MARYLAND
REHABILITATION SERVICES I HAVE THREE
REALLY SHORT QUESTION BUT FIRST TO
FOLLOW UP ON DAVID CLARKES COMMENT, DO
YOU FEEL LIKE THE ADA IS VULNERABLE?
>> TO SOME EXTENT, I THINK IT IS.
IT CHANGES.
BUT {E} MINE, WE HAVE ALREADY HAD ONE
AMEND IT IN MORE AREA, TRANSPORTS TAX,
THE AMENDMENT WAS CHANGED SO THAT OVER
THE ROAD BUSSES NO LONGER HAVE TO BE
ACCESSIBLE IN 1996 OR 1997.
SO THAT'S BASICALLY A FAIRLY DRAMATIC
CHANGE.
ALREADY OTHER PEES I SUSPECT THAT IF ANY
{IPING}H ANYTHING, LIT BE SORT OF
CHIPPED AWAY AND IF THERE IS ENOUGH
ACTION ON IT, IT WILL NOT CHIP VERY
MUCH.
IT WILL BE SCRATCHED RATHER THAN
SEVERELY DAMAGED AND WE WILL HAVE TO
RECEIVE WHAT HAPPEN, CONGRESS HAS
CHANGED FROM TIME TO TIME AND THIS
CONGRESS HAS BEEN FAIRLY ANTI-ADA, BUT,
WHO KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN THE NEXT TIME
AROUND.
>> AND HIGH MAIN QUESTION WAS WHERE CAN
I FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE
THEY COMMUNITY {ATION}S ACTS SIN I DON'T
WANT TO READ IT.
HOW LONG IS IT PATCH WISE?
AND I ASSUME IT IS HUGH.
IT IS GREAT TO {HAVRP} THE W W W DOT O R
G, BECAUSE THAT WOULD TAKE CARE OF
ANYTHING I WOULD HAVE.
I IN PARTICULAR, THERE IS SOME STUFF CAN
HOW TECHNOLOGY IS INCLUDED.
>> IT IS TEAR RISK BECAUSE IT NOT ONLY
HAVE A LOT OF GOOSE READABLE TERM BUT
WILL GET YOU ELSEWHERE.
YOU CAN ALSO USE THE N T I {AFMENT} SITE
AND THE FCC SITE.
I THINK ON THOSE THREE, YOU WILL GET
ENOUGH.
>> IF YOU JUMP WANT DISABILITY ACCESS
PRO {VIX}, 7134, 255, 251, GO RIGHT TO
FCC DOT AND GO IN THERE UNDER-{DRK} G OV
{IRX} DISABILITY HOME PAGE, GO TO A AND
YOU WILL SEE LEGISLATION, TELECOM ACT.
WE HAVE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT
IT AND WE HAVE A SUMMARIZATION OF THE
TAX.
>> BY THE WAY, DO PEOPLE GET COPIES OF
THE DISABILITY SECTIONS IF THERE ARE ARE
THIS IN YOUR REPORT?
>> YEAH.
>> DENNIS MENTIONED EARLIER THE TRACE
SITE, T R A C E, IT COLLECT THAT IS IS
RALLY EVERYTHING ON DISABILITY AND
TECHNOLOGY GATHERED IN ONE PLACE OR
ALMOST EVERYTHING.
IF GREGG CAN PINNED IT {RKT} IT WILL BE
EVERYTHING.
SO THAT IS W W W DOT {TWAS}, DOT W ISQ W
I S C DOT E D U AND HAS NUMBER OF
CATEGORIES INCLUDING TELL COME.
>> AND TWO SPECIFIC FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS
TO THAT AND PROBABLY SHOULD TELL ME TO
GO READ THIS THING.
>> I WOULD NEVER SAY THAT..
>> DID DID THE TTY STANDARD, GET INTO
MODEM REGULATIONS?
{Z} ARE ALL NEW MODEMS AFTER THE
FEBRUARY SECOND GOING TO HAVE THE TTY
STANDARD AS PART OF THEM.
>> THAT IS NOT REGULATED BY THE FCC.
>> NOBODY KNOWS.
>> CAN YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION, PLEASE
IN.
>> HIGH I WAS {FOL} {FOL}ING THE
TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT FOR A {WHIM}.
ONE THING VERY IMPORTANT THAT WAS
INCLUDED IN THAT WAS THAT EVERY NEW
MODEM, MANUFACTURE {ERD}, EVERY STANDARD
COMPUTER MODEM MANUFACTURED AFTER THE
PASSAGE OF THE ACT WOULD INCLUDE TTY
COMPATIBILITY, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS
{NUM} MORE CAME STANDARD IS FOR THAT
CODE.
>> THAT IS AN ISSUE RIGHT NOW BEFORE THE
BOARD.
THAT WOULD BE A QUESTION AS TO WHETHER A
MODEM IS A TELECOMMUNICATIONS PIECE OF
EQUIPMENT AND THEY BEEN WHETHER THAT
EQUIPMENT SHOULD HAVE UNIVERSAL DESIGN
STANDARDS AND WILL BE LOOKING AT
GUIDELINES.
THAT IS A PROCESS UNDERWAY.
THAT QUESTION IS CLEARLY OPEN.
>> THAT'S TOO BAD.
>> AND THEN ALSO WITH REGARDS TO SPECIAL
ACCOMMODATIONS IF YOU WILL, IS THE ---I
I'M VERY {BERPD} IN DESCRIPTIVE VIDEO
SERVICES BUT SEEMS TO ME STRIKE TO
REMASTER EVERY TAPE THAT COMES OUT OF
HOLLYWOOD IS LESS LIKELY THAN USING THE
SECOND {AUD} TRACK AND I UNDERSTAND IS
FEATURE OF NEW TV WHERE IS THE STATUS OF
THAT AND I'LL GO SIT DOWN.
>> YOUR QUESTIONS ARE REALLY GOOD.
I LIKE HOW SPECIFIC THEY R PAUL: WOMEN,
LINDA MENTIONED -- WELL, LINDA MENTIONED
{YERL}, WELL, FIRST OF ARTICLE, THERE IS
NO NO REQUIREMENT FOR VIDEO DESCRIPTION
IN THE ACT.
MUCH TO HOUR CHAGRIN, SECONDLY, NO
REQUIREMENT THAT THE PROBLEM BY IS THE
AASIDE IN THE COURT RENT BROADCAST
TELEVISION STANDARD.
THAT IS THE CHANNEL THAT IS TYPICALLY
USED FOR VIDEO DESCRIPTION.
WE ARE CERTAIN, IT IS A GOAL OF OURS TO
CERTAINLY DO A COUPLE OF THINGS SINCE WE
DON'T HAVE A REQUIREMENT FOR VIDEO
DESCRIPTION IN THE ACT, IT IS CERTAINLY
A GOAL TO ENSURE THAT THE NEW DIGITAL
STANDARD DOES REQUIRE A SET ASIDE FOR
THE PROVISION OF {STRID} YO DESCRIPTIONS
ON A DIGITAL AUDIO CHANNEL.
WE HAVE SUBMITTED AT LEAST A COUPLE OF
TIMES TO THE FCC OUR HOPE AND REQUEST
THAT WRECK GET THAT ACCOMPLISHED.
OF COURSE, THE -- ALREADY A NUMBER OF
OTHER METHODS THAT MAY BE USED AS AN
INTERIM AND IN FACT, I BELIEVE WE EITHER
HAVE OR WILL SOON RELEASE PART MOVE A
REPORT THAT THE AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR
THE BLIND HAD DONE IMPORTANT US.
ON INTERIM METHODS OR A METHODS THAT CAN
BE USED SOME IN TERM AND SOME FUTURE FOR
PROVIDING {JID} JOE DESCRIPTION.
HAS WHOLE {HFT} OF THEM AND ACTUALLY,
I'M A LAY PERSON MYSELF IN THIS WORLD
AND I FOUND IT PRETTY READABLE.
SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN THAT ISSUE,
IT'S KIND OF MEET WAY TO LEARN A LITTLE
MORE ABOUT TELEVISION STANDARDS AS WELL.
THAT REPORT, THE FULL REPORT {BL} WILL
BEAL {VABL} NEXT FALL.
PART OF THAT REPORT IS EITHER ON ITS WAY
TO OR AT THE FCC HAVING BEEN APPROVED
THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
NOW, YOU CAN CERTAIN HE CONTACT A F B,
THE AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR THE LEND TO
GET THAT INFORMATION,--BLIND.
IT MAY BE UP ON OUR WEB SITE SOME DAY.
>> I THINK PAUL COVERED THAT ONE.
>>> SOME PEOPLE MAY BE SURPRISED I'M ASK
THIS CAN QUESTION BUT I WANTED TO ASK
THIS QUESTION ANY WAY.
I'M SORRY, WHAT DID --.
>>.
>> {OIM} I'M PHIL BRAVIN FROM THE WHAT
CAPTIONING INSTITUTE.
-- NATIONAL AND I HAD A LOT OF INFLUENCE
ON THE N O I, NOTICE OF INQUIRY.
I HAD WHAT IS THE INFLUENCE OF THE N O I
ON THE N PR?
>> I THOUGHT THAT WAS INTERPRETED A
LITTLE FUNNY BECAUSE I WAS GOING SAY HOW
MUCH INFLUENCE DO YOU HAVE.
HOW MUCH DOES -- I THINK THE QUESTION IS
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE COMMENTS ON THE
N O I AND WHAT HAPPEN WITH THE N P -- IN
THE CAPTIONING AREA THE N O I HAS NEED
INTO AND INTO ONE DOCUMENT CALLED A
REPORT TO CONGRESS WHICH WILL BE
DELIVERED VERY SOON.
ALL THE INFORMATION IN THERE HAS BEEN
PUT TOGETHER INTO A REPORT.
WITH REGARD TO CAPTIONING, WE WILL MOVE
BECAUSE CONGRESS HAS BEGIN US AUTHORITY
AND JURISDICTION TO MOVE INTO REQUIRING
CAPTIONING.
SO WE WILL WRITE A NOTICE OF PROPOSED
RULE MAKE GOING THERE WILL BE PROPOSED
RULES FOR CLOSED CAPTIONING IN THE
UNITED STATES.
AND SO THAT IS THE EFFECT THE N O I HAS.
WE WILL START A NEW RECORD ON COMMENTS
ON THE POINT {POTS}ED RULES.
>> ONE BUILT OF HOUSEKEEPING IS I BEEN
GIVEN A NOTE THAT ASKS {TOUTS} WRAP IT
UP A LITTLE BIT EARLY SO YOU CAN GET A
BREAK BEFORE THE LAST SESSION OF THE DAY
AS SUCH, THIS WILL BE OUR LAST QUESTION
FOR THE AFTERNOON.
>> THAT'S TEAR RISK.
I WANTED TO BE THE LAST QUESTION BECAUSE
IT IS SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT {HAN} THE
OTHERS MY {NAEP} IS JEAN AND WITH THE
DOLE FOUNDATION.
THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF INTEREST IN THE
FOUNDATION WORLD IN PUBLIC POLICY AND
WHAT FOUNDATIONS CAN DO IN THE PUBLIC
POLICY ARENA.
NEVERTHELESS, THERE IS A BIT OF
CONFUSION ABOUT OR INACTION ON PART OF
THE FOUNDATION ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN DO
LEGISLATIVELY.
THAT'S OUR PROBLEM BUT ON THE OTHER
SIDE, ONE YOU FIND OUT WHAT IT IS YOU
CAN DO LEGALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE
PANEL AND ALSO, THE AUDIENCE FOR ALL
YOUR PERSPECTIVES WHAT IS IT THAT YOU
THINK PRIVATE FUNDERS CAN BEST DO TO
HELP ON HELPING COMMUNICATIONS POLICY
AND I KNOW SOME THINGS BUT YOU -- ANDY
HAS A VERY SPECIAL ROLE BUT WE'RE NOT
ALL EXPERTS LIKE HE IS.
HE IS IN THE FOUNDATION WORLD WHAT CAN
WE DO.
>> PAUL?
>>> PAUL: I GOT A -- WELL, IN ALL
SINCERITY, IT IS IN FACT EXACTLY ON THIS
TOPIC.
WE DO HAVE A PROPOSAL.
I THINK MOST OF US IN THE DISABILITY
COMMUNITY STRUGGLE IN THIS ISSUE BECAUSE
WE DON'T HAVE THE EXPERTISE IN THE
PEOPLE THAT WE CAN GENERATE.
YOU KNOW WHAT SURPRISED ME.
I LOOKED THROUGHOUT THE FCC'S WEB SITE
HAS ALL THE COMMENTS UP ON IT WITH
INTERCONNECTION.
IT IS MEG BITES {BOOIT} OF DATA SO I
HAVE NO HARD DRIVE BUT SINCE I DON'T USE
GRAPHICS, I HAVE LOTS OF PACE ON IT AND
I LOOKED THROUGH AND EVEN HUGE COMPANIES
HAVE LAW FIRMS FILING COMMENTS FOR HEM.
I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT A {HUMINGTS}
COMPANY COULD HAVE GONE RATED ITS OWN
COMMENTS SO WHAT THAT TOLD ME WAS HERE'S
A FEW OF US IN THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY,
JENNIFER IS HERE FROM ESTHER SALE AND
I'M HERE.
WE'RE ONE PERSON EXAMPLE WE {ONLTSES}
HAVE THING LIKE THOSE KIND OF RESOURCE
TOSS FIGHT {VM} WHERE INDUSTRY {0} {EE}
SENT ESSENTIALLY AGREES WITH US.
WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO COME IN
IS SAY WHAT-{DRBL} WE AGREE EXCEPT THAT
THERE IS THIS ONE SMALL PIECE AND THEN
THAT ONE SMALL PIECE, WE HAVE UN{VA}
{VELD} MOST OF WHAT IS IN THE
REQUIREMENT.
WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY DO GOOD
{ZRONING} ANALYSIS LIKE THAT.
FOR EVERY DISABILITY GROUP.
WHEN WE TILE OUR COMMENTS WITH THE
COMMISSION, THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF THE
KIND OF COST DATA, A LOT OF OF THE
TECHNICAL PROFILES AND THE SCENARIOS
THAT OTHERS CAN SPIN SOUGHT AND I KNOW
ALREADY LOTS OF WAY TOTS HAVE IMPACT AND
WE DO THOSE PRETTY EFFECTIVELY FROM A
LOBBYING STANDPOINT.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE NEED TO BE
ABLE TO HAVE FROM FOR THE FCC IS SOME
PRETTY SO SOPHISTICATED COMMON THEIR AND
SOMETHING THAT PRIVATE FUNDERS CAN DO
CERTAINLY IS TO HEM US NAVIGATE FUNDING
DIFFICULTIES WITH OUR PROPOSALS AND HELP
US SUPPORT US AND HELPING US FIND
EXPERTISE SO THAT WE CAN COME BACK ON A
SOMEWHAT MORE FAIR PLAYING FIELD.
I'LL TELL YOU, SOME HAVE BEEN VERY
INTERESTED IN HEARING THAT LINE OF
ARGUMENT AND I THINK EVERY ONE IS
CONCERNED THIS TECH LOCAL GO WORLD IS
CREATING HAVES AND HAVE NOT THEN THIS
HEAR IT, THEY GO, {HOFMENT} MAN, YOU'RE
RIGHT, THIS IS REALLY VERY FRIGHTEN {EK}
AND THEY ARE VERY INTERESTED IN TRYING
TO EQUAL LEAD THE LAYING FIELD AND GIVE
US SOME CAPABILITY BUY FRANKLY THE
RESOURCES THAT WE DON'T HAVE.
THAT WOULD BE ENORMOUS.
>> MANY {LUNLD} DA: IN THE WORLD OFFICE
STEFFI GRAF, HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU HAVE.
SERIOUS {LIRX}, I THINK ONE AREA THAT I
THINK NEEDS MORE WORK AND THAT I THINK
FOUNDATIONS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS CAN
HELP IS IN EDUCATION.
SOMEONE JUST SAID TO ME THE OTHER DAY
ABOUT T R S, ALREADY STILL A {TON} OF
PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES WHO ARE
VOICE PEOPLE FOR EXAMPLE WHO DON'T KNOW
WHAT T R S IS AND THEY HANG UP ON RELAY
CALLS BECAUSE THEY THINK THEY ARE UNTIL
MARKETERS OR SOMETHING.
COMPANIES IN AND STATES ARE PROPRIETARY
VERY PRODUCT PROUD OF THEIR CENTERS AND
DO NOT WENT DO NATIONAL ADVERTISING ON T
R S BECAUSE IT {DPOTS} TO MORE THAN JUST
THEIR STATEMENT.
SO IF FOUNDATIONS COULD DO SOMETHING
LIKE PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS ON
MASS MEDIA, WHICH TAKES A LOT OF MONEY
AS WE ALL KNOW, THAT WOULD HELP
ENORMOUSLY AND NOT JUST IN THE RELAY
AREA BUT IN ALL AREAS OF DISABILITY AND
HOLD CAN CONFERENCES LIKE THIS AND
HELPING.
IS HELPFUL BECAUSE THEN THE COMMENTS
THAT WE DO RECEIVE ARE MORE FOCUSED.
AND PERHAPS THE PROCESS IS MORE --.
>> BROWN: I HAVE ONE SORT OF NOTION THAT
I PLAYED AROUND WITH AND NOT WELL
ARTICULATED YET.
I TALKED TO FOLKS AT -- MANY TIME, WE
TALK SORT OF THE HIGH POLICY {WOOUND} IT
BE GOOD IF WE DO THIS AND SORT OF SAY,
WE NEED DO THIS, IS THIS AND THIS.
ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS WE ALWAYS TALK
ABOUT IS GETTING TO DESIGN EARLIER.
MY {SNS} IS THIS THAT WE NEED GET THE
DESIGN ENGINEERS TOGETHER AND STOP WITH
THE LAYERS AND POLICY MAKERS AND SIT
WHERE THE FOLKS WHO ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND
HOW TO DO THIS STUFF.
AND HAVE THEM SHOW US HOW IT IS DONE AND
EDUCATE US SO THAT WE CAN THEN GO DO
PACK BELL AND NINE NEXT AND BELL AT PLAN
TO SAY, THIS IS REALLY HOW IT IS DONE.
MORE EVER, I HE THE ENGINEERING
COMMUNITY IS SO FIGHT THAT ONCE THEY
SORT OF ARE SENT ADVERTISED TO THESE
ISSUE AND START TALK TO EACH OTHER ABOUT
THEM, IT WILL START TO HAPPEN.
I FIND THESE FOLKS ARE SORT OF AGO KNOWS
STICK.
THEY WILL MAKE ANYTHING WORK IF YOU SAY,
MAKE THIS HAPPEN, THEY WILL MAKE IT
HAPPEN.
THE PROBLEM IS A THIS QUESTION IS NOT
POSED WOMEN.
WELL, SUPPOSE A FOUNDATION KIND OF THING
THAT REALLY CONCENTRATES ON THAT SORT OF
THE SIDE OF THE PROBLEM WHERE PEOPLE WHO
ACT I CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN ARE BROUGHT
TOGETHER IN A WORK {SHOM} KIND OF
SETTING.
>> THAT'S VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE THEN
WE SET UP THE R FP THAT FUNDING THAT'S
WHAT WE WERE THINKING OF AND HOPING WE
WOULD GET SOLE DIE SIGN INFORMATION
HERE.
AND THEN THE QUESTION BECOMES HOW DO GET
TO THEM?
>> IT IS A DIFFERENT COMMUNITY THAN US,
RIGHT HERE, FIRST OF ALL.
{P} WE HAVE SOME FOLKS IN THE AUDIENCE.
I SAY COME ON GUY, UP TO COME AND LOOK
AT THESE BUT OKAY, BUT I DON'T WANT TO
SIT FOR TWO DAYS AND HEAR THE RHETORIC.
WHAT I WANT DO IS PICK OUT HOW DO IT.
SO IT IS A DIFFERENT KIND OF SET GOING
SEEMS TO ME THERE IS ANOTHER WAY TO GET
IN AND SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT PERHAPS
AFTER THE DAY IS DONE.
>> MY NAME IS A {PRAN} {SI} GILLMAN I'M
HERE REPRESENTING THE MARYLAND
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY BOARD.  ONE OF
THE THINGS AND I SUBSCRIBE TO ALL THE
DISCUSSION THAT IS HAVE BEEN MADE SO
{SNAR} AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, I HAVE
HEARD KATHRYN PLAN TO DEVELOP A SESSION
FOR THE -- GET THEM WHERE THEY ARE.
GO TO COMP DECISION AND BRING ALL OF US
THERE AND CONFRONT THEM, BUT ANY RATE,
MY SUGGESTION IS HAVING WORKED AT TRYING
TO GET THE ATTENTION OF STATE AND LOCAL
OFFICIALS, I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE
REALLY NEED SOME EDUCATION BECAUSE THEIR
EYES GLAZE OVER WHENEVER YOU TALK ABOUT
COMPUTERS.
THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES.
THEY ARE AT A LOSS AND NOW {SES}
SPECIALLY WHEN THE REGULATIONS AND THE
LAWS ARE EVOLVING AT THE STATE LEVEL,
SIT THE P U {KRUFMENT} AND STATE
LEGISLATION, STATE AGENCIES AND THE
LOCAL OFFICIALS THAT REALLY ARE GOING TO
HAVE TO {BRAP} PAL WITH THIS.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE ALSO NEED TO
KNOW HOW TO WORK ON THE STATE LEVEL.
WE BEEN WORKING AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL
PERHAPS NOW, WE HAVE TO MOVE DOWN A
LEVEL TO 50 STATES AND SOME TERRITORIES
SO THAT'S WHERE I THINK SOME EDUCATION
WILL BE VERY HELPFUL AND I THANK YOU FOR
ASKING.
>> LET ME GIVE YOU A LITTLE BUILT OF
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REGULATORY
COMMISSIONS MEET TWICE A YEAR.
I I THINK WE GOT A COUPLE OF THINGS ON
THE AGENDA THIS YEAR ON SOME OF THE
ISSUES AROUND UNIVERSAL SERVICE.
BUT ALREADY SOME WAYS TO GOT INTO THAT
COMMUNITY THAT IS A LITTLE EASIER THAN
HAVING TO HIT EVERY 50 STATES.
AND I REALIZE THAT IS HARD.
I WANTED TO RAISE THIS BEFORE.
I WANT TO FINISH WITH THIS REMARK.
THE UNIVERSAL SERVICE PROVISION OF THIS
ACT PROVIDES BOTH FOR A IF {RAL}
UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUNDS AND STATE
UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND.
IN FACT THE STATES HAVE ACCESS TO THE
LIONS SHARE OF REVENUE IN THE INDUSTRY.
SO AWANT TO JUMP ADVISE YOU THAT IT IN
SOME WAY IS AND A LOT OF WAYS, {MS} NEED
TO GO BEYOND THE FCC ON THESE ISSUES TO
GET TO STATE REGULATORS.
>> SUGGESTION.
>>> I WOULD MIKE TO RESPOND TO THE LAST
TWO SPEAKERS.
FROM A THE DOLE FOUND STATION AND.
WE WERE CONCERNED WE WERE FOCUSING TOO
MUCH ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL.
AND THAT SIT TIME TO INVOLVE THE STATE
AND LOCAL LEVEL OFFICIALS AND ALL THAT.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
I'M SORRY TO SAY BUT I'M SURE HOW THAT
APPEAR HAYES TO OTHER STATES BUT FIVE
YEARS AGO, I WAS INVOLVED IN TRYING TO
SET UP A T R S HERE IN D.C..
AND I WAS ALMOST HOW DO YOU SAY THIS --
BURNT OUT.
OR DESTROYED BY THE FUNDING COMPANIES.
WHO SAID THEY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY.
THEY HAD LAWYERS EXPERTISE, QUALIFIED
PEOPLE.
BUT, I HAVE NOTHING.
I LEFT WITH A VERY BITTER FEELING ABOUT
THE WHOLE THING AND ATTITUDE.
I KNOW I SHOULD BE MORE FORGIVING BUT
WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS THAT THE DOLE
FOUNDATION, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH USUAL
HELP, BUT, THE DISABILITY NONE TEE, WE
DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY TO PAY FOR
LAWYERS AND I'M AFRAID THAT IF WE GET
INVOLVED {DW} THE STATE AND LOCAL
LEVELS, WE WILL BE DESTROYED.
I ALMOST WALKED WAY FROM THE WHOLE
FUNDING ISSUE.
BUT IT WAS MY BEST FRIEND THAT KEPT ME
GOING.
SO I'M HERE INFORMED A LITTLE BIT ON THE
NATIONAL LEVEL BUT I'M MORE
INFORMED,-{DRK} I WOULD LIKE BE INVOLVED
MORE WITH THE LOT LEVEL BUT I HAVE A
PROBLEM WITH MY {LOFL} LEVEL NOW BECAUSE
D.C. AND BROKE.
AND SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE I STAND.
I'M HOPING THAT ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL,
THE RULE MAKER THERE IS HELP ME OUT
LITTLE BIT.
YOU REALLY HAVE TO KEEP IN {THINDZ} THAT
THE COMPANY WHO IS HAVE THE MONEY AND
CAN PAY THE LAWYERS HAVE BENEFIT, WE
DON'TE DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF ADVANTAGE
MAYBE WE WILL GET A BETTER ANSWER FROM
THE NATIONAL LEVEL.
THANK YOU.
>> WELL, THERE IS OBVIOUSLY, MUCH MORE
THAT COULD BE SAID.
I THINK LAST STATEMENT OF THE COMES FROM
OUR HARD EARNED EXPERIENCE IS NOTE ON
WHICH TO END BUT WE MUSTED.
WE ARE COMING TO THE END OF OUR TIME
HERE THIS AFTERNOON.
THE ISSUES ABOUT ABOUT HOW WE MAKE THE
GREAT PROMISE IN BOTH THE LEGAL PROMISE
AND I THINK OFTEN MADE RHETORICAL PROMS
ABOUT HOW THIS TECHNOLOGY MY REALLY
IMPROVE ACCESS FOR PEOPLE WITH ALL KINDS
OF DISABILITY, WILL BE HARD WORK, WILL
BE THE KIND OF HARD WORK YOU ARE JUST
{SKRIBLING}ING AND WILL COME AT THE
FEDERAL LEVEL AND {MURK} OF IT WILL END
UP AT THE STATES, THE FEDERAL LEVEL IS
LIKELY LIKELY TO CREATE FEDERAL RULES
AND ASK THE STATES TO IM{MEPT} THEM
BECAUSE THE STATES HAVE {RLINGD} FOR AND
WON A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF LEVERAGE TO
TAYLOR THINGS TO HOUR LOCAL SITUATION AS
THEY SEE THEM.
THAT MEANS THAT IT WILL MEAN CONTINUING
NEED FOR EDUCATION AND INFORMATION ACT
ADMINISTRATION, AND INVOLVEMENT OF
PEOPLE IN OUR ORGANIZATION AND AMONG OUR
FRIEND AND PEOPLE WE DON'T KNOW YET BUT
WHO OUGHT TO BE MORE ENVELOPE.
I COMMEND JEAN FOR ASKING THE KIND OF
HARD QUESTION THAT IS FOUNDATIONS ARE
OFTEN DON'T LIKE TO ASK IN PUBLIC.
AND OBEY WILLING TO LISTEN TO THE
ANSWERS.
OF -- TO BE WILL TOGETHER LISTEN THE
ANSWER, I THANK YOU FOR OUR A{TNTION}
OVER A LONG AND OFTEN TECHNICAL AND VERY
FRUIT {TUM} FOR YOU CERTAINLY AS IT HAS
BEEN FOR ME, FRUITFUL SECTION.
I {HONL} YOU WILL JOIN ME IN THANKING
OUR PRESENT TEARS WHO GAVE MUCH OF THEIR
TIME.
THE GOOD NEWS THAT THERE IS COFFEE AND
STUFF SET UP OUTSIDE.
THANKS AGAIN