FWD: RSDHope Disability Access to Broadband

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From: byrd45 (Original Message) Sent: 7/22/2005 8:08 AM
DISABILITY ACCESS TO BROADBAND

Frank Bowe, Frank.G.Bowe@hofstra.edu, writes:

Action Alert: Disability Access to Broadband

As disability advocates know only too well, opportunities to advocate in
Washington, DC, for something positive for Americans with disabilities
are few and far between these days. One is now presenting itself.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee is beginning this month to write
a "staff draft" of a bill that would update the 1934 Communications Act.
Last rewritten in 1996, in the Telecommunications Act, this is the
federal law that makes telecommunications affordable to all of us,
everywhere in the U.S.

The Senate Commerce Committee staff is beginning to outline plans, too.
Much has changed since 1996. Then, there was no World Wide Web to speak
of. Few of us used e-mail on a daily basis. Instant messaging would not
appear for another six years (2002).

That is why the 1996 rewrite of the act gives accessibility to people
with disabilities only with respect to "plain old telephone service"
(POTS) -- meaning, voice phone calls over dial-up networks.

We enjoy no right to accessibility in broadband products or services.
Instant Messaging services from AOL do not inter-operate with Instant
Messaging services from Yahoo! or MSN. There is no requirement that
telecommunications relay services (TRS) provide video relay services. In
addition, broadband promises to help to support independent living for
many persons with disabilities, including those affected by the Supreme
Court's decision in Olmstead.

For all of these reasons, the work that is beginning in Washington this
month is very important to people with disabilities.

I met last month with the House staff. They encouraged me to send them,
by July 4th, ideas. After talking with leaders of national disability
groups, I sent them seven (7) short papers with proposals.
I have collected the ideas at one web page:

http://people.hofstra.edu/faculty/frank_g_bowe/telecom.html.

Action Needed

After reviewing the materials at that site, advocates residing in the
states represented on the House and Senate Committees might wish to write
to their elected represenatives and senators.

The key states are listed here:

House Energy and Commerce Committee:
http://energycommerce.house.gov/108/members/members.htm and

Senate Commerce Committee:
http://commerce.senate.gov/about/membership.html.

There are many States represented on those committees, from Alaska to
Virginia. Many advocates will find that a Representative or Senator is a
key player on one of these committees.

People may use Thomas (http://thomas.loc.gov) to learn how to reach those
elected officials. Or you may use Capwiz (http://www.capwiz.com) or other
easy-access programs if an organization to which you belong uses one of
those "contact Congress" tools.

I hope that advocates will say that the reauthorization process that is
now beginning is important to them and to others with disabilities. If
you agree with the ideas that I have put forth, I hope you will say that.
If you have other ideas, please do tell the staff what you think.

Frank Bowe
Frank.G.Bowe@hofstra.edu
http://people.hofstra.edu/faculty/frank_g_bowe/