Lifeline Program Will Help Disabled Get Online, Clyburn Says
The FCC must address the needs of 6 million disabled Americans who don’t have broadband, Commissioner Mignon Clyburn told the FCC Disability Advisory Committee Thursday. Separately, the DAC approved recommendations on emergency alerts to wireless devices, after what a DAC member said was a vigorous debate.
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“As a regulator, I believe it is imperative that we leave no one behind, particularly those who could benefit the most,” Clyburn said, opening the meeting. “This means fulfilling our obligation and duty to ensure that broadband is accessible and affordable to everyone.”
Clyburn stressed the importance of the Lifeline modernization order, approved by a sharply divided FCC March 31 (see 1603310056). “The FCC’s Lifeline program could be the best means to make communications services more affordable for consumers who qualify,” Clyburn said. “I remain excited about how a reformed Lifeline program could ensure that more Americans share equally in the benefits of broadband.”
The DAC played a big role in getting the FCC to move forward in April on an NPRM that examines effectively ending text technology (TTY) in favor of real-time text (RTT) (see 1604280055), Clyburn said. At its February meeting, the DAC recommended the agency release the NPRM (see 1602230066).
“As networks move to IP-based systems, real-time text technology will allow Americans who are deaf, hard of hearing, speech disabled or deaf-blind, to use the same wireless communications devices as their friends, relatives and colleagues,” Clyburn said.
The DAC approved recommendations in response to a November NPRM on improving wireless emergency alerts (WEA) to mobile devices (see 1511190053). The DAC supported the FCC’s proposals including increasing the maximum length of WEA messages from 90 to 360 characters. DAC found that embedding phone numbers and URLs in alerts could be helpful to people with disabilities, but also said in a resolution the agency should seek further expert comment.
DAC recognized that alert messages other than in English also could be helpful, but said in its resolution the FCC should consult experts on whether multilingual alerts are technically feasible. The DAC resolutions also raised concerns that WEA alerts aren't available everywhere in the U.S. and its territories, such as in American Samoa. “The DAC is concerned about the lack of WEA support in those areas where people with disabilities could benefit from the WEA messages,” the resolution said. The DAC approved the resolution on WEA with abstentions from Comcast and NCTA.
DAC also approved a report by its Video Programming Subcommittee recommending offline captioning be formatted in a combination of lower-case text and capital letters. The FCC had sought the advice of the DAC on the matter. DAC decided video material originally captioned in all caps need not be reformatted.
Brian Charlson, director-technology and policy at the Carroll Center for the Blind, said DAC should also recommend larger text sizes since many with limited vision can’t easily see current captions. But other DAC members said that text size is part of a standard. “This is part of our rules,” said Karen Peltz Strauss, deputy chief of the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau. “Any change would require a modification of our rules. This is part of a standard that’s incorporated in our rules.”
DAC approved a report by its Technology Transitions Subcommittee urging the FCC to consider the “benefits and opportunities” presented by HD-voice for the hearing impaired as part of its work on the IP transition. The agency also should seek the consensus of carriers, equipment makers and consumers on “whether any further actions are necessary to achieve HD voice interoperability,” the report said.
Strauss said the commission plans to recharter the DAC for another term starting next year. Members are expected to meet twice more in 2016, with the next meeting scheduled for Sept. 22.