TDPH Monthly Newsletter

Technology and Disability Policy Highlights Monthly Newsletter

Spring Issue: March - April 2016 Technology and Disability Policy Highlights

This spring, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) moved the needle forward on several large communications issues that impact access by people with disabilities.  In April, the FCC Order concerning the Lifeline and Linkup programs [WC Docket No.11-42] took a variety of actions to create an affordable Lifeline broadband program.  The Order discusses the minimum service standards for Lifeline Services, asserting that functional Internet access is essential to allow consumers to fully participate in society.

November 2015 Technology and Disability Policy Highlights

In November, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) took several actions to improve communications access for people with disabilities.

October 2015 Technology and Disability Policy Highlights

In October, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to update Hearing Aid Compatibility Rules for wireline, wireless and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telecommunications equipment.

September 2015 Technology and Disability Policy Highlights

In September, there was a lot of activity to gear up for National Disability Employment Awareness Month. To kick off this year’s Disability Employment Awareness Month, on September 30, 2015, President Obama issued a Presidential Proclamation marking October 2015 as National Disability Employment Awareness Month.  The President called for the nation to promote inclusion in the workplace by tearing down barriers for Americans with disabilities to acquire the stable jobs they deserve.

August 2015 Technology and Disability Policy Highlights

In August, The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced the development of a communications platform to establish interoperability standards for all two-way video communications providers. An FCC news release regarding the platform indicated that it will enable people who are deaf, hard of hearing and deaf-blind to converse with businesses and government agencies using American Sign Language (ASL).  The beta version will be available in late 2015, and final version, in spring 2016.

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The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for Wireless Technologies is sponsored by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under grant number 90RE5007-01-00. The opinions contained in this website are those of the Wireless RERC and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services or NIDILRR.