Assistive Technology

July 2013 — The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB) announced the 2013-2014 funding allocations for entities eligible to receive support and reimbursements under the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP). The NDBEDP is a program mandated by the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) that enables low-income individuals who are deaf-blind to have access to the Internet and advanced communications, including interexchange services and advanced telecommunications and information services.

July 2013 — The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has begun a new Accessibility and Innovation Speaker Series to “highlight and encourage innovation in accessible communications technologies” benefiting people with disabilities.  The Series begins on July 16, 2013, when Clayton Lewis from the University of Colorado will present on “The Future of Inclusive Design Online.”  Professor Lewis’s presentation will highlight developments in technology and how they are working to ensure accessibility for people with functional needs through providing opportunities for superior access.  The pre

July 2013 — The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Public Notice noting the deadlines concerning the June 14, 2013 Order on Reconsideration and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) in the Matter of Closed Captioning of Internet Protocol-Delivered Video Programming: Implementation of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 [MB Docket No.

June 2013 — The Federal Communications Commission has settled with Airadigm Communications and TeleGuam Holdings following investigations into lack of compliance with hearing aid compatibility rules.

June 2013 — The Emergency Access Advisory Committee (EAAC) of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a report entitled Proposed Procedures for the TTY as a text terminal in legacy 9-1-1 PSAPs without IP Connection, which outlines the use of TTY terminals as a text-to-911 interim solution for Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) without IP connectivity.  The report highlights that TTY may lack some capabilities often used in SMS text messages.  For example, TTY messages have a limited set of characters available for use, are unable to use both upper and lowercase let