Emergency Communications

April 9, 2013 — The Wireless RERC submitted reply comments to the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: “Facilitating the Deployment of Text-to-911 and Other Next Generation 911 Applications” [PS Docket No. 11-153] and “Framework for Next Generation 911 Deployment” [PS Docket No. 10-255]. The Wireless RERC expressed their continued support for obligatory rules concerning the deployment of text-to-911.

April 08, 2013— The Federal Communications Commission (Commission) released a Report and Order and a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) (FCC 13-45) related to the accessibility of emergency information provided in video programming. The Report and Order requires that emergency information communicated via video programming is accessible to individuals who are blind or visually impaired. This includes the requirement of an aural presentation of the emergency information on a secondary audio stream that must be conveyed at least twice in full.

March 2013 - The Wireless RERC submitted recommendations to the National Weather Service (NWS) regarding their Experimental Winter Hazards Simplification Demonstration.  The Demonstration provided an opportunity to compare text from watch, warning and advisory messages for winter weather hazards with proposed alternatives.

March 2013 — The U.S. Department of Justice reached cooperative settlement agreements with the cities of Englewood and Arapahoe, Colorado Sheriff’s Offices under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Complaints were filed with the Justice Department in regard to officers of the Sheriff’s Offices not providing qualified sign language interpreters and additional assistive resources and services to victims, arrestees, and witnesses that were deaf or hard of hearing. Under the settlements, $35,000 will be paid to the plaintiffs by both the city of Englewood and Arapahoe County.

March 2013 — The next Emergency Access Advisory Committee (EAAC) meeting will be held at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) headquarters on June 14, 2013 from 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM (EST). The EAAC is an advisory committee established on December 7, 2010 under the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA) that focuses on evaluating and determining the most effective technologies that enable individuals with disabilities access to Next Generation 911 (NG 9-1-1).