Wireless RERC - hard of hearing

Seeking People who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing for Usability Study in Atlanta

mz22 — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 20:04:52 +0000

A usability study will be held at the Center for Assistive Technology & Environmental Access (CATEA). We will be asking for feedback on several different light, vibration and sound signals for receiving emergency messages on cell phones.

The study will take about one hour and participants will be compensated $40 cash for their time and opinions. It is currently scheduled for:

Wednesday, June 24, 2015 (ASL Interpreters Available)

Thursday, June 25, 2015 (CART Service Available)

There are only 10 spots open for each day; each time slot can accommodate two people. See the slots listed below:

· 9:30 – 10:30

· 10:45 – 11:45

· 12:00 – 1:00

· 2:30 – 3:30

· 4:00 – 5:00

If you are available, please email Salimah LaForce at salimah@cacp.gatech.edu to select a time slot and let her know which day is most appropriate for you based on the accommodation provided (CART vs ASL). If/when you select a date and time Salimah will send a detailed confirmation that includes the location address.

Georgia Tech Seeks Focus Group Participants for Emergency Alerts Research

mz22 — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 18:10:32 +0000

deaf

hard of hearing

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA)

October 2014 – In research funded by the U. S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate, Georgia Tech is holding focus groups to discuss assistive technology features, mobile devices, and how people with disabilities respond and are alerted of emergencies. Because different disability types aren’t always considered in the design of alerting systems, this cycle of research is seeking feedback from individuals who are Deaf or hard-of-hearing. Research findings are expected to inform the development of technology and policy solutions that will optimize emergency message receipt and protective actions taken by people with hearing disabilities.

The discussions will be held at GACHI, located at 4151 Memorial Dr., Decatur, GA 30032 on the following dates:

Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Friday, November 14, 2014

The total time commitment is approximately 2 hours and participants will be compensated $40.00.

To sign up or recommend a participant, please contact Maureen Linden at 404.894.0561 or Maureen.linden@coa.gatech.edu.

FCC Posts Two New Videos in American Sign Language

mz22 — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 13:12:22 +0000

American Sign Language (ASL)

deaf

hard of hearing

Text-to-911

ASL Videos Posted by the FCC

October 2014 – The FCC posted two new videos this month that include American Sign Language (ASL) interpretations of information concerning emergency services and the FCC’s Advanced Video Communications Platform and in ASL Video. The original video that was posted in June 2014 provided information about the launch of an ASL Consumer Support Line that allows people who are deaf and hard of hearing to use the service via videophone. In order to reach the population of people whose primary language is ASL, the FCC’s outreach and education is beginning to include ASL versions of materials otherwise presented in text and/or audio. The two additional videos were provided by the FCC’s Disability Rights Office and discuss telecommunications.

Advanced Video Communications Platform: Overview about the purpose and functionality of the upcoming Advanced Video Communication Platform, a tool to ensure the efficiency and competition of Video Relay Service (VRS) and the interoperability of VRS and video point to point communication.
The Text to 9-1-1 in ASL Video: Information about the FCC’s recent action on the Text-to-911 rulemaking in order to promote the availability of the service.

For additional information about the FCC’s Disability Rights Office and to view these videos, please click here.

FCC Releases Rules to Improve Closed Captioning

mz22 — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 14:33:01 +0000

Closed Captions

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

deaf

hard of hearing

FCC R&O [CG Docket No. 05-231]

February 2014 — The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Report and Order (R&O) and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FRPRM) In the Matter of Closed Captioning of Video Programming [CG Docket No. 05-231]. The R&O adopts new rules in accordance with Section 713 of the Communications Act to enhance the quality of closed captioning, including new standards to ensure that captions are accurate and synchronous in portraying the spoken words and background noises, are present for the whole program, and are placed in such a way that they do not block important visual content. Also adopted are rules which require broadcasters “who utilize Electronic Newsroom Technique (ENT)” to ensure that all news scripted for the teleprompter is also captioned. In order to ensure technical compliance of the rules, the R&O specifies that video programming distributors must “monitor and maintain their equipment,” in addition to keeping records of any “maintenance, monitoring and technical checks of their captioning equipment.”

In the FNPRM, the FCC seeks comment on additional factors to further enhance “accessibility of television programming.” Specifically, the FCC seeks comment on whether metrics should be established to measure the completeness of live and near-live captioning and if specific time intervals should be established for equipment checks. Regarding consumer complaints, the FCC seeks comment on methods to improve complaint handling and proposes a “public dashboard containing information about captioning complaints.” Finally, the FCC is requesting comments on the level of compliance regarding technical standards of captions and whether consumers have had any issues with recent “on-screen visual changes or textual depictions.” Comments for Section VI.A of the FNPRM are due 30 days after publication in the Federal Register and comments for the remaining sections are due 90 days after publication in the Federal Register.

FCC Issues Notice of Apparent Liability of Forfeiture to T-Mobile

blippincott4 — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

FCC

hearing aid compatibility

deaf

hard of hearing

Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture

47 CFR §20.19

04.18.12 – The FCC issued a Notice of Apparent Liability For Forfeiture proposing a forfeiture of $819,000 against T-Mobile for violating the FCC’s rules for hearing aid compatible mobile handsets [47 CFR §20.19 (c)(2)(d)(2)]. In 2003, the FCC adopted rules to establish standards to enable interoperability between hearing aids and digital mobile phones. In 2008, the FCC employed a timeline by which service providers and manufacturers must provide consumers with a certain number of hearing aid compatible devices according to the provider’s size and number of subscribers. According to the FCC, a review of T-Mobile’s 2009 hearing aid compatibility status report by both the Enforcement Bureau and FCC Office of Engineering and Technology Equipment Authorization System, revealed that T-Mobile had failed to comply with Sections 20.19(c)(2) and 20.19(d)(2) of the rules by providing an inadequate amount of hearing aid compatible devices. Following a letter of inquiry concerning these violations, T-Mobile also disclosed possible violations during 2010, causing the FCC to expand their investigation. The investigation revealed that although during 2009 T-Mobile was required to provide between 4 to 9 M3-rated devices and 3 to 5 T3-rated devices the provider fell short by 1 to 3 M3-rated devices and up to 4 T3-rated devices each month. For 2010, T-Mobile was required to provide either 9 or 10 M3-rated devices and 5 to 7 T3-rated devices, but fell short by as many as 4 M3-rated devices and 3 T3-rated devices. According to the Notice, T-Mobile relied on manufacturers’ hearing aid compatibility rating information, which is permissible by the FCC’s rules; however, the FCC notes that this reliance was not acceptable since many of the manufacturers’ specifications were incomplete. Thus, in accordance with the Section 503(b)(1)(B) of the Communications Act of 1934 (as amended), the FCC determined that T-Mobile was liable for a forfeiture for willfully and repeatedly failing to provide hearing aid compatible devices. [Source: FCC]

FCC Proposes Rules for Hearing Aid Compatibility with Wireless Phones

blippincott4 — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

FCC

hearing aid compatibility

technical standards

deaf

04.09.2012 – The FCC issued a Third Report and Order (R&O) “In the Matter of Amendment of the Commission’s Rules Governing Hearing Aid-Compatible Mobile Handsets” [WT Docket No. 07-250] revising the Commission’s rules on hearing aid compatibility (HAC) technical standards. The R&O adds the new 2011 American National Standards Institute (ANSI) technical standards to the existing 2007 ANSI standards to evaluate hearing aid compatibility with wireless devices, helping to ensure that consumers have access to wireless communication services without having to experience interference from radio frequencies or other technical sources. Included in the new 2011 ANSI technical standards are expanded operating frequency ranges for wireless devices covered from the 2007 standard, which included 800 MHz – 950 MHz and 1.6 GHz, to the new 2011 standard, which includes 2.5 GHz to 2.5 GHz to 698 MHz – 6GHz, and direct methods of measuring radio frequency interference from wireless devices. In addition to the new standards, the R&O adopts a 12 month transition period in which multi-band and multi-mode handsets can be certified as hearing aid compatible by the 2007 ANSI standards, after which these handsets must meet 2011 ANSI standards. Finally, the rules adopt a 24-27 month transition period for manufacturers and service providers to “apply the Commission’s existing deployment benchmarks to handset operations over” the additional frequencies covered by 2011 ANSI standards. The new rules reflect technological advances made since the previous adoption of the 2007 ANSI standards, such as new 4G phones which utilize the 700 MHz band, and allow for compatibility greater number of HAC compliance wireless handsets. [Source: FCC]

Additional Information:

Third Report and Order

[ http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2012/db0409/DA-12-550A1.pdf]