[announce] Sample Letter on S.3304 for Affiliate Use

[Eric Bridges]

As a co-founder and steering committee member of COAT, ACB is playing a
leading roll in negotiating provisions in S.3304. 

 

COAT affiliate action requested. Please send thank you letters - on your
organizational letterhead - to the original 4 co-sponsors. Here is a sample
letter 

you can modify for your affiliate's use:

 [DATE] Senator John F. Kerry, Chairman Senator Mark L. Pryor, Member Senate
Subcommittee on Communications,

Senate Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet
Technology and the Internet 218 Russell Senate Office Building 225 Dirksen
Senate Office

Building Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20510 Via Fax 202-224-8525 Via
Fax 202-228-0908 Senator Byron L. Dorgan, Member Senator Kent Conrad Senate

Subcommittee on Communications, 530 Hart Senate Office Building Technology
and the Internet Washington, DC 20510 322 Hart Senate Office Building Via
Fax

202-224-7776 Washington DC 20510 Via Fax 202-224-1193

 Re: "Equal Access to 21st Century Communications Act of 2010" (S. 3304)  

Dear Chairman and Senators:

The [your affiliate's name] takes this opportunity to express our deep and
profound thanks for the momentous introduction of the "Equal

Access to 21st Century Communications Act of 2010" (S. 3304). S. 3304 will
advance modernization of the current disability accessibility mandates in
the

Communications Act for communication and video programming products and
services. This bill, helping to ensure accessible telecommunications
technologies,

is a major step forward for people with disabilities. The [your
organization's name] [briefly describe your affiliate]. We are also an
affiliate of

the Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology (COAT) (
www.COATaccess.org). COAT advocates for legislative and regulatory
safeguards that will

ensure full access by people with disabilities to evolving high speed
broadband, wireless, Internet protocol, and other technologies. We are very
much

encouraged by the introduction of S. 3304. In this year of the 20th
anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), passage of S. 3304
will affirm

the principles of equal access, equal opportunity, and equal participation
for people with disabilities to communications, technology, and the
Internet.

Communications technologies are essential components of daily life;
inextricably woven into the fabric of modern life. Such technologies - when
designed

and developed to be accessible - enable new levels of independence and civic
engagement for all Americans. We are particularly pleased to see that S.
3304

contains the following key provisions: Increasing Communications Access .
Requires access to phone-type equipment and services used for advanced
communications

. Adds improved accountability and enforcement measures, including a
clearinghouse and reporting obligations by providers and manufacturers .
Requires

telephone products used for advanced communications to be hearing aid
compatible; . Allows use of Lifeline and Link-up universal service funds
(USF) for

broadband . Allocates up to $10 million/year for equipment used by people
who are deaf-blind . Clarifies the scope of relay services to include calls
between

and among people with disabilities and requires interconnected VoIP service
providers to contribute to the Relay Service Fund . Requires FCC to develop

real-time text digital standard Video Programming Access . Requires caption
decoder circuitry or display capability in all video programming devices .

Extends closed captioning obligations to video programming distributed over
the Internet . Requires easy access to closed captions via remote control
and

on-screen menus . Requires easy access by blind people to television
controls and on-screen menus . Restores video description rules and requires
access

to televised emergency programming for people who are blind or have low
vision We are committed to continuing to work with you and others to ensure
that

S. 3304 achieves the greatest possible increase in communications access. We
advocate for defining covered advanced communications to include
non-interconnected

as well as interconnected VoIP, video conferencing, and electronic messaging
(to ensure access to SMS text messaging, electronic mail, and instant
messaging);

adoption of the well-established and appropriate undue burden compliance
standard for prospective obligations; extending relay service obligations to
non-interconnected

VoIP providers; and timely action by the delegated authority. We look to
your leadership to establish significant new achievements in communications
technology

accessibility for people with disabilities. We believe a Senate Hearing
would be another significant step forward in conquering the barriers to
accessibility

and usability that our members and constituents encounter daily at home, in
the workplace, in the classroom, and in their community, in this fast-paced,

technology-driven modern world. We appreciate your efforts to ensure strong
legislation that will take all of us - aging America, wounded veterans, and

people who are deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened, deaf-blind, blind, and
low vision - into a new world of a 21st Century communications that work for

everyone. Sincerely,

 

 

Eric Bridges

Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs

American Council of the Blind

2200 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 650

Arlington, VA 22201

ebridges at acb.org

www.acb.org

 

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://www.acb.org/pipermail/announce/attachments/20100513/2925a1fd/attachment.htm>