Broadband plan must address needs of people with disabilities

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The FCC's development of a national broadband plan represents a unique opportunity to assure that the nation's investment in a broadband infrastructure is accessible to all Americans. The Plan is intended to guide the nation's effort to create new jobs and stimulate economic growth and opportunity by accelerating the use and impact of broadband technology. This investment is predicated on the transformative power of broadband as a robust anywhere, anytime communications and service network for commerce, culture and community.

The Commission has expressly stated that this significant leap forward in broadband capacity and services must address the needs of our must vulnerable, under-served and unserved fellow citizens. That definition must include people with disabilities. Technology can offer people with disabilities new opportunities for education and employment and the potential for greater autonomy and independence. However, unless properly designed and implemented, the same technology can present pervasive and potentially insuperable barriers to people with disabilities. Therefore this Plan must address the interfaces of applications and content that end users will be expected to use, operate and employ successfully. An approach that only focuses on and measures price, availability, and bitrate will not guarantee successful adoption and use by any segment of the population, especially citizens with disabilities.

Idea # 16Accessibility for People with Disabilities

Comments

ptbagger 6 months ago

Millions & millions of CPUs allow for single handed functional use. Web sites and software applications that require manual dexterity are restrictive and discourage full use and enjoyment of what is offered. Designing software applications & web sites that allow singled hand mouse commands will provide millions of IWDs many more opportunities.
Disseminating the info to find a solution to this issue should be easily identifiable while whithin the application.

mary.hartnett 6 months ago

Promote adoption of Web Content Access Guidelines (WCAG 2.0) to all users of broadband.

mimsong 6 months ago

If the handicapped are not let in to broadband, the rest of us will be paying to keep them in nursing homes. Isn't it better to let them get jobs and pay their own way?

hammep01 6 months ago

please be sure that all applications are configured for access by the hearing impaired: hearing aid compatible, voice recognition online print out of the spoken word, etc.

rebosson 6 months ago

An existing FCC regulation require telecommunications manufacturers and service providers make their product and services accessible to people with disabilities. Check out the url addy on section 255 of the telecomm act. Includes VoIP. May or may not include broadband services.

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/section255.html

However, there is no enforcement procedure; FCC has adopted reactive rather than proactive to pursue those who do not follow the regulation. Persons with disabilities do not have the funds to hire high powered lawyers as do the manufacturers or service providers. So the value of Section 255 is a question each of us have to answer.

jeffcityjon 6 months ago

Voted this down because this is a web-design issue. The FCC should not attempt to juristic web-design.

mimsong 6 months ago

@jeffcityjon: I wish you had done some research before voting it down. Accessibility is not just about web design. The federal govt. is about to spend a lot of money on library computers, sysadmin software, outreach videos, etc. Shouldn't those all be accessible so that people with disabilities can get some benefit -- and jobs -- from their tax dollars, too?

raquelha 5 months ago

May I first at least inform someone who is quite obviously uninformed....mimsong....it appears doesn't have a grasp on the reality of the situation for those of us who are on disability. I know there are many disabled who actually DO have jobs, even if part time as there's basically not much of an alternative to be able to survive on the amount we receive every month from OUR OWN MONEY through what we have paid into Social Security through the years that we have been able to work, and if there were anyway on this earth that I could still be working at the last job I had, trust me I would be. Not only did I make a LOT of money especially for the last time I was able to work, but I absolutely loved it, working with several different computers and their systems plus I was able to do so by myself as the regular office closed at 01:00 & once everyone was out of that gate I locked it and not even supervisors could get it!!! Oh, and the benefits were what I loved more than anything....I'm not talking about the great insurance as well as dental coverage that I had plus how well I did do in my investments, I'm talking about what I love to do more than anything....and I admit I love doing it in First Class every chance I got!!! Travel, of course....so after trying many MANY times to work, wanting very badly to do so, the decision was finally made that I simply could not do so. And I'm one of those people that even other disabled people will look at, better description actually is stare at....why? I don't appear to be disabled at all when you look at me. For far too many you're apparently NOT disabled if you're not in a wheelchair.
I'd love to be able to have access to the internet, at least something I can afford, you know, so I'm not sucking the lifeblood out of mimsong here. Unfortunately this dreadful place I'm currently living doesn't even have access to a PC anywhere at all close....let alone in the building....and as there are offices in use by the staff all day and by one person for sure all night, possible 2 or so, then why not make it accessible for those of us who have PC's as well as extensive computer knowledge and abilities so we can go online and find yet more ways to cheat these poor people who have a complete lack of understanding as to how the system here really works!!!

I'm quite shocked at the number of people in this country who perhaps in mimsong's case don't really know or understand how our system works concerning many matters and disability is obviously at least one area for this person. But there are also a massive number I'm very sorry to state who just want to believe what they want to believe regardless of the facts...why I've asked myself in the past? Until thankfully miracles do happen and I never bother asking myself such idiotic questions as I can't read minds so I'll never know, and I don't much care these days as for the most part there happens to be a large group of people in this country who are angry at one thing or another and eventually their entire life is consumed by what they WANT to believe and they're so angry there's nothing anyone can say or do anyway.

Now if anyone has actually read this far and if so they actually paid much attention you will notice that I managed to used the 3 (as I've long ago decided to place one version of the word in the same category as nobody knows how it's supposed to be spelled let alone how to use it properly in a sentence!) I used the 3 different spellings of the word they're, there, and their in the previous paragraph, and I've done so properly as well as spelled them correctly.....so I wonder did anyone notice or if they did read this far and paid close attention perhaps that's another area of knowledge that many if not most people born and raised in this country are lacking!!!

I'm sorry but for this one time I felt compelled to mention something as it appears this person has started the comments with decent intentions. Oh, until you get to the end where in both postings that I've had the chance to notice and read the same compelling reason for allowing us this access is simply so that everyone who is disabled to get JOBS!! What? And take yours? Why, doesn't sound at all American now, does it?!! Geez haven't you noticed that a large portion of the disabled population happens to be SEVERELY DISABLED?? Are you going to be the one to take them to and from work, feed them while there, as well as help them with all their bathroom needs, and so much more yet the disability may be so severe they're still unable to do even the smallest job?

Please would you really do your homework as well as stop categorizing? Trust me, the Social Security Administration (at least in general to my knowledge) doesn't just let everyone who applies actually receive disability and oft times it takes them years and many tests before they ascertain whether or not a person is trying to scam them or is truly disabled.

And for those who might be trying to run a scam to collect disability you know don't you that it'd be a lot fast, easier and much less work for you if you just get a job?

Thank you for allowing me the space to vent now PLEASE would someone help us have access to affordable, cheap ok fine...FREE internet access??!!! You're using it wirelessly, let us in on it!!!

slantsixxnews 23 days ago

Uh, are you serious? Do you have any idea how big the Internet is? For the FCC to regulate the actual content would be impossible. This would mean that any person who wants to make a site would have to send it to the FCC for approval, or the FCC would need to endlessly check all websites and services for compatibility.

Not to mention that the Internet is international, what can you expect the FCC to do about foreign websites and services? There is nothing they can do, and it would be highly ineffective, not to mention endlessly wasteful to try to enforce something like this.

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Me-July-or-Aug-2009.JPG

Bet you can't find my disability in this picture of me....yet unfortunately I am and have been for a long time....so glad I made a lot of money when I did work!!!!

Me-July-or-Aug-2009.JPG

Bet you can't find my disability in this picture of me....yet unfortunately I am and have been for a long time....so glad I made a lot of money when I did work!!!!

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