HLAA Sents Letter of Thanks to US Senate for S 3304

HLAA sent the following letter of thanks to co sponsors of S. 3304:


May 21, 2010

Senator John F. Kerry, Chairman
Senate Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet

Senator Mark L. Pryor, Member
Senate Subcommittee on Communications,Technology and the Internet

Senator Byron L. Dorgan, Member
Senate Subcommittee on Communications,Technology and the Internet

Senator Kent Conrad


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

Dear Chairman and Senators:

Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) wishes to express our deep and profound thanks for the momentous and significant 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 Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) is the nation’s leading grassroots organization representing the rights of people with hearing loss. The HLAA mission is to open the world of communication to people with hearing loss through information, education, advocacy, and support. HLAA impacts accessibility, public policy, research, public awareness, and service delivery related to hearing loss on a national and local level. HLAA’s national support network includes 200 local chapters nationwide, 14 state organizations and an office just outside Washington, DC.

HLAA is 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.

HLAA is 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
  

HLAA is committed to working with you and others on S. 3304. We do 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.

HLAA is committed to working with you and the whole Committee to ensure strong legislation that will take all of us into a new world of 21st Century communications that work for everyone.

Sincerely,

Brenda Battat
Executive Director


The letter was sent via fax and US Mail to:

Senator John F. Kerry, Chairman
Senate Subommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet
218 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Via Fax 202-224-8525

Senator Mark L. Pryor, Member
Senate Subcommittee on Communications,Technology and the Internet
225 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Via Fax 202-228-0908

Senator Byron L. Dorgan, Member
Senate Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet
322 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510
Via Fax 202-224-1193

Senator Kent Conrad
530 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Via Fax 202-224-7776


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