February, 2007 Technology and Disability Policy Highlights
Volume: 7.02 February, 2007
Other Available Formats
Contents:
- Overview
- Legislative / Policy Activities
- Regulatory Activities
- Reports / Studies / Publications
- Other Activities and Items of Interest
- Future Events
Overview
During the month of February, addressing the need for an interoperable emergency communications network was high on the public agenda. The Senate Commerce Committee held hearings in order to gain ideas on policy measures could be taken to enhance the current public safety system as well as evaluate existing proposals for developing a public safety network within the 700 MHz spectrum. On the legislative end, Senator John McCain proposed legislation to support the concept of a national public safety network in the abovementioned spectrum range.
Universal broadband was another topic that received some attention this month. The House Democratic members discussed their intended goals for the recently started Congressional session. Fostering deployment of high speed internet to all Americans was one of the items mentioned. The Alliance for Public Technology also released a report which looked at the state of broadband deployment in the United States and recommended a number of policy proposals for addressing the issue. Lastly, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a report on the state of the high-speed deployment throughout the United States.
Legislative / Policy Activities
Debates Continue Over Nationwide Public Safety Network in 700 MHz
February 8, 2007 - Members of the Senate Commerce Committee (SCC) are in agreement that measures need to be taken to improve the ability of the country’s public safety agencies to communicate with each other. At issue is whether 700 MHz spectrum, which is being freed up by the transition among television broadcasters to a digital signal from analog, should be used for the creation of this national network. There has been a proposal by Cyren Call to the FCC for use of 30 MHz of the spectrum for an emergency network. The SCC held a hearing on ways to improve emergency communications among the different agencies at the local, state and federal levels, where they listened to evidence from experts in the emergency and telecommunications industries. At the hearing, Cyren Call was questioned “whether it was logical for the federal government to give up the revenue that would be raised through the auction of the spectrum” by Senator Ted Stevens(R-AK). While, “Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) expressed reservations for the scheme, asking whether it wasn't just an opportunity for the private sector to profit from public safety.” Other groups have argued that there is no need for allocation of additional spectrum for public safety purposes but rather assistance in how to use the existing spectrum more efficiently.
[Source: Dow Jones Newswire, 2/8/2007]
House Democrats Reveal Telecom Agenda for New Session
February 27, 2007 - Democratic members of the House of Representatives have revealed their agenda for the current session of Congress which will include an extensive review of telecommunication policies which. Items to be addressed include fostering high speed internet deployment, ensuring an open Internet, and revamping the federal universal service program. The House telecom subcommittee plans to have oversight hearings on the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), which is playing a central role in the transition to digital television.
[Source: Technology Daily, 2/27/2007]
Sen. McCain Proposes Legislation for Nationwide Emergency Network
February 1, 2007 - Senator John McCain (R-AZ) is proposing legislation which would create a nationwide wireless public safety network. This legislation will essentially serve as the reinforcement for the proposal by Cyren Call. (See TDPH 6.10 for more on the proposal). McCain says that this proposal is in line with the recommendations from the 9/11 Commission to allocate new spectrum for public safety. However, wireless carriers who are hoping to buy up the 700 MHz spectrum for advanced wireless data services are opposed to the designation of spectrum for emergency communications.
Regulatory Activities
508 Standards Committee Holds Third Meeting
February 24, 2007 - The Telecommunications and Electronic and Information Technology Advisory Committee ( TEITAC), appointed to revise the standards for electronic and information technology (EIT) under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, held its third meeting February 6-8. The main agenda item was a discussion of the committee’s goals in reviewing the standards and providing recommendations. The Committee also explored a new framework for the Section 508 standards that would aid in the process for updating the rules in the future, which will be necessary to address the rapidly changing technological environment. The proposal included a two part structure with one focusing on general guidelines and on principles that would remain constant and the other would include detailed technology specific criteria that could be updated periodically.
[Source: US Access Board]
FCC Participates in National Consumer Protection Week
February 2, 2007 – President George W. Bush declared February 4 – 10
as National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), a period
during which a concerted effort was made to educate consumers about
unfair practices that affect their daily lives. In line with this
effort the FCC featured one item of consumer relevant information on
its website. The subjects included the telephone relay service, the
transition to digital television, the Lifeline and Link-Up Programs for
help paying for phone service, the FCC’s Consumer Registry e-mail
service and help with understanding your phone bill. The commission
also participated in a few other events sponsored by other government
agencies.
[Source: FCC]
VOIP Provider Files FCC Petition to Open Cellular
Networks
February 21, 2007 – Skype, a provider of voice over internet protocol (VOIP) services filed a petition with the FCC requesting that cellular phone carriers loosen the controls on what kind of hardware and software can be connected to their networks. Skype currently allows users to make free long distance calls using VOIP and some carriers have explicitly limited their customers’ ability to use Skype software on their networks. It essentially asks the commission to implement Carterfone rules, conventions “enacted during the AT&T wired telephone monopoly to force AT&T to let consumers connect phones and other devices to the network, even if the devices were not made or approved by AT&T.” The petition is also requesting that the FCC start a rulemaking proceeding to clarify whether the restrictions on subscribers’ full access to internet-based applications is legal.
[Source: EE Times, 2/21/2007]
FCC Report on High Speed Services for Internet Access Released by FCC
January 31, 2007 – A recent report released by the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau (WTB), titled “High Speed Services For Internet Access: Status as of June 30, 2006,” finds that high speed internet connections increased by 26% in the first half of 2006. The definition of high speed used for this report counts any connection that provides at least 200 kilobits per second (kbps) in at least one direction. The WTB also found that 64.6 million high-speed lines were reported as of June 30, 2006 and 50.3 million of these served primarily residential end users. It also found that 99% of zip codes in the US were listed by as having at least one high speed connection provider.
[Source: FCC]
Reports / Studies / Publications
Report on Policies for Achieving Universal Broadband
The Alliance for Public Technology (APT), a nonprofit organization which promotes access to information and communications technology (ICT) for all people, has released a report on universal broadband policy titled “Achieving Universal Broadband: Policies for Stimulating Deployment and Demand.” PDF format The report evaluates existing broadband policies in the United States, examines approaches to universal broadband deployment and recommends possible policy solutions to the problem. It states that policymakers have failed to implement telecommunications policies that promote universal broadband due to out-of-date legislation and piecemeal policies. It discusses the United States lag in broadband penetration with a ranking of 16th compared to other nations and the impact this will have on the country’s economic competitiveness. The document suggests that the United States,
- Develop clear national goals such as 50% of US citizens connected to broadband services by the end of 2010.
- Require Universal Service Fund recipients to offer broadband
- Create an Office of Broadband within the federal government
- Provide tax incentives and low interest loans for Broadband Deployment
[Source: APT]
UN Special Reporter on Disability Releases Global Survey Results
The United Nations Special Reporter on Disability conducted a survey of global implementation on the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, an international measure governing incorporation of people with disabilities into society. In cooperation with South-North Center for Dialogue and Development they produced a detailed report based on the preliminary results of the survey. It found that no country had implemented all the measures necessary to provide equal opportunities for persons with disabilities. The survey was sent to Government bodies and disabled persons' organizations in 191 countries and responses were received from 114 countries. The questionnaire asked about a wide range of issues, including policies and legislation, allocation of resources, housing, health, and medical care.
[Source: AAPD & United Nations]
Other Activities and Items of Interest
Daylight Savings Time Changes Could Affect Computers
February 1, 2007 - In August 2005, Congress passed legislation which moved daylight saving time from its original point in April to March in an effort to promote energy efficiency. It was part of an energy bill that got attention for granting tax breaks to oil and gas companies and was done to save about 100,000 barrels of oil a day by pushing more human activity into sunlight hours and reducing the use of light bulbs. However, there is concern that this may impact the technological devices of many consumers who are not even aware of the change. The change will take effect on March 11th of this year and there is concern that a number of automated systems need to be reprogrammed to switch their clocks on the correct date. It could affect everything from security systems that log time of important events to takeoff schedules for airlines. This situation is being compared to the Y2K scare of 1999 to 2000 but is not receiving the same level of attention.
[Source: Washington Post, 2/1/2007]
Future Events
California State University, Northridge Center on Disabilities' 22nd Annual International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference
The CSUN conference on International Technology and Persons with Disabilities will be held in Los Angeles, California from March 19-24, 2007. The focus of the conference is to bring together professionals and stakeholders to discuss all technologies and issues that are related to education, employment and independent living of individual’s with disabilities. The conference is being sponsored by the Center on Disabilities at Cal State University, Northridge.
RESNA 2007 Annual Conference
The RESNA Annual Conference will be held in Phoenix, Arizona from June 15-19, 2007. The conference is a way of bringing together individuals and companies who share an interest in technology and disability.
PBA partners with community organizations to create accessible emergency communications.
ASSETS 2008
