CAC Meeting; ASL-Spanish VRS; FCC Staff Changes, Lifeline-Link-up Program; New FCC Bureau; Closed Captioning Exemptions

To: Consumer Contact List
From: Karen Peltz Strauss
Re: Consumer Contact List: CAC Meeting, ASL-Spanish VRS, FCC Staff Changes, Lifeline-Link-up Program, New FCC Bureau, Closed Captioning Exemptions
Date: March 20, 2006

1. Consumer Advisory Committee Meeting - On April 7, 2006, the FCC will hold its next Consumer Advisory Committee meeting at the FCC. A number of the issues that will be addressed concern disability matters, including:

recommendations from the TRS Working Group on the length of time that a TRS communications assistant (CA) needs to stay on a speech-to-speech call (before transferring to another speech-to-speech CA); a proposal to support the provision of captioned telephone relay services; a proposal for FCC enforcement of TRS certified entities; and a recommendation regarding references to sign language interpretation in FCC rules
recommendations from the Advanced Technologies Working Group on the preparation of an FCC Consumer-Disability Impact Statement on proposed FCC actions; a recommendation to clarify closed captioning rules, especially with regard to DTV; and a recommendation to determine the extent to which DTV converter boxes will be capable of passing through captioning and video description

CONSUMER ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO MEET FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 2006. News Release. News Media Contact: Rosemary Kimball at (202) 418-0511, email:
Rosemary.Kimball@fcc.gov CGB. Contact Scott Marshall at (202) 418-2809,
email: Scott.Marshall@fcc.gov, TTY: (202) 418-0179
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-264296A1.doc>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-264296A1.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-264296A1.txt>

Released: 03/14/2006. ANNOUNCEMENT OF NEXT MEETING DATE AND AGENDA OF CONSUMER ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (DA No. 06-580). CGB. Contact: Scott Marshall at (202) 418-2809, email: Scott.Marshall@fcc.gov, TTY: (202) 418-0179
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-580A1.doc>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-580A1.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-580A1.txt>
The notice and agenda for this meeting is attached

2. ASL-Spanish VRS Petition- On February 6, 2006, Communication Service for the Deaf filed a petition with the FCC seeking clarification as to whether ASL-Spanish VRS must be provided on a 24/7 basis. Comments on the petition are due April 7, 2006 and reply comments are due April 24, 2006. The summary of this request appears at71 Fed. Reg. 11644 (March 8, 2006).

Released: 02/22/2006. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION SEEKS COMMENT ON PETITION FOR CLARIFICATION CONCERNING THE PROVISION OF ASL-TO-SPANISH VIDEO RELAY SERVICE (VRS). (DA No. 06-387). (Dkt No 03-123) Pleading Cycle Established. CGB. Contact: Dana Jackson at (202) 418-2247, email: Dana.Jackson@fcc.gov, TTY: (202) 418-7898
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-387A1.doc>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-387A1.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-387A1.txt>

3. Staff Changes in Commissioner Copps' office - Jordan Goldstein, who has been Commissioner Copps' senior legal advisor, will soon be leaving the FCC. Jessica Rosenworcel will move into Jordan's position. Bruce Liang Gottlieb will also be joining Commissioner Copps' staff.

COMMISSIONER COPPS ANNOUNCES STAFF CHANGES. News Release. News Media
Contact: Jessica Rosenworcel at (202) 418-2000 CMMR
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-264385A1.doc>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-264385A1.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-264385A1.txt>
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4. Lifeline-Link-up Request for Public Feedback - The FCC has released a Public Notice (attached) seeking input on its Lifeline and Link-Up outreach program. As these are programs frequently used by people with disabilities, I am forwarding this for your information.

5. New FCC Bureau to be Created - The FCC has announced plans to open a new bureau for public safety and homeland security. The extent to which this bureau will be responsive to disability issues will be closely watched.

6.Closed Captioning Exemption Requests - Nearly every day, multiple requests for individual channel exemptions from the closed captioning rules are filed - too many to report in this update. For additional information on these, contact either TDI and the NAD - both organizations are monitoring these.