IP captioned phones; HA Compatibility; VRS emergency access; Hands On

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DTV Transition and Education, Must Carry, CAC, Captioning Rules, VRS Contracts

To: Consumer Contact List
From: Karen Peltz Strauss
Re: Consumer Contact List: DTV Transition and Education, Must Carry, CAC, Captioning Rules, VRS Contracts
Date: September 19, 2007

1. FCC Workshop on Digital Television. On September 26, the FCC will be holding an all-day event to acquaint participants with the digital television transition. The agenda is attached and noted below.

FCC RELEASES UPDATED AGENDA FOR SEPTEMBER 26 DIGITAL TELEVISION CONSUMER EDUCATION WORKSHOP. News Release. News Media Contact: Rosemary Kimball at (202) 418-0511 CGB. Contact Pam Slipakoff at (22) 418-7705, pam.slipakoff@fcc.gov; Lauren Patrich (202) 418-7944,
lauren.patrich@fcc.gov
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-276698A1.doc>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-276698A1.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-276698A1.txt>

2. Must Carry Broadcast Stations. Though not directly related to disability access, the FCC has adopted regulations to make sure the cable subscribers can continue having access to local broadcast television stations after the transition to DTV takes place. This will include access to all components of such programs, including their closed captions. The url is below.

FCC ADOPTS RULES TO ENSURE ALL CABLE CUSTOMERS RECEIVE LOCAL TV STATIONS AFTER THE DIGITAL TELEVISION TRANSITION. The Commission adopted rules to ensure all cable subscribers, including those with analog TV sets, can view broadcast television after the transition to digital television occurs on February 17, 2009. News Release. Adopted: 09/11/2007.
News Media Contact: Mary Diamond at (202) 418-2388; email:
Mary.Diamond@fcc.gov MB. Contact Eloise Gore at (202) 418-7200; email:
Eloise.Gore@fcc.gov or Lyle Elder at (202) 418-7200; email:
Lyle.Elder@fcc.gov
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-276576A1.doc>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-276576A2.doc>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-276576A3.doc>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-276576A4.doc>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-276576A5.doc>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-276576A6.doc>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-276576A1.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-276576A2.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-276576A3.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-276576A4.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-276576A5.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-276576A6.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-276576A1.txt>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-276576A2.txt>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-276576A3.txt>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-276576A4.txt>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-276576A5.txt>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-276576A6.txt>

3. Next meeting of the Consumer Advisory Committee. The next meeting of the FCC's Consumer Advisory Committee will be on September 27, 2007 from 3:00-5:00. The purpose of the meeting will be for the CAC as a whole to consider draft comments prepared by members of the CAC's DTV Working Group. These comments contain various recommendations designed to make sure that closed captioning continues intact during and after the transition to digital television and that people with disabilities have full access to information disseminated about the transition itself. More about this meeting, including its location, is contained in the attached announcement.

Released: 09/05/2007. ANNOUNCEMENT OF NEXT MEETING DATE AND AGENDA OF CONSUMER ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (DA No. 07-3842). 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-07-3842A1.doc>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-07-3842A1.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-07-3842A1.txt>

4. Reminder about Pre-Rule Captioning Requirements. The FCC has issued a reminder to all video programming distributors and members of the general public that by January 1, 2008, 75% of all video (television) programming first published or exhibited prior to January 1, 1998 must contain closed captions. This notice is noted below.

Released: 08/28/2007. REMINDER TO VIDEO PROGRAMMING DISTRIBUTORS AND THE PUBLIC OF THE JANUARY 1, 2008, REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CLOSED CAPTIONING OF ENGLISH "PRE-RULE" NONEXEMPT VIDEO PROGRAMMING. (DA No. 07-3759). CGB. Contact: Amelia Brown at (202) 418-2799, email:
Amelia.Brown@fcc.gov, TTY: (202) 418-7804 or Traci Randolph at (202) 418-0569, email: Traci.Randolph@fcc.gov, TTY: (202) 418-0537
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-07-3759A1.doc>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-07-3759A1.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-07-3759A1.txt>

5. Comment Sought on Petition Opposing Non-Compete Interpreter Employment Contracts. The FCC has sought comment on a petition seeking a prohibition against employment clauses that don't allow sign language interpreters working for VRS providers to work for competitors for one year after their employment contracts expire. Although the dates for comments and reply comments have passed (the latter being today, September 19, 2007), ex parte comments may still be filed on this matter in docket 03-123.

Released: 08/03/2007. CONSUMER & GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON PETITION FOR DECLARATORY RULING REGARDING VIDEO RELAY SERVICE (VRS) PROVIDER EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS WITH VRS COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANTS (CAS). (DA No. 07-3512). (Dkt No 03-123). Comments Due: 09/04/2007.
Reply Comments Due: 09/19/2007. CGB. Contact: Diane Mason (202) 418-7126 (voice), (202) 418-7828 (TTY), Diane.Mason@fcc.gov (email)
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-07-3512A1.doc>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-07-3512A1.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-07-3512A1.txt>

6. Digital TV Education. The FCC has sought comment on how best to educate the public about the transition to digital television. Comments may still be submitted on this proceeding. Contact me if you are interested in finding out the comment due date, which was recently extended into October, 2007.

DTV CONSUMER EDUCATION INITIATIVE. FCC Seeks Comment on Proposed DTV Education Initiatives to Facilitate Transition to Digital. (Dkt No. 07-148). Action by: the Commission. Adopted: 07/21/2007 by NPRM. (FCC No. 07-128). MB
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-128A1.doc>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-128A3.doc>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-128A4.doc>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-128A1.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-128A2.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-128A3.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-128A4.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-128A1.txt>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-128A3.txt>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-128A4.txt>

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