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Wireless HAC, Homeland Security Summit, CAC, VoIP-Pulver

To: Consumer Contact List
Karen Peltz Strauss, RERC-TA
Re: Consumer Contact List - Wireless HAC, Homeland Security Summit, CAC, VoIP-Pulver Decision

Date: February 27, 2004

This has been a busy week! In addition to the FCC's release of an Order on video relay services and the Senate hearings on VoIP (see /FCC/TRSVoIPCaptioning.htm), here are some other things that have been happening:

1. Wireless Hearing Aid Compatibility - The FCC's Wireless Bureau has released for public comment the various petitions for reconsideration filed in response to the FCC's Order requiring certain wireless phones to be hearing aid compatible over the next 2 to 5 years. These petitions had been filed in October of 2003. Here is a link to the memo that I had prepared for the RERC on each of the requests for reconsideration. As you can see, comments are now due on March 29, 2004, and reply comments are due on April 13, 2004. Links to the notice are listed below.

Released: 02/26/2004. WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU SEEKS
COMMENT ON PETITIONS FOR RECONSIDERATION AND/OR CLARIFICATION OF THE HEARING AID COMPATIBILE TELEPHONES REPORT AND ORDER. (DA No. 04-567). (Dkt No 01-309). Comments Due: 03/29/2004. Reply Comments Due:
04/13/2004. WTB. Contact: Andra Cunningham at (202) 418-1630, TTY:
(202) 418-1169
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-04-567A1.doc>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-04-567A1.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-04-567A1.txt>
------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Homeland Security Meeting on Disability Issues - On March 25, 2004, the FCC will be holding a summit among consumers, governmental agencies, service organizations, and others to discuss the communication barriers confronted by people with disabilities in the event of a national emergency or terrorist attack. The meeting, which will be held in the Commission meeting room, is open to the public. Links to the notice about this meeting are listed below.

Released: 02/25/2004. COMMISSION TO HOST DISCUSSION OF EMERGENCY
COMMUNICATIONS AND THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY. (DA No. 04-543) Meeting
to Be Held March 25 at FCC Headquarters. CGB. Contact: Sign Language
Interpreters, CART, and other reasonable accommodations: (202) 418-0530,
TTY: (202) 418-0432, Alice Elder at (202) 418-2168, email: Alice
Elder@fcc.gov or Janet Sievert at (202) 418-1362, email:
Janet.Sievert@fcc.gov, TTY: (202) 418-1398
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-04-543A1.doc>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-04-543A1.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-04-543A1.txt>

3. Consumer Advisory Committee - The next CAC meeting will be on March 26, 2004 in the FCC's Commission meeting room. A link to the agenda is listed below.. Here are the 2 announcements for this meeting:

CONSUMER ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO MEET FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 2004. Agenda
Includes VoIP and Electronic Access to FCC. 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-244289A1.doc>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-244289A2.doc>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-244289A1.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-244289A2.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-244289A1.txt>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-244289A2.txt>

Released: 02/25/2004. ANN0UNCEMENT OF NEXT MEETING DATE AND AGENDA OF
CONSUMER ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (DA No. 04-540). CGB. Contact: Scott
Marshall at (202) 418-2809, email: cac@fcc.gov, TTY: (202) 418-0179
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-04-540A1.doc>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-04-540A1.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-04-540A1.txt>

4. VoIP Update:

Pulver Decision - On February 12, 2004, the FCC decided to classify Pulver's VoIP service as an unregulated information service. The FCC has now released the full text of that decision. Pulver's VoIP service has members sign up to be able to make direct VoIP to VoIP calls over the Internet. The FCC explains that Pulver acts as a directory service that informs its members when other members are using the Internet so that they can talk to each other. It also gives them information (IP addresses) of how to reach those other members and offers a voice mail service. Pulverdoes not itself offer broadband service. Rather the members must bring their own broadband service with them when they sign up. The FCC concluded that Pulver's service offers various computing capabilities that enable the acquisition, use and storage of information. After performing these various functions, Pulver does not actually participate in the exchange of the information taking place. Note that Pulver's service is different from some of the newer VoIP services which use adapters on conventional telephone equipment to enable individuals to make calls that very closely mirror regular telephone calls. I strongly recommend reading the entire decision for the FCC's full analysis of this issue.

PETITION FOR DECLARATORY RULING THAT PULVER.COM'S FREE WORLD DIALUP IS NEITHER TELECOMMUNICATIONS NOR A TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE. Granted
pulver.com's Petition for Declaratory Ruling. (Dkt No. 03-45). Action
by: the Commission. Adopted: 02/12/2004 by MO&O. (FCC No. 04-27). WCB
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-04-27A1.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-04-27A2.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-04-27A3.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-04-27A4.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-04-27A5.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-04-27A6.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-04-27A1.txt>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-04-27A2.txt>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-04-27A3.txt>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-04-27A4.txt>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-04-27A5.txt>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-04-27A6.txt>


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