Disability Communications Remains Top FCC Issue, Wheeler Says

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler reassured the agency’s new Disability Advisory Committee that disability issues remain one of his top priorities. DAC held its first meeting in March, while Wheeler was busy testifying before the House Oversight Committee, so he didn't attend that meeting (see 1503170063). “The work of this committee is very high on my personal priority list,” Wheeler said Tuesday. He said that his first meeting as chairman was with groups representing the disabled. “I wanted to send a message,” he said. “I’m here delivering the message again.”

DAC has to be more than a “debating society,” Wheeler said. “Seek out actionable recommendations,” he said. “This is not to sit here and just discuss things ad nauseam. The purpose for an agency like this is to take action where appropriate.” A caller with a hearing disability who uses the video relay service should have the same “expectations” as a caller who uses any other phone, Wheeler said.

The FCC welcomed a suggestion from the House Communications Subcommittee that the FCC collect data and reports on the consumer needs of people with disabilities, Wheeler said. “If we're not collecting that information, who is?” he asked. “If we want to have an information-based, a data-based set of decisions at that commission, we've got to have that kind of information.”

The DAC will take a look at issues raised in an AT&T petition (see 1506150036) asking that the FCC change its rules to allow real-time text (RTT) to at least partially replace text telephone (TTY) technology “as the technology of choice for persons who are deaf, hearing impaired, or speech impaired.” The DAC formed a new working group to examine RTT issues, especially in light of the AT&T petition.

The FCC hasn't said how it would address the AT&T petition, said Karen Peltz Strauss, deputy chief of the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGA). “For a long time, we’ve been concerned about reliance on TTYs,” she said. “That reliance has plummeted in recent years.”

The DAC will also explore Lifeline issues as the FCC pushes forward on an NPRM, approved by the commission last week (see 1506180029). “At least according to CTIA … a full third of Lifeline users are from the disability community,” said Gigi Sohn, counselor to Wheeler, who also spoke to DAC. “We’d really, really like to ask for your engagement in this rulemaking. We’re almost certain to have workshops along this line and we’ll be asking some of you to participate.” The public has made clear that it views broadband as an essential service, Sohn said. “That should include everyone, including everyone in this room.”

CGA acting Chief Alison Kutler said DAC is a big group, with some 40 members, representing a broad cross-section of the industry. “You're the brightest minds on these issues, so we really look forward to hearing from you, learning, getting recommendations, and then doing what we can from inside the commission to facilitate your efforts,” she said. Strauss encouraged the group to work with FCC staff to put together an agenda. She reminded DAC members they are “an arm” of the commission. We want to make sure “you're working on matters that we can address,” she said.