National Association of the Deaf

On March 9 and 10, the NAD will participate in Federal Communications Commission (FCC) events related to the National Broadband Plan.  The NAD encourages consumers to register to attend these events in Washington, DC, or view the live streaming webcasts of these events.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 directed the FCC to submit a National Broadband Plan to Congress that addresses broadband deployment, adoption, affordability, and the use of broadband to advance solutions to national priorities.  More information about development of the National Broadband Plan can be found at www.broadband.gov.

America's Digital Inclusion Summit:
Working Together To Expand Opportunity Through Universal Broadband Access

On March 9, 2010, the FCC will provide an overview of the National Broadband Plan recommendations meant to ensure that all Americans are included in the broadband era.  The FCC will deliver the National Broadband Plan to Congress on March 17, 2010.  The “America’s Digital Inclusion Summit” will present comments from FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski,  members of Congress, the Knight Foundation, and people from across the country who have benefited from broadband.

Tuesday, March 9 – 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
This Summit will take place at the Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC.
The Summit can also be viewed through a live video at the FCC, 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC.
The Summit can also be viewed on the Internet through a webcast at http://www.fcc.gov/live.

Pre-registration is required to attend the event at the Newseum or at the FCC in Washington, DC.  To register, go to http://www.digisummit.org/ and click on “RSVP.”

Conference on National Broadband Plan Recommendations for Accessibility:

On March 10, 2010, the NAD will participate in a discussion about the FCC National Broadband Plan recommendations for accessibility.  Opening remarks will be presented by Kareem Dale, Special Assistant to the President on Disability Policy, and Julius Genachowski, FCC Chairman. Presentations on the FCC’s Omnibus Broadband Initiative, which includes the development of the National Broadband Plan, will be delivered by Joel Gurin, Chief, FCC Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, and Elizabeth Lyle, Policy Advisor, FCC Omnibus Broadband Initiative. Also participating in this conference will be Leah Katz-Hernandez, a student at Gallaudet University.

This conference will bring together government officials, consumers with disabilities, industry groups, and academics to discuss how to fulfill Congress’ vision that all Americans, including people with disabilities, share fully in the benefits of broadband.  Participants will discuss how the recommendations in the National Broadband Plan now being developed by the FCC will address the accessibility and affordability barriers faced by people with disabilities.  The conference will explore the role of innovation; the need for legal, policy, and regulatory changes; and the importance of collaborative problem-solving and open government processes.

Wednesday, March 10 – 8:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Martin Luther King Jr., Library, 901 G Street NW, Washington, DC
The Conference can also be viewed on the Internet through a webcast at http://www.fcc.gov/live.
For more information and to register to attend this event, visit the Silicon Flatirons website at
http://www.siliconflatirons.org/events.php?id=799.

This conference is sponsored by Silicon Flatirons and co-sponsored by the American Association of People with Disabilities, and the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. The conference is hosted by the Adaptive Services Division of the D.C. Public Library.

NAD Participation in the Development of the National Broadband Plan

The NAD advocates for broadband Internet access to be available, affordable, and accessible to all Americans.  The NAD’s participation in these events is a continuation of NAD involvement in the development of the National Broadband Plan.

For more information, visit Broadband Internet Access and NAD Comments on National Broadband Plan.  The NAD also served on an FCC panel on broadband accessibility in October 2009.
 
The NAD wants to be sure that funding is available not only for broadband deployment, but also for outreach, education, and training, as well as making broadband services affordable. For example, the NAD, along with other consumer groups, submitted a request to the FCC to allow people with disabilities who are eligible for Universal Service Lifeline and Link-Up funds (used to defray the cost of telephone services) to choose to use those funds to help defray the cost of broadband services. 

The NAD has also emphasized the need to update the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) rules. We have also urged the U.S. Department of Justice to undertake increased enforcement actions and take a strong stand on the application of the ADA to Internet-based communication, information, education, and other services provided by employers, businesses, and other entities.

The NAD, along with other consumer groups, submitted comments that said that “performance indicators and thresholds for broadband to ensure equal access need to be defined to achieve certain quality of service (‘QoS’) levels sufficient for effective communication using video technologies.” We also said that “more than a minimum of 256 kbps download and upload speed is required to achieve and ensure effective communication for consumers with disabilities who rely on video technologies for communication.”