The Federal Communications Commission has recently outlined its focus on the provision of broadband for people with disabilities, and this is something that has the support of Verizon.
Recently the Omnibus Initiative team from the Federal Communications Commission outlined plans to improve access to broadband services for people with disabilities. The FCC wants to ensure that high speed Internet is available to those with disabilities, and this is something that is being supported by the communications giant Verizon. The recommendations relating to providing high speed broadband for those with disabilities will form part of the National Broadband Plan.
An official from Verizon spoke about the support for this part of the plan, stating: “Chairman Genachowski and the broadband team are to be applauded for the recommendations they introduced today to not only ensure high-speed Internet within the next few years for people with disabilities, but to provide them with the necessary tools to take advantage of broadband’s transformative powers. As a first step, the holistic approach contained in the National Broadband Plan will lead to better interagency coordination of disability programs in the executive branch that, along with the compilation of better data in this area, will benefit the public and private sectors alike.”
She added: “Additionally, the FCC’s intent of initiating an Access and Innovation Forum to find common ground, work to identify best practices, and develop recommendations for the commission to implement to achieve accessibility across all communications platforms is an approach that has proven successful in the past and one that we endorse.”
She went on to state: “Finally, we are encouraged that the FCC has modeled much of what it intends to do on issues such as real-time text, expanding access to assistive technology and captioning requirements after H.R. 3101, the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2009. Verizon worked closely on this legislation with the Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technologies (COAT) and House staff.”
Source – PR-USA