After a roll call led by Co-Chairs Susan Mazrui and Claude Stout, Karen Peltz Strauss, Deputy Chief of the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, opened the DAC February 23, 2016 meeting with brief opening remarks. Thomas Wlodkowski of Comcast then gave a presentation in memory of DAC subcommittee member Robert Pearson of Accessible Media, Inc., remembering Mr. Pearson as a “great champion and recognized thought leader” of video description services. Next, FCC staff presented updates of significant Commission action relevant to the DAC since the October 8, 2015 meeting. Greg Hlibok, Chief of the Disability Rights Office, reported on several important items, including a Summit on the Telecommunication Needs of People with Cognitive Disabilities, a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Video Relay Service, an Order addressing Inmate Calling Services, which specifically addresses access and rates for inmates with communication disabilities, a roundtable event to discuss closed captioning of public educational and government access programming, an NPRM on Emergency Alerting Services on wireless devices, a report and order and NPRM addressing issues concerning user interfaces on video devices like television set top boxes, and the selection of the Mitre Corporation to serve as coordinator of the Internet-based National Outreach Program, to educate the public about the purposes and functions of Telecommunication Relay Services. Karen Peltz Strauss then reported on the Commission’s February 18th adoption of new caption quality rules and discussed the impact on the disability community of a new item that would allow television viewers to obtain set top boxes from sources other than their multi-video programming distributor. Ms. Strauss also reported on an NPRM to update the Commission’s hearing aid compatibility standards, as well as Real Time Text issues. She announced the March 31, 2016 deadline for nominations for the annual Chairman’s Advancements in Accessibility Awards, which will be presented on June 13th at the M-Enabling Conference. Ms. Strauss noted that, this year, the awards will have a focus on innovations that have made communications more accessible to people with cognitive disabilities. Ms. Strauss also discussed the work that has progressed to follow up on the Summit on the Telecommunication Needs of People with Cognitive Disabilities The DAC heard next from Mr. Mark Hill, President of the Cerebral Palsy and Deaf Organization. Mr. Hill reported his organization’s position that people who have mobility impairments and who are deaf are not presently being adequately served by TRS, and are therefore not receiving equivalent telecommunication services. He explained that the problems that this population have with TRS include misinterpretations and misunderstandings of signs and voice, the special needs of those who are not able to sign but who are able to speak for themselves, and the difficulties in accessing videophone or a videoconference software. He presented a number of solutions, including special or skill based routing of Communications Assistants, increasing the numbers of interpreters with expertise in this type of communication, the use of Certified Deaf Interpreters, and introduction of three-way or dual VRS connections. At the end of Mr. Hill’s presentation, it was announced that an invitation-only meeting on the needs of people who are deaf and who have mobility impairments will be held at the Commission on March 17th. Zainab Alkebsi, Chair of the Technology Transitions Subcommittee, next presented that subcommittee’s further recommendations on the transition to real time text for consideration for adoption by the DAC. After discussion, a motion was made and seconded to hold a vote on adopting the subcommittee’s recommendation. The motion was passed, and the recommendation was adopted by the DAC. Thomas Wlodkowski, Co-Chair of the Video Programming Subcommittee, next reported on the activities of that subcommittee. Mr. Wlodkowski explained that the subcommittee had two recommendations for DAC consideration. The first recommendation was drafted by the subcommittee’s Video Description Working Group. This recommendation, on issues for the Commission to consider in an upcoming rulemaking addressing video description on television programming, was presented to the DAC members. After discussion, a motion was made and seconded to hold a vote on adopting the subcommittee’s recommendation. The motion was passed, and the recommendation was adopted by the DAC. It was announced at this time that the new co-chairs of the Video Programming Subcommittee’s Video Description Working Group would be Joshua Pila of the National Association of Broadcasters and Brian Charles, an alternate DAC member representing the American Council of the Blind. The other Co-Chair of the Video Programming Subcommittee, Lise Hamlin, next presented a subcommittee recommendation, drafted by the subcommittee’s Closed Captioning Working Group, on the need for FCC collaboration with other federal agencies to address access to captioning and video description in places of public accommodation, such as hotels and hospitals, and other venues, such as aircraft, where video programming may be shown. After discussion, a motion was made and seconded to hold a vote on adopting this recommendation. The motion was passed, and the recommendation was adopted by the DAC. The Communications Subcommittee Co-Chairs, Susan Mazrui and Mark Richert, next presented a report from that subcommittee, describing its work in the area of health information technology. Following a lunch break, Marcia Brooks and Angie Officer, Co-Chairs of the Relay and Equipment Distribution Subcommittee, reported on the work of the three Working Groups under this subcommittee. They then presented the subcommittee’s recommendation, on the compatibility of the Commission’s Accessible Communication for Everyone (“ACE”) platform with 911 services. After discussion, a motion was made and seconded to hold a vote on adopting the subcommittee’s recommendation. The motion was passed, and the recommendation was adopted by the DAC. Next, the Co-Chairs of the Emergency Communications Subcommittee, Richard Ray and Toni Dunne, presented a report from that subcommittee on its ongoing work. Subcommittee member Helena Mitchell, of the Rehabilitation Center for Wireless Technologies at Georgia Institute of Technology, reported on work that is being done on accessible Wireless Emergency Alerts. Next, the Co-Chairs presented a recommendation from the subcommittee on the provision of N- 1-1 services through telecommunications relay services. After discussion, a friendly amendment was offered to the recommendation, to include a recommendation that the Commission provide clarification of current TRS rules, and remind TRS providers of their obligation to handle N-1-1 calls. During a break, subcommittee members agreed upon this amendment. Following the break, and after discussion, a motion was made and seconded to hold a vote on adopting the subcommittee’s amended recommendation. The motion was passed, and the recommendation as amended was adopted by the DAC. The next agenda item, New Business, was introduced by Susan Mazrui. Karen Peltz Strauss discussed new items, including the re-authorization of the DAC in 2017, and a new technology for improving captioning on local news. Discussion was held on both items. The public comment period was opened. There were no comments from the audience or from the livequestions@fcc.gov mailbox. Mark Hill thanked the Committee for inviting him and his organization to present their concerns before the DAC. No further public comments were made. An announcement was made that meetings of Technology Transitions Subcommittee and the Emergency Communications Subcommittee would occur immediately following the meeting’s adjournment. The meeting was adjourned at approximately 3:15 PM. ? Appendix A Disability Advisory Committee Members in Attendance February 23, 2016 Last Name First Name Organization Represented Alkebsi Zainab National Association of the Deaf (NAD) Brooks (alternate) Marcia Perkins School for the Blind Bibler Ron Consumer Creagan Timothy P. U.S. Access Board (ex officio) Dillner Ian Verizon Dunne Toni West Safety Services Ekman Lisa American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) Fields (alternate) Sabrina Telecommunication Equipment Distribution Program Association Gerst Matthew CTIA - the Wireless Association Goldberg Larry YAHOO Hamlin Lise Hearing Loss Association of America Joehl Sam SSB BART Group Jones Gay U.S. Department of Homeland Security (ex officio) Kelly-Frye Brenda Telecommunications Equipment Distribution Program (TEDPA) Knife Lee Digital Media Association (DiMA) Burstein Diane National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) Martinez Eddie Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind Mazrui Susan AT&T Services, Inc. Michaelis Paul Avaya, Inc. Mitchell Helena Wireless RERC Pila Joshua National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Rafi Abe The Arc Ray Richard City of Los Angeles Reynolds Alexander Consumer Technology Association (CTA) Richert Mark American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) Rohaly Ann Marie Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) Sonnenstrahl Al Deaf Seniors of America Stout Claude Telecommunications for the Deaf, Inc. Taylor Jamie Deaf Blind Citizens in Action Thompson Hannah Consumer Tobias Jim Inclusive Technologies Tua-Tupuola Tafaimameo Association of University Centers on Disability Vogler Christian Gallaudet RERC Wlodkowski Thomas Comcast Cable Yousuf Mohammed U.S. Department of Transportation (ex officio) Yunashko Bryen Helen Keller National Center CGB Staff Rosaline Crawford Elaine Gardner Eliot Greenwald Gregory Hlibok Cheryl King Alison Kutler Suzy Rosen Singleton Karen Peltz Strauss Disability Advisory Committee (DAC) Meeting Minutes February 23, 2016