Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Accessing communications
The CRTC has issued a policy statement that is intended to improve access to broadcasting and telecom services by Canadians with disabilities.In the accompanying press release, the Commission summarizes seven new requirements:
Telecommunications servicesThe CRTC used the phrasing of "requests" rather than "required" for wireless handsets. When it forbore from regulating the mobile industry, it retained the power to regulate under sections 24 [the power to impose conditions of sales] and 27(2) [unjust discrimination / undue preference] of the Telecom Act.Broadcasting services
- require IP relay, a new service to convert internet text messages into voice calls, and vice versa
- require improvement of accessibility of customer service
- request wireless companies to offer at least one type of phone to serve the needs of people with disabilities, and
- investigate improvements to 911 services for Canadians with disabilities.
- improve closed captioning, and develop standards for it in digital and HDTV
- make available high-quality audio descriptions of programming, especially for news broadcasts, and
- provide at least four hours per week of described-video programming
The Commission is asking nicely so far, with the implicit threat that if accessible cell phones aren't in stores by October 21, it will order the carriers to maintain inventories of accessible devices.
Posted by Mark Goldberg @ 7/21/2009 11:53:00 AM 
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