Wireless on the Record: Comments on the NTIA Survey Questionnaire
September 2020 – The Wireless RERC, in collaboration with Georgia Tech’s Center for the Development and Application of Internet of Things Technologies and Center for Advanced Communications Policy submitted comments to the Department of Commerce on September 17th in response to their Public Notice NTIA Internet Use Survey Questionnaire Development [Docket No. 200813-0218]. This survey is one of the NTIA’s long-standing questionnaires and is distributed...Read more
Wireless RERC on The Record: Accessibility Gains and Gaps Found in the Biennial Analysis of Mobile Phone Accessibility
August 2020 - The Wireless RERC submitted comments to the FCC on August 4th in response to their Public Notice Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau Seeks Comment On Tentative Findings for the 2020 Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act Biennial Report [CG Docket No. 10-213]. The FCC's Tentative Findings Report cited the Wireless RERC nearly fifteen times based on our initial comments in April, which discussed the...Read more
Wireless RERC on The Record: Accessibility of New Communications Technologies and Lifeline-Provided Mobile Phones
April 2020 - The Wireless RERC submitted comments to the Federal Communications Commission in response to their Public Notice In the Matter of The Accessibility of Communications Technologies for the 2020 Biennial Report Required by the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act [CG Docket No. 10-213]. In anticipation of the Public Notice, the Wireless RERC conducted a 2019/20[1]...Read more
Wireless RERC on the Record: Survey Dissemination via a WEA Message
October 2019 - The Wireless RERC submitted a letter to the FCC responding to their notice regarding Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission: Enhanced Geo-Targeted Wireless Emergency Alerts [WT Docket No. 10-254: DA 12-1745]. We supported the FCC’s initiative to collect data on the geo-targeting capabilities of WEA messages using an embedded link to the survey within the message. The proposed data collection method will improve the...Read more
Wireless RERC on the Record – Video Relay Services on Public and Enterprise Video Phones
September 2019 – The Wireless RERC submitted reply comments to the FCC’s Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Improving Video Relay Service and Direct Video Calling [CG Docket No. s 10-51 and 03-123]. The Wireless RERC supported consumer and provider stakeholders’ opposition to requiring a log-in for users of enterprise and public videophones. As asserted by the Consumer Groups, such a requirement runs counter to functional equivalency as defined...Read more
Wireless RERC on the Record: Improving the Wireless Resiliency Cooperative Framework
May 20, 2019 – The Wireless RERC submitted reply comments in response to the FCC’s Public Notice, Improving the Wireless Resiliency Cooperative Framework [PS Docket No. 11-60]. The comments commended the voluntary actions and investments of the wireless industry for strengthening their networks to withstand disaster events. However, we contended that more could be done to ensure that people with disabilities are included in the...Read more
Ex Parte Addendum: FM Radio and RBDS-Based Emergency Alerting
The FM Radio and RBDS-Based Emergency Alerting research brief, and 2-page executive summary Save Lives, Withstand Catastrophe, and Stimulate the Marketplace, were submitted as Ex Parte comments replying to the FCC’s Hurricane Response Public Notice [PS Docket # 17-344].[1] The Public Notice sought input on the effectiveness of emergency communications technologies, procedures, and policies that...Read more
Wireless RERC on the Record: Multimedia Content in WEA Messages
June 2018 – The Wireless RERC submitted reply comments to the FCC in response to their Public Notice inviting stakeholder input to Refresh the Record on Facilitating Multimedia Content in Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) [PS Docket Nos. 15-91 and 15-94]. The Wireless RERC is in general agreement with comments that supported the inclusion of multimedia content in WEA messages. Despite sometimes having different rationales, many commenters indicated the...Read more
Wireless RERC on the Record: Accessibility of Communications Technologies
May 2018 – The Wireless RERC submitted comments to the Federal Communications Commission in response to their Public Notice In the Matter of The Accessibility of Communications Technologies for the 2018 Biennial Report Required by the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act [CG Docket No. 10-213]. In anticipation of this Public Notice, the Wireless RERC conducted a 2017 Mobile Phone Accessibility Review (Accessibility Review/Review). The Review included mobile phone models available as of September 2017 from the top four wireless carriers, one prepaid carrier, and five Lifeline Carriers. Researchers, using the providers’ web pages as a reference, identified 214 mobile phones for evaluation.Read more
Wireless RERC on the Record: FCC’s Section 504 Compliance
Georgia Tech’s Center for Advanced Communications Policy (CACP), in collaboration with the Wireless RERC, submitted comments to the Public Notice, Request for Comment on the Commission’s Policies and Practices to Ensure Compliance with Sections 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 [CG Docket No. 10-162]. Section 504 requires that federal agencies make their programs and activities accessible
