![[Federal Communications Commission]](http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-gifs/hpban1.gif)
|
March 1995:
|
Disabilities Issues Task Force (DITF) launched. Chairman Hundt speaks before American Foundation for the Blind. DITF tour of AT & T "Tech Center of the Future" and telecommunications relay services (TRS) centers. |
|
June 1995:
|
Chairman Hundt speaks at Telecommunications for the Deaf, Inc. (TDI) Convention, Cambridge, Massachusetts, and announces "Top Ten" list of things the FCC can do to facilitate access for persons with disabilities; Linda Dubroof takes part in panel presentations on 911, coin sent-paid TRS, and N11 codes and TRS.
|
|
July 1995:
|
Press Conference with Heather Whitestone, Miss America 1995, and Chairman Hundt to celebrate the 2nd Anniversary of TRS; Chairman Hundt and Miss America demonstrate a TRS call.
|
|
August 1995:
|
FCC Common Carrier Bureau adopts interim plan and issues order on coin sent-paid service and TRS. Chairman Hundt delivers remarks at WGBH Boston/Center for Accessible Media's Captioning Program. |
|
September 1995:
|
Chairman Hundt & Deborah Kaplan, President, World Institute on Disability (WID), deliver remarks at FCC-hosted joint meeting of FCC Disabilities Issues Task Force and the National Task Force on Disabilities. DITF forms nine Working Groups to implement the Top Ten List. |
|
October 1995:
|
FCC announces new policy: all open Commission meetings will be closed captioned. Chairman Hundt delivers speech: "Equal Access for All" before forum on universal design hosted by the World Institute on Disability (WID), Trace Center, and WGBH-Boston Center for Accessible Media, co-partners in the Universal Access Project. |
|
November 1995:
|
FCC releases Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on hearing aid-compatibility of wireline telephones. Linda Dubroof speaks before the National Association of Radio Reading Services and the Consumer Action Network (CAN), a coalition of organizations representing consumers who are deaf and hard of hearing. |
|
December 1995:
|
Chairman Hundt delivers keynote address at Captioning: The New Frontier, symposium in New York City hosted by WGBH and the U.S. Department of Education. Chairman Hundt announces new FCC Notice of Inquiry on closed-captioning and video description. FCC releases historic Notice of Inquiry (NOI) on closed-captioning and video description of television programming. Pam Gerr, Chair of the TRS Working Group, delivers a presentation to the National Association of State Relay Administrators (NASRA) Conference, Seattle, Washington. |
|
January 1996:
|
[FCC closed for 21 days due to government shutdown] Chairman Hundt and Michelle Farquhar, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Chief, attend Summit between the wireless PCS industry and hearing aid-user representatives to discuss wireless compatibility issues. Chairman Hundt delivers opening remarks. Linda Dubroof takes part in National Council on Disability (NCD) meeting on the Americans with Disabilities Act. |
|
February 1996:
|
Congress passes historic Telecommunications Act of 1996; contains two landmark sections: Access for Individuals with Disabilities and Video Programming Accessibility.
|
|
March 1996:
|
Chairman Hundt receives American Foundation for the Blind's Helen Keller Outstanding Service Award for his efforts on behalf of the disability community.
|
|
April 1996:
|
DITF releases one-year report.
|
Last updated: 4/22/96
http://www.fcc.gov/dtf/dtfmile.html