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Folks:
As many of you may guess, I'm a supporter of HR 3101, the bill that would open access to the video content on the internet via captions (user-generated video is NOT impacted by this, such as Google, etc.). About 3 weeks ago, I fired off an email to my congressman, Harold "Hal" Rogers and explained the numbers of deaf and hard of hearing constituents in his district, state-wide, and nation-wide, and how this bill would affect them. I implored him to support this bill when/if it came up for a vote before the full House of Representatives, since he does not sit on the committee it is currently pending before (House Committee on Energy and Commerce). I received a response from him in the mail yesterday, that stated (in part) "please be assured I will keep your concerns in mind should this legislation come to the House floor for a vote".
Yes, it is a form letter, of course. But the principle is, that the more people who contact their representatives, the better. They need to hear from the 36 million voters that we have been ignored in the cinema, but we will NOT be ignored in the Internet access, wireless access, and so on anymore. Do YOUR part!!! Contact your representative RIGHT NOW IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO.
Kudos to Google for their self-initiative with automatic captions, they should be commended, and I ask that all people please bear with them as they beta-test this and roll it out, it will have glitches like any new technology. What they need is POSITIVE and CONSTRUCTIVE feedback during the roll-out and testing phase so they can make it as user-friendly and accessible as possible. They deserve this for taking the bull by the horns and showing proactive leadership in opening access to their content.
In regards to the VRS fraud indictments that were recently unsealed against some VRS providers, I say "SHAME!" They have abused the public trust, misused the public money, and demonstrated an arrogance and greed that is unnerving, if all the charges are true. I only hope that, if they are guilty, that they are sentenced to the fullest extent of the law and are made examples of. With the advent of any "new" technology, comes many who look for loopholes to personally benefit from. Fraudsters such as these have made it hard for the hearing population to fully trust TRS and VRS calls in the past, and WE suffer dearly for it. We should fully support an in-depth (and fair) trial and expose of all the details of this, to help prevent it in the future, to learn how to protect ourselves from falling victim to them, and to protect our hard-earned tax dollars that go to reimbursing the companies who do GOOD, HONEST, and LEGITIMATE work for the deaf and hard of hearing communities in attempting to bridge the telephonic communication divide between us and the hearing world. I may blog more on this subject later, but after more details come to light. Right now, plenty of people are putting in their two cents worth.
Eddie
As many of you may guess, I'm a supporter of HR 3101, the bill that would open access to the video content on the internet via captions (user-generated video is NOT impacted by this, such as Google, etc.). About 3 weeks ago, I fired off an email to my congressman, Harold "Hal" Rogers and explained the numbers of deaf and hard of hearing constituents in his district, state-wide, and nation-wide, and how this bill would affect them. I implored him to support this bill when/if it came up for a vote before the full House of Representatives, since he does not sit on the committee it is currently pending before (House Committee on Energy and Commerce). I received a response from him in the mail yesterday, that stated (in part) "please be assured I will keep your concerns in mind should this legislation come to the House floor for a vote".
Yes, it is a form letter, of course. But the principle is, that the more people who contact their representatives, the better. They need to hear from the 36 million voters that we have been ignored in the cinema, but we will NOT be ignored in the Internet access, wireless access, and so on anymore. Do YOUR part!!! Contact your representative RIGHT NOW IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO.
Kudos to Google for their self-initiative with automatic captions, they should be commended, and I ask that all people please bear with them as they beta-test this and roll it out, it will have glitches like any new technology. What they need is POSITIVE and CONSTRUCTIVE feedback during the roll-out and testing phase so they can make it as user-friendly and accessible as possible. They deserve this for taking the bull by the horns and showing proactive leadership in opening access to their content.
In regards to the VRS fraud indictments that were recently unsealed against some VRS providers, I say "SHAME!" They have abused the public trust, misused the public money, and demonstrated an arrogance and greed that is unnerving, if all the charges are true. I only hope that, if they are guilty, that they are sentenced to the fullest extent of the law and are made examples of. With the advent of any "new" technology, comes many who look for loopholes to personally benefit from. Fraudsters such as these have made it hard for the hearing population to fully trust TRS and VRS calls in the past, and WE suffer dearly for it. We should fully support an in-depth (and fair) trial and expose of all the details of this, to help prevent it in the future, to learn how to protect ourselves from falling victim to them, and to protect our hard-earned tax dollars that go to reimbursing the companies who do GOOD, HONEST, and LEGITIMATE work for the deaf and hard of hearing communities in attempting to bridge the telephonic communication divide between us and the hearing world. I may blog more on this subject later, but after more details come to light. Right now, plenty of people are putting in their two cents worth.
Eddie
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