*Pages 1--5 from Microsoft Word - 15690* NEWS News Media Information 202 / 418- 0500 TTY 202 / 418- 2555 Fax- On- Demand 202 / 418- 2830 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov ftp. fcc. gov Federal Communications Commission 445 12 th Street, S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D. C. Circ 1974). FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: News Media contact: March 13, 2002 Rosemary Kimball at (202) 418- 0511 (voice) (202) 418- 0179 (TTY) email: rkimball@ fcc. gov CONSUMER/ DISABILITY TELECOMMUNICATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO HOLD NEXT MEETING ON FRIDAY, MARCH 15 Washington, DC – The next meeting of the Consumer/ Disability Telecommunications Advisory Committee (CDTAC) will be Friday, March 15, from 9 AM to 5 PM. CDTAC is composed of 40 distinguished representatives of business, academia, consumer and disability organizations, and the public. It is chaired by nationally- known consumer advocate Shirley Rooker, President of “Call For Action,” an international network of radio and television stations that support consumer hotlines. Highlights of the March 15 meeting include a discussion of the proposed rules concerning the processing and resolution of consumer complaints; a report of consumer complaints and inquiries received in the last quarter of 2001; a discussion of homeland security; and a demonstration of speech- to- speech communications by Dr. Bob Segalman. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced the establishment of CDTAC on November 30, 2000. Organized under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, it plays a large role in keeping the Commission apprised of the needs and concerns of consumers. It makes recommendations to the Commission regarding consumer and disability issues within the jurisdiction of the Commission and facilitates the participation of consumers, including people with disabilities and underserved populations, in proceedings before the Commission. CDTAC is divided into three subcommittee working groups: Consumer Protection and Education; Access by People with Disabilities; and Availability and Affordability of Telecommunications Products and Services. The meeting will be held at FCC Headquarters, 445 12 th St., SW, in the Commission Meeting Room, and is open to the public. It will begin at 9: 00 AM and conclude at 5: 00 PM. The agenda is attached. 1 The meeting will be broadcast on the Internet in Real Audio/ Real Video format with captioning at www. fcc. gov/ cib/ cdtac. The meeting will be sign language interpreted and realtime transcription will also be available. Meeting agendas and handout material will also be provided in accessible formats. The meeting site is fully accessible to people with disabilities. - FCC - Consumer Information Bureau contact: Scott Marshall at (202) 418- 2809. 2 Consumer/ Disability Telecommunications Advisory Committee (CDTAC) Meeting Federal Communications Commission 445 12 th Street, Southwest, Room TW- C305, Washington, DC Friday, March 15, 2002 9: 00 A. M. - 5: 00 P. M. A G E N D A Morning Session 9: 00 - 9: 05 A. M. Welcome and Call to Order Shirley Rooker, Committee Chair 9: 05 - 9: 25 A. M. Remarks of K. Dane Snowden, Bureau Chief, Consumer Information Bureau, Chairman and Commissioners [schedules permitting] 9: 25 - 9: 30 A. M. Committee Business, Shirley Rooker 9: 30 - 10: 15 A. M. Homeland Security Introductions by Barbara Douglas, Chief of Staff, Consumer Information Bureau Marsha MacBride, Chief of Staff to the Federal Communications Commission Jeffrey Carlisle, Senior Deputy Chief, Common Carrier Bureau Pam Gregory, Chief, Disability Rights Office, Consumer Information Bureau 10: 15 - 10: 45 A. M. Committee Discussion and Recommendations 10: 45 - 11: 00 A. M. Break 3 11: 00 - 12: 00 P. M. Processing and Resolution of Consumer Complaints -— Proposed Rules regarding a Unified System for Filing Informal Consumer Complaints; Report of Consumer Complaints and Inquiries Processed by Consumer Information Bureau for Fourth Quarter Calendar Year 2001; handling of disability- related complaints Introductions by Pam Gregory, Chief, Disability Rights Office, Consumer Information Bureau Margaret Egler, Deputy Bureau Chief (Policy), Consumer Information Bureau Thomas Wyatt, Deputy Bureau Chief (Operations), Consumer Information Bureau Jenifer Simpson, Telecommunications Accessibility Specialist, Disability Rights Office 12: 00 - 12: 45 P. M. Committee Discussion and Recommendations 12: 45 - 1: 30 P. M. Lunch (provided) 1: 00 P. M. Demonstration of Speech- to- Speech Communications by Dr. Bob Segalman, Founder, Speech- to- Speech Communications Afternoon Session 1: 30 - 2: 20 P. M. Hearing Aid Compatibility and Digital Wireless Telephones, In the Matter of Section 68.4( A) of the Commission's Rules Governing Hearing Aid Compatible Telephones, adopted October 29, 2001, released November 14, 2001 Blaise Scinto, Deputy Chief, Policy Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau 2: 20 - 2: 45 P. M. Committee Discussion and Recommendations 2: 45 – 3: 00 P. M. Break 4 3: 00 – 3: 45 P. M. Changes to the Universal Service Support Mechanism, Schools and Libraries Program, In the Matter of Schools and Libraries Universal Service Support Mechanism, Notice of Proposed Rule Making and Order, adopted January 16, 2002, released January 25, 2002 Narda Jones, Attorney, Accounting Policy Division, Common Carrier Bureau 3: 45 - 4: 15 P. M. Committee Discussion and Recommendations 4: 15 – 4: 45 P. M. Committee Business, Shirley Rooker 4: 45 - 5: 00 P. M. Participation by the public; next meeting date. 5: 00 P. M. Adjournment 5