DHHCAN Meeting Minutes

November 4,2009

Present:  Claude Stout (TDI) (Chair); Cheryl Heppner (ALDA) (Vice Chair); Rosaline Crawford (NAD) (Secretary/Treasurer); Art Roehrig (AADB); Kelby Brick (Purple); Mike Maddix and Paul Kershisnik (Sorenson).

Guests:  Sam Jones (consumer).

The Chair called the meeting to order at 1:18 p.m.

Chair’s Report:

• The meeting opened with a moment of silence in memory of Larry Fleischer.
• Minutes of the meetings on June 3, September 9, and October 7 were presented.  Absent a quorum, approval was postponed until the December 2 meeting.
• Claude welcomed Mike and Paul from Sorenson. 
• Claude shared a copy of the DHHCAN summary with attendees.
• Claude sought follow up on the recommendations made for the new Administration.  Requested members review the recommendations, periodically report on actions taken and progress made, and prioritizes a few key items for DHHCAN to pursue collectively.
• TDI is preparing announcement and release of DHHCAN air travel access guidelines; will include quotes from Cheryl, Barbara, and Art.
• Kelby appointed chair of the nominating committee; election will be at the December meeting.

Vice Chair’s Report:

• Cheryl reported on her participation with the FCC Consumer Advisory Committee DTV Working Group (addressing problems with closed captions and video descriptions).  She is a member of two subgroups.  Progress is slow.  A full Working Group meeting will be held on November 9.  Cheryl is working on distributing a quick consumer survey about closed captioning.
• Cheryl asked that every member of DHHCAN be encouraged to become an affiliate of COAT, if not already one.  Rosaline will extend an invitation where applicable.

Secretary/Treasurer’s Report:

• Rosaline reported that the current balance in the DHHCAN account is $31,519.00.
• Notices about dues for the forthcoming year will be distributed in November.

Committee Reports:

Technology & Telecommunications

• Lise Hamlin (HLAA) and Marcia Brooks (WGBH/NCAM) are new members of the FCC Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council.  Term of service is two years.
• Consumer Groups filed comments with the FCC on October 13 in response to a Notice of Inquiry on communications services and products for individuals with disabilities, and to provide outreach and education to consumers, service providers, and manufacturers about accessibility issues.
• Consumer Groups filed an Application for Review on October 19 with the FCC seeking rescission of the FCC’s September 18 Order that dismissed Purple’s petition for an NPRM to permit reimbursement of multi-party deaf-to-deaf conference calls.
• Several DHHCAN members participated in an FCC workshop about the development of the National Broadband Plan and people with disabilities on October 20.  Claude reported on Greg Vanderheiden’s comments about the Internet and future “cloud” computing environment (i.e., looking up information on Google, the information is not on your hard drive it is up in the “clouds”).  He suggested that the national public Internet infrastructure could be set up with access features in the “cloud” at a low cost or free to consumers.
• Consumer Groups filed comments with the FCC on October 27 in support of the CSDVRS petition for reconsideration of the Public Notice which ordered the removal of 800 numbers from the iTRS database.
• Members of DHHCAN met with Mark Stone, interim CGB Chief and other DRO representatives at the FCC on November 2 regarding several outstanding issues related to the numbering system.
• Judy Viera (TDI) and Karen Peltz Strauss (CSD) gave presentations on November 2 on functional equivalency and relay services at the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) workshop in Geneva, Switzerland.  The workshop’s theme was “The Impact on the United National Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on the Work of the ITU-T.”
• Members of DHHCAN will meet with Sherrese Smith, advisor to FCC Chairman Genachowski, on November 5 about mandating captioned telephone services.
• The FCC will host a field hearing about the development of a National Broadband Plan and people with disabilities on November 6. 

Education

No new report.

Vocational Rehabilitation

Martha Sheridan will no longer be representing DHHCAN member ADARA; Al Sonnenstrahl will assume that responsibility and will attend the next DHHCAN meeting.

Transportation

See Chair’s report (above) about release of DHHCAN air travel access guidelines.

Emergency Preparedness

Cheryl reminded everyone to take precautions to avoid getting the flu.

Health & Human Service

No new report.

Old Business:

Claude owes a letter to Metro Reporters for captioning a conference call.  Another letter may be due to Susan Crawford and Jim Kornburg about the failure of the White House to caption their webcast.

New Business:

DHHCAN will nominate Sheila Mentkowski for a second term on the NECA TRS Advisory Council; Sheila was recently re-elected as vice chair of the council.

Cheryl wants to learn more about the work being done by Judy Harkins (Gallaudet) and Marcia Brooks (WGBH) on caption quality research.  Greg Vanderheiden made a comment about enabling multiple people to have access to captions to fix errors, etc.

Announcements:

• Sorenson reported that they were working on preserving the integrity of the Interstate TRS Fund; the new rate cycle which beings July, 1, 2010; and new products and services.  Sorenson will try to send a representative to DHHCAN meetings more regularly.

·         ALDA held its annual conference, but Cheryl was unable to attend.

• NAD announced that Marlee Matlin, NAD spokesperson on access to broadband and Internet media, will meet with key congressional leaders on November 5, and participate in the FCC field hearing on November 6.

·         Purple will host its Trailblazer event on October 17.

·         AADB will have a fundraising event on November 12.

·         TDI will have its holiday party on December 12, at 6:00 p.m., in Washington, DC, at the Mayflower Hotel.

·         Congratulations extended to Gallaudet on the selection of its new president, Alan Hurwitz.

·         Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Meeting adjourned at 2:30 p.m.

The next meeting will be held in the Ole Jim at 1:00 p.m., on Wednesday, December 2, 2009.

Rosaline Crawford

Secretary/Treasurer