FCC NEWS
Federal Communications Commission
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News Media Information: 202-418-0500
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For Immediate Release: March 16, 2011
News Media Contact:
Rosemary Kimball at 202-418-0511
E-mail: [email protected]
EMERGENCY ACCESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE RELEASES NATIONAL SURVEY TO LEARN ABOUT EMERGENCY CALLING BY INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
Washington, DC — The FCC today launched an on-line national survey of individuals with disabilities to determine the most effective and efficient technologies and methods by which to enable their access to emergency services. The results of the survey will inform the Advisory Committee as it develops recommendations to implement such technologies and methods in a Next Generation 9-1-1 system that will be capable of receiving emergency calls via video, text, and voice.
The survey is available online at: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/EAAC/. The survey is provided in American English, Spanish and video clips in American Sign Language (ASL).
The Emergency Access Advisory Committee was established by FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski on December 7, 2010, in compliance with the Twenty-first Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010.
INTRODUCTION PAGE FOR SURVEY
All Americans need to be able to call 9-1-1 in an emergency. This survey asks questions to help figure out the best ways for Americans with disabilities to call and get help from 9-1-1 services.
Under the new 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) created the "Emergency Access Advisory Committee" (EAAC) to work on 9-1-1 accessibility issues. The EAAC is now conducting this survey to better understand how people like you use 9-1-1 services now and how you want to access these services in the future.
In the future, access to 9-1-1 will be changing. Callers will still be able to dial 9-1-1 using voice telephones. But a new "next generation 9-1-1 system" will also allow you to call 9-1-1 using text, video, and other kinds of devices. Some of these devices will use the Internet. This survey is to help figure out which of these devices and communications services are needed so that you have access to the new 9-1-1 system.
The survey should only take 10 to 15 minutes to complete. To participate, please respond by April 24, 2011. Your answers are kept confidential. We will not distribute any of your personal information to anyone.
Please only answer this survey if (1) you are 13 years or older, (2) have a disability or a senior, and (3) live in the United States.
If you have any questions about this survey, please contact: [email protected] or call (202) 418-2285.
Thank you very much for your participation. Your input is extremely valuable and will help us to shape a better 9-1-1 future.
ACCESSIBLE FORMATS:
To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to [email protected] or call the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (TTY).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Cheryl King, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 202-418-2284 (voice), 202-418-0416 (TTY), or [email protected] (e-mail); or Patrick Donovan, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 202-418-2413, [email protected] (e-mail).
DIRECT LINK TO SURVEY: http://fcc.eaac.sgizmo.com/s3