PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT
Release Date: December 6, 2010
Contact: Derric Miller
CSD Communications Office
Phone: (605) 782-1036
[email protected]
CSD Launches Contact Center to Qualify Deaf/Hard of Hearing for Sustainable
Broadband Program
Deaf/hard of hearing consumers can qualify for a Dell 11Z notebook and 12
months high-speed Internet access — all for only $230.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dec. 6, 2010) — Today, CSD has opened a new contact
center and is starting to qualify deaf and hard of hearing consumers from
around the nation for Project Endeavor. What is Project Endeavor? Back in
July, CSD announced it had been awarded a $14.9 million grant from the
National Telecommunications and Information Agency as part of the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This grant enabled CSD to implement a
nationwide initiative to provide discounted equipment (a Dell 11z notebook),
high-speed Internet access, and life-skills training, for low-income,
underserved deaf and hard of hearing people. CSD has named this two-year
campaign Project Endeavor.
Project Endeavor is qualifying deaf and hard of hearing people starting
today. The program offers a video-configured Dell 11z notebook, which comes
with a mobile broadband card, for $230. The retail price of the notebook is
$500, meaning consumers save over 50 percent to start with. For the cost of
only $230, consumers receive the new notebook computer along with a 12-month
3G/4G wireless Internet access plan — at no additional cost. The 12-month
coverage is a $700 savings to the consumer, if not more, depending on where
they live in the United States. The notebook is theirs to keep even after
the two-year project reaches completion.
CSD pursued these funds because as the nation’s largest deaf and hard of
hearing service organization, it understood that many deaf and hard of
hearing Americans simply don’t have the same level of access to
broadband/high-speed Internet services in their homes (or mobile) as their
hearing counterparts. In some cases, deaf and hard of hearing people do not
have the same financial resources; generally speaking, the deaf and hard of
hearing community are more economically disadvantaged than the mainstream
hearing community. Project Endeavor changed that concept for deaf and hard
of hearing people, and with the 3G/4G wireless plan, consumers will have
access not just in their homes, but everywhere they take their notebook
computer.
“Over the past 35 years, CSD’s has continually operated with the concept of
creating new channels of access for deaf and hard of hearing people — to
fill those communication gaps hearing Americans rarely experience and quite
possibly, do not understand,” said Ben Soukup, CSD chief executive officer.
“From being able to stream or download the news, to honing job seeking
skills, to using a videophone to keep up with family and friends … Project
Endeavor achieves all of this, and so much more. CSD is proud to offer this
unique and solely deaf and hard of hearing-centered program to our
consumers.”
Deaf and hard of hearing consumers, who can verify a bilateral hearing loss
of 40db or greater, are encouraged to call the Project Endeavor contact
center today. The contact center can be reached in a numbers of ways,
depending on the consumer’s preferred mode of communication. The contact
numbers are 877-NETME77 (voice), 877-403-4596 (TTY), 605-550-4056 or
605-644-7399 (VP), and 605-782-8446 (FAX). The contact center can also be
reached via e-mail at [email protected].
For more information on Project Endeavor, go to
http://www.projectendeavor.com
About CSD — CSD (a.k.a. Communication Service for the Deaf, Inc.) was
established in 1975, primarily to provide sign language interpreting
services to deaf and hard of hearing adults in South Dakota. Today, CSD
employs over 1,500 individuals in offices across the nation, providing a
broad continuum of social and human services programs, as well as
telecommunications relay services. CSD is a private nonprofit agency
dedicated to providing quality services; ensuring public accessibility; and
increasing awareness of issues affecting the deaf, hard of hearing and
individuals with speech disabilities. For more information, please visit:
http://www.c-s-d.org