Access on Main Street

Hooking up a usable world, one mainstream product at a time.

Debate continues on Universal Service Fund

Posted by Jim Tobias 2 March 2006

Hearings in the US Senate raised several options for maintaining the Universal Service Fund (USF). The USF, which delivers $5 billion a year for rural and underserved telecom users, has been undercut by VoIP and reduced long distance charges. Two options, either of which may be implemented in a new Communications Act, are to tax broadband the way regular phone lines are taxed, or to tax “phone numbers”, whatever those become as services evolve.

The USF has been proposed as a logical home for all accessibility-related programs, such as TRS and equipment distribution.

Senators back new broadband taxes | CNET News.com

Canadians establish fund to improve telecom access

Posted by Jim Tobias 21 February 2006

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is establshing a fund of approximately $650 million to improve access to telecom both for people with disabilities and rural citizens. Advocacy groups will play a role in deciding how the fund will be disbursed.

Canadians Improve Telecommunications Accessibility

UN backs worldwide distribution of low-cost laptops

Posted by Jim Tobias 27 January 2006

The United Nations Development Program will support the “$100 laptop” unveiled in late 2005. Designed for schools in developing countries, the laptop features open source software and a power crank. Does it feature accessibility? We’d be willing to pay $100 to get into the design lab to check….

UN Agency to Back Distribution of Low-Cost Laptops

Economic benefit of broadband adoption

Posted by Jim Tobias 15 December 2005

The New Millenium Research Council released a report that estimates the potential advantages of broadband for elders and people with disabilities. It’s a staggering $927 billion in healthcare and institutional living savings, plus increased labor participation.

Broadband Use for Elderly, Disabled a Key to Reducing U.S. Health Care Costs? - Dec 12, 2005