Summary of Key Opportunities and Barriers Discussed in FCC Event

NCTI attended the FCC event through the video streamed webinar. Key NCTI thought partners such as Larry Goldberg of WGBH, and Alan Brightman of Yahoo! as well as featured NCTI Innovator Jim Fruchterman of Benetech presented.  Here are some of the highlights summarized for the NCTI community.  Post your comments below.

Improving and expanding broadband access involves a great deal more than simply bringing high-speed internet to underserved communities, particularly for users with disabilities. Barriers mentioned most frequently by workshop participants include:

Affordability: Cost is a huge barrier for individuals with disabilities, many of whom may be unemployed, living on a fixed income, or may require expensive adaptive technology to access the internet. People with disabilities are twice as likely to live in poverty as their non-disabled peers (speaker commentary, Jim Tobias, President, Inclusive Technologies).

Accessibility of online content: For the successful adoption of broadband by Americans with disabilities, content must be made accessible. Many websites are not 508 compliant (this includes Federal government websites), and contain elements (such as PDF documents) that are not compatible with screen readers or other adaptive equipment. Nearly a third of non-users of internet technology have said that their disability prevents them from going online (speaker commentary, Jim Tobias).

Adaptive Equipment: Given financial considerations and the need for expensive adaptive equipment for many users with disabilities (in addition to computers to get online), broadband access provides little utility. Adaptive and assistive technology can run into the thousands of dollars, if not more. Without this equipment, many users with disabilities will not be able to meet the goal of universal broadband access for all Americans.

Through there are numerous barriers to providing universal broadband access to users with disabilities, there are a number of opportunities presented by widespread access to high speed internet:

• Cheap, fast and reliable internet access could potentially democratize assistive technology, taking adaptive applications away from expensive, dedicated devices, and moving them towards more affordable options such as smart phones and mp3 players,

• Community developed applications, open platforms, and access tools built directly into browsers, utilizing the potential of ‘cloud computing’ allowing users with disabilities could access the internet with any computer, anytime, and not need to worry about the portability of expensive adaptive devices.

Many of available online resources for people with disabilities have been developed, tested and made freely available because of the disability community. High-speed internet, applications in the ‘cloud’ and cheap technology have enabled the community to work together to develop applications, scan and digitize text, and caption online videos.

The opportunities presented by universal broadband access coupled with the barriers to adoption point to the need for a multi-faceted approach in terms of broadband policy and industry efforts. Speakers from government agencies, industry, and disability advocacy groups all stressed the needed improvements in existing policy and updating outdated telecommunications laws, while increasing enforcement of Section 508 compliance. Most speakers seemed to agree that while the FCC should play a leadership role in encouraging accessibility and adherence to existing laws, that the Federal government is not capable of policing accessibility online.

Speakers identified the FCC as a leader in bringing about increased cooperation and collaboration amongst key players in the broadband initiative, particularly through working with international partners to identify common standards and encourage device interoperability. The FCC and other government agencies can also play a role in spreading the idea that universal design and accessible features frequently make good business sense. One speaker pointed out that there is often a huge potential market of non-disabled users who would be interested in accessibility features (e.g., voice activated features, TTS, touch screens), and that the FCC could create fact sheets highlighting the economic benefits of creating accessible products. Ultimately, speakers agreed that change and increased broadband adoption will come from a combination of:

• Market forces

• Regulations

• Section 508 enforcement

• Collaboration of key players, organizations and government agencies

• FCC leadership

• Public-private partnerships

• Incentives for innovation

Continue to watch the FCC Broadband website for updates, archived workshop recordings and transcripts, and to add your thoughts and ideas to the discussion. Check out the FCC recap and add your thoughts to the FCC Blogband blog by November 16th!