DHHCAN Meeting Minutes

April 7, 2010

Present:  Claude Stout (TDI) (Chair); Cheryl Heppner (ALDA) (Vice Chair); Rosaline Crawford (NAD) (Secretary/Treasurer); Art Roehrig (AADB); Al Sonnenstrahl (ADARA); Barbara Raimondo (CEASD); Sam Sonnenstrahl (GUAA); Nancy Bloch (NAD); Shane Feldman (NAD); Billy Sanders (NBDA); Ron Sutcliffe (NDBI); Kelby Brick (Purple); Janet Bailey (RID); Mary Lightfoot (RID); Paul Kershisnik (Sorenson); Manny Johnson (ZVRS); Larry Brick (consumer representative to NECA TRS Advisory Council); Ryan Commerson (guest presenter); and Samuel Jones (consumer).

The Chair called the meeting to order.

Special Guest Presentation:

Ryan Commerson gave a presentation on “Redefining Deaf” which was following by a brief but lively discussion.

Minutes:  The minutes of the meeting held on March 3, 2010, were approved as read.

Officers’ Reports:

Chair

• DHHCAN consumer group members will have a special meeting on TRS issues; date and time to be determined by e-mail exchange.

• DHHCAN needs to prioritize issues for upcoming biweekly meetings with FCC CGB representatives.  A list, including but not limited to TRS, TV, and other issues will be distributed by e-mail for purpose of consumer group members establishing priorities.

• AG Bell and VRSCA have been provided with a copy of the DHHCAN bylaws and are considering membership.

Vice Chair

No report.

Secretary/Treasurer

The balance in the DHHCAN account is $38,864.00.

Committee Reports:

Technology & Telecommunications

The following items were presented on the Agenda, but not read at the meeting:

• On March 9, HLAA, CCASDHH, TDI, NAD, and DHHCAN filed a petition with the FCC seeking clarification and a declaratory ruling that it is impermissible for any state to require communication assistants (CAs) to announce their presence on captioned telephone relay service calls.
• On March 10, TDI, NAD, DHHCAN, AADB, and CCASDHH had a meeting on 800 toll free numbers issue with CGB and WCB officials at the FCC.
• On March 10, FCC had its special event on its National Broadband Plan, giving full attention to addressing needs of people with disabilities at the Martin Luther King Library in Washington, DC.  Rosaline Crawford served as a panelist for a roundtable of stakeholders.
• On March 10, HLAA, TDI, NAD, DHHCAN, and CCASDHH had meetings with senior legal advisors on captioned telephone services with offices of FCC Commissioners Copps and Baker.
• On March 12, FCC announced selection of Karen Peltz-Strauss as its new Deputy Chief with its Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau.
• On March 15, HLAA, TDI, NAD, and DHHCAN filed comments in support of Williams Sound Corporation’s petition for declaratory ruling requesting FCC clarification that the Part 15 auditory assistance device rules permit use in support of simultaneous language interpretation.
• FCC’s Consumer Advisory Council had its meeting on March 18 and 19.
• TDI’s E911 Stakeholder Council had its meeting all day on March 23 at Gallaudet University.
• On March 24, HLAA, TDI, NAD, DHHCAN, and CCASDHH had a meeting on captioned telephone services with the CGB officials at the FCC.
• On March 29, TDI, NAD, ALDA, DHHCAN, HLAA, AADB, and CCASDHH filed an application for review with the FCC regarding the CGB’s February 25 declaratory ruling on calls made via relay service by employees or subcontractors of TRS providers.
• On March 29, TDI, NAD, ALDA, DHHCAN, HLAA, AADB, and CCASDHH filed a request with the FCC to extend for one year the temporary waiver for the toll free 800-numbers in the iTRS database.  On April 2, FCC extended the waiver only for four more months.

Discussion took place about the process for producing and reporting about FCC filings on behalf of DHHCAN.  Generally, FCC filings are reviewed and approved by Claude (Chair), Cheryl (Vice Chair), and Rosaline (Secretary/Treasurer).  Claude will e-mail a copy of all FCC filings to DHHCAN members when filed.

Education

Barbara reported that 40 states competed in the ESEA competition; 16 finalists were selected; Tennessee and Delaware were the winners.  More competitive funding opportunities are expected.

Rehabilitation

Volunteers to serve on a committee on VR issues with Al Sonnenstrahl deferred.

Transportation

On March 22, DHHCAN signed on to a letter from the Association for Airline Passenger Rights (AAPR) asking DOT to require captioning or subtitles on all in-flight entertainment.

Emergency Preparedness

Comments filed on February 26 with FEMA and HUD on their National Disaster Recovery Framework document.

Health & Human Services

No report.

Employment

Cheryl reported about an OPM meeting at which it was suggested that OPM would start bi-weekly information sessions for job openings.  They are particularly interested in identifying people who are early in their career.  These individuals can add their names to various databases maintained by the White House, Disability Power & Pride, and others. 

Available federal appointments are listed in the “Plum Book.”  Claude recommended that all DHHCAN members contribute names; DHHCAN can contact those individuals; and support their interest in pursuing federal appointments.

I. King Jordan was recently appointed a member of the Commission on Presidential Scholars. 

Old Business: 

Rosaline asked for assistance with the review of the bylaws.  Kelby and Nancy will assist.  If anyone knows of an intern interested in non-profit corporations, please let Rosaline know.

New Business: 

Recent developments in movie captioning; deferred to the May 2010 meeting.

RID will host a conference in Washington, DC, on video interpreting in May 2010.  An announcement will be distributed to DHHCAN representatives.

Meeting adjourned at 3:12 p.m. 

The next meeting will be held in the Ole Jim on Wednesday, May 5, 2010. 

Rosaline Crawford
Secretary/Treasurer