**DA 06-1908**

**Released: September 21, 2006**

**FCC ANNOUNCES E9-1-1 DISABILITY ACCESS SUMMIT**

The FCC will hold a Summit to focus on E9-1-1 calling and access for
persons with hearing and speech disabilities on Wednesday, November 15,
2006. Last year, the Commission initiated a proceeding seeking comment
on how the Commission can ensure that consumers using Internet-based
forms of Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS), specifically Video
Relay Services (VRS) and Internet Protocol Relay (IP Relay), can access
emergency services in the same way as all other consumers. *In the
Matter of Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech for
Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities,* FCC 05-196, 20 FCC
Rcd 19,476 (2005). Internet-based TRS calls do not originate on the PSTN
and therefore present unique challenges. The E9-1-1 Disability Access
Summit is intended to provide an opportunity to explore challenges and
potential solutions for users of Internet-based TRS services to access
Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) by calling 9-1-1.

The goals of the Summit are:

> \(1\) To identify the various types of direct Internet-based E9-1-1
> access that people with hearing or speech disabilities need;
>
> \(2\) To identify the technologies, services, and applications through
> which access should be offered; and
>
> \(3\) To define the technological, policy, and commercial issues
> involved in providing the needed access to persons with hearing and
> speech disabilities.

Participants will include representatives of other federal agencies;
state and local emergency service providers; telecommunications and TRS
industry; hearing and speech disability advocates; and FCC staff.
Lessons learned from this Summit will help the FCC design and focus
efforts to improve emergency communications access for persons with
hearing and speech disabilities. The Summit is open to the public and
seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. The
Summit will include panel discussions on the following three topics:
needs of the hearing and speech disability communities; state of
technology; and, interim options and solutions.

The summit date, time and location are:

> **Date & Time: Wednesday, November 15, 2006**
>
> **9:30 a.m. -- 2:00 p.m.**
>
> **Location: Federal Communications Commission**
>
> **Commission Meeting Room, TW-C305**
>
> **445 12^th^ Street, SW.**
>
> **Washington, DC 20554**

**Facilities**

The FCC is located at 445 12^th^ Street SW, Washington, DC 20554.
Directions and a map of the streets near the FCC are available at
<http://www.fcc.gov/portalsmap.html>. The Commission Meeting Room is
equipped with a Wi-Fi Internet network, an assistive listening device
system, and is accessible to persons with disabilities.

**Security**

Please note that the FCC is a federal building with security
requirements. All attendees will be required to pass through security
and present a government-issued form of identification. The FCC's
Commission Meeting Room will be opened early to facilitate access to the
building. Attendees are encouraged to allocate additional time to enter
the building.

**Webcast & Video**

The Summit will be webcast live and also archived for later viewing.
Access to and additional information concerning the webcast is available
at <http://www.fcc.gov/realaudio/>. Open captioning will be provided for
the webcast.

**Reasonable Accommodation**

Open captioning and sign language interpreters will be provided for this
event. Other reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are
available upon request. Include a description of the accommodation you
will need including as much detail as you can. Also include a way we can
contact you if we need more information. Make your request as early as
possible. Last minute requests will be accepted, but may not be possible
to fill. Send an e-mail to <fcc504@fcc.gov> or call the Consumer &
Governmental Affairs Bureau: For reasonable accommodations: 202-418-0530
(voice), 202-418-0432 (TTY). For accessible format materials (Braille,
large print, electronic files, and audio format): 202-418-0531 (voice),
202-418-7365 (TTY).

**More Information**

For more information about the E9-1-1 Disability Access Summit, please
contact Cheryl King at 202-418-2284 (voice) or <Cheryl.King@fcc.gov>
(E-mail).

To request this document, or other materials in accessible formats for
people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio
format), send an E-mail to <fcc504@fcc.gov> or call the Consumer &
Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0531 (voice), 202-418-7365 (TTY).

-FCC-