Mobilizing and Empowering the Nation and 

Technology to Address Loneliness & social 

isolation (MENTAL) Health Innovation 

Challenge 

August 12, 2020
Agenda – August 12, 2020

I. Welcome & Introductions 

II. Opening Remarks 

III. Challenge Updates 

IV. MENTAL Health Challenge Application Platform 

V. Questions

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WHO WE ARE?

• Formed with the enactment of the Communications Act of 1934, the Federal 

Communication Commission (FCC) is an independent federal agency responsible 

for implementing and enforcing America’s communications laws and 

regulations. The FCC regulates communications by radio, television, phone, 

satellite, and cable — the tools we use to stay connected 

• The Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB) develops and 

implements the FCC's consumer policies and serves as the agency's connection 

to the American consumer. Our mission includes disability rights, consumer 

education, and outreach to state, local and Tribal governments as well as 

consumer complaint disposition

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CONNECTIVITY & COMMUNICATION

Policy Priorities - fcc.gov/about-fcc/fcc-initiatives

Bridging the Digital Divide 

• Rural Digital Opportunity Fund 

• Connect America Fund 

• Digital Opportunity Data Collection 

5G Fast Plan 

• Pushing more spectrum into the marketplace 

• Updating infrastructure policy 

• Modernizing regulations

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ACCESSIBLE COMMUNICATIONS

American with Disabilities Act & Telecommunications Relay Services: 

• Title IV of the ADA directed the FCC to ensure that

Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) are available to individuals with hearing and

speech disabilities in the United States

• TRS has evolved to include text - to - voice TTY - based relay services, speech - to - speech relay

services, captioned telephone service, Internet Protocol (IP) captioned telephone service,

IP relay service, and video relay service

Twenty - First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA)

• Significant update to our nation’s telecommunications protections for people with

disabilities

Accessible Communications for Everyone (ACE) 

Chairman's Awards for Advancement in Accessibility (Chairman’s AAA)

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FCC PROGRAMS

Lifeline – lifelinesupport.org

• Supports wireline or wireless services and as well as broadband

• Provides a monthly subsidy, that in some cases can provide service offerings that are

free of cost when applied

• Increased subsidies for service provisions on Tribal lands

• Income based – 135% of federal poverty guidelines, or enrolled in Medicaid, SNAP

National Deaf - Blind Equipment Distribution Program (iCanConnect)

• Eligibility based on disability status and income

• Provides for access to communications equipment

• Provides for training on equipment use

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Telehealth – fcc.gov/telehealth

CONNECTED CARE

  Connect2HealthFCC Task Force: exploring the intersection of broadband, advanced 

technology and health, engaging with a wide array of stakeholders, and further charting 

the broadband future of health care — serving as an umbrella for all FCC health - oriented 

activities to help enable a healthier America. 

  Connected Care Pilot Program: study how connected care could be a permanent part of 

the Universal Service Fund by making available up to $100 million of universal service 

support over three years to help defray eligible health care providers’ costs of providing 

telehealth services to patients at their homes or mobile locations, with an emphasis on 

providing those services to low - income Americans and veterans. 

  COVID-19 Telehealth Program: Distributed 200 million o help health care providers 

provide connected care services to patients at their homes or mobile locations in response 

to the pandemic.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION

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Consumer Help Center

fcc.gov/consumers

Email requests to: 

outreach@fcc.gov

Consumer Complaints 

Informal Complaints 

Consumercomplaints.fcc.gov

1-888-Call-FCC

Consumer Affairs 

and Outreach Division 

fcc.gov/outreach

Last updated on August 14, 2020
Stephen Ewell 

Executive Director 

CTA Foundation

August 12, 2020

CTA Foundation © 2020

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CTA Foundation
Mission

“Linking seniors and people with disabilities with 

technology to enhance their lives”
Grants
Thank you!

Steve Ewell 

Executive Director 

Consumer Technology Association Foundation 

CTAFoundation.tech 

@CTAFoundation / @sewell2

CTA Foundation © 2020 13
Challenge Update 

Submission Requirements

• Phase 1 — Plan and Design a Social Engagement Clearinghouse 

Interactive Prototype 

– Describe Interactive Prototype which may be created from wireframe 

tools or functional code. If using wireframe tools, the Interactive 

Prototype may be in Lo - Fi or High - Fi. A link to the Interactive 

Prototype is preferred, and alternatively, a PDF version that is 

interactive is acceptable.

– A three - page MAX concept paper describing the technical design and 

functionality of the Social Engagement Clearinghouse Interactive 

Prototype document as PDF. Description should include the user 

experience, inclusive of how accessibility needs are addressed. 

Preferably, cite and/or include WCAG 2.0 conformance plans in the 

interactive prototype. Technical design should demonstrate tradeoffs 

made between functionality and implementation feasibility.

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Challenge Updates 

Submission Requirements

• Phase 1 continued 

– A self - audit of the Social Engagement Clearinghouse Interactive 

Prototype that includes which WCAG 2.0 criteria are met and why 

those were chosen. 

– A plan for maximum conformance with WCAG 2.0 Level AAA.

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Challenge Update 

Submission Requirements

• Phase 2 — Pilot and Test Social Engagement Clearinghouse 

Alpha 

– The screenshots of the Social Engagement Clearinghouse Alpha that was 

piloted. A written description of the screenshots with sufficient information to 

understand the functionality of the Social Engagement Clearinghouse Alpha. 

– A publicly accessible url link through which a self - walkthrough of the Social 

Engagement Clearinghouse Alpha may be performed . 

– An Accessibility Audit. A three - page max self - audit of the Social Engagement 

Clearinghouse Alpha conformance to WCAG 2.0 Level A, AA, and AAA. Specify 

which criteria are met, and why those were chosen. Also describe any future 

plans for maximum conformance to WCAG 2.0 AAA.” 

– A Security self - audit. “A three - page max self - audit of the Social Engagement 

Clearinghouse Alpha conformance to the OWASP Top Ten Proactive Controls 

2018. Indicate future plans for remediating any gaps in conformance.

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Challenge Updates 

Rules, Terms & Conditions

• Technical Rules 

– Platform: Solution shall be a web based application, and public internet 

accessible using a common web browser. 

– Accessibility: Solution shall comply with Section 508 standards, and conform 

to either WCAG 2.0 Level A, AA, or AAA. 

– Security: Solution shall follow OWASP Top Ten Proactive Controls 2018. While 

all ten controls are important and complementary to web applications 

security, particular attention should be given to C3, C7, and C8 . 

– Security: Highly recommended to follow “OWASP Top Ten Proactive Controls 

2018.” While all ten controls are important and complementary to your web 

applications security, particular attention should be given to C3, C7, and C8. 

https://owasp.org/www-project-proactive-controls/v3/en/0x02-aboutproject.html

• Intellectual Property of Submission added to Terms & Conditions

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MENTAL Health Innovation Challenge 

Platform

• What is the MENTAL Health Challenge Platform? 

– A technology platform that registrants will use to submit 

information about their team and solution. 

• To start, please visit: mentalhealth.innovationchallenge.com 

– Provides an opportunity to collaborate/match with 

other teams. 

• To access, please visit: 

mentalhealth.innovationchallenge.com/teams

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Questions

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Additional feedback or questions about this challenge can be sent via e - mail to 

MENTALHealthChallenge@acl.hhs.gov
More Information at Challenge.gov

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