711 provides free telephone assistance
for people with speech disabilities

I am concerned about telephone access for people with speech disabilities. Speech-to-Speech (STS) provides human revoicers (Communication Assistants or CA's) for people who have difficulty being understood on the telephone. The FCC requires all states to provide Speech-to-Speech. If you have a speech disability, you can dial 711 (toll free) and ask for STS.  You will reach a patient, trained operator who is familiar with many speech patterns and has acute hearing. This operator makes telephone calls for you and repeats your words exactly. STS is currently available 24 hours a day in ALL STATES.  STS is also useful if you use a speech synthesizer. It is the only way for many people to telephone others who are not accustomed to their speech patterns. Many Speech-to-Speech users have Parkinson's disease, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, or muscular dystrophy. Other users include people who stutter, have ALS, or have had a laryngectomy.

STS helps speech synthesizer users, users of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).  AAC users may ask the STS CA to place the call, negotiate the menu, introduce the call explaining AAC and then go into the background.  This enables AAC users to communicate independently once the other party is on the line.

To protect the people with speech disabilities, would you please ask any interested parties to file comments on the FCC's website. The FCC has not heard from people who support STS. This is important because a primary problem with the service is that the providers do not receive sufficient reimbursement to have the financial incentive to inform consumers that STS exists. Below are filing instructions and sample comments. The more you can personalize your comments, the more effective they will be. I  appreciate your support.

You can use STS, report problems, or get more information by calling 711, requesting STS and asking for me, Dr. Bob Segalman, at (916) 448 5517.  I developed the idea of STS to make sure that every American with a speech disability knows that they can be independent on the telephone.  I receive no renumeration from promoting STS.  It gives me great pleasure when people gain independence through STS. 

STS information is on the web at:  website: http://www.speechtospeech.org

Bob Segalman, Ph.D.

A.

Go to http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/

B.

(click on submit a filing on the right hand side bar)  or go directly to FCC web site for filing comments at http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/upload_v2.cgi

C.

Complete your personal information ignoring any not applicable boxes except for required information

D.

Click "ex parte"

E.

Personalize one of the following 3 sample statements any way you like. The more your language is unique to you, the more credibility it will receive.

F.

Paste your statement in or upload it from a MS Word file

G.

Choose file type

H.

Send your comments (press "send" to get an acknowledgment from the
FCC!)

I.

Send a copy of your acknowledgment to Bob Segalman at drsts@comcast.net

Sample Comment #1: "This agency (or "I") strongly support(s) FCC compliance with Section 225 of the Telecommunications Act in reimbursing providers of Speech-to-Speech.  Reimbursement must be high enough to provide an economic incentive for providers to educate all potential STS users about its availability. Potential STS users have as much legal right to information about STS as the general public has to information about general telephone service.  It is shameful that over 90% of potential users DON'T know that STS exists"

Sample Comment #2: I/We (insert agency name if appropriate) urge(s)  the FCC to provide reimbursement rates to STS vendors that are high enough to motivate them to educate all Americans with speech disabilities who would find STS useful. The FCC's obligation stems from section 225, which requires access to the general telephone network regardless of disability.  Section 225 thus requires that information about such access be as readily available to this population, as information about that network is to the general public.

Sample Comment #3: People with speech disabilities who could use Speech-to-Speech deserve to know about its availability. The FCC must adhere to Section 225 of the Telecommunications Act in administering its regulation of STS.  Thus, the FCC must allow telephone companies that provide STS to recover sufficient payment to make it financially advantageous for them to undertake outreach efforts to inform all potential users about STS.  Few Americans with speech disabilities know that STS exists. By law, Americans with disabilities must receive information about telephone services appropriate to their disabilities, just as all Americans receive information about general telephone service.