On April 6, 2011, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced an order establishing the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution program. This program will help provide low-income deaf-blind individuals access to the internet and advanced communications such as interexchange services and advanced telecommunications and information services. $10 million dollars will be made available from the Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) fund each year for this nation wide equipment distribution.
NAD President Bobbie Beth Scoggins said, “We are thrilled by this effort by the FCC to make 21st century communications more accessible to deaf-blind individuals. We hope that it is the beginning of many more initiatives to improve access for deaf-blind individuals.”
See the FCC announcement at:
www.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2011/db0406/DOC-305587A1.pdf