Lobbying on Transposition of EU Telecoms Directives
Tuesday, 21 December 2010
The accessibility and affordability of telephone and television services for people with disabilities has taken a major step forward with the introduction of the EU 'Telecoms Package'. This is a collection of amendments to important directives on universal service and users' rights regarding telecommunications services. It contains a number of clauses to ensure equivalent access, affordability and choice for people with disabilities. It has to be transposed into national law in all Member States by April 2011 and we are keen to ensure that we derive the maximum benefit from it.
Together with our colleagues in other disability representative organisations, we've drawn up a list of recommendations which we've sent to the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. These describe how we think the new regulations can be most effectively implemented.
Our recommendations include a call for ComReg to enforce accessibility standards for all telephone service providers. These should cover accessible billing, accessibility of information about products and services (both online and in print), availability of accessible handsets, access to the 196 free directory service, access to Total Communication services, provision of text relay access, and others.
Other recommendations concern access to emergency services and 116 numbers, quality standards and accessibility of digital TV services and equipment.
As well as NCBI CFIT, the organizations that have contributed to this are the Not for Profit Business Association, the Disability Federation of Ireland, People with Disabilities in Ireland, DeafHear and Gerry Ellis of Feel The BenefIT.