Emergency Communications
Take-Home Exam
1. Emergency Communications (4 questions, 16 points)
1.1 Deaf and hard of hearing consumer advocates are fighting for direct access to 9-1-1. They do not want to use relay for calling 9-1-1. (5 points total)
• (3 points) What are the problems with relay services during 9-1-1 calls? List at least two. (Extra credit if you find more than two)
• (2 points) What types of direct calls (from deaf or hearing) do Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) currently accept?
1.2 Text-to-9-1-1 (5 points total)
• (1 point) What is the bounceback message for text-to-9-1-1?
• (2 points) Why is it important that people receive a bounceback message?
• (2 points) Even though telephone carriers have implementing the bounceback message, it is still important that consumers receive education about text-to-9-1-1. List at least two reasons why education is necessary. (Hint: What are the limitations of text-to-9-1-1 that people need to know about?)
1.3 What is Total Conversation? Explain in complete sentence(s). (Hint: remember the demo in the classroom from this video: https://www.amara.org/en/videos/zgBRiI8mfyH1/info/reach112-demo-movie/)(3 points)
1.4. Why is Total Conversation a good idea for future 9-1-1 – how does it help with the accessibility? (Hint: explain how deaf, hard of hearing, and blind each could benefit from Total Conversation)(3 points)
2. Telecommunications (5 questions, 20 points)
2.1. List the four types of advanced communication services (ACS), as defined in the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA). Note: I am not looking for specific examples, but the four general categories. Specific examples are in the next question. (4 points)
2.2. Which type of ACS do each of these belong to? Note: Some of these belong to more than one type.(5 points)
1. Skype
2. FaceTime
3. Web conferencing system (e.g. FuzeMeeting, Google+ Hangouts)
4. E-Mail
5. SMS
2.3. Are VRS advanced communication services? If so, which type? (2 points)
2.4Explain the difference between VRS and VRI. Use complete sentences. (Hint: who pays for VRS, who pays for VRI? What is VRS used for, what is VRI used for?)(4 points)
2.5. Are you allowed to use VRS for these situations (answer yes or no)? (5 points)
• (1 point) You and your lawyer talk in the lawyer’s office
• (1 point) You and your sister are at a party in a ballroom. The room is packed with people, and you can’t see your sister in the crowd. You want to call her, so that you can find each other in the room.
• (1 point) You call your financial advisor at the bank from home
• (1 point) You participate in a conference call with yourself, your coworker, and a person in a different city.
• (1 point) Same as last question, but you and your coworker are in the same room, and the other person is in a different city.
• Extra credit (1 point): What if you and your coworker are in the same room, and the person in the other city hangs up? Can you still use VRS?
3. Everything else (5 questions, 17 points)
3.1. You plan to attend a conference, and ask for sign language interpreters. The conference organizers say no, and offer you CART (realtime captioning) instead. Are they allowed to do this? Why or why not?(3 points)
3.2. If you have a meeting with someone at the FCC, you are entitled to accommodations (e.g. interpreters). Is this under the ADA or Section 504? What if the meeting is with a bank employee?
What if the meeting is with a state government employee?
(3 points)
3.3. What are your options if a doctor or hospital refuses to provide you with interpreters – in violation of the ADA? (5 points)
3.4. You are at a police station. You ask for an interpreter. The police say that they have a cop who knows ASL, and that this cop will talk to you. Are they allowed to do this? (2 points)
3.5. What are some of the things you can do to make sure that your communication rights are respected in police interactions? List at least three. (Hint: look at the video with Marlee Matlin). (4 points)
